Chapter Seven
JOEY DROVE UP THE cleared road, waving to Barney who owned the only commercial snow-plow in town. The glittering bright lights of the Ferris Wheel beckoned from miles away. She pulled up the drive, into a temporary lot where mountains of snow had been cleared to hold the cars and buses, and stepped out of her car.
Then arrived in a world as magical as Narnia.
Noah’s property had been transformed into a child’s dream. Two giant snowmen greeted her at the entrance. Her senses were attacked by the sounds and sights of childhood heaven. The delicious aroma of cotton candy, hot dogs, popcorn, and fried dough hung in the air. Colorful game booths were set up showing off huge stuffed teddy bears for prizes. Music blasted through the speakers, and her sight was dazzled with the blinking array of rides, all set off by the wall of snow frosted pine trees, which had been decorated with ornaments and tinsel.
Joey took in the scene in with pure delight and a mild dollop of satisfaction.
They’d done it.
Owen Salt was going to get his Christmas wish. She may not be able to heal him, or take away his disease, but for one magical night, he could have fun with his family and friends and forgot about everything else but being a kid on Christmas. Laughing in delight, she headed toward the back to see Noah, then stopped dead in her tracks.
She blinked, hard, three or four times, double checking her sight, but here was no mistaking the carousel.
Her heart beat wildly, and she slowly crossed the snow dusted trail toward the magnificent, magical, carousel, unable to believe her eyes. It was the most beautiful carousel she’d ever seen. A true work of art. The painted horses were decorated in bright, vivid colors, with polished silver poles and a beautiful winter carriage instead of a normal bench seat. The merry tunes of Christmas caressed her ears and she held out a hand to stroke one of the smooth manes, the ebony horse etched with gold, his face turned up as if to look at her dead on.
The past came rushing back to mix with the present, and a small sob choked the back of her throat.
He had gotten her a carousel. More importantly, she etched out a memory that could be brought back, dusted off, and meant to make her feel better in a moment where not all was rosy. She closed her eyes. The drive by that carnival that fateful night was no longer painful. It was a distant part of her past.
This carousel. This moment. It was everything.
“Do you like it?”
His deep, rich voice tempted shudders from her body. She turned to gaze at him. “I love it,” she whispered. “How did you know?”
He shrugged. He looked both polished and sexy, dressed in a snug black jacket, snowy white shirt, and black pants. His eye patch only emphasized the virile strength and grace of his body. “I wanted to give you this. Give you something. Will you tell me why you wanted a carousel so badly?”
She dragged in a breath. “I was with my foster mom one day when we passed a carnival. There was a carousel right by the gate. I could spot the children screaming and laughing and riding the horses. They looked so happy, and the horses looked...magical. As if they could carry me away from my problems just for a little while. I begged to go, but we never had any money for silly things. I was usually good about it, I understood, but this time, my heart broke… just a little. I cried that night. Promised myself one day, I’d ride a carousel and be happy.”
He tugged her into his arms, wrapping her in tight against his chest. She sunk into his delicious warmth and strength, her soul calmed. “You deserve a million carousels,” he said gruffly. “You deserve everything. I just don’t know if I can give it to you, Josephine.”
“You’re not coming to the carnival. Are you?”
“No,” he said in that quiet voice of his. The voice he shared only with her. The one that showed his vulnerably. The one that broke her heart into tiny pieces.
She stayed in his arms for a while, trying to fight through the pain and sadness. He’d given her the carousel, which meant the world to her.
But it wasn’t him. She wanted him to stand next to her while they faced the world together.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “This has nothing to do with you. How I feel about you.”
Finally, she pulled away, gazing up at him. “I’m sorry too.” The sound of tires hit the air, and she glanced toward the first cars beginning to arrive. “You better go, then. Everyone will be arriving soon. “
He nodded, but misery gleamed in his eye and carved out the features of his face. Still, he turned and began to walk away.
“Noah?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.” She let the words carry in the winter breeze, to his ears, and settle. Forcing a smile, she headed toward her first guests.
***
Noah watched Josephine from the window as she greeted each guest as if they were the most important person on the planet.
She was amazing. The crowds kept coming and she was right in the forefront to welcome all of the kids, kneeling down to talk, or pick up one of the smaller children for a cuddle. She always held out her hand to the parents. Or the ones she knew better, she greeted with a warm embrace. She walked the carnival to check on her wards, making sure everything went smoothly, finally stopping to nibble on a hot dog and some fried dough when a woman with bright red hair snagged her hand and made her sit down.
Noah wondered if that might be her friend, Megan. Josephine had wanted so desperately for him to meet her. Of course, he refused.
Sammy whined softly, paws propped up on the sill, staring out at the fun.
“Sorry, boy. We’re better off in here.”
“No. You choose to be in here.”
Irritation flowed through him. He refused to turn around. “I don’t need another pep talk, Charles. I gave her the carnival she asked for. I got her the carousel. I even fell in love with her. Staying inside is best for the both of us.”
“No, sir. It’s only best for you.”
“You’re fired, Charles.”
“You’ve said that before.” A snort echoed behind him. “Madame Joey doesn’t want material things. And she didn’t want the carousel for the children. She wanted it so she could ride it with you. Make a special memory with you.”
Pain hummed low in his gut. The idea of hurting her was killing him. He knew she understood his trepidation, but would she…
I love you....
Somehow, some way, she loved him. Even with all the crap. Even with his face. She loved him and he loved her, but the difference was, she showed him by giving him a memory. The thing that mattered the most to her. He just got a carousel with his money.
“I don’t want to hurt her,” he ground out.
“You already did. She asked you to go to the carnival with her. As her date. If you love her, you’ll step out that damn door.”
Sammy barked.
Noah buried his damaged face in his hands.
I love you...
“If you don’t, you may lose her forever. Go ask her to ride the carousel, Sir. Go be happy. The last thing those people saw was an angry man who turned into their Grinch. Now go out there and be you. Give them the real you.”
Silence fell.
Noah watched as a young boy flanked by his mother and father appeared before Josephine. He had dirty blonde hair with a cowlick. He was achingly thin and frail looking, but his profile showed a joyous smile. The boy launched into her arms and Josephine hugged him tight, as the Ferris wheel spun and the carousel whirled, and a dusting of snowflakes wrapped them in winter beauty.
Owen Salt.
Josephine was a woman who loved deeply and deserved his all. Not half a man who was afraid to live. He may have a damaged face, but his heart was whole, beating inside his chest. It was time to begin healing his heart.
Noah pushed himself from the window. “Let’s go, Sammy.”
The lab jumped up and followed him out the door. With each crunch of snow under his boot, Noah fought off nausea. His biggest fear was that Owen Salt would scream in horror when he saw his face, and then people would run away and he’d confirm all of his darkest fears. That he was indeed, a monster. But he kept walking to stand beside the woman he loved. The one woman who saw beyond the scars, if she saw them at all.
Her eyes widened. Then a slow smile curved her lips. “Excuse me,” she said, standing up. She reached out her hand to him. He took it. Immediately, the touch of her warm skin comforted him. “Owen, Mr. and Mrs. Salt, I’d like you to meet someone very special to me. He was the one who made this entire carnival possible. This is Noah Elliott.”
He braced himself for the quick jerk of a head, or horror reflected in their eyes. Instead, he was greeted with warm smiles and steady gazes. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Elliott. I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done,” Mrs. Salt said. “You’ve given our son his miracle”
Mr. Salt blinked hard, looking down at his son. The little boy looked just like his father, in younger form. “It means a lot to us. To the community, too.”
“You’re welcome, but it was really Josephine who spearheaded the entire project. She’s an amazing woman.”
Her cheeks turned rosy. Owen regarded him with a curious gaze, taking in his face with great detail. Thank God, the boy didn’t cry, instead he tugged at Noah’s pant leg. Noah sunk down to his knees to be on eye level. “Are you having a good time, Owen?”
The boy gave a toothy grin. “This is the best carnival in the world. When I put the star on the tree, I didn’t think I’d really get my wish. Mom always says to keep wishing because you always have to keep believing.”
“Your mom is really smart.”
The little boy reach out and touched Noah’s damaged face. Noah didn’t wince because the boy showed curiosity, not fear.
“What happened to your face?”
“I got caught in a fire,” he said calmly, realizing this was normal conversation.
Owen’s eyes widened. “Did it hurt?”
“Yeah. A lot. But I got through it. Just like you’re going to continue to fight and get through you stuff.”
“Is that your dog?”
Noah’s lips twitched. He’d forgotten the attention span of a six-year-old was wicked fast. “Yes, that’s Sammy. I heard you like labs.”
“I do! I have one at home named Hershey! Can I pet Sammy?”
“Sure.” He whistled Sammy over, who immediately sat in front of Owen and allowed himself to be petted and adored. “Do you still want to save dogs and have a rescue farm when you get older?”
“Yep. I’m gonna buy a big huge farm, and save tons of animals who are sick and make them feel happy again.”
“Do you think maybe I can help you with that? I have some great ideas for a rescue shelter for sick animals. And I’ve got a lot of land and friends who can help. You could name the farm, Owen’s Place.”
“Awesome! Hey, can I ride the scrambler now?”
Noah laughed and stood back up. “Absolutely.” Mrs. Salt was pulled away by her son and both were swallowed up in the bright lights and laughing crowds. “He’s a wonderful child,” Noah said to the father.
“He is.” The man shifted his feet. “I know what it must have cost for you to throw this carnival for the town.”
“Oh, the money wasn’t a problem.”
“No. I mean the cost to you personally,” Mr. Salt said as he shifted nervously from one foot to the other. “To do something for Starlight Bend after what you went through.”
Noah tried not to stiffen at reminders of the past. Thankfully, Josephine held his hand a tad tighter in support.
“Most of the people in town knew what you did for those boys was heroic. But after the press and the chaos, we never got an opportunity to reach out and make it right. I hope you’ll let us do that, Mr. Elliott.” With a nod, he reached out and shook his hand. “Hope to see you in town some day. And if you ever do come to town, please stop by and see Owen. It would mean the world to him. Thanks again.”
Noah didn’t have a chance to digest the man’s words. He was quickly caught up in a line of people wanting to reach out and say hello; to thank him; to chat; to shake his hand. Within the next few hours, he was caught up in the familiarity of the town he’d once loved, and the people who’d made him want to stay. Not a single person winced at the scars on his face. They did look. But no one screamed at what he thought had made him a monster. The ice in his chest loosened cube by cube, until his breath reached deeper, and his insides rested.
Finally, he looked at the woman he’d fallen in love with. With a bow, he offered her his hand.
“Josephine, would you ride the carousel with me?”
She broke into a dazzling smile. “Oh, my, God, yes!”
He escorted her onto the carousel and lifted her up on a bright yellow horse. He chose the black one beside her, and they rode around and around, holding hands and laughing as small children do on a carousel.
When the ride ended, he said the only words left to say. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“I’m going to buy this carousel for your wedding present.”
She laughed with delight and leaned over. “I’d rather you give Charles a hefty raise.”
Noah grinned. “Done.”
Then he kissed her.