Carousel Nights by Amie Denman Read Free Book Online Page B

man.”
    â€œI thought it would inspire confidence,” she said. “It does for me.”
    She touched his shoulder as she leaned close to view his progress, and heat burned her fingers through Mel’s blue cotton shirt.
    â€œI’m going to release the spring and hope it doesn’t make this thing snap around,” Mel said.
    â€œIs this going to hurt?” Jason asked.
    â€œNot if we do it right,” Mel said.
    One of the firefighters wedged his leg against the free arm of the turnstile to control the movement. Mel slowly released the spring while June held her breath. One look at Jason’s tortured face made her want to protect him, but all she could do was count on Mel.
    The spring let go and the arm of the turnstile unlocked and moved, allowing the two firefighters to lift Jason free.
    Although Mel’s expression remained the same, June noted the long slow breath he let out.
    â€œThere was a lot less pressure with the car in the garbage disposal,” he said to June as the firefighters placed Jason on a gurney. “Ross shed some tears, but I fixed that with ice cream.”
    Maybe it was the incredible relief of freeing the guest from the turnstile without, she hoped, serious injury, but June felt a rush of...something...for Mel.
    â€œWant to get some ice cream?” June asked. “I owe you, and I’ll buy.”
    Mel laughed. “I’m on the clock.”
    â€œMaybe later this afternoon? I’m going to meet this young man and his friends at First Aid and see what we need to do next. Starting with calling his parents, getting X-rays, and filling out reports. I may need your input on those reports.”
    â€œSo, it’s a working ice-cream date?”
    June smiled. “It’s hot. Good ice-cream weather.”
    Mel cocked his head and said, “I’ll meet you at Tosha’s at four thirty if I can bring a guest. If Ross finds out I had ice cream without him, it’ll take me weeks to earn back my super-dad status.”
    * * *
    â€œR EMEMBER YOUR MANNERS , R OSS ,” Mel said. “Please and thank you.”
    â€œCan I get strawberry?” Ross asked.
    â€œOne scoop.”
    â€œOnly one?”
    They walked up the beach path to enter the park by one of the side gates. Like his father, Ross was lanky, with sandy hair and blue eyes. He also had Mel’s easy smile and gait.
    Instead of working until at least five o’clock as usual, Mel locked his big steel desk in the maintenance garage at a quarter after four and headed to the Lake Breeze Hotel to retrieve Ross from the employee day care center.
    â€œWe’re guests, and guests can’t be greedy and ask for seconds. Besides, I don’t want you to ruin your dinner. I’m making mac and cheese and dogs tonight. Your favorite.”
    â€œWill Uncle Jack be there?”
    Mel smiled. “I think he’s still working. His sister is buying us ice cream today.”
    â€œUncle Jack has a sister?”
    â€œTwo. You’ve met one of them a few times, Miss Evie, but this is the one you don’t know.”
    â€œWhat should I call her?” Ross asked, swinging his dad’s arm as they stopped at the turnstile. Mel let go of Ross’s hand to dig his wallet out of his back pocket, but the white-haired lady at the beach gate waved him through. Summer employees might need proof of Mel’s employee status, but Janice had worked the beach gate for ten years, ever since she gave up schooling first graders in Bayside.
    â€œRiding rides tonight, Mel?” she asked.
    Mel shook his head. “Quick ice-cream stop on the way home.”
    She smiled. “Good for you. The heck with ruining your dinner. Life is short.”
    Ross smiled and waited until they were several steps away. “Dad,” he whispered. “That lady said life is short, but hasn’t she been alive a really long time?”
    Mel chuckled. “I think that makes her an