Chapter 3: Festival Day

The days passed and the school's art display had gone well. Anna was thrilled at the way her students excitedly presented their work, and a couple of them even won prizes at the event.

The town's attention turned to the annual festival that would be held over the next weekend in the town's park. Trucks began arriving all week carrying what would soon be concession booths and small rides for the kids, and tables were set up next to equipment that would soon be used to cook food.

Ever since that day at the hardware store, Anna had thought about Ethan Greenfield. She could barely get her gardening done as she handled the flowerpots and other equipment she'd bought that day, remembering most the way he looked at her with those bright, blue eyes.

With a light workload, Anna's mind had time to wander. She often daydreamed, working out real problems with an imaginary life in her head that made reality easier to manage. She had done it often when she lived with her ex-boyfriend, Alan, who often criticized her. But tonight, her imagination ran wild thinking of Ethan Greenfield and imagining a life with him, with the two kids, the animal shelter, and a happily ever after.

She snapped back into reality after a few minutes, letting the dream fade away.

"He only said hello, Anna, he didn't sweep you off your feet to the altar," she said aloud to herself. "You need to stop with the schoolgirl crushes. That's what got you in that mess with Alan."

It was late, so she got up, brushed her teeth, and went to bed, her black fluffy cat, Sammy, curled up at her feet.

***

Friday afternoon arrived, and it was time to head out to the festival. As with every event in her small Midwestern town, it was a casual celebration, but Anna still wanted to look her best, especially as she wondered whether Ethan Greenfield would be there. She'd put on her favorite sundress that showed off her slender legs and styled her hair in a flowing beach wave look that framed her face to accentuate her facial features.

Her best friend Kelly was already there when Anna arrived at the park, waving her over from one of the tables near the chili cookoff. Anna smiled and waved back, walking through the crowds of kids running around to be sure they were first in line for the carnival rides. There was a happy sense of excitement in the air, mixed in with the scent of popcorn and sweet spices from the chili cookoff's crockpots that made Anna realize how hungry she was.

"I'm starving," she said as she plopped down next to Kelly on the picnic table bench.

"Me, too, but I don't think the chili will be ready for a while. I was just thinking about grabbing a cotton candy," Kelly suggested.

"You'll look like a little kid."

"That doesn't bother me!" Kelly exclaimed with a broad smile. "Want one?"

"You know I do," Anna laughed.

"Be right back." Kelly walked off toward a nearby concession stand, and Anna took a minute to take in her surroundings. She couldn't find her parents, but didn't expect them to be there anyway, since they preferred to come to the festival the next morning, when nearby farms brought in their fresh produce to sell.

She was also looking for Ethan Greenfield and was disappointed when she didn't see his muscular figure in the crowd. She hadn't talked about her hardware store encounter with Kelly yet, even though she usually shared everything about her life with her best friend. She didn't want to admit that she was having secret daydreams about an idyllic future with a man she had only seen once, and Kelly could read her thoughts as if they were her own.

Kelly came back soon with the cotton candy and handed Anna a fluffy blue stick of the treat just when Kelly's boyfriend John and some other friends walked toward them.

"None for me?" John joked.

"You're late. No treats for being late," Kelly said to him, then moved in for a gentle kiss.

"I was helping Randy with his car," John explained. "Hi, Anna, good to see you."

"Hi, John. I was just keeping your seat warm," Anna laughed as the rest of the group of friends greeted each other.

A while later, she saw him. Ethan Greenfield was walking up to a concession stand halfway across the park from Anna. He looked incredible, in tight jeans that hinted at his muscular frame and a short-sleeve t-shirt that revealed the well-defined muscles of his arms. Anna caught her breath, hoping he would see her and hoping he wouldn't at the same time.

'He only said hello,' she thought, reminding herself that everything she felt about Ethan was just part of a silly daydream. She tried to enjoy the visit with her friends but couldn't shake the nervousness she was feeling.

"Anna, are you alright?" asked Kelly.

"I'm fine. It's just a little hot out here," Anna answered. "Maybe I'll go get a drink."

"I can get you one," offered John.

"No, thank you, I think I need to walk around a bit anyway." Anna felt like she needed to get away from the friendly but prying eyes before Kelly started reading her mind.

"Okay, don't be long, girl!" said Kelly with a smile before she turned back to the conversation at the table.

Anna got up and walked across the park, the opposite way from where she'd seen Ethan. She kept telling herself that he would never remember her, anyway. A man like that would have plenty of girlfriends around.

As she walked up to a concession stand offering cool drinks, a smooth, confident voice surprised her from behind.

"Hello, I think we met in the hardware store the other day?"

Anna turned around and there he stood, Ethan Greenfield in all his muscular glory. Her heart leaped a bit in her chest.

"Hi, yes, I think we did," Anna managed to say. "I'm Anna. Anna Shelby."

"Hello, Anna Shelby. Can I buy you a drink?" said Ethan.

"Sure," she answered in a voice that almost squeaked. She felt the warm flow of blood flushing her face. "I was just getting an orange soda."

"Two orange sodas, please," Ethan told the cashier, who scooped up ice into two paper cups and filled them with the colorful drink. Ethan gave the cashier money and handed one of the drinks to Anna. "Keep the change."

"Thank you, sir," said the young cashier, smiling broadly.

Ethan turned to Anna. "I just moved into the old Johnson's place on Road 50. I'm new to Belleville, but everyone's been really nice. I'm assuming you're a local?" Ethan asked.

"Yes, I was born and raised here. I teach sixth grade at the school."

"That's wonderful. The teachers of the world really do shape our future." He smiled at her, meeting her gaze with those amazing sky-blue eyes.

"Thanks. I try to do my best." Anna answered. "Oh, and thanks for the drink," she added.

"You're quite welcome. I'm really looking forward to that chili contest." Ethan said.

"Yes, it's always delicious. It's quite an important competition around here." Anna explained. They continued for a while with polite small talk, looking into each other's eyes. Anna was nervous, and with every statement she felt like kicking herself for not saying something more meaningful.

As they spoke, neither Anna nor Ethan noticed the man standing off in the distance with short brown hair, his green eyes squinting in the sun and a bitter look of contempt on his face.

"I'd better get back to my friends before they worry," said Anna after a few minutes. She didn't think she could stand there for a second longer without doing something embarrassing like tripping over herself or, worse, spilling her drink all over Ethan. It was better to just cut the conversation short for now.

"Of course, yes I wouldn't want them to worry. I'll see you around more, I'm sure," Ethan said, looking gently into Anna's emerald green eyes.

"Yes, yes, I'll--I'll be here all weekend," she said, instantly regretting how desperate she sounded. "And thank you again for the drink."

"It was my pleasure," he said, and Anna smiled and walked away, feeling her heart beating in her chest.

Heading back to the picnic table, she noticed a familiar look on Kelly's face. 'Oh, no, they all saw that,' she thought in a panic.

"Sooo," said Kelly, drawing out the word, "that looked--interesting," she giggled.

"Don't you start, I was just being polite. He's new in town." Anna gave her friend a furrowed brow look, hinting at her to let the subject drop.

"Okay, okay, yep folks let's move on, nothing to see here," Kelly joked.

The whole table laughed as Anna's face turned beat red, and she slipped into a seat next to Kelly.

"I'm gonna get you for this," she whispered, and Kelly smiled.