My Lucky Groom

her.
    “What’s going on?” she asked, admiring the pretty display reflecting in the Potomac before them.
    He got Ricky off his bike, then steadied Ventura’s so she could likewise dismount and help Elisa down.
    “It’s the summer carnival.” He stared at the scene a bit wistfully. “Vicky and I used to come down here sometimes. I’d forgotten all about it until just now.” He’d planned a simple outing for the four of them, an evening picnic in the small park bordering the river. But maybe this was even better.
    “Can we go?” Ricky asked, his gaze hopeful.
    Richard glanced uncertainly at Ventura. “I don’t think Ventura had planned to stay that long.”
    “But I want to get my face painted.” Elisa tugged at Ventura’s hand with a pleading look. “Puleeze, Ventura?”
    “Pretty please?” Ricky begged.
    Ventura’s face brightened as she looked from one of them to the other. “I’d love to,” she said with smile.

    Ventura, Richard, and the kids wound through the crowd past a stage where musicians played. The children had painted faces and held helium balloons.
    “I think I’ve had about all the fun I can handle,” Richard said to Ventura. “How about you?”
    “But we haven’t done the Ferris wheel!” Ricky protested.
    “Yeah!” Elisa said.
    Richard glanced at Ventura, and she shrugged in agreement. “No fair’s complete without the Ferris wheel.”
    Richard held up a hand. “All right. I can see when I’m outnumbered.”
    A few moments later, he held back the door to the small compartment. “Okay, kids, hop in!” They scrambled aboard. “Ventura?” he prodded, politely waiting for her to board next.
    “Oh no, I wasn’t planning to ride,” she said. “I’ll just watch from below.”
    Ricky and Elisa begged together, “But you’ve got to come. Pu-leeze? ”
    Richard wryly twisted his lips. “Now who’s outnumbered?”
    “Okay,” she said with a laugh, “you’ve got me. But I’m going to warn you, I’m a little scared of heights.”
    “No worries,” Richard said, meeting her eyes. “You’ll have me right beside you.”
    Both kids sat together, which meant Richard would have to join Ventura on her side.
    Ventura grinned tightly and tried not to think of that movie where the entire Ferris wheel broke loose and rolled into the ocean. Of course, this was just the Potomac River here.
    She uncertainly climbed inside, and Richard joined her, pulling the compartment door shut until it latched.
    Suddenly, the Ferris wheel lurched, sending their car swinging sideways.
    “Whee!” Ricky and Elisa cried as they began to rise into the air.
    Ventura clutched her seat with both hands, fearing she might faint.
    “It’s all right, I’ve got you,” Richard said, bringing his arm around her. He gave her shoulder a light tug and motioned with his chin. “Look over there.”
    Now that the sun had set, the view of the carnival reflected in the water was even more magical.
    “I see a boat!” Elisa cried.
    “Two!” Ricky echoed.
    “Those are dinner-cruise ships,” Richard explained.
    The scenery took her breath away. “It’s beautiful.”
    Richard turned his face toward hers, capturing her in his gaze. “Yes.”
    A light breeze rippled over them, and Ventura’s heart stilled. If it had been only the two of them, she wasn’t sure what might have happened next. By the look in Richard’s eyes, it would have been a kiss.
    The car made its way back down, music and lights swirling around them. Then they were sky-bound again, rising and falling over and over together. Richard snuggled her in and held her close and Ventura’s heart beat faster as Richard’s warmth beside her provided comfort and stability in the night. Suddenly, the Ferris wheel jerked to a halt, startling Ventura. “What are they doing?”
    Richard held her tighter. “Letting people off.”
    The kids’ faces fell. “Aw,” they said together, obviously not ready for the ride to end. And they weren’t the only ones. Ventura could have stayed here all night.
    There was a loud squeak; then their compartment started to lower.
    “Going down,” Richard announced.
    I most certainly am , Ventura thought, stunned by the revelation. Going down and falling fast.

    The moment they got home, Richard and Ventura readied the kids for bed. They were exhausted from all the fun, and both dropped off to sleep immediately.
    “Ventura,” Richard said as they quietly crept down the stairs. “About the Ferris