“Go get your suit and meet her at the wedding.” He looked at his watch. “I’m going to the parade.” Miguel grinned in a sly way. “Adam Hatten has to ride on a float. He will hate it. I plan to photograph every second of his misery. I’ll frame them and hang them above my desk.”

Griff laughed. Miguel had told him about their decades-long rivalry. “Ha!” Vera had said. “They’re best friends. Always have been.”

“I wish you luck in getting great shots.”

“And I hope you and my daughter settle your differences.”

Griff groaned. “I don’t think that’s going to happen. She seems to have made up her mind.”

“Just don’t quit trying.”

They left the restaurant, Miguel heading back to Mason and Griff to Oak Park Mall.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Mike was in her bathroom getting ready for the wedding. She was putting on a smoky eye, the way her friend Laurie had taught her. Her dress, a silvery gray-blue, was hanging on the door.

When she’d bought her gray couch, Forey told her that gray was the color of change. She said, “If you make a gray room, you want to change things in your life.” Mike told her that she liked her life just as it was and didn’t want any changes. Forey had laughed.

The parade had been exhausting. Mike had had to run everywhere to keep people and machines on track. Thank heaven that her mom had taken care of the Heritage Harvests wagon! Adam and the other past mayors looked great on their float. They’d smiled and waved. The kids were crazy with laughing and yelling. Luckily, there’d been only one breakdown and it was easily fixed.

Miguel didn’t show up until the parade had already started, but he had his camera with him.

Good! They’d have pro photos to show.

That Griff wasn’t there had annoyed her. She told herself she was being ridiculous and that she’d grown too involved with him in just one day. But still, he could have made an effort.

By eleven, the parade was over and Kelly and her clean-up volunteers took over. Mike went to check on the carnival. It was going well. Kids with painted faces were running around and laughing.

There was no sign of Griff. Now and then, Mike saw Vera and she was always on her phone, which wasn’t good. As soon as Mike had a minute, she planned to ask her what she was up to.

At one, Hayes showed up. Behind him were his two buddies. For the first time, Mike’s heart didn’t escalate at seeing him. In fact, it seemed to slow down. He had on his “serious face.” She wondered when she’d started naming his moods.

He ignored the six kids who were surrounding her and asking questions. He talked over the top of them. “I want to apologize.”