Darci could see him weakening. She knew she should help him, should say something to discourage Mandy, but suddenly Darci wanted that Ferris wheel ride as much as the little girl. It would be one memory of Cole, a special moment that she could savor in the lonely years ahead. She caught his gaze and knew he saw the eager agreement in her own eyes.

Without another word, he turned into the parking lot. Rather than fight with the crutches on the crowded, uneven ground, he lifted Mandy into his arms and headed for the ticket booth. When he stopped, he turned to Darci with an odd expression.

“I don’t have any cash with me.”

Darci laughed, something she hadn’t thought she’d be able to do again so soon. “Well, I do. I should probably save it for groceries or some other important detail like that, but right now, I’m not certain I care.” She stepped forward, then turned back to Cole. “How many rides do we want to take?”

“Ten,” Mandy called out.

“I think one turn will be plenty,” Cole answered with an indulgent grin.

The parking lot was hot, dirty and smelled strongly from all the machinery working around them. Harsh noises filled the air and the crowd jostled them. But when they stepped up to the Ferris wheel, the negative images faded away, leaving only the magic of a shared moment. The lights became brighter and the music sweeter.

Trying to steady the swinging seat, Darci helped Cole settle Mandy between them. Mandy squealed when they slowly started to ascend, and Cole slipped his arm behind his daughter. But his fingers tangled in Darci’s hair, settling at the nape of her neck. The rush as they circled higher, combined with the silky stroke of his touch, caused her stomach to swirl with a heady excitement.

Mandy giggled and wiggled like an excited puppy, pointing out everything from blackened rooftops to escaped balloons. Darci’s heart filled with the moment, knowing this was a magical time she would never forget. Determined to savor every precious second, she gave her worries over to the clouds above them and simply enjoyed the ride.

When they settled back to earth for the final time, she hesitated before stepping down. She didn’t want to leave, didn’t want to give up the magic. But it was a moment she could reach back into her mind for when the going got rough, and she knew she could relive it any time she needed to.

Cole helped Darci off the wobbling step, then scooped Mandy into his arms. He swirled around with the giggling girl held tightly against his chest. Mandy’s laughter mingled with Cole’s, and Darci knew she’d found everything she’d ever wanted in life—a strong man to love and a beautiful child to cherish as her very own.

But she also knew she couldn’t keep any of it.