Page 68 of Daddy, Take Me Away
“Or you don’t have to go in at all,” he said in a firm voice, adding the quirked brow he knew spoke louder than words.
“Sorry, Daddy. I know you’re just protecting me, but?—”
“And I always will,” Stone confessed. “Sorry, Webby, but that’s the best I can do.”
Smiling, she reached over and patted his thigh. “I’m the one who’s sorry. We can go in together, and I’ll even come help you pump gas.”
“That’s not necessary, baby, but I appreciate the offer.”
Hand in hand, they entered the store to find it exactly as Stone had pictured it in his mind. Time seemed to have slowed to a crawl in this part of the state. He could see everything from rakes to snow shovels as well as hula-hoops and boxes of Christmas ornaments. Of course what captured his Little’s attention was the bar across the back of the store where glass-fronted cases were filled with the promised ice cream.
“Wow, it’s homemade!” she said, eyes wide as they approached to hear the soft purring of motors as they churned ingredients into creamy concoctions.
“Used to turn it by hand, but this makes it easier on my arthritis.”
The words came from behind them and turning, they saw a woman with hair as white as the snow they’d seen earlier in the week.
“It looks delicious,” Stone said, stepping forward and offering his hand. “I’m Stone and this is my wife, Micah.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Gloria and somewhere around here is my husband George. Ah, there he is,” she said as an even older gentleman joined them.
After another round of introductions, George stepped behind the ice-cream counter. “What tickles your fancy, honey?”
“I’m not sure,” Micah said. “They all look so good. What’s your favorite?”
Stone left them knowing that his love was in safe hands. “Maybe by the time I’ve filled the tank, she’ll have made her decision,” he told Gloria who gave a soft laugh.
“Don’t you worry. I’m sure my George will keep her busy tasting every flavor. He’s rather proud of our creamery. The milk comes from our cows and the eggs from our chickens.”
“I’ll be back to pick my own,” Stone promised and left the store.
Gloria proved to be one smart woman because when he returned, Micah was sitting on a stool, swinging her legs and licking a wooden spoon before dropping it to a plate he noticed had several others on it.
“Dare I ask which one you’ve settled on?” he asked, coming up to stand beside her.
“I can’t decide. The peach is yummy, but the peppermint is just to die for. It is creamy and crunchy.”
“That’s because we use candy canes left from Christmas,” George informed him, holding a spoon out to him.
Taking it, Stone discovered the roadside sign to be true. The ice cream was fabulous. Before he knew it, he was seated beside Micah, a bowl holding three scoops, none of them found in the popular Neapolitan combo. The quick pit stop turned into an hour-long visit with the elderly couple. Stomachs full of six different flavors as they’d each insisted they share their choices, Stone led Micah back to the Jeep after following her into the only bathroom and washing both her face and her hands.
“I’m stuffed,” she moaned as he fastened the seat belt around her.
“Really?” Stone gasped in mock surprise. “I know I only paid for a triple scoop, but I’m guessing you probably ate twice that before I came back inside.”
“I did not!” she protested.
“Baby, I saw that plate full of spoons.”
She rolled her eyes. “Daddy, those don’t count. They were just samples.”
“Right. I’m not so sure your horse will agree if you’ve packed on too many?—”
“My horse! We’re going horseback riding!”
Her squeal would have likely sent any horses in close vicinity galloping away. Stone could kick himself. How he’d let that slip he didn’t know. Then again, he did. “I think all my brain cells are frozen from too much ice cream,” he grumbled. “That was supposed to be a surprise.”
“It was a surprise! This is going to be so much fun! You’re the bestest Daddy in the whole world… wait, make that the whole galaxy!”
