Macon found himself looking for Francesca Delacroix the next day at the festival. He stayed alert from the same park bench, looking for the redheaded beauty until he found her. Today she wore a white sundress that fell to her mid-thigh with white wedge heels. Her hair still hung down to her waist wild and free with curls flying in the breeze. Today though it was just her and the boy from the day before, no friends followed the duo around the festival grounds. But Macon did. He followed every move they made, every time the boy touched her he cringed, a pang of lust and jealousy radiating through his body.

Trying to remain inconspicuous in a small town was difficult, he realized as the festival was tiny. Ten maybe twelve booths all together in one small area all selling food' knick knacks or jewelry. He watched as the boy (he couldn't remember or care about his name) bought Francesca cotton candy and as she took a piece and put it in her mouth he kissed her. Macon groaned at the thought of her lips combined with the pink spun sugar.

Hours later he sat on a bench again, this time watching them dance. His eyes stayed glued on the couple as he twirled and dipped her in time to the school band playing in the background. Both had smiles on their faces, looking at each other like they were the only two people in the world. After the dance ended the floor emptied and his couple left slipping away and he could no longer see them. He panicked, if he couldn't see them, what could that boy be doing to her body. His mind went to a dark place wondering how the boy touched her when no one was around to see.

Standing he walked around until he did finally spy them and his breath caught in his throat. She was holding a baby. The boy had his hand in the small of her back as they both interacted with the infant girl, her big pink bow surrounded by blonde curls. They stood talking to another couple that were more than likely the child's parents. Holding and playing with the baby looked like it came so naturally to her. "See you guys at church tomorrow, right?" Macon overheard the parents ask.

"Absolutely," Francesca answered. "I have a ton of cooking to do tonight for the mullet feast, but I wouldn't miss it."

"My girl can cook." The boy bragged as he pulled her close and kissed her again. "Beauty, brains, she sings, she dances and she cooks. I hit the jackpot."

Macon turned and stalked away as she laughed. "You're crazy Malachi." She told him as she leaned up for a kiss. The boy captured her lips and Macon wished she would say his name and look at him like that.

Macon stood around at the mullet feast on Sunday looking at the after church crowd. The fair grounds were more packed today than they had been all weekend. Everyone had plates loaded down with seafood and sides looking around for places to sit. He found his target again, still with the boy and her friends but this time he didn't approve of her choice in clothing. Black form fitting shorts that were cut indecently short and blue shirt that showed the majority of her stomach. Her hair was pulled up into high pigtails. But seeing her bare skin made his lust come back in full force. When the boy touched her, his hand touching her bare waist, Macon began to see red. The next thing he saw she was thrown over the boys shoulders with a squeal, she kicked laughing as the boy smacked her rear, then placed his hand back on her rump and left it there, biting her thigh gently. She gave another squeal as he walked off with her kicking and laughing.

Macon sat down on a bench with his food beside a couple, a bald man and a woman with long brown gray hair. He ate in silence until someone spoke up "Charlie, Maisie, you should be proud. Chessie did so well Friday and last night at the dance." The couple beside Macon smiled at the person. He watched them out of the corner of his eyes, wondering how her parents could let her parade around with a boy like that.

"We are very proud of our girl." Charlie said with a beaming smile. "She makes us proud every day." He looked over at his wife and grabbed her hand sadly. "We just wish Sammy was here to see what a wonderful young woman his baby sister turned out to be."

"Any word on her and Malachi?" The person asked and Macon felt his knuckles turn white. Charlie laughed.

"They are just enjoying being sixteen right now. I don't think either one is interested in being serious. They are just enjoying each other."

Sixteen, she was only sixteen, he thought. A sixteen year old girl made him feel these feelings, this lust, and desire. She was nine years his junior, this was going to be harder than he thought.