I Spy

If there was one boy Cathy hated more than anyone else, it was that toad Jamie Bradley. She hated the way he'd smirk at her, as if he knew something she didn't. She hated how he'd tease her and act like he was better than she was. She hated his stupid face and his stupid hair and his stupid voice.

But most of all, she hated how much she hated him.

It was aggravating how angry she could get when she visited her Uncle Bob. Somehow she'd always run into him; didn't matter where or when, she knew she would. It was some cruel twist of fate that would constantly throw them together, an eternal punishment she was doomed to suffer for some unknown reason.

"One of these days, I'm telling on you," she'd threaten. He'd just laugh in her face, tugging on her braids and running away. He knew she'd never follow through with it…and he was right.

The angriest she ever got at him was when she was too scared to go on the Ferris wheel at the fair that came through every summer. He'd teased her mercilessly about that, and she'd lashed out, punching him right in the nose. She broke three of her knuckles and his nose was dislocated, and both were grounded for two weeks.

She wouldn't forget what he'd said to her. "I'm taking you up on that Ferris wheel someday, pipsqueak. We're going to stop right at the top, and we'll hold hands and be mushy. You'll see."

She refused to give into his nonsense. She wouldn't be seen with him anywhere remotely civil. He'd said it to bother her, and it had worked. She knew in reality that she and Jamie Bradley would never do anything of the sort. They were physically incapable, and she was glad it would stay that way.

…

"Hurry up! There's a line already."

"Honey, I don't -"

"Jonas said he was going to do it at dusk."

"Jamie, don't you think that -"

"He'll know if we're close by, he's gotten good at sensing me -"

"Sweetheart -"

"Don't tell me you're still afraid of these things."

"James. I am not afraid."

They stopped at the gate to the Ferris wheel, a sizable line in front of them. Cathy was panting a bit, hand on her stomach.

"Jamie, I'm sure all this running isn't good for the baby…"

"Oh, come on, we weren't running that fast. And besides, we made it, didn't we?"

"I still don't understand why this is so important -"

"Cathy." Jamie gasped in mock offense. "Proposals are very important. Do you think we'd be having our third kid if I had decided not to propose?"

"I meant why it's so important for you."

"Oh." He shrugged. "It's been almost five years since they've known each other, you know? And he's been asking for my advice and stuff, and…I'm excited for him. It's a big leap for both of them."

"That it is. Kira's been so much happier when she comes in."

"And you can't help but smile at the thought." Jamie slung an arm around her. "I can still remember about how nervous I was."

"But you had to know I'd say yes, didn't you?"

"Maybe."

"Oh, really?"

He shrugged again. "Maybe."

She slapped him lightly in the chest, her knuckles stinging. "Be lucky you're cute."

"And I enjoy every minute of it."

They waited two full cycles before being let through the gate. Cathy thought she wouldn't be bothered for being four months pregnant, but as soon as she stepped in, she saw the ticket holder glancing at her and groaned internally.

"Miss, are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you for your concern."

"Miss, I'll have to advise against it."

Cathy bit the inside of her cheek. "I'll be fine, I'll make sure to be careful -"

"I really must ask you to sit it out, miss. I don't want any trouble."

"I'm perfectly alright. This is the only ride I've even thought about going on all day."

"Miss, I'm not responsible if you go into labor early, or if you're not belted in properly, or -"

"Just let me through. Please." Cathy side-stepped the other woman, walking briskly to where her husband was now seated in one of the seats. She belted herself in, eyeing the ticket holder maliciously before taking Jamie's hand.

"What's gotten into you?"

"Don't worry about it." Their box gave a lurch, and the wheel began to lift them into the air. "Where did Jonas say he was going to propose to her?"

"Not sure. That's why we're on here. We're going to hunt for them."

"Are we?" They reached the top, waiting for more people to get on. "How are we going to do that when we're constantly moving?"

Jamie didn't answer; he just smiled at her and hummed to himself.

"Jamie? What are you thinking about?"

"Oh…nothing."

Cathy started to notice that each time they stopped to let someone off, no one else got on. She deduced, eventually, that she and Jamie were the only ones on, and she was about to say something when they stopped right at the top of the Ferris wheel.

And that was when it dawned on her.

"Jamie, you didn't…"

"I didn't what?"

"Did you fix this?"

He put his hands behind his head, leaning back slightly. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You bribed one of the employees to use the Ferris wheel to scope them out, didn't you?"

"Now, I wouldn't call it that…"

"Then what?"

"I call it renting this for fifteen minutes." He reached down the front of his jumper, pulling out a pair of binoculars. "And for good reason."

"When did you have time to convince them?"

"You having a row with the ticket holder." He held the binoculars to his eyes, scanning the fairgrounds.

"It wasn't that bad." Cathy huffed, folding her arms. "She wouldn't let me on, just because I'm pregnant. Honestly, the world seems to think if you're having a baby, you're automatically an invalid."

"Whatever you want to call it, I got us the ride. Now hush."

"How did you know you'd have time to pay?"

"I didn't."

"So how…"

"Can't I take chances?" He was still glancing through the lenses. "I had a plan, it had a fifty-fifty shot of succeeding or failing, and here we are. Now help me look."

"Jamie, you can't expect to find them so…" Her eyes widened. "Oh."

"Oh, what?"

"Found them."

"Where?" Jamie had jumped a little, causing the seat to wobble. Cathy had to grip the side, a rush of adrenaline passing through her. "Where are they?"

"The meadow. Just outside the front gate." She pointed, shaking. "Kira always wears that pink hair ribbon."

He dropped the binoculars, raising an eyebrow. "Thought you said you weren't scared."

"Well, when you rock the seat, of course I'm going to be jittery."

He held her hand again. "Don't worry. You're not going to go tumbling out or anything." He leaned forward, kissing her forehead. "You're perfectly safe."

She nodded, and they turned back to where Jonas and Kira now stood in the glow of one of the nearby streetlight. Jamie once again raised the binoculars, gazing intently.

"What's going on?" Cathy squinted a bit. "I can't really see their faces."

"They're talking…Kira's turning away…Jonas is scratching his ear…oh, my God!"

"What? What happened?"

"That lady got a stuffed tiger! She only knocked down two milk bottles, not three."

"Jamie!" She swatted at his arm. "Focus."

"Sorry." He paused for a moment. "They're not doing anything right now. All they're doing is talking." He blew air out of his mouth. "Who knew this would be so boring?"

"Your idea," she mumbled.

"Ten minutes, you two!" called one of the employees.

"Shit. Come on, mate." Jamie gripped the binoculars tighter. "Just do it."

A few more minutes went by before Cathy saw Jonas move. "They're holding hands, correct?"

"Hmm?"

"Jamie, are you even watching?"

"That cow did it again! She didn't shoot one duck, and she got a giraffe this time -"

"You're hopeless." She took the binoculars, careful not to choke him, and watched. "Yeah, they're holding hands. Oh, wow…"

"Cathy, come on, I want them back."

"In a sec. Awwww. He really has beautiful eyes, you know…God, the way he's looking at her…"

"Give 'em back, Cathy."

"Take out the ring, Jonas, come on now." She was on the edge of her seat. "Take it out."

"Cathy, just give me the damn binoculars," he said, yanking them out of her hands.

"Hey! I wasn't done with those!" She made a grab at him, and he ducked out of the way.

"Would you sod off?!"

"Don't be such a jerk, Jamie!"

"Six minutes!" came the voice from below.

But neither of them heard it; the sound of their seat creaking violently was all they were concerned about. They'd rocked it so hard that they were swinging back and forth, unceasingly. Jamie instinctively grabbed Cathy, securing her to his chest, waiting as the seat stabilized. Cathy was clinging to his shirt, breathing heavy.

"You alright?" he asked.

"Yeah. You?"

He swallowed. "Yeah."

They sat in silence before the voice came again: "Four minutes!"

"It's not worth it, Jamie." She refused to move from her position in his arms. "I don't want to miscarry, or fall, or…"

"You won't. It's okay, I'll ask them to…" He trailed off. "His pocket. He's reaching for his pocket, Cathy."

As much as she hated being up so high, she sighed and turned her head. "I can see that."

"I…I think he just asked her," he said quietly.

"He's on his knee."

"Oh God…please say yes."

"SAY YES, KIRA!"

"Cathy!"

"What?"

"We're in public." He giggled. "And I don't want them seeing us."

"Oh, they won't."

"How do you know?"

"She's too focused on him."

They sat for a moment, watching the couple before Kira nodded her head, embracing Jonas and accepting the ring.

"I think we're good," Cathy said, turning her head away as they leaned in.

"You don't want to see them kiss?"

"Haven't we invaded their privacy enough?"

"Not really…"

She was about to answer when they heard, "Time's up!" The wheel moved again, bringing them back to the ground. Jamie gently lifted his wife out of the seat, leading her through the exit gate with a smile on his face.

"Happy that Kira accepted, are we?"

"Well, yeah, but…no."

"What, then?"

"Remember when we were younger? When I teased you about the Ferris wheel?"

"Yeah…so?"

"I promised I'd cure you from your fear of it, and hold your hand, and we'd be all mushy."

They'd stopped walking, and he watched her face change. "Well…yes. I suppose you did."

"So I'm right?"

"Yes, Jamie, you're right."

"And…?"

"And what? What else do you want?"

He answered her with a light kiss. "That…and I want to get you a funnel cake. I know you'd like one."

"That's all?"

"You want something else?" He smirked.

"No…no. I just never know what to do with you, Jamie."

"And that's a bad thing?" He pulled her closer, their foreheads together.

She met his gaze, letting him kiss her again. "Of course not."