Fall Too Well (Cozy Creek Collection)

Chapter 31

Everly

T he smell of kettle corn and cider fills the air, and Willow practically skips between Nash and me as we hold her hands. I love seeing the excitement on her face as she takes in the fall festival. It takes me back to when I was a kid and felt the same way. I have a few memories of being here with my mom before she got too sick to take me. Then I remember Anna taking me with her kids, and while I missed my mom, the fall festival was one thing I looked forward to every year and missed when I had moved to another town with Richie.

The Cozy Creek fire brigade has its vintage red fire truck decorated for fall next to the town hall, with firefighters standing in front grilling hot dogs and handing out candy. We pass by vendor tables, sampling the legendary fresh fruit jam from the local Sutton farm and checking out tables by local artists. I see Lu Billings, a local artist, and look through her gorgeous art prints. Nash tells me to pick one, and we’ll hang it out at the tiny home. We settle on a gorgeous mountain view watercolor, and she packages it up for us. We thank her and continue to shop. When we walk by a city hall booth, Kathy Wilson stands there talking to Richie’s parents, and their eyes narrow when they see us walk by. Willow doesn’t notice them, and they make no effort to say hello to her or acknowledge her. It dawns on me that she doesn’t even recognize them. Nice. I exhale a deep breath and glance around nervously, wondering if Richie is here. I hope he isn’t because I don’t have the energy to deal with him or his trouble. We turn and keep walking, not looking their way or acknowledging them. The old me would try to smile, wave, and people please. I am not doing that to people who are intent on destroying me and everything that I love. If Richie wants Willow, which he doesn’t, he can take me back to court. I’m done putting myself or my daughter in toxic environments to keep the peace. There is no peace when it comes to any of them.