Going Au Naturale at Hallow’s Cove (Hallow’s Cove)

18. Brooks

Chapter eighteen

Brooks

I loaded the last of the produce from the truck onto the front of our table. As I glanced around, I was happy with the abundance we had. Our entire family was taking up four stalls, between produce, meat, honey, and body care. It seemed to expand every year, and every year I got to see the fruits of my family’s labor spread out in front of me. It made me appreciate how hard they all worked and how much the farm meant to them.

Though it made me happy, this time always made my hands shake. Today set the general tone for the whole year. Last year it rained for a lot of the day, and sales just weren’t as solid as usual. Though it hadn’t put us in the danger zone, it hadn’t been good either.

It was why I pushed so hard for the certification and made sure we had functioning equipment. Everyone was depending on me, and the market was always a reminder of that.

“Everything looks amazing,” Sydney said as she approached. Today she wore a yellow sundress that made her shine even brighter than normal.

“It really does,” I said. A few days ago, I’d mentioned the festival and invited her but told her she might need to be alone for a while, since I needed to work. Sydney insisted she could help, and here she was, doing an amazing job.

Everything felt like it had been flipped on its head since that night. When we were done, instead of going back to the guest room, she curled up with me. And the next morning she was still there as those first sunrays peaked through the curtains and bounced off her pretty skin.

I allowed myself to stay in bed way longer than I had any morning I think ever, just enjoying being around her. When I did manage to get away I made her breakfast and brought it to bed, which she was very appreciative of. It was nice to laze around together. Once breakfast was over we spent some time just… exploring. Kissing everywhere, touching her most sensitive parts, learning her body. The last few days felt like heaven, one I wasn’t going to be able to leave.

But today everyone had done a great job, even Sydney. She’d been helping us set up all morning, even stacking up all the body care intricately along the table with Bailey. “Thank you for today. I know it’s technically your day off.”

I grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. She returned it in kind. “Of course. There’s nothing else I’d rather do.”

My heart felt tight. After all this was over, I had to tell her how I felt, and I had an idea of just how to do it.

But that was for later. Now, we had a festival to work. I could see the beginnings of a crowd trickling in; lots of unfamiliar faces, which was good. It meant tourists were finding their way here.

It got busy quickly. Every stall had lines, people wanting to try a little bit of everything. The blur that was Blossom Fest started the way it always did: with a series of customers asking questions, buying stuff, and all of us running around to restock.

It was early afternoon by the time it felt like things were beginning to slow. This always happened, with people breaking for a little while to have lunch.

I slumped down on a stack of empty crates, needing to rest for just a minute.

“Here,” a voice I hadn’t heard in a while said from above me.

I looked up, and Bridget stood there, a water bottle held out in her hand.

“Thanks,” I said, taking it and downing most of it in a single swig. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

She scoffed, tossing a lock of hair behind her. Though she still had the telltale curls, she’d dyed it black with a neon shock of purple in the front. She had a dark streak of eyeliner across her eyes with orange eye shadow around it. Bridget had always loved a bold look. It was part of what made her so cool, along with her knowledge of exactly what she wanted to do.

She was the first Hoffman in generations to decide to leave Hallow’s Cove. No one was forced to stay, but as the farm expanded, everyone had found something they enjoyed in it. Not Bridget, though. This internet-less town had weighed her down. So as soon as she was old enough, she decided to go to school in Stonebridge for software and robotics. Now she did medical equipment research for the hospital and kept our website updated.

“You would have known if you had stopped by Mom’s once in the past week.” She quirked her brow, trying to figure out what was up.

“I’ve… been busy,” I replied. It was odd I hadn’t been to my parents’ in a week.

“Busy with what?”

“Hey,” Sydney said, coming up beside the two of us. “Bailey was wondering if you’d moved any of her sample honey jars. She can’t find them.”

I had to blink for a moment. Something about Sydney in this sundress made me lose all concentration. And I couldn’t wait to get home and bend her over something and push it up to get inside her.

Gods, I was terrible. “Uh, I think they’re in the cab of the truck. I didn’t want them to break. I can grab them.”

I went to stand, but Sydney placed her hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry, I can check.”

I watched her saunter off toward the truck.

“Ah, now I see what you’ve been doing ,” Bridget teased, snapping me from my thoughts.

“Stop,” I warned her, my face aflame.

“She’s cute,” she continued, completely ignoring me. “Totally my type, but we’ve always had similar tastes. Where’d she come from?”

“You stay away,” I said with a playful push to her shoulder. My sister, besides being cooler than me, was a huge flirt. “She’s our organic auditor.”

Bridget mock-gasped and clutched her nonexistent pearls. “I knew you wanted that certification, but sleeping with the auditor for it seems a little low, even for you.”

I rolled my eyes. “You know I would never.”

She laughed. “I do. It’s still strange someone’s caught your eye. That’s never happened; she must be special.”

A light smile touched my lips. “Yeah. She is.”

“And what’s with Grandpa?” she asked. “He’s been chasing around her co-worker just as much as you have Sydney it seems. I saw them sharing a candy apple earlier.” I groaned. “Don’t remind me, I have no idea, and I don’t wanna know.” “I think it’s cute,” she said. “Grandpa seems… happy.” “Yeah,” and I did like to see that. I just didn’t want to think too hard about it.

A few minutes later, Sydney returned. “Bailey shooed me away and told me to take a break.” She looked at Bridget as if she hadn’t noticed she was there earlier. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Sydney.”

She held her hand out, and my sister took it. “Bridget. This one’s much cooler older sister.”

I bumped her once again. “She wishes.”

“Oh, nice to meet you.”

“You too. You know what, I was just telling Brooks he needed a break as well. Why don’t you guys go take a walk? We got it here.”

“Are you sure?” I asked. I didn’t normally leave the table at all.

“Yeah. Just because you’re the boss doesn’t mean you don’t get a break.”

I smiled, knowing exactly what she was doing. “Sure. We’ll be back soon. Holler if you need anything.”

She waved me off, and I stood, reaching instinctually for Sydney’s hand, and we began walking through the festival. I hardly ever got to see the rest of the stalls.

Almost everyone in town attended. Cool Beans always had a stand for coffee, The Bookstore came to buy and trade for new books, and the ski lodge came down to sell their iced hot chocolate and advertise the year-round ice-skating rink.

We walked hand in hand, starting down Artist’s Alley. This was where all the craftsmen were. Everything from pottery to handmade jewelry to fiber arts was here. Before I ran the farm and could sneak away, I would always end up here. I loved seeing all the things people brought and made.

Sydney paused at one specific booth. It was a photographer selling their photos on large canvases. They were a bit darker, pictures of abandoned castles and dark woods, and she examined each one.

“Did you take all these yourself?” I asked, and the selkie who ran the booth nodded.

“Each and every one. I travel all around the world to find these abandoned places.”

“It’s beautiful,” Sydney said, looking wistfully at the photos, I assumed thinking about her own ruined camera. “Can I ask what settings you used to achieve such a dark black?”

The two of them chatted about camera and editing settings for a little while. I’d never seen Sydney actually talk about photography this way. She knew a lot and spoke about it so passionately it was endearing, and she ended up purchasing one of the smaller prints of the night sky before we continued.

“Can I ask you a question?” I asked. We’d been talking about ourselves over the last few days, but this was something I always felt weird mentioning. But now I couldn’t help it.

“You just did,” she snarked.

“Ha-ha.”

She laughed genuinely. “Sure.”

“Why are you an organic certifier?”

She paused. “What do you mean?”

“It’s just… You don’t quite seem to like it.”

Sydney sighed. “It was a job, and I was freshly out of college. I don’t hate it, but I’m not passionate about it.”

“What are you passionate about?”

“Photography, obviously, but I don’t think I’d be good enough to make it full-time. I’m thinking about going into consulting.”

I blinked. “Why would you do that if you’re not passionate about it?”

“Money,” she answered quickly. “I just want life to be… easy. And money does that. And consulting is good money.”

I guess I could understand that. Money is what kept the farm going and was something I thought about often. But I wouldn’t say it was the most important thing to me.

“You spend a lot of time working; shouldn’t it be something you enjoy?”

“I find enjoyment in other things.” Though she sounded certain, her face told me otherwise. “Besides, there aren’t a lot of other options.”

My mind was reeling. I had to stop myself from saying everything I was thinking.

Just stay with me. Take photos for the rest of your life.

I hadn’t even confessed my feelings yet, so I certainly couldn’t go around thinking about us living together. No matter how right it felt.

So for now we just continued our walk. We stopped by Cool Beans and grabbed a hot cup of coffee to drink while we roamed.

“Look at you out of your stall!” Jake said as he approached. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

“Whatever, man,” I replied playfully. “How’s the festival been treating you?”

He looked slightly annoyed. “Fine, except for all the people who want to be in my store. If I didn’t need sales to keep it open, I would close forever.”

“Then no one would get to hunt for their own treasure.”

He rolled his eyes. Though he wasn’t a fan of… people generally, he did enjoy helping them find just what they needed. And he almost always had it or knew where to acquire it. He didn’t think much of it, but it was a true talent. A few years ago, when I’d needed a part for one of our oldest tractors and everyone told me I wouldn’t find it anywhere, he had.

“So I closed for an hour and figured I would come for Boba.”

“There’s Boba here?” Sydney asked, sounding excited.

I nodded. “It’s Jake’s favorite and very good.”

“I usually have it once a week in the city. I love taro.”

“Then let’s go.”

We headed over to Bubbles and Brews, and we each ordered our own. I got matcha because I wasn’t a big fan of tapioca, but Sydney got a taro tea that was purple with white foam sitting on top, and Jake had a bright green honeydew tea he’d already slurped halfway down. I would be surprised if this was the first one he’d had today, and even more so if it was the last.

The three of us made our way around the rest of the bustling market before heading back toward our stall.

“Do you have any cherries back there?” Jake asked as we approached.

“Maybe. Only if you have a bottle to share with me when it’s done.”

“I always do.”

We went behind the booth, and I grabbed him a few cartons before he scurried off.

“What was that about?” Sydney asked.

“Moonshine,” Brooks answered easily. “Jake has always loved brewing it, and has gotten really good at it, and a lot of time he gets his flavorings from us.”

“Oh interesting.” I watch her eyes roam over the booth, looking probably a lot like I do when I’m working here. “I’m going to go grab another case of strawberries,” Sydney said, pointing at the almost empty container.

“I can do it.”

“Don’t worry, I got it.” She gave me a quick peck on the lips I wasn’t expecting and turned to go.

I touched my fingers to my lips and smiled.

“Hey, Brooks,” Gwen said as she approached the table.

I turned to greet her but was instantly soured by the face next to her. Preston Fairfield stood there, his arm around her. It wasn’t because he cared about her; it was about control, and it disgusted me.

“Hey, Gwen,” I said, specifically addressing her. “Are you having fun at the festival?”

“She’s fine,” Preston answered for her. “It’s the same as it is every year.”

I could feel my knuckles turn white as I grabbed the table in front of me, trying to keep calm.

“Can I get you anything?” I said through gritted teeth.

“No, we’re just looking around.” He peered over the produce with his nose turned up. “Are they organic?” he asked.

“Technically, not yet. But we are getting certified.”

“So no?” he said bluntly.

“No.”

He sniffed. “People really care about those things these days. This is all basically worthless without it. You may want to reconsider my offer before you’re all dried up and have to take the lowest deal you can get.”

“I think we’ll manage. And either way, I wouldn’t be taking any money from you.”

I could see his pale face light up in anger, the red bleeding over his cheeks.

“I’m trying to be fair. We wouldn’t want anything to happen to the farm.”

I stood up straighter. I stood taller than most humans, but I towered over this pathetic little worm.

“Are you threatenin’ me?”

The loud crash of a crate behind me drew my attention. Sydney was standing there, and she looked white as a ghost.