Chapter 19
The fire was out, but the wonderful scent of woodsmoke still lingered, and Via had packed up everything and put the trash
in a bag to take to the house when she looked over at Leo still struggling with Fergus’s huge sleeping bag.
“Need some help?” she asked.
He grunted, trying to stuff the roll in its bag. “I’ve got it,” he proclaimed, just as the roll popped open. He sat back and
pushed up his glasses. “Or not.”
She crouched next to him. “It has to be super tight when you roll it.” They spread it out again, and she folded it in half
longways, then in half again because it was so big. “You take that side, I’ll do this side,” she said, pointing to his right.
“Remember, roll it tight.”
“Got it.”
They started moving forward, rolling the bag in united rhythm. It was kind of amazing how coordinated they were when they
did a task together, like working in Second Chapter or hosting Meow and Mingle. When they got to the end, she instructed him
to hold on to it while she opened the bag. He picked up the roll and tried to stuff it in.
“I don’t think it’s tight enough,” he said, pushing on the roll as she pulled on the bag. He was kneeling over her and she was still leaning on her heels.
“Give it a big push,” she said.
He stilled, a little frown forming. “You sure?”
“Positive. It’s almost there.”
“I don’t think it will work—”
“Just push, Leo.”
With one big shove he knocked her off her feet, literally, onto her back. The sleeping bag sprang open again as he lost his
balance and collapsed on top of her. Both of them burst into laughter as he propped himself on his elbows, his arms on either
side of her body.
“Guess that wasn’t the best idea,” she said, giggling.
“Just for the record, I did try to warn you.”
The mid-October air was seasonally cool, but a pleasant heat was building inside Via, made even more intense after last night.
Camping under the stars had now moved up to her favorite thing to do on her bucket list . . . but only if Leo was involved.
“You know we’re experiencing a cliché,” she pointed out.
“Are we?”
His deep, husky tone made her spine tingle. “The girl falls down—”
“The boy falls on her.” His glasses slipped down his nose. “I’ve seen the movie.”
She slowly pushed them up for him. “I’ve read the book.”
His eyes darkened to almost forest green. “What happens next?”
She didn’t bother talking herself out of touching him this time. Her hands slipped into the back of his thick, irresistible
hair. Ah, it felt as good as she remembered. “Depends,” she whispered.
“On what?” he murmured, moving his head closer to hers, looking at her like she was a midnight snack he couldn’t resist.
Her mouth was inches from his. “On—”
“Ahem.”
Via froze, her fingers still in Leo’s hair, his eyes the size of dinner plates. Slowly they both turned their heads. Fergus
was looming over them.
Leo practically flew off Via and landed on his feet. “Uh, hey,” he said, shoving his hand crookedly on his hip like he hadn’t
just been caught lying on top of Fergus’s sister. “How’s it going?”
She almost laughed at his adorable awkwardness. But he wasn’t smiling. Neither was Fergus. She was about to stand on her own
when Leo grabbed her hand and pulled her up.
Fergus crossed his beefy arms and leveled his gaze at Leo, who stared right back at him. Via’s eyes jumped from one man to
the other. “What’s going on here?”
“I was about to ask the same question.” Fergus looked at her. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” She frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
He looked back at Leo. “Just checking.”
She rolled her eyes. Fergus was doing his annoying protective big brother thing again. She punched him in his massive bicep.
“Knock it off.”
“Ow!” He rubbed his arm. “That actually smarted a bit.”
“Good. C’mon, Leo. I’m sure lunch is ready by now.” She looked up at Fergus. “Right?”
“Yeah.” He shot Leo another warning look and turned around and went back to the house.
“That was embarrassing,” Via mumbled, picking up her sleeping bag.
“He’s a concerned brother.” Leo picked up Fergus’s bag. “Nothing embarrassing about that.”
But Fergus’s disruption brought her back to earth. What would have happened if he hadn’t interrupted them? Something definitely not friendly . . . and undoubtedly phenomenal. Another shiver went through her at the thought.
Then she had another, less lofty thought. What would that have done to their friendship? Now she really felt awkward. She
was the one who touched him first, and she wondered if the whole thing had been in her imagination—that he was just going
along with her teasing to be polite.
But as he opened the sliding door for her, she caught the heat in his eyes. That definitely wasn’t her imagination.
When they sat down to eat, they avoided looking at each other. Good decision, considering Fergus had shot Leo another warning
look over egg rolls and kung pao chicken. Dora had chosen to go over to Charlie’s and eat with his family—another arrow in
the direction of their relationship getting serious.
Thankfully, none of her family brought up Earl or Second Chapter. Shortly after the meal ended, Via started gathering her
things. It was time to get back to their apartments, and reality.
She expected Fergus to give her the third degree about Leo before they left, but he didn’t. He was probably saving it for
later, and she wasn’t going to poke that bear right now.
The ride home was quiet, with neither of them talking. Unlike the ride to her parents, it was comfortable, with Sir cozied
up in Leo’s lap. When they arrived in the parking lot behind their businesses, he helped her carry things upstairs and into
her apartment. Once he set them down in her living room, she turned to him.
“Thanks,” she said, suddenly feeling unsure. Should she invite him to stay? A huge part of her didn’t want their time together
to end. But while the vibe between them was companionable, it wasn’t as charged as it had been when they were camping. It
was . . . friendly. Again.
Still, she felt like she needed to be hospitable. “Do you, ah, want to come in—”
“I’ve got work to do in the apartment,” he said, taking a step back. “Thanks, though. Rain check, maybe?”
“Sure. Rain check.”
He nodded and left without being accosted by Sir, who was in the back, presumably using his litter box.
Via shut the door. It was a wise decision for him to leave, considering what had almost happened at the campsite. That didn’t
mean she wasn’t disappointed.
The next week flew by. Other than the two evenings Leo and Via worked in the shop, where together they had found three more
of Earl’s specified books, they hadn’t interacted with each other. It was like everything that happened on the camping trip
had been a dream.
Realtor Susan had stopped by midweek to tour the property and would list it November first. Leo was over halfway finished
with Earl’s apartment, and Second Chapter was starting to resemble a normal bookstore. He was hoping he would have learned
more about his uncle by now, but he hadn’t. Earl Smith didn’t throw anything away. He also didn’t reveal much, not even in
his own personal effects.
Other than cleaning up the apartment and bookstore, he had a nice lunch on Tuesday with Bennett at the Corner Eatery, had
taken Charlie for another ride in the Turismo—they could talk sports cars all day long—picked up the record player from Needle
Drop Vinyl, and got a needed haircut at Barb’s Barbershop. It wasn’t the stylish coiffeur he was used to and she’d left it
longer on the top and sides, but he liked it.
Keeping busy was good for fulfilling his stipulations, but his mind wasn’t far from Via, and he caught himself wondering what she was doing and if he should go to the café for a visit.
Even Sir hadn’t been pawing or meowing at his door.
He missed her, that was clear. Sir too, surprisingly.
But he stayed reserved. One week to go before he left Pecan Corner.
He didn’t want to think about that, or leaving her, but it was the reality of the situation.
On Saturday they were scheduled to go to the midnight corn maze, and it seemed like the longest day of his life. He wasn’t
due to pick her up until eleven thirty, and as that time neared, his anticipation made his nerves dance. He felt like a teenager
with his first crush, and he supposed half of that was accurate—he definitely had a crush on her. After changing his mind
three times about what he was going to wear, he decided on one of Earl’s fishermen sweaters to add to his usual uniform of
jeans and running shoes. He’d never worn jeans as much as he had since coming to Pecan Corner.
Finally, it was time to go. He knocked on her door, absently smoothing down his hair. This wasn’t a date, but he still had
the jitters. But when she opened the door, his nerves immediately settled.
As usual, Via was dressed in cozy, autumn-hued clothing, and underneath her puffy teal coat she had on a cranberry sweater,
jeans, and the boots she wore to the pumpkin patch. She also had corncob earrings, of all things. Quirky, and so very Via.
“Hi,” she said, smiling.
His heartbeat triple-timed. “Hey.” Then he frowned at her empty hand, expecting to see a leash or the catpack. “Where’s Sir?”
“I couldn’t get him to budge tonight. He wanted to stay home with Squeaks. I had to move her in with us because she couldn’t
behave around the other kitties. She’s been by his side ever since.”
“Smitten kittens,” he said. At her nod, he added, “And I’ve been replaced.”
“Looks like it.” She shut the door behind her.
“Can you handle not having a chaperone?”
She smiled, but it didn’t seem to reach her eyes. “Since when do friends need supervision?”
Friends. He was starting to hate that word.
They walked down the stairs, and he headed for the front door.
“Aren’t we taking Gold Yeller?” she asked.
He paused. “I figured we’d take my car.”
“It’s dusty at the farm,” she said, tugging on the hem of her coat. “The Turismo will get dirty.”
Leo smiled. She’d gotten the name right. “I can wash it.”
Her eyebrows lifted. He was a little surprised himself. Three weeks ago he wouldn’t have dared let farm dirt get on his precious
car.
“Let’s take the truck anyway,” she said. “I might want to get some more cornstalks.”
He didn’t think she could cram any more decorations inside Pawsitive Vibes, but he nodded and pulled out his key ring that
held the Gold Yeller and apartment keys. “Our carriage awaits.”
Sanderson Farm, which hosted the corn maze, was closer to Pecan Corner than Paradise Pumpkin Patch, so the drive was short.
When they arrived, the parking lot was full and the overspill lot was almost filled. “Popular attraction,” he said, pulling
into a space.
“All right, here are the rules,” she said after they got out of the truck and headed to the farm. “You have half an hour to
make it through the maze or the staff will rescue you.”
He stuck his hands into Earl’s jacket pocket. “How big is this maze?”
“Not too large, but it’s easy to get lost. They let you enter in intervals so you aren’t getting stuck behind people. If the line’s too long, we can get some snacks.”
“I’m down for that,” he said. “What else?”
“Um, that’s it basically. We can divide and conquer or stay together—”
“We’re staying together.” He was tired of dividing and conquering. “This is my first corn maze. I need guidance.”
“You’ll figure it out before I will, Harvard Boy,” she said with a grin.
“I seriously doubt it, Smitten Kitten, since you’ve done this before.”
“It’s new every year.” Gravel crunched under their feet, and white cloudy puffs hung in the air as she talked. “When I first
moved back, I got stuck and they had to find me. Fergus still won’t let me live it down.”
Leo grinned. “I’m liking your brother more and more.”
She laughed. “Then maybe you should have gone with him.”
But he didn’t want to be here with anyone but her.
They walked into the maze area. Lanterns were placed at strategic corners of the maze, electric lights flickering inside.
It gave plenty of light but also a soft, natural feel. The line wasn’t too long and it seemed most of the maze goers were
standing at the concession stand, as if to fortify themselves before entering.
At midnight, a voice came over the loudspeaker. “Hello, corn maze guests! In one minute we’ll be opening the maze, so get
your place in line. Remember, no pushing, shoving, or other shenanigans. If you damage the corn, you pay for it. All right,
let the fun begin!”
They got in line and a gong sounded over the speaker, like a grandfather clock marking midnight. An attendant unhooked the rope that blocked the maze and the line moved. Just like Via said, they were being released in increments. When it was their turn, she was standing in front of him.
She glanced over her shoulder. “Ready?” When he nodded, they went in.
Immediately he was surrounded by tall, mostly brown cornstalks. The sweet scent of corn hung in the air, mixed with an earthy
smell that wasn’t unpleasant. Very outdoorsy and autumn-esque. They strolled down the first row, then curved around a not-so-sharp
corner.
“Pretty easy so far,” he said.
“Just wait.”
They walked for a few more minutes and ended up at a dead end. He scratched his head. “How did that happen?”
“The Sandersons know what they’re doing.” She turned, her back to the wall of corn. “We just need to turn around and—”
Bam! The lights all shut down simultaneously. Squeals and screams echoed in the maze.
“Is this part of the show?” Leo said, looking around. He shouldn’t have bothered. He couldn’t see a thing.
“Attention,” the loudspeaker voice said. “We seem to have a breaker problem. Hang tight and we’ll get it fixed right up.”
“It’s not like we have a choice,” Via mumbled. He felt a light brush against his hand. “Leo?”
He moved toward her voice. “I’m right here. Are you scared?”
“Of course not. I’m annoyed. I don’t like being stuck in the dark.”
The next words came out before he could stop them. “Not even with me?”