Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Derek
T he Fall Festival is in full swing on Friday night by the time Casey, Eric, and I set up our booth. It’s nestled in the bustling line of vendors. The air smells like fresh hay and spiced apple cider, mixed with the aroma of pumpkin pie from a nearby bakery stand.
Laughter and music fill the air as kids run around, faces painted like animals, their giggles mixing with the live band tuning up on the small stage nearby. Watching the town come together for something simple and good is a sight. As for us, we’re here to sell wine and cider, something I wouldn’t have thought we’d do years back. But these days, it seems like we’re adding more layers to this life I’m trying to build for the kids.
“I have so many pies for you,” Teddy says as he and Sofia walk up with their daughters.
“Your mom is a saint.”
“Wait until you try the apple butter she made, too,” Sofia interjects. “It’s incredible. I could live off it.”
“I never imagined she could make so much with the apples,” I say with a laugh.
“She loves a challenge.” Teddy chuckles. “She kicked me and Dad out of the house so she, Amber, Sof, and the girls could have a full day to bake.”
Amber helped? Maybe I’ll need to keep one of these for myself.
“Auntie Amber has a special recipe for apple crisp,” Hazel says proudly from behind her mom.
“That she does.” Teddy laughs. “Eric, can you help me carry the rest of the stuff?”
“Yes, sir,” he answers as he jumps up and follows Teddy back to their SUV.
“We’re going to go browse.” Sofia grins at me as she and the girls walk off.
Casey’s arranging the bottles of our latest batch carefully to line them up by variety—red, white, the sparkling rosé she and Eric call “fancy,” and two rows of apple cider. I spot her sneaking glances at some of the kids running by and wonder how much longer she’ll put up with hanging around a booth at a festival when all her friends are out playing games.
“Hey, Case,” I call over to her. “You can go join your friends if you want. I’ve got things here.”
She shakes her head, flashing me one of those stubborn smiles she inherited from her mother. “I want to help, Dad.”
I smile, pride and a little tug of sadness and missing her mother mingling together.
“You’re right. Somebody’s gotta keep me in line.” I laugh.
She grins, nodding at the cider. “Plus, we have to make sure people know which one’s the best,” she says, tapping one of the bottles.
“And that’s the cider?”
“Duh.” She rolls her eyes like it’s the most obvious answer in the world. But she’s laughing, and that’s enough for me.
Just as I rearrange the corkscrews and set out a few more tasting glasses, I see Amber walking down the main street with her friend Bree, the two of them laughing as they point at different booths. They’re both wearing big, cozy sweaters, and Amber’s got her hair pulled back with just a few strands slipping free in the breeze. My heart tugs in a way I wasn’t expecting, and I take a breath, steadying myself. I can’t afford to let anything distract me—especially not a pretty teacher with a heartwarming smile.
She’s so beautiful, so confident.
But before I can think of how to approach her, Casey’s already spotted Amber and runs over to greet her.
“Miss Shafer!” she squeals, throwing her arms around Amber. The happiness in her voice and the way she lights up make something ache deep in my chest.
Amber kneels, hugging Casey back, and her gaze lands right on me when she stands.
My chest tightens when our eyes lock.
“Hey, Derek,” she calls out with a smile. “Your cider stand looks like a big hit.”
I nod, giving her a small smile. “We’re doing alright. Just trying to keep up with all these cider enthusiasts.”
She and Bree come closer, both of them looking at the display of bottles with interest. Bree leans in, picking up one of the wine bottles. “You made all of these?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Every last one. Just a little side project that grew into something bigger,” I say. “Started with cider, and then I figured, why not wine too?”
Amber laughs. “I’m impressed. Didn’t know you were so multitalented.”
I smile, not realizing how nice it would feel to hear her say she was impressed.
“Yeah, well, I keep busy.” I shrug, trying to play it off. “Besides, Casey and Eric make good salespeople. They’ll have this place sold out by the end of the day.”
“Dad!” Casey groans, giving me that look that says I’ve embarrassed her beyond repair. But she’s smiling, even as she rolls her eyes.
Eric returns, carrying a caramel apple on top of the pies, his cheeks red from the chill in the air.
“We’ve got the best cider here,” he says, loud enough for the nearby customers to hear. He turns to Bree and Amber, eyes wide. “Do you guys wanna try some?”
I grin widely, proud of how Eric and Casey turn on the charm and talk so highly about what we’ve made. It feels good to see them excited and proud of our farm, knowing that the three of us have built this together.
Amber glances at me, and I nod. “We have tasting glasses,” I say, handing her and Bree each a cup and filling them with our signature cider.
Bree takes a sip and lets out a little gasp. “Oh, that is fantastic! Not too sweet, and the apple flavor really comes through.” She raises an eyebrow at Amber. “You’re buying one of these, right?”
Amber nods, taking a sip and savoring it before she looks at me. “This is honestly one of the best ciders I’ve ever had.”
I can feel the smile sneaking onto my face.
Dang, I really like it when she compliments me. Sharon was never one to give compliments, and I didn’t realize how much I needed them.
“Glad you think so.”
“And it’s a family operation, right?” Amber asks, looking between me and the kids.
“Absolutely,” I say, glancing at Casey and Eric. “They put in just as much work as I do. Maybe more. Casey’s sales pitch is better than anything I could have come up with.”
Casey grins, her cheeks pink. “Miss Shafer, we have two sizes—this one,” she says, holding up the large bottle, “and this smaller one if you don’t think you can finish it all by yourself.”
She looks so serious that I almost laugh, but I keep quiet, letting her work her magic. It feels good to be doing this booth as a family.
Amber chuckles, reaching for the larger bottle. “I think I’ll take the big one,” she says. “Bree?”
Bree nods enthusiastically. “Make it two.”
“Good choice,” I say, handing over the bottles and taking their cash. “And if you like that, the wine’s got a bit of a kick too.”
“Wait, you said nothing about wine, Casey,” Amber teases. “I might buy out everything.”
“Well, I’m not of age, Miss Shafer, so I can’t give you my honest opinion on which is better,” Casey says with a toothy grin.
Amber laughs. “I guess you’re right. I like an honest salesperson.”
“I guess that means I did my job right,” I interject.
Amber grins, shaking her head. “You’re dangerous, Derek. First cider, then wine. Next thing I know, I’ll be on a vineyard tour.”
“Could be arranged,” I say, my voice quieter. She looks at me, eyes wide, a hint of a blush creeping up her cheeks. I’ve said more than I meant to.
I take a step back, panic hitting me as I realize that I’m openly flirting with this woman in front of my kids. I look down at Casey, who doesn’t seem to notice, and breathe a little sigh of relief.
“Wait, are these Mama Shafer’s apple pies?” Bree gasps.
“What?” Amber asks as she cocks her head to the side.
“Yes, ma’am. Little Miss Hazel tells me the apple crisp is her auntie’s special recipe.”
“Mom didn’t tell me that’s why we were baking.” She giggles as she shakes her head. “But it does explain why she wouldn’t let me take any of the apple butter home.”
“Your own mom makes you pay for her food? That’s cold, Miss Shafer.” Eric laughs.
“It is,” Amber jokes. “Tell us more about this wine.”
Casey and Eric jump in, eager to tell them about our different flavors and future batches, pulling Bree into a full tasting session. Amber stays nearby, smiling as she watches the kids’ enthusiasm.
“Do you have a booth at the festival every year?” she asks, her eyes drifting over the bustling booths and bright lights.
“We really just started last year. That’s when I got the wine and the cider ready for consumption. Teddy and Sofia were the original guinea pigs for the tastings. Sofia was raving about it to your mom, so your parents became taste testers, too. Your mom thought of the booth, but I told her I didn’t know if the cider and wine were enough, so she offered to throw in some baked goods. She has some in the farm shop, too.”
“My mom gave you the idea for the booth?” she asks in shock. “Impressive. Learn something new every day. Now that you mention it, I do remember her saying something about helping Teddy’s friend out. I guess it didn’t click before.”
“Yeah, your family has been a big help.”
She smiles and turns away before she glances back at me. “Man, there’s something special about small-town festivals. Feels like everyone’s family.”
The way she looks over her shoulder at me causes a warmth to spread through me. I clear my throat and swallow hard.
“That’s the beauty of it,” I say, keeping my gaze on the crowd. “You know everyone, but at the same time, it’s a new experience each year.”
The band starts up, strumming the opening chords of an old country song, and Amber’s gaze shifts to the stage. She sways a little, caught up in the music, and I’m struck by how natural she looks here, like she belongs.
I can’t take my eyes off her. The way she smiles and looks to be lost in the music causes me to forget about all my apprehensions about her.
“I love this song,” she says, almost to herself. “Reminds me of my childhood.”
I clear my throat. “Good memories?”
“The best,” she says, glancing at me with a smile. “My dad is a karaoke superstar, in case you didn’t know. He used to sing it in the truck whenever we’d go camping. I’d fall asleep halfway there, and he’d just keep singing. Some of my favorite times with him.”
The softness of her voice hits something deep in me. I can almost imagine her as a little girl, curled up in her dad’s truck, safe and content. It’s a feeling I recognize, that same fierce protectiveness I feel for my own kids.
Casey runs over, holding a sample cup. “Dad, try this! Eric and I mixed a little of the cider with the sparkling wine, and it’s amazing, according to Miss Bree!”
I laugh, taking the cup and giving it a sip. She’s right—it’s surprisingly good, a blend of sweet and crisp, and it gets Amber’s seal of approval too. The kids launch into their sales pitch again, telling Amber all about the different ways they can try mixing flavors and experimenting, and I can see her eyes shining like she’s intrigued.
Amber’s eyes meet mine over the kids’ heads, and there’s a warmth there that’s impossible to ignore. I’m trying to keep a wall up, but it’s starting to feel like a losing battle, especially when she looks at me like she’s really seeing me.
Bree buys another bottle, clinking it against Amber’s with a laugh, and they head off to explore the rest of the festival. I watch them go, my chest tightening a bit as Amber glances back, giving me one last smile before she disappears into the crowd with Bree.