Chapter 25
Gage
The air in the farmer’s market smells like sugar, spice, crushed leaves, and apples.
Kids are getting their faces painted, couples walk hand in hand with fresh apple cider donuts, and there is a long line of adults wanting a drink from our booth.
We’re situated between a creperie and a corn dog stand, so it’s the perfect little area for hungry and thirsty guests.
El Abrevadero is closed today so that we can be here, and then everyone is free to go to my dad’s retirement party tonight.
Diana, Iggy, and I are making our signature fall cocktail as quickly as possible, but the demand is high.
It’s an apple crisp margarita featuring white tequila, triple sec, apple juice, lime juice, with a touch of maple syrup.
Normally there would also be a graham cracker crumb and brown sugar rim, but the to-go cups we’re using today won’t allow it.
Iggy and I have worked on the recipe for days trying to make sure it’s perfect, and it’ll be featured on the menu until December.
He is thrilled to have been promoted to manager in my place as we’ve transitioned to me taking on ownership.
His relationship with Chloe is also now official, I couldn’t help but love their adorable hard launch on social media.
It makes me wonder if Celeste would want to do a hard launch on social media.
Neither of us are big into posting on it, at least for personal use.
She’s been drumming up excitement for her non-profit with it, and I obviously use it a lot for the bar.
Maybe it would be fun to post some pictures of us, though.
I’d sure like people to know we’re together, because I’m damn proud to be with her.
When she first walked into my bar back in June, I had no way of knowing that she would change my life forever.
The friendship we’ve built is everything to me.
We’ve become partners, always helping each other and supporting each other.
She’s encouraging me to be better by going to therapy, and I hope I’ve done the same for her by encouraging her to make it through her list. I’ve never met someone so smart, funny, beautiful, and wonderfully complex.
Celeste is made of iron in her strength, pure fire if you cross her, and all of that protects a heart that is so incredibly soft for the people she loves and animals.
This is a woman who has been through the wringer, and still dreams of a fairy tale cottage.
The trust she showed me when she had me take her from behind still staggers me days later, and I’d pretty much rather die than ever betray that trust. She’s the first person I think about when I wake up to see her beautiful red hair splashed across my chest, and my last thought when we fall asleep all tangled together.
I love her beyond anything, and I’m going to tell her soon.
Shaking out of my thoughts, I get back to focusing on what I’m doing.
While I am making a round of four margaritas, Iggy quickly unpacks another box of our biodegradable, disposable to-go pouches that you stick a straw into, just like an adult version of the famous kid’s drink.
People comment as much on the pouches as they do the actual drinks, they love ‘em.
“I hope we have enough of these pouches,” Iggy worries as he lines them up near our workstation.
“I think we have two more boxes back here, and I have an emergency box in my car. If this line keeps up, we’ll be cutting it close,” I say.
“Can’t complain about the business though!” he says with his megawatt smile.
“Definitely not,” I agree.
My attention is caught by a couple walking with a baby who is wailing with quite the set of lungs.
The woman bounces the poor kid on her hip, but the crying won’t stop.
This is one reason I don’t want kids. I like them, but dealing with this sound every day would make me lose my mind. My vocal birds are plenty.
“Cade, come on bud, we’re almost ready to leave. Hang in there,” the woman pleads.
Cade keeps on crying. He might even be getting close to the toddler stage, it’s hard to tell. I just know he looks miserable.
“Kayla, did he nap before we came?” I can hear the man ask wearily.
“No, Derek, because you wanted to get here early to avoid the huge lines. I think he slept for ten minutes in the car,” she replies a little acidly.
“Let’s get him home,” he grouses.
I can’t help but thinking the dude seems like an asshole, as if he’s blaming Kayla for their son having a meltdown. He is doing nothing to help, just acting exacerbated at her. Yet men wonder why they’re lonely. I shake my head at myself, because it’s none of my business.
A few minutes later, Wayne, Gina, the kids, Lyra, and Taran come walking toward the booth to stand in line.
Ava is hanging onto Lyra, chattering with her about something.
Gina has told me many times about the special bond Ava and Lyra have, since Lyra used to watch Ava a lot while Gina was working full time, on top of getting her masters at night before Braden came along.
When they get to the front, Lyra squeezes Ava as I hear her say, “That’s fantastic, Schmoopy. You’ll be the star of the show.”
“Who’s going to be a star?” I say playfully once they reach me.
“Hi Uncle Gagey! I found out this morning that I’m going to be in Annie at school. I’m playing Molly, her best friend!”
“You’ll be amazing, kiddo, congrats!” I exclaim, leaning over the counter to give her a high five.
“I’m going to be in it too, Uncle Gage,” Braden says a little shyly. “I’ll be one of the kids in Hooverville and other things. It’s called the ensemble.”
“Buddy, I’m so proud. You’ll have a blast,” I say, giving him a high five, too.
“Dad, can we play over there?” Ava asks, her attention already diverted by the kids in the bouncy house at the end of the little corridor we’re on.
“Sure, baby. Braden, you coming?”
“Yeah!”
Wayne and the kids trot off, while Taran, Gina and Lyra grab a round of margaritas for themselves.
“So I’m not hallucinating, right? That was Derek looking miserable passing us on our way in?” I hear Lyra ask Gina. Gina cackles.
“It definitely was. Babes, this man right here is the biggest upgrade of your life,” Gina says, patting Taran’s shoulder.
“Yes he is,” Lyra says, smiling up at her husband.
“Thanks, wife,” Taran mumbles sheepishly, but he’s grinning back down at her as he loops an arm around her waist.
“Wait, you said Derek? Who was with a woman and a screaming baby?” I ask.
“Yeah, the cheating bastard was so checked out that he didn’t even notice his ex wife. Why?” Gina asks.
“I saw him pass by, he seems like a total asshat. Lyra, you definitely dodged a bullet, babes,” I tell her with a wink.
She shakes her head but looks at me gratefully.
It must still be unsettling to see her ex, even though she’s now happily married to Taran.
Taran is clearly on the same wavelength since he sticks close to her, his arm never leaving her waist in reassurance.
With a flurry of goodbyes and promises to have a blast at the party later, they leave to join Wayne and the kids so that the line can move along.
The line for our booth stays steady for hours, Iggy and I almost unable to fill those little pouches fast enough while Diana handles the register.
Everyone seems to be enjoying the crisp, sunny day at the market and it’s wonderful to see.
When I check in with Diana, she shows me that we’ve accumulated hundreds more signups for our email list, which is fantastic for customer outreach.
We send out coupons, promotions, and exclusives to people on that list, and it seems to work well for generating more business.
We barely end up having enough left by the time the market winds down and we start packing up.
“This needs to become a yearly tradition,” Diana remarks. “We’ve sold more here today than we sometimes do at the bar on a Saturday night. Pop-ups are amazing.”
I nod, and throw my arm around her shoulders to give her a squeeze.
“I definitely want to look into doing more of these, it’s a fantastic way to reach more people, ” I agree.
“You’re going to be great at owning the place. You know that, right? Tio Julio is leaving it in good hands.”
My cousin is the sweetest.
“I hope so,” I whisper, almost to myself.
A flash of red hair draws my attention. Celeste saunters toward me in a soft looking purple sweater, dark wash jeans, and those white sneakers that are somehow sexier than any heels.
She had a shift this morning, so she promised to come after to help me pack up and go to the party with me.
Tania and Carlo are with her, they picked her up on the way here.
“Hey!” I call, waving like a besotted idiot.
The genuine smile at seeing me that spreads across her face steals my breath, and reminds me why I’m such a besotted idiot.
“Hey yourself! How’s it going here?” she asks.
“It’s been busy but great, mi vida. We’re just breaking everything down now,” I tell her, before turning my attention to Tania and Carlo.
“Did you guys get to check out any of the other stalls?”
“We didn’t. I got back too late from the tattoo parlor, and Cece barely had time to shower, change, and take care of the birds after work,” Tania informs me regretfully.
“I am going to try to make sure we’re here again next year, so hopefully you can come and browse. This market is amazing all year long, too.” I say.
“I love all of the Jersey tomatoes and eggplant in the summer,” Carlo says, and I nod in agreement.
“We’re just about done packing up, maybe we can start making trips to the car,” I say.
Celeste, Tania, and Carlo instantly get to work, hauling out boxes and supplies with me, Diana, and Iggy.
Once our cars are loaded up, we all head to Wayne and Gina’s like a little caravan.