Chapter 23
T here’s a lot of traffic this morning. I can hear it from all the way up in the attic. I’m already dressed and gulping down my coffee. Aiden is in the shower. We may have had sex one more time this morning... in my bed. Might as well cover all the bases, right?
I am still buzzing from the past twenty-four hours.
I mean who knew that the sometimes grumpy, kinda quiet Aiden could throw down in bed like that?
And the dirty talking . Oh my God. In a hundred years I wouldn’t have guessed that Aiden Parker was a master at saying superhot things in bed.
And that’s not the only thing he’s the master of.
I mean, I had heard tell of a G-spot before, but until he found it like he had a map, I had no idea what my body was capable of.
The speed with which I orgasmed—two thumbs up.
Would recommend. There really should be a Yelp for sex.
We need to discuss it, of course. The sex.
The orgasms. The additional sex. Maybe even the dirty talking.
We need to talk about what it means and what it doesn’t and just.
.. what ? But one glance at my watch tells me we’re already cutting it close.
It’s nearly eight. There is a large group of people who are going to hunt me with pitchforks if I don’t get downstairs ASAP and start answering questions and handling things.
Aiden comes out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his hips, and I am catapulted back to the night I arrived here.
“I’ve gotta go,” I say.
“Yeah, me too. I’m meeting an apple distributor at eight,” Aiden says.
I stop. “Wait. You are?”
He shrugs. “I’m going to hear him out, at least.”
I smile at him. “That’s amazing. I’m proud of you, Aiden.”
He grins, bashful, before disappearing into his room. When he comes out, he’s dressed, but his hair is still wet and he’s rubbing it with the towel in that way that makes me a little insane. I swear, one word from him, and I’ll be back in bed with him again.
“Hey.” He stops me as I try to pass him to grab my laptop from my room.
“Hey,” I repeat. I am watching his bottom lip. The same one I sucked on endlessly last night. The same one that whispered filthy things in my ear while I screamed his name.
After the things we did to each other last night there should be no shyness today, but I can’t help but glance down. Looking at him and his mussed hair isn’t helping me with concentrating on the work I have to do today. The ache between my thighs can wait. It’s going to have to wait.
“We need to talk,” he says.
“Yeah, definitely.” I nod. “Later?”
“Later.”
I move past him, grab my laptop and my bag and hustle over to the door. I promised Maria and Ashley that I’d meet them for coffee in the food barn this morning. I’m still hoping Sera will read my tarot.
***
It’s late afternoon before I can stop and take a breath.
The place has made twice as much money today as it did yesterday, and we haven’t even gotten all the income from the Harvest Ball tonight.
We are well beyond our expenses and far into profit territory.
The bakery is raking it in. The brewery is raking it in.
“Pictures with Pumpkin” is honestly still the largest draw, but none of the activities are underperforming.
I am sitting at one of the picnic tables in the food barn when Sera slides onto the bench across from me. It’s less busy in here right now but still packed. She has a small team of helpers from town working behind the counter at the moment. It’s the first time I’ve sat down all day.
“Hey!” I say.
“Hi,” Sera replies. “You look tired.”
I frown. “Thanks?”
“Sorry. I just meant... you’ve done so much. And it’s been fantastic, Ellie. I’ve made more this weekend than the last two seasons combined.”
I give her a tired but sincere smile. “I’m really glad to hear that.”
“You were right, putting up a sign that says the cider is magic really made sales take off.”
“Yeah, well, I could use some magic right now.” But what I need is an energy drink, not magic cider.
“Hang on, let me get you some.”
“Wait,” I say. “You don’t happen to have any tarot cards, do you?”
Sera’s eyes light up, and she nods. “I sure do. Want me to do a quick reading for you?”
“Please.”
She returns with a cup of apple cider and a pack of tarot cards. She hands me the cup and spreads the cards on the picnic table in front of us.
“What is the question you want answered?”
I don’t have to think very long. “What does the future hold for me?”
She nods sagely. There is much shuffling and some woo-woo talk before she knocks her knuckles against the cards, spreads them once more, and says, “Choose five.”
“Any five?”
“Yep.”
I reach out a shaking hand and select five cards from the spread. Sera collects them into a little pile and sets them in front of her. Then she flips over the first card.
“The Hierophant,” Sera says. “It means you’ll have a long and happy life.”
“That’s promising.” I scooch closer and take a swig of cider.
She flips over another. “The Judgment card. Ooh, that means you have a big choice to make.”
“Do I ever,” I groan. “What choice should I make?” I am staring at the cards as if they can actually speak to me. Like, stand up and talk. And honestly, I wish they would. Should I take my old job back if Steve offers it to me? Or, better question, is Steve going to offer me my old job back?
Sera flips over the next card. “Uh, oh. Two of Swords.” She shakes her head.
“What? What does that mean?” Can you have a panic attack over tarot? Seems like the wrong vibe, yet here I am.
“It means confusion lies ahead,” Sera tells me.
“Ahead? No. Confusion is in the here and now, believe me.”
She flips over the fourth one. “Oh, wow.”
“What?” My leg is bobbing up and down beneath the table like a piston.
“Two of Wands. You’re faced with a decision that will impact your long-term direction in life.” She sets down the card and touches my hand. “Something really big is coming up. It’s an important decision. You need to be ready to make a choice, Ellie.”
“No kidding,” I moan. Okay, I guess this means Steve will be offering me my old job back, right?
“One more,” she says.
I take a deep breath. “Hit me.”
She turns over the last card. There is a naked man and woman standing in a garden. An angel is hovering over them. It is not unlike Adam and Eve. Nor is it unlike some of the things I’ve done recently. The irony is too much. I shift in my seat and clear my throat.
“Oh, the Lovers,” she breathes.
“Love?” I ask.
“Yes.” She nods. “Love.”
I am frantic. Just love? “Love now? Love later? When love? What love? How love?” I fire off these questions in rapid succession, staring at Sera like a deranged person.
Sera laughs and shakes her head. “You’ve got to relax. Remember, everything in the universe is always in perfect order.”
Tell that to my bouncing knee. “Is it? Because at the moment it feels like a helter-skelter mess.”
“It is,” Sera assures me. “And as for what it means, some say the Lovers card can indicate a spiritual connection with a soulmate,” she says. “Or a relationship that teaches you to be true to yourself and make good decisions.”
Spiritual connection with a soulmate? Aiden’s face pops to mind.
A relationship that teaches you to be true to yourself and make good decisions? Geoff, in a roundabout way.
Sera touches my hand again. “Just remember, Ellie. The answers to every question are already inside of you. You’ll know them when you need them.”
Okay. Look. I love a good Yoda-like saying as much as the next girl.
I really do. But at the moment, Sera’s words just make me want to stamp my foot.
“Thanks,” I say. Because getting angry with Gandalf types is a losing proposition.
Everybody knows that. Plus, it was nice of Sera to read my tarot. Now it’s up to me to figure it all out.
As I leave the barn, the hired hands from town along with all the farmhands are already stringing up the lights and garlands to turn this barn into the Autumn Harvest Festival showcase tonight.
I stop by the hay barn to check on the makeshift kindergarten set up inside.
The space has been divided into sections.
Each has its own big tent. Babies and toddlers.
Younger kids. And older kids. Charlotte has organized all of this, and there are at least three adults for every set of children per the legal guidelines.
The kids are engaged in age-appropriate activities, and all seem to be having the time of their lives.
There are plenty of space heaters and sleeping bags, and the kids are thrilled they will be camping for the second night in a row.
There is also a plan to take them by the animal barn to meet the livestock.
We’ve already established that, despite her insurance policy, Miss Guin will remain in her pen.
No point tempting fate. We want it to be a safe and fun evening for everyone.
“My friends and I are all gonna take turns stopping by the Harvest Ball,” Charlotte informs me. “I’m planning to go first.”
“I’m glad you’ll get to see it,” I tell her. “Thank you for handling all of this,” I say, waving my hand around the barn.
“Are you kidding? This is fun for me,” she replies. “I love kids.”
I leave Charlotte to chase after some five-year-olds, and head back to the inn. On my way up to the apartment, I go to the front desk. Mom is there. I take a deep breath. I need to get this over with. It’s time. “Hey, Mom, can I talk to you for a sec?”
“Of course, dear.”
We step into the apartment for some privacy. If anyone comes to the front desk, there is a little bell for them to ring for service. It’s old-timey and quaint, and at the moment I’m very thankful for it.
We’re sitting in the Doll Room when Dad walks by. “Dad, can you come in for a minute?”
Dad steps into the room. “What’s on your mind, dear?”