2. Hattie
TWO
Hattie
The pumpkin spice latte Lina brought over spills on my bedroom floor, and I get on my knees to clean it up. Living with a seven-year-old leaves me with paper towels in every room, just in case. I clean it up, thankful I wasn’t dressed when it spilled.
Now I’m pacing in my underwear, trying to breathe in and out like a normal human.
I know I should be getting ready for the masquerade party, but it’s the last thing I want to do.
I’m too worried about Ollie’s dad showing up and what I’m supposed to tell Ollie about it.
It has been at least seven years since either of us saw him, and I’m not looking to change that.
“Mom?” Ollie knocks on my door, startling me out of my thoughts.
I pull on a random long T-shirt and open the door, forcing a smile on my face. “What’s up?”
“Do I have to stay with the babysitter? She smells like diapers and always pinches my cheeks,” he grumbles.
“I’m sorry, Love Bug, but yes. You know I’m looking for someone else more permanently, but it’s an ongoing process.
” I sigh. That’s another thing on my mind; I am taking on more work, and I need someone to help out with Ollie.
He is homeschooled, so it is a little more time than most babysitters are used to, which is why I put out the search for a nanny, but so far it has been a dead end.
“Okay,” he groans, and I kiss his head, inhaling the sweet smell of his watermelon shampoo from his shaggy dark curls.
“Why don’t you read for a bit? I’ll come down soon. I just have to get ready,” I tell him, and he nods solemnly while heading downstairs.
I check the time; I have twenty minutes to get dressed and finish my makeup. At least I will be wearing an eye mask, so I don’t need to spend too much time on eye makeup.
I put on my red lipstick I save for nights out and my costume jewelry I bought for tonight. I tug on the thigh-high fishnet stockings I have with the garter straps.
They are just for me; something about wearing them makes me feel equally sexy and elegant.
I slide on my red dress; it clings to my chest and waist, but flows down my thighs, with a slit up my left leg.
It is sexier than I am used to, definitely different from what I wear to work on the farm, but Lina convinced me.
Lina, my best friend and bakery owner on the orchard, is usually behind the more risky choices I make. But I guess that’s what makes us best friends. Lina, Tilly, and I are inseparable as we always have been ever since we all moved onto the orchard. Well, now Bells, too.
Tilly and I were the first to move here, both of us running from our families when we had nowhere else to go.
Benny took us in like her children and gave us jobs, places to live, and honestly, a family.
Tilly took care of the farm, doing handiwork and filling in wherever needed while Benny put me through vet tech school.
Seeing I had an interest in animals and needing someone to help with the animals on the orchard, she made a deal with me.
If I went to vet school on her dime, I’d live here for free and work for free as the orchard’s vet.
It was an amazing trade-off, one I have never regretted.
Lina joined the orchard a few years after us, opening her bakery in the abandoned shop Benny had long ignored. At first she kept to herself, but over time, the three of us became best friends—each of us working cohesively and becoming a bit of a found family with Benny.
At first, it was hard adjusting to the owner of the orchard, Benny, dying and her estranged niece, Bells, coming to take over without any warning.
But she won us each over with her skills, kindness, and her likeness to Benny.
Of course, Tilly liked her more than the rest of us.
She and Bells have been dating for the last few months, despite their rocky start.
While it sucked watching Tilly be with someone else at first, it did finally help me get over my crush.
It was nice to see Tilly be happy, even if it wasn’t with me.
I decide to carry my heels down the stairs; I’d have to wear them the rest of the night, and my feet were already crying just from looking at them. But they make the dress, plus I could use the extra height at my small five-foot-one.
I walk downstairs and find Ollie sitting on the couch talking to our friends.
“Why didn’t you tell me everyone was here?” I groan.
“You said you were coming down soon.” Ollie shrugs.
“We’ve only been here a few minutes.” Bells smiles. She’s wearing an off-the-shoulder, long-sleeved dark red lace dress. It hugs her belly and curves, not hiding them in the slightest, and she looks amazing.
“Do you have your mask?” Lina asks, towering over me. She’s wearing a dark green, corseted, strapless dress; it’s longer than her lean legs, and she’s wearing a pair of heels higher than mine. Her strawberry-blonde hair is flowing delicately down her back, only a small part in the front braided.
“It’s in my purse.” I pat my small black purse. I don’t need much tonight besides my phone, my house keys, and the mask.
“Gloria is outside,” Ollie groans, looking out the window.
“I know it’s not fun, but I promise I’ll pick you up first thing in the morning and we can grab breakfast in town. Even grab a new book if you want,” I say, holding Ollie’s grumpy face in my hands.
“Okay, fine,” he grumbles.
“I love you.” I smile and kiss his forehead.
“I love you too.” He begrudgingly hugs and kisses me goodbye. He holds me tight, and I soak up this moment. I know it’ll come a time way too soon when he no longer wants to be this affectionate.
I watch Ollie head outside and get in the car with Gloria.
She’s a sweet old lady who uses the extra money from watching him to gamble, but she’s reliable.
It’s hard to find someone in a small town.
All the good babysitters got snatched up by someone who could pay better than I could, which is why I’m looking for a nanny for him.
“Still no luck with the nanny search?” Tilly asks. She’s wearing dress pants, a white silk shirt, and a black vest with a tie. She looks elegant, and the tie matches Bells’s dress perfectly.
“Nope. I have a few people who emailed me today, but I haven’t had a chance to meet them. I’m just hoping I don’t have to resort to letting Chris have him.” I sigh.
“He’s still around?” Tilly makes a face, but Bell grabs her arm, as if to rein her in.
“Yeah, it’s complicated.” I sigh again. “But tonight I’m not thinking about that. It’s a problem for tomorrow.”
“Good! Now get your shoes on and let’s get your ass to the party.” Lina smiles, slapping my ass playfully. She cheers as I finish getting ready, and we head out the door.
Although the party is on the property, it’s easier for us to drive. None of us want to get our heels or outfits dirty. So Tilly, the only one of us not in heels, agrees to take her truck across the bumpy property through the dirt roads that are usually just for tractors.
The place is already busy, and there’s a line to get inside—I can already hear the music.
We hired extra help this year; Bells is insistent that we should be able to enjoy the party too.
So as much as we helped with setting up and planning, tonight we are only allowed to have fun.
It’s the first night without Ollie and work that I’ve had in weeks, so I definitely won’t argue with that.
“Masks on, ladies!” Lina reminds us before we get out of the truck. She helps me tie mine with ribbons around the back of my head.
Tilly drops us off at the door and parks at the side of the building. It was previously used for storage, but Bells cleared it out, and instead we use it for events now. That way we’re not shit out of luck if it suddenly starts to rain—which is all too common in the fall.
Inside, the place is dark, with only small purple-and-orange lights hanging from the ceiling and candles on the tables.
The event is twenty-one plus because of the open bar, and a makeshift dance floor has been brought in in front of the DJ booth.
There aren’t too many people I recognize, but then again, everyone is in a mask.
I assume most of the people are from town, but some are also from the city.
Our close proximity to New York City makes it only natural for people to visit for the weekend.
I’m not as involved in the event marketing—I leave that to Bells and Tilly. I like to deal directly with the animals; it’s easier that way. I mean, for one, they don’t talk back when they’re dissatisfied with something.
Bells and Tilly leave Lina and me to grab drinks.
She’s looking around the place, probably for someone to hook up with tonight.
It’s been a while since, as Lina would put it, ‘We’ve had fresh blood around.
’ The second she spots a masc in a mask, she ditches me.
I don’t blame her; it’s been too long since I even thought about hooking up with someone.
I don’t have time to go out often—not when I have my son full-time.
Not that I’ve ever known differently; having him at twenty-two didn’t give me much of a chance at a social life before then.
I’m sipping on the blood-red drink Lina handed me when someone walks in, catching my eye.
She’s tall, at least several inches taller than me even with heels, and she has on a black dress that flows to the floor.
Her breasts are held tightly in her dress, daring to slip out with each step she takes.
She has long red hair, curled and tied slightly back.
Her mask isn’t on; she’s only wearing a pair of black-rimmed glasses.
She is breathtaking. She looks at least a few years younger than me, maybe early twenties?
Her eyes dart around the room, looking for someone, but when she doesn’t see them, she makes her way toward me. Well, toward the open bar.
My hands are suddenly sweaty, and I can’t feel my feet.
Is she going to talk to me? Oh my God, am I going to talk to her?
I don’t know how to talk to women! Sure, I’ve been on dates with a few women, and I’ve even hooked up with one or two.
But that doesn’t mean I have game like Tilly or Lina. I’ve never known how to talk to women.
It’s like I’m suddenly fifteen and am standing in front of the entire class for my presentation on the town’s history. Of course I ran out of there, almost losing my lunch from how bad my nerves were.
“Hey,” the redheaded woman says, somehow getting across the room without me noticing.
“Hi.” My voice squeaks, and I clench my empty fist, wanting to punch myself. What the hell is wrong with me? I internally groan.
“You haven’t seen anyone with pink hair, have you? I’m looking for a friend, well, the only person here I know.” She laughs as she orders a drink.
I turn to face her. She’s even more beautiful than I thought. A few freckles are dotted across her nose. She has plump, pink glossed lips, and a small scar sits on the side of her nose.
“No, I haven’t,” I say quietly. Then I force myself to add more in order to make the conversation last. “Are you new to town?”
“Yeah, well, sort of. I’m just passing through, but I met a new friend, and they mentioned the party, so I thought I’d come. They were supposed to be here too, but I haven’t seen them.” She laughs. “Sorry, I’m talking your ear off. I just don’t know anyone else.”
“No, I don’t mind,” I reassure her with a small smile.
“I assume you’re a local?” she asks.
“Yes, lived here almost a decade now. But I grew up a town over,” I explain.
“Very cool! I bet you know some cool spots.”
“Not too many, and I’m impartial to the orchard,” I joke.
“Ah, that makes sense. I’ve never even been apple picking. I grew up in Seaside, Oregon, so this is totally different for me.”
“Do you think you’ll consider sticking around?”
“Maybe, if there’s a good enough reason to stay.” Her eyes glimmer.
What is happening? Am I flirting?