Chapter 3 Daliah
Daliah
Another Saturday, another farmers’ market. Yet, today doesn’t feel the same as it normally does. All because River is missing. Even worse, the booth across from me is taken by a woman with freshly baked bread. At her side, Melanie is with her crocheted animals.
Something must be wrong. To suddenly break a habit out of nowhere, for a man who seems as stern as he is, there’s only one reason behind his tardiness. Something bad must’ve happened.
Already drifting toward Melanie’s table, I prep up my words with each step. Knowing it might be a little strange to randomly ask about her brother, a concept that I’m still wrapping my mind around, my worries about him are what it takes to push forward.
Noticing me halfway toward her, she lights up like a beam and waves. Unlike River, she’s radiating warmth and friendliness. Despite the jealousy I had felt before last week, there’s no way anyone could dislike this woman.
“Hey, so I’m glad you’re here.” Spinning around, she thrusts a business card in my direction. “Take a look at this and tell me what you think. Had to hire someone to do it, and I secretly want to show it off to everyone. I made far too many to hand out.”
Accepting her offer, I look at the color splash that’s covering the card.
With Wildwood Threads splayed out on the top, it has all of her information.
The back has a cartoonish image of a stuffed bear surrounded by a few balls of yarn.
It’s cute, and almost distracting enough to pull me away from my worries.
She shifts from one foot to the other, nervous for my opinion. “These markets are great and all, but I’d really like to turn this hobby of mine into a real business.”
“It looks great.” Smiling, I ask her if I can keep it, and her eyes light up as she nods. “Maybe if I snag your number, we can talk more about it. Managing your own business is hard.”
I can tell her how long I’ve spent at my computer posting pictures of my bees and their hives in hopes of drawing people in throughout the year to keep my bills paid. That’s a conversation that can happen over coffee. Right now isn’t the time.
“But, uh, I noticed River is missing. Is everything okay on his end?” Trying to sound casual with it, I can’t help the way my voice cracks with worry.
Unlike me, Melanie doesn’t seem bothered by her missing sibling. Like this is something that normally happens, rather than once in a blue moon. She hums as she pulls out her phone, pausing long enough to glance around like she hadn’t even noticed. Upon opening it, she snorts.
“Looks like he’s just running late. He lives up on the mountain, so it might take him a little longer. Here’s to hoping he has enough time to get set up.” She then mutters a soft curse under her breath. “He wanted me to snag a table, but I think we’re a little past that point.”
As she offers her phone to me to add my information, I linger longer by her table, unsure what to do with myself. Better to talk to her about her excitement to help pass the time. Otherwise, I’d be checking my phone and watching the time tick by.
Thankfully, I don’t have to wait for long. He must’ve been speeding to get here as quickly as he had.
When River suddenly appears with a crate in his hand, I can’t explain the relief that floods me all at once. All because he’s here and in one piece. Instead of spotting us, he’s moving to Frank, most likely to apologize for running behind.
“Well, he looks okay.” Melanie turns away to look at what few tables are still open. She hums in the back of her throat before pausing. “That table next to yours is empty.”
It normally is. Always tucking myself in the corner, it makes only one vendor forced to decide to unpack at my side. For some reason, some people believe that if they stand by my side, they risk being stung by a bee because of the sweet, sticky scent that clings to my product.
Technically, bees drift around the entire joint, but because I’m ‘the bee girl’, everyone thinks the risk is higher wherever I’m stationed. Most people think bees are the scariest things, but in reality, most of them are harmless.
“You think he’d want to set up there?” Surprised by her suggestion, heat immediately creeps up my neck at the thought of River being at my side for an entire afternoon instead of setting up so far away.
No longing glances that come and go for hours at an end. No, all I’d have to do is turn my head, and I could talk to him in all the ways I’ve played out in my head. Even if it’s simply chatting about the weather or finding out anything I possibly can about him, the opportunity is there.
From the way Frank points out past us, I’m willing to bet they’re chatting about the very same thing we are.
“Oh yeah. Without a doubt.” Nodding, she lifts her arm and waves at him to catch his attention. “Want to help him set up? Bet he’d be pretty grateful.”
I’m nodding without thinking, moving right along with her as we move in his direction.
“Take up the spot next to Daliah. We’ll go grab the rest of what you’ve got. Better hurry up.” Passing him before he can argue, she’s set on doing whatever she wants, just as River had mentioned.
In passing, we share a glance that makes me want to halt long enough that I can get lost in his eyes. Wanting to know what’s taken him so long, I let the sound of my name carry me forward instead.
Melanie takes me to a big truck that’s covered in a good layer of mud. While I’m taking it in, she’s already climbing into the bed to push some crates toward me.
“I appreciate the help, too, by the way.” Jars clatter as she hops back off.
“I can’t tell if I want to be annoyed or not by how much he brings with him.
Have you tried any? He tinkered with our family’s recipe, and whatever he added made it pretty good.
Always sells out because he insists on only selling during this time of year. ”
Shaking my head, I watch her in surprise as she stacks two crates, picking them up with ease.
Noticing my surprise, she grins. “Used to help River with this kind of stuff growing up. Before I took a dive into crafting, we ran his table together. Helping him like this is nothing.”
Lifting the crates slightly to prove her point, I don’t dare do the same. Instead, I follow after her.
“Do you miss it?” From the way she beams at her stuffed animals, I feel like I already know the answer.
Melanie snorts, shaking her head. “Hardly. Besides the occasion jar he pushes on me, I can’t even enjoy fruit the same way without gagging. Just smelling anything sweet is enough to turn my stomach after years of doing it. Trading that for sore hands is the best decision I’ve ever made.”
“I hope that honey is okay then.” Grimacing at the thought of how sweet I know it is, I’m surprised by her sudden flush.
“My roommate likes it. Don’t worry, it’ll get eaten one way or another, and appreciated in the way it deserves.” Reassuring me with a nod, she adds a pep to her step, forcing us to keep moving before I can get the chance to question her words.
When we return, River’s already working fast, trying to make up for the limited time he has. Seeing Melanie, he takes one of the crates and gives her a rushed wave of appreciation.
When he looks my way and acknowledges that I’m here, too, he works on freeing my hands more quickly.
“Thank you.” Two simple words are all it takes for my stomach to break out in the flutter of butterflies.
Nodding, I offer more help, but he insists that he and Melanie can knock the rest out easily. Drifting over to my side and settling in the seat on the opposite side of the table, it takes effort not to watch them dance around each other smoothly.
Soon, Melanie’s drifting off to the side over to her booth before River’s settling only a couple of feet away.
Has to be less than ten. So close, I can smell the mix of sweat and fruit radiating off of him.
Unlike Melanie, I don’t get sick of the sweet smell.
Rather, I purposely breathe in deep to fill my lungs with it.
“Everything okay? Missed you earlier.” Trying to act casual about it, I notice people beginning to trickle in. Soon, I won’t have much time to chat with him. Not if I’m busy trying to get rid of some of this honey and wax.
He grunts, sighing softly under his breath as he sinks down in his chair, the metal groaning beneath his bulk. “Must’ve hit something sharp yesterday. Woke up to a flat. Almost missed my chance of coming.”
He’s frowning like the memory of it is still sour for him.
“I’m glad you made it.” Speaking the words without thinking, heat creeps up my neck when he jerks his head to the side to look my way. “It would’ve felt weird without you here. You had me worried there for a little bit.”
Caught off guard by my words, that frown of his loses its edge. Soon, he nods. “I’ll have to try to avoid letting that happen again. Wouldn’t want to worry you.”
Sounding more genuine than sarcastic, I’m left with more tingles in my stomach that I don’t have time to digest before a group of three older women approaches my table with curiosity, coming with enough questions to keep me distracted.
Knowing how popular River is, I’m hardly surprised when he gets pulled into conversation, too. Making it hard to share a conversation, a realization hits me hard in the chest.
Despite finally getting close to him, it’s still not enough. To get him all to myself, I need to approach him outside of the market. Even if it’s for a little bit, maybe I can break our pattern. Today’s been chaotic enough. Why stop here?
So, when we get a break in between the waves of people, I use the excuse to stretch my legs by approaching the front of his table. Unlike me, he remains stationed, but his eyes follow my movement as I steal a pretzel. Instead of caving and trying his jam now, I play the long game.
“What are you doing after this?” I crunch down before giving my voice the chance to start wobbling. Now that I’ve asked, I can’t back down.
River stares at me, his brows pushing together like he doesn’t understand.
“A lot of these guys grab lunch together after the market closes shop.” Rolling my shoulders nonchalantly, I look to the side once I feel heat clawing up my throat. “If you weren’t busy, I thought we could do the same. Grab lunch and celebrate a good turnout.”
Half of my inventory is gone, and he’s on his way of selling out by the looks of it. It’s the perfect excuse for a perfect plan of getting some alone time.
“Just us two?” His voice is going all raspy again, just the way I like. Strained in a way that makes my toes curl.
Nodding, I feel the heat on my cheeks now. “Yeah, River, just us.”
I won’t invite his sister if that’s what he’s thinking. All I want is him. He’s all I’ve ever wanted. And if he accepts, I plan to enjoy the situation as best I possibly can. But if he turns me down, then I’ll take it as a sign to finally give up on this one-sided crush.
Even if it feels impossible, I’ll move on. I’ll have to, unless I want to risk feeling heartache every time I see him.
Before I can let myself think more about that terrible future, his chair is creaking as he shifts to sit straighter.
“Okay. Lunch. Sure.” As his words come out choppy, he jerks to nod. “We can do that. It’s just a meal.”
Nodding with him, I can’t contain the smile that breaks out on my face as I crunch down on the last bite of the pretzel. Unfortunately, throwing a little celebration for this miniature win isn’t on the table as a family of three is set on eating some pretzels, too.
On the way back to my seat, I feel his eyes burning in my direction. Wishing I could take a look in his mind to know what he’s thinking, I save my curiosity for later.
Right now, all I can think about is how things will unfold between us once there are no interruptions—and just how close I might get if he allows it.