16. Harlow
Harlow
I had tried to look at least half professional, with my Chelsea boots and grey sweater neatly tucked into my black-belted trousers, but honestly I felt out of place with Kasey in a jean skirt and flowy blouse beside me.
Still, I’d been looking forward to the meeting she’d been planning, and I wanted to give off a good impression.
But I do need to chill out.
“What if no one shows up?” My foot tapped on the hardwood floor of the empty cafe.
“Of course they’ll show up.” She scoffed and rounded the bar with a large thermal pitcher. “I have hot chocolate, they have to. And”—she drew out the word with a smile—“I asked them to come.”
She wasn’t bothered at all, placing the pitcher beside some sunflowers on a low coffee table, pausing to arrange it perfectly.
“But what’s in it for them? They’re going out of their way for nothing, really.”
“Didn’t you hear me? Hot. Chocolate.” She walked closer and put a hand on my shoulder. “Plus, it isn’t for nothing. A lot of people are excited for the Harvest Festival. Dawn’s been promising a lot. And they’re nosy, they’ll just be glad to have some say.”
“Okay.” I hummed under my breath as I flicked through some papers I’d printed out earlier today. A contact form, a map of Autumn Creek, and a bunch of pieces of paper cut up for an idea box.
I checked once again for spelling mistakes and ran my hand over the header design. Is it too much? I sighed at the paper.
All the decorative outlines of falling leaves had distracted me enough that I didn’t even realize someone was walking through the door until the bell above it rang.
“Kasey, Harlow, hi!” The woman’s smile revealed pearly white teeth contrasting with her deep complexation. I recognized her joyful face and model-like posture instantly.
And, oh my god, she knew my name.
Margot Wilson knows my name.
Nora and Kasey had both mentioned that she—a blogger I’d actually followed for years—lived here. She wasn’t royalty, but she might as well be with the way people obsessed over her.
She looked like she’d stepped out of the pages of a magazine, with her sleek neutral clothes and her short braids styled into a bob.
I’d seen the influence she had over trends.
And Kasey had told me about her house just off Main Street.
It was always decorated to the nines for every season.
She didn’t share the outside of it online, but locally it set the town’s seasonal decor standards.
It almost made me late to work when I stopped to admire the tiny pumpkins she’d artfully placed along her white fence posts earlier this week.
I wanted—no, needed—her opinions on the festival.
“Hey, Margot, we have hot chocolate, but can I get you a chocolate chai?” Kasey grinned, not an ounce of nervous energy visible in her demeanor. “I know you love them.”
“You’re a gem.” She sighed longingly. “Yes, please.”
Kasey continued as she poured from a hot water dispenser, behind the bar. “Harlow, this is Margot, head of the PTA, chief mom of Autumn Creek, and influencer extraordinaire.”
Like I don’t already know who she is.
“You flatter me, Kasey.” Margot shrugged off her coat. “Nice to meet you, Harlow.”
Behind her, two other women trailed in. One I recognized from the group who had been at Sweater Weather on Saturday, and the other was an older woman with streaks of grey in her thick black hair.
“This is Payton.” She gestured toward the woman in her early thirties who I’d seen on the weekend. “Librarian, book lover, walking encyclopedia. And Sana.” She smiled at the dark haired woman. “She runs the general store on Main Street with her wife.”
I said a warm hello to both, and I realized Sana looked familiar—I’d seen her briefly as I’d tumbled through the general store looking for basic living supplies during a lunch break on one of my first days here.
My heart was so full, I couldn’t believe anyone had actually shown up. But I didn’t have time to get soppy and emotional right now.
“It’s nice to meet you all. Thanks for coming. I’d love to chat about the upcoming Autumn Creek Harvest Festival.” I ushered our small group closer to the sofas, and let everyone get settled.
“Only six weeks away, right?” Payton asked, tucking her honey blonde hair behind her ear.
I nodded with a smile, but my stomach twisted itself into a knot.
Only six weeks. Six weeks to pull off the best festival this town had ever seen and to save the local businesses from crumbling.
It took some time, but I finally relaxed. My notebook rested on the arm of the sofa, filled with scrawled notes. The information these women had given me was invaluable. I couldn’t stop writing it down.
Kasey had toed off her boots about half an hour ago, and was sitting next to Payton, both cradling a steaming mug of hot chocolate. Sana shared their couch, while Margot shared mine.
“It would be good to showcase small businesses,” Sana said, leaning farther into the seat behind her.
“I know some big brand names might help draw people in, but Autumn Creek and the surrounding valley has a lot to offer. We have a lot of that in the general store if you want to reach out to some local makers. And Luca Bianchi will make you some incredible pumpkin pasta. It’s off-menu, but ask him nicely.
You could put it in some little takeaway cups. ”
Beside her, Payton nodded. “And Ben’s been dying to expand our corn maze.” She grinned as she spoke about her husband. “We’d love to get our farm involved in the festival!”
“I remember when we used to do a fall festival years ago,” Sana added. “People flooded Main Street. Businesses were thriving and there wasn’t an empty storefront in downtown.” She let out a sigh.
I nodded as I scribbled down more notes. “That’s exactly what we want to do. Show off all Autumn Creek has to offer.”
Margot took a sip of her drink beside me, I could smell the chocolate and cinnamon wafting over. “And not to be superficial, but aesthetic and decorations will draw a lot of people in.”
I nodded. “That’s not superficial at all. Autumn Creek is beautiful.” I shot a look over at Main Street through the window behind us. “I want people to see that. Thank you all for the advice.”
Sana shrugged. “Any time, we’re always here to help.”
“You’re helping us—of course we want to help you, too,” Margot added.
“Maybe we could all meet again.” Payton looked up from her drink. “Not that you need our help, but it’s nice to chat like this. And if you ever have any questions…”
My eyes lit up at the suggestion. “That would be amazing.”
Kasey grinned. “You’re all always welcome here.”
Murmurs of agreement came from around the room, and I was beaming now.
With that, everyone slowly packed up their bags, going to leave but then hanging on for a bit longer as the conversation held on. Warm conviviality filled the air of Sweater Weather, and I was glad this wouldn’t be just a one-time thing.
Tonight had been productive, but it had also just been so nice. I felt welcomed and relaxed, and I couldn’t think of another time in recent history where I’d just sat down and had time to casually chat with other women like this.
Kasey placed some mugs by the sink and I ran the tap to wash them up. “See?” She smirked. “It wasn’t so bad, was it?”
“No. You were right.”
I wasn’t left feeling anxious like I thought I might’ve been. Instead, it felt like my cup had been filled. I had even more energy to give back to Autumn Creek after tonight.