22. Harlow
Harlow
It had been three days since my dinner with Jude, and I couldn’t get the sight of him under dim lighting, staring back into my eyes, and flirting with me out of my head.
When I called my grandma yesterday to see how she was doing with the rainy London weather, she’d wanted to hear all about my new job. But I may have let a few too many details about the media dinner slip.
She’d just replied, “That sounds like a date, dear. But good on you for getting back out there after Marshall. What a prick!”
Of course, she knew that wasn’t actually my ex’s name, but she’d never really liked him anyway.
“It wasn’t a date. It just had all the makings of one,” I had replied. “Which, I think, is why my mind is confused.”
She chuckled and I heard her flick the kettle on in the background. “If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then maybe—”
“This wasn’t a duck.” I sighed into the phone.
“Well, let’s hope you go on a real date soon then. You know they say the best way to get over someone is to get und—”
I shook my head, remembering how I had quickly steered the conversation to a different topic.
I definitely hadn’t told her about how some of my old furniture and trinkets had ended up around Jude’s house.
I knew how she’d react to that. Even though it was only practical to keep them there while I was staying.
Still, I pictured the expression I would have seen over FaceTime, and chuckled as I walked up Maple Road.
For my second to last stop of my tour of downtown, I turned into a building on the road just adjacent to Main Street.
The fire station welcomed me in with their resident Dalmatian running up to me, greeting me with a bark, and leading me into the office.
The firefighters and I talked about collecting donations for the station at the Harvest Festival.
After that, I only had one place left to visit. The library right next door.
“Harlow!” Payton called out my name from behind the desk, pushing her glasses up into her blonde hair as soon as I stepped through the door. “Here to sell me on the festival?”
I smiled, eyeing up the autumnal book display on a nearby table. Red and orange paper leaves with people’s favourite books written all over them covered the surface. This place was too cute.
“Hopefully. We’d love to have the library involved.”
Payton clapped her hands together. “Good!” She rounded her desk, meeting me by the book display.
“I’ve been mulling it over since our last meeting.
And I’m so glad I caught you before the next one tonight.
Otherwise I’d be talking your ear off all evening!
I’ve had lots of ideas—blind date with a book, a children’s book reading, and a quiet space away from the hustle and bustle I’m sure we’ll have on Main Street. ”
I hoped it would be as busy as she assumed. I desperately wanted to do this town justice. I just hoped that our second meeting would keep my ideas flowing.
“That sounds amazing.”
“And you’ll have to come by the farm.” She reached into her bag, grabbed a business card, which was bordered with pumpkins, and handed it to me.
“Both you and Jude. He already knows all about it, but we go all out with pumpkins and corn fields at Ravensby Farm. In about two weeks will be the best time to take photos.” She sighed blissfully, “It’s really beautiful. ”
I bit my lip to temper my excitement a little. “I’m sure it is. I’d love to stop by. Everything in this town is so cute during the fall.”
“It is.” She laughed. “All of the seasons here are gorgeous but our namesake is my absolute favourite. Let me show you some pictures, and then we can walk down to Sweater Weather together!”
I leaned over the desk, and we chatted like we were old friends, as I watched her scroll through a Pinterest worthy camera roll of Autumn Creek in every season. I let myself relax for a few minutes and wondered what it would be like to stay here.
Payton and I walked together, through the refreshing late afternoon breeze down to the cafe. I opened the door and Kasey leaned across the dark wooden counter, welcoming us with a question as the bell chimed. “Coffee?”
“It’s six thirty, Kase, I won’t sleep!” I protested, despite the offer of frothy milk and a cinnamon dusting being very tempting.
She shrugged. “Oh, I get it. You and Payton are too good for an after-work caffeine shot now. Hard work, beauty sleep, and all that, right?”
“The festival is just four weeks away. It’s hardly beauty sleep, I just need to rest so I stop thinking about it.”
Kasey pouted playfully and then reached for her gold-topped homemade syrup bottles. “Chocolate decaf chai it is then.”
My stomach almost growled. “That would be great. Where can I set up? And is there anything else I can do to help before everyone else arrives?” I looked around Sweater Weather searching for a task.
My nerves weren’t as jittery like they had been before the first meeting, especially as this now felt like more of a social group.
Still, I wanted to make a good impression.
And networking never hurt anyone either.
But the place looked clean and cozy as usual; there was nothing for me to do.
The book tables were stocked with new releases, including a best-selling fantasy I still needed to pick up, and there were mini dried flower bouquets on every table.
Kasey was always working hard to keep the place up to her high standards.
“We can sit over on the big couches.” She brushed her curtain bangs out of her eyes. “Make yourself at home. Payton, drink for you?”
“I’ll have what Harlow’s having.”
Payton and I dropped our bags by the plush sofa, and I laid out some apple cider donuts that I’d picked up from the Bramley’s farm store, placing them next to some orange Autumn Creek Council-branded pens.
I fluffed up the already plush cushions on the sofa before falling back onto them, trying to chill out.
I had a constant level of anxious nerves running through me for the past few days. I desperately wanted to do something good for Autumn Creek, yet I kept feeling like I’d fail. But I knew this meeting would help. The more information I could get, the better I would feel about the Harvest Festival.
Kasey brought over our drinks, and a few minutes chatting with her and Payton made my worries slowly melt away. A short while later, the bell rang above the cafe’s door and Sana and her wife walked in. I stood up to greet them and was pulled into a tight embrace.
“G-great to see you.” I almost didn’t know what to do as Sana hugged me.
First there was Jude’s casual touches—his reassuring hand on my shoulder or him guiding me through a crowd by the small of my back—and now this?
Autumn Creek was friendlier than I was used to.
And maybe I’d let myself be isolated for far too long, because it took me a second to squeeze her back.
All of this closeness was beginning to soften me.
“This is Whitney.”
The woman with a grey bob beside her smiled. “Call me Whit, please.” I went to shake her hand but quickly saw the Dutch oven she was holding. “I hope you don’t mind, I brought some chili.”
“Chili?” Kasey rushed across the room and took the pot from Whit’s hands. “Thank you! I’ll take care of that.”
I let out a laugh, watching as Kasey placed the chili on the counter and immediately poured herself a serving into a large coffee mug.
“Leave some for the rest of us!” Sana chided her with a motherly tone, and Kasey rolled her eyes.
“Oh, don’t worry, I’m not sure how many people are coming,” I said with a shrug.
“Looks like there will be plenty to go around.” This meeting had been more of an open invitation, rather than Kasey choosing specific people, but I was just happy to have anyone to soundboard festival ideas with.
Whether it was just us five or a few more.
“You don’t know how good Whit’s chili is.” Sana looked lovingly at her wife.
“It’s addictive,” Kasey agreed as she devoured her serving.
“And,” Sana added, “I don’t think you realize how excited people are for the festival, and this event, too.”
I let out a nervous but polite laugh and turned to Whitney to change the subject. “So, what’s your secret then?”
She was making herself comfortable in a nearby loveseat as she replied. “A pinch of cinnamon, cocoa powder, and jazz music. I have a few different flavours, just ask at the general store if you ever want a pot!”
“You sell it?” I asked.
Sana squeezed her hand. “She has to. No one can make it the way she does, even with the recipe.”
Kasey handed out servings to us all on a tray. The smoky, spiced tomato aroma instantly pulled me in, and after a few mouth-watering bites, I asked, “Do you have a website or some social media?”
She shook her head. “It’s all a bit complex for me, honestly. Maybe one day I’d love to have a brick and mortar store here on Main Street and advertise a bit more, but it’s just not the right timing now.” She peered at the red brick buildings before taking another bite.
The bell rang again and Margot arrived with a couple influencer friends and moms in tow. I jumped up to greet them, but the bell above the door didn’t stop ringing for a while. And soon, Sweater Weather was filled with people conversing and laughing with mugs in hands.
I smiled at a woman who brought a large box of cookies.
And gave Yuri a wave before she walked over to greet her parents—Sana and Whit.
I recognized the woman who sold handmade pottery at the farmers’ market, and close by her was Arden, a firefighter I’d just met today—they were sisters, apparently, and their family owned the inn I’d tried to stay at when I arrived.
Every single patron called out to Kasey and somehow also knew my name. I guess word got around town quickly.
I’d put on pop-ups in lots of cities before, and by far the hardest part was getting people to actually come to an event. Now, this didn’t mean the festival was going to be a breeze—Autumn Creek needed tourism, not just local support—but, wow, the locals showed up for each other here.
Sweater Weather buzzed with laughter and merriment. Kasey was busy refilling her pitchers of hot cocoa, and I hopped between groups, chatting about people’s businesses and their ideas for the festival.
Payton told me about the design they’d chosen for the corn maze this year.
Yuri asked for my opinion on the black garlic ramen I’d tried.
A group of women I’d only just met told me that they had family driving hours to visit for the festival.
And others pulled out their phones to follow the Autumn Creek accounts after I told them about the content I’d been posting.
There was so much support, and the sense of community I’d seen around town was palpable here. I couldn’t believe I was a part of it, even just for tonight.
No one was shying away, waiting to finish a story until I was gone, and no one was leaving me out of a conversation.
When I was younger, moving from city to city, I’d experienced plenty of that as a forever newcomer.
I never knew the inside jokes or subtle social cues everyone else did.
Maybe it was just the reality of being a teenager and a student, and then starting to automatically exclude myself, but something felt different here.
My heart swelled, almost feeling too big for my chest, and I had to make my way over to the hot chocolate station just to stop and take it all in for a second.
I met Kasey’s eyes as her brows shot up. “Wow, right!”
“I know.” I let out a breath, half way between excitement and anxiety, but a grin stayed spread across my lips. “Did you know that there would be this many people?”
“Not at all. But I told you, they’re excited to have you working on this event.”
I looked around the room and tried to hold onto the moment. “I think I get it now.”
Then a woman with a silvery blonde bob walked up beside us. “Have you tried the cookies?”
I hesitated for a second. It seemed so abnormal to just join in with a stranger’s casual conversation, but it was kind of nice. Very small town, too.
“I haven’t yet.” I recognized the older woman as the lady who had brought them, so I grabbed one to try.
“The spiced chocolate chip is amazing,” Kasey said as she took a bite of one she already had in hand. “Do you have a favourite?”
The woman replied, “The pumpkin cheesecake.” She looked back to me. “You’ve got to try it, Brie does them so well. They’re stuffed!”
I followed her lead and took an orange cookie. “These are Brie’s?” When I looked back to the box, I saw the same cookie Jude had bought me from the market a few weeks ago. “Is she here?”
The woman shook her head. “She doesn’t usually go to town social events like this. Her father is…” Her voice trailed off but Kasey hummed in knowing agreement.
“An asshole.” She flipped her long brown hair over her shoulder as she asked, “When are we going to see you around the farm, Gran, it’s been too long?”
My eyes widened. Gran. If she’s Kasey’s grandma, then she’s probably—
“You know your Grandpa. He’s been so busy with his woodcarving.
I can’t get him out of the studio right now!
When we come up, you, Jude, and Colt are all getting a new set of bowls.
” Then she turned to me again. “And I know there isn’t much room in that tiny place they’ve got you in, but you’ll probably get a set as well.
Get Judey to keep them in his kitchen. He has too much space in that house all by himself. ”
My mouth dropped open slightly and I sputtered out, “Thank you.”
“Do me a favour,” she continued, and I nodded. “Next time I see you I’ll give you some throw pillows to sneak in as well. His place could do with some softer touches.”
“Lorna,” Kasey said with a laugh.
“Oh, come on, I picked them up from a craft market, he’d love them!” She shot us both a wink. “And some are shaped like pumpkins. He needs to make that house feel like a home.”
I nodded slowly again, not knowing what to say.
She continued, “I heard he’s making progress, though. Were you two getting close at Bianchi’s? And living under the same roof—”
“Gran!” Kasey shouted, but quickly lost herself as she giggled into her cookie.
Lorna raised her hands in defense. “What! I had to say it. Anyway, nice to meet you, Harlow. Just saying, I’d love another granddaughter.”
I tried to swallow some of my cookie but choked instead. Then Kasey fell into another fit of laughter as the matriarch of the Bramley family sauntered away.