23. Harlow
Harlow
It was nearly October, and just under a month until the festival. Jude and I had been working hard with vendors, local musicians, and businesses. I’d been posting on the Autumn Creek socials too, and it seemed to be going well. I finally felt like I could take the weekend to breathe.
I woke up feeling energized, even before my morning coffee, and as I walked through the entrance to Bramley Farm, I ran into Jude who was leaning against the wall of the ciderhouse and chatting with his brother.
The sight of him didn’t make my spine stiffen, like it once had.
Instead, it hit me like sunlight peeking through clouds on a cloudy autumn day.
“Oh, good!” As I stepped closer, I reached into my bag and pulled out an envelope. “I have something for you.”
Jude raised a brow at the piece of paper. “Thanks, but my birthday was just before you got here.”
“It’s not a card, it’s rent.”
Colt’s eyes widened. “You’re charging her?”
Jude huffed. “I’m not taking your money, Harlow.” His voice was still slightly gravelly from the morning, and it shot a bolt of electricity straight through my body.
Maybe I won’t even need a coffee today.
“Well, I’m not taking advantage of you guys by staying here for free.” I placed the envelope with cash in it on the windowsill of the old stone building. “I’ll just leave this here then.”
Jude groaned just as Colt let out a chuckle.
“I’m heading into town. Is there anything I can get you guys?”
“Kasey taking you?” Colt asked.
“Nah, it’s a nice day. I think I’ll walk.”
“My god,” Jude muttered under his breath. “Are you trying to kill me, sweetheart? Take my truck.”
“After what I did to my rental car?”
His slight frown turned into a smirk. “I think that was more the fault of the car. Hopefully.”
“If you’re sure…”
He crossed his toned arms over his chest and insisted. “It’s included in the rent.”
Colt barked out a laugh as Jude threw me the keys. “If you’re offering to pick something up, there’s sourdough at the market—”
Jude elbowed him in the side. “Quit asking her. You should go into town and get it yourself. You’re getting old and lazy, Colton.”
Colt’s mint green eyes narrowed. But, I was a little distracted as they tussled. The pair of them together looked like they belonged on some lumberjack or sexy farmer calendar.
“You and I both need to be on the farm today,” Colt protested to his slightly younger brother. “But don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll survive without the bread.”
I shook my head with a laugh. “I’ll get it, no worries.” Then I began walking over to the vintage red truck that was parked near the ciderhouse. “I’ll get one for you too, Jude. I’ve heard breakfast can improve your mood.”
Colt let out a loud laugh, and I jumped into the truck before Jude could reply.
I set off, but before I was too far down Bramley Farm’s long driveway, I saw Jude grab Colt’s hat in the rearview mirror. Colt pulled his brother in and scrubbed his knuckles against Jude’s hair. With my window cracked, I swore I even heard Colt call him “sweetheart” in the middle of it all.
Blush crept up my cheeks as I turned onto the road that led into town.
Downtown was livelier than usual with the Saturday farmers’ market on, but not so busy that I couldn’t park.
I’d heard from the locals that folks came from nearby towns to the Autumn Creek Market—it was one of the best in the Ottawa Valley.
Even better now I’d put the opening hours in a pinned post on our social media, too.
It felt like walking onto the set of a Hallmark movie.
Everyone was dressed in layers, clearly enjoying the cool overcast weather after some warmer days we’d had earlier in the week. I spotted Payton and Ben at their Ravensby Farm stall, surrounded by pumpkins and cobs of corn, and waved as I crossed the paved street.
Kasey and Margot stood chatting in front of the Bramley Farm stall, while Nash Wilson, bit into a bright red apple as he tended it.
The Australian bartender I’d met at The Crabapple, sauntered over to the stall and shot a smile at Kasey, but I could see her eyes darting into the crowd as if she was waiting for someone else to appear.
I walked over to the sourdough stand—adorned with a linen tablecloth and miniature pumpkins—and smiled at Nora. Of course, we knew each other from work, but she’d told me early on that bread was her true passion.
“You’re lucky. I’ve still got a few left.”
I wasn’t here early, but it was still morning. But I should have known she’d sell out quickly. “I’m glad I made it! Can I get three loaves please?”
“All classics?”
I eyed the few flavours she had left with hungry eyes. “I’ll do one cheddar.” It wasn’t too out of the box, but it felt good to try something different. Worst comes to worst, maybe Jude would let me steal a slice of his.
We swapped paper bags for cash, and I kept wandering around the market. I saw faces I recognized and people waved and said hi. The folks of Autumn Creek were always polite and kind, but it felt special to be greeted by name and to know theirs as well.
Autumn Creek was slowly working it’s way into my bloodstream and placing a hold on me. I had favourite spots, familiar faces, and regular orders.
But I shouldn’t fall into that comfort trap. I had tried to attach a sense of meaning to a temporary place far too many times in the past. It just left me homesick for a home I didn’t have.
Still, I liked not feeling the demanding rush I was used to in a big city.
And as I’d been adventuring around, talking to businesses and scouting out locations for the festival, I was starting to know this town’s streets like the pages of my favourite book.
But, I didn’t know if I could let myself fall in love with a place like this.
I tried not to let the doubt plague my day, as I jumped into the short line at Bianchi’s, and a familiar voice in front of me interrupted my thoughts.
“Caprese, toasted, please, Luca.”
Luca peered over my boss’s shoulder at me, in a silent question.
“I’ll have the same,” I replied.
He rang us both up and shouted to the kitchen as Dawn turned to me. “Nice to see you. Enjoying the market?” The lines beside her eyes wrinkled with signs of many kind smiles in her past.
“It’s just as lovely as the first time I saw it. The magic hasn’t worn off yet.”
“It never does.” She gazed at the street fondly. “I still remember when I first arrived. It was spring and all of the flowers were in bloom—the market was filled with fresh tulips.”
“Oh, I thought Autumn Creek was home for you.”
“It is.” She placed a hand over her heart. “But it hasn’t always been. That doesn’t change how much I love the place though. Even if it has its ups and downs.”
I raised my brows slightly.
“Ah,” she exclaimed. “Empty shops, petty arguments, all of that, it’s irritating. But a perfect place isn’t worth living in—they aren’t real. What really grinds my gears is that Nora keeps selling out of her jalapeno loaves before I can get to her booth. I’m getting too old to fight for sourdough!”
A small chuckle escaped me. Dawn was in her mid-sixties but still looked like you could catch her at The Crabapple on a weekend with her flowy boho outfits. Her voice was full of energy.
“It does seem like it would be worth it,” I added.
“Well.” Dawn shrugged. “If the festival goes well, there might be some more marketing opportunities.”
My lips dropped open. My heart hammered in my chest. Her casual comment knocked my brain out of orbit.
Do I want to stay here?
Before I could reply, Luca called out, “Two caprese,” from behind the counter.
We grabbed our sandwiches, and Dawn smiled as she held the door. “I’ll see you on Monday.”
“I’m at the alpaca farm then. But I’m in the office on Tuesday.”
“With Jude, right?” She slipped her tortoiseshell sunglasses over her eyes. “After the farm you guys take the rest of the day off, okay?” While she walked off down the street, she called back, “The festival’s going to be great, Harlow! I just know it.”
Maybe a bit of her confidence had rubbed off on me, because I walked away grinning as I took my sandwich to go.
I ate, sitting by the red covered bridge overlooking the Valleyford River. Leaves covered the ground around me. And, in that moment, I actually felt certain.
The festival was going to be great.