Harlow
The Autumn Creek Harvest Festival was finally here, just as the hand-painted banner strung across Main Street said. It was orange and cream, adorned with fall leaves and pumpkins, tied to Kaneko Ramen on one side and the apothecary on the other. It was perfection.
Somehow, despite everything in our way—a burning building and a maniacal property developer—the festival looked straight out of my Pinterest board that I’d been obsessing over for the past two months. In fact, it might even better than what I had dreamed of.
Jude and I had been here all Friday decorating, and arrived early this morning. Now, people were piling in, and all the hours of work were so worth it. Especially as I saw couples, groups of friends, and families walking up the street with grins on their faces and awe in their eyes.
For a couple of hours, I manned our visitor information stall. Main Street was my scenic backdrop and Town Hall sat by my side, as I handed out flyers with our schedule on them and answered questions from both familiar faces and visitors alike.
“When does the wagon ride to Maple Ridge leave?”
“When is the Foxtail Choir performing?”
“What should I do while I’m visiting?”
“How have I never been here before?”
And “Where can I get a good coffee?” Sweater Weather, of course.
I made sure to ask the visitors where they were coming from while we were chatting.
I found myself talking to Arden Rhodes’s cousins from Ottawa, Whitney’s nieces from the States, couples on fall road trips, and strangers who had seen our videos on social media.
Somehow, our content convinced them to travel from other cities all the way to our little town.
The day swirled around me, and I hopped around town like a pinball, jumping on wagon rides and following calls to where I was needed.
I admired carved pumpkin displays at Ravensby Farm, pet alpacas at Maple Ridge, saw the bookish displays of fall reads at the library, and sipped cider under the marquee at Bramley Farm.
I’d been from one end of Autumn Creek to the other before lunch time.
And I was so proud of what my and Jude’s work had accomplished. Everything about today showcased the town’s heart. It was better than I could have even dreamed of.
I walked past a pile of leaves we’d raked them into a mountain for children to play in, as I finally slowed down, ready for my afternoon break.
I made my way up Main Street and waved at Ben Ravensby, who was covered in muck and seeds but had a grin across his face, as he stood at his pumpkin carving stand.
My cheeks were aching from my constant grin and my feet were sore from walking.
It wasn’t until I found myself with a hip resting against the Sweater Weather stall that I took a breath.
“How’s it going?” Kasey asked as she locked a portafilter into her bright orange espresso machine that she’d set up outside.
“It’s so good, Kase!”
I felt exactly like I did after a good workout, exhausted but elated at the same time.
I still couldn’t comprehend how the town had come together even when I hadn’t been there to hold down the fort.
Over the past few days, there had been volunteers tidying up Main Street and residents decorating their front porches in preparation.
It took the amazing seasonal decor that adorned Autumn Creek to another level.
Payton finalized the flyers and Dawn took over running the main stage for me.
Autumn Creek was truly there for me, like I had been for it.
“It’s like a dream,” I finally added, with a satisfied smile.
Payton waved as she walked up to the stall. “One pumpkin spice latte please, Kasey.”
“Coming right up!”
I caught a slight pout on the blonde’s face as Kase turned around to make her drink.
“What’s up?”
“I’m just feeling bittersweet.” Payton shrugged. “I know the festival means that our group get-togethers are done. But clearly”—she looked at the fall extravaganza taking over Main Street—“you don’t need any more advice from us after setting all this up!”
Kasey laughed while she foamed some milk with her steam wand. “Finally, my cafe won’t get taken over by you guys every week.”
“Shush,” Payton chided her. “You love it, really. Plus, you’d still be working even if we weren’t there.”
I bit back a smile. “At least we drag you away from the coffee machine for a few hours. We might actually be making you relax more by being there, Kase.”
She rolled her eyes, handing over the latte. “Maybe you’re right. Don’t you guys dare go anywhere else.”
“I was really enjoying those evenings.” Payton said as she sipped her drink. “It brought all the women of Autumn Creek together. It was so wholesome and fun to hang out and chat like that.”
“You know…” I bit my lip for a brief second as I thought. “We could keep it going.”
“You think so?” Payton quickly looked to Kasey. “Could we?”
Kasey’s sage green eyes sparkled. “Do you know what Sweater Weather doesn’t have?”
“What?” I asked.
“A book club!”
Payton and I both squealed. “That’s such a cute idea!”
She winked back at us. “I’ll get it sorted. And I’ll pick a short book first, so we can start next week.”
I couldn’t wipe away the excited grin on my face as we chatted.
I was smiling more than ever lately. A fall breeze brushed over me as we spoke about what books we wanted to read next, and I wrapped myself tighter into my fleece lined jacket.
The chill in the air was getting colder now, and images of the weeks ahead filled my mind.
Cozy dinners, afternoons with friends, and date nights as the days got shorter and snow started to fall.
I was lost in my thoughts when a pair of hands landed on my hips. They steadied me as a husky voice came from above. “Latte please, Kasey.”
“Pumpkin spice?”
“Fuck it.” Jude squeezed my sides making me jump back into him with a laugh. “Sure.”
I peered over my shoulder. “How’s it going at the farm?”
“The band is playing in the tent and the apple tasting is a hit.” He shot a smile toward Payton. “Thanks for the marquee.”
She waved a hand out. “It was the least I could do after you and your girlfriend set all this up.”
He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and rested his chin on my head. “We did a pretty good job, didn’t we?”
“I think we did. Everyone seems to be enjoying it,” I replied, leaning back against him.
Kasey threw a hand over her eyes. “I love you guys, but you’re making me feel so single right now.”
“Noooo.” Payton drew out the word. “They’re so cute together!”
Jude just scoffed and kept his attention on me. “Of course everyone is enjoying the festival! Look at all you’ve done.” He spun us around to face the street, still holding on to me.
“All we’ve done,” I countered.
“Have you stopped to take it all in yet?”
“Well…” I hadn’t really. I’d been busy all day, focusing on little corners of the festival at a time.
Jude unraveled himself from me and raised a brow in Kasey’s direction. She nodded with a smile. He took his latte to go and tugged on my hand. “Come with me.”
“Whoa,” I said as we stepped into the surprisingly spacious attic filled with boxes and a large window at the other end. I’d never been to this part of Sweater Weather before. “I know we’re getting close to Halloween but you’re not trying to scare me, are you?”
“Just come over here.” He chuckled. “It’s not scary, I promise.”
I nodded and wandered through an aisle between the organized clutter. This room, sitting above Sweater Weather, was brimming with stuff but clean at the same time, much like the rest of the shop. It smelled like coffee beans and book pages with all the extra stock up here.
“Look.” Jude pulled me closer to the window. “You can see everything from up here.”
My eyes widened to take in the sight.
Nestled between the brick buildings lining Main Street, the centre of the festival was flourishing with people admiring stalls from local shops, farmers, and crafters.
There were piles of pumpkins, decorative wagon wheels, chrysanthemums, and string lights hanging over the scene.
They’d turn on later when the sky darkened.
Below us was the stall I’d just been standing at.
Kasey and Payton were still there beside the coffee machine and the blind-date-with-a-book set up, while the inside of Sweater Weather was closed to the public.
There were others lounging in the outdoor cafe seating too, soaking up the late fall sunshine.
There was a trail of people leaving Kaneko Ramen with skewers of grilled meat and vegetables, which let off steam into the cool air. And I could just catch the smell of the creamy pumpkin sauce that Luca was using for his pasta.
There were other people from Autumn Creek selling crafts that they had made—pottery, soap, jewellery—and among them, I spotted Brie. I hadn’t seen her in a while, but there she was, surrounded by towers of cookies.
Of course, there were takeout cups in many hands up and down the street. Most with a scarlet lid and an apple stamped on the side, which I knew meant they contained delicious mulled Bramley cider.
And it was all because of the work Jude and I had put in.
My heart soared, catching in my throat, and making me choke up.
Jude’s hands landed on either side of me, bracketing me against the windowsill as he murmured. “I thought you might not have had a chance to slow down yet, so I kept this in my pocket just in case.”
“It’s magical seeing the town like this.”
“It really is.” He nodded. Then he reached around and pointed up the street toward the fire station. “Do you see that parked up there?”
I focused on the brown truck at the end of the pedestrianized street. It had a retro two-tone paint job, with a lighter beige strip along the side.
“What about it?”
Jude leaned in closer, and I could feel him smile against the side of my face. “It’s yours.”
“No.” My dropped my jaw open as I turned. “You did not buy me a truck, did you, Bramley?”
His cider coloured eyes shone back at me with a smirk. “I may have.”