43. Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Chloe
My stomach is as tight as a lid on a sealed bottle. I’m dreading asking Dawson’s family how they’re holding up, but I had planned to check in on the teen volunteers manning the booths throughout the festival, so it’s only fair I do the same for our current volunteers though it scares me as much as a horror film.
Shaking out my sweaty palms, I head to the pin the smile on the scarecrow station. “Hey, guys,” I say, greeting a man and woman helping the line of children with the game. “Are you doing okay? Can I get you some water, or help while you run to the restroom?”
The woman, who looks a lot like Dawson with her full lips and brown hair, squeals. “Are you Chloe?”
Oh yay. Another overexuberant family member. “I am.”
The woman places her palm on her chest. “I’m Emma. Dawson’s sister. It’s so good to meet you.” She grabs my hand, squeezing tight. “And wow, you are gorgeous! Finn said Dawson lights up when you’re around, but they failed to mention how stunning you are.” Her jaw drops, and she puts a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide. “Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry. How terribly rude of me to only focus on looks. Don’t worry, we all know how kind and great you are too.”
Wow. This is a lot. I’m overwhelmed and flattered, and completely ready to move on from Dawson’s family. They’re way too sweet and kind, and if Dawson doesn’t want to get back together, knowing I lost Dawson and Finn, and now this amazing family as well? Yeah, my heart can’t handle another blow of this magnitude. Because after meeting his parents and sister for all of two minutes, I want to be a part of this family. I long to have more people to connect with and the Reed crew seems like my kind of people. People who care, are all in, will drop anything to help, and love with every fiber of their being.
“You’re sweet to say so,” I say to Emma. “But are you two doing okay? Can I help in any way?”
She beams at me. “We’re doing great.”
“Okay, well, if you need anything, holler. I’m happy to step in if needed. And thank you so much for coming tonight. We couldn’t have done this without you.”
“It’s our pleasure.”
I walk to the next game, checking in with those volunteers as well. I meet Lucy, Dawson’s oldest sister, who reacts similarly to Emma. His entire family is way too excited to meet me. I want to be as enthusiastic as they are about meeting me, but I’m terrified I’ll never see these amazing people again.
I wave to the last family as they walk out of the barn, arms full of books, crafts, caramel apples, a box of desserts, and their thank-you gifts. I find the closest chair, collapsing into it. My feet throb, my back feels like I dead-lifted five hundred pounds, and my head hammers like a construction crew is in there demolishing the place.
One by one, Kate, Carter, and Dawson join me at the table.
I look around at the chaos we now have to clean up. Trash litters the tables. Wrappers are all over the floor. The book nook looks like a tornado swept through it. There’s a crazy amount of caramel, sprinkles, and cookie bits all over the table and floor in the back corner. I don’t even want to go outside to the back patio or to the parking lot where we had the pumpkin bowling and archery set up.
Carter raises a water bottle. “Cheers, Chloe and Dawson. This festival was a huge success. I appreciate your hard work, dedication, and hustle on this.”
Dawson shakes his head. “I didn’t do nearly as much as Chloe. She’s the hero here, not me.”
While it’s true I did do more than Dawson, he helped a lot in the early stages and saved the day with his family volunteering tonight. “Dawson’s contributions made a huge difference. The festival wouldn’t have gone as smooth as it did without him.”
Kate’s gleeful smile bounces between Dawson and me. When I catch her gaze, she wiggles her brows at me .
“Carter, why don’t we tackle outside,” Kate says, standing. “These two can handle in here.”
Carter eyes each one of us. “Is something going on here I need to know about?”
Kate pushes Carter’s back, forcing him to move to the doors leading to the patio. “Later, Carter. For now, give them privacy.”
Carter whips his head over his shoulder, staring daggers at Dawson. “Why do they need alone time?”
“You can be the protective big brother later, okay?” Kate keeps ushering Carter outside.
“Thank you,” I mouth to Kate.
I’m not ready for the conversation Dawson and I need to have. “It was nice of your parents to take Finn so you could stay and help clean up. I wasn’t expecting you to do that.”
“It’s for the best. Finn needs time with other people right now. He’s sick of me.”
I roll my eyes at him. “I’m sure that’s not true.”
“Take his normal tantrums and quadruple the behavior. He’s been ornery and difficult lately. A big part of it is me. I’m working more hours and the time I usually give to him isn’t happening.”
Reading between the lines, I also get the hint my leaving impacted Finn as well. Which I knew, and was a huge reason why hurting him like I did made everything worse. “I’ve missed seeing him.”
“He’s asked about you a lot.”
I take one of the fake tealight candles on the table, flip it over, and switch the battery off. I can’t look at Dawson when I ask, “Is it possible you’d let me come visit him? As a friend?”
“No.”
My head snaps up. No? I rub my nose, trying to get the stinging sensation to go away. I don’t want to cry in front of Dawson. “Oh. I see.”
Standing, I push my chair back, ready to take the decorations down and get as far away from Dawson as possible.
Dawson stands too, coming around to my side of the table. He snatches my hand. “No, I didn’t mean it like that.” He rubs a hand through his hair. “It’s been a crazy long day. Can we meet tomorrow? Or whenever you’re free?”
“Yeah, tomorrow works.”
“Thank you. I’ll text you about it later.”
I pick up another tea light, turning it off. “’Kay.”
Carter and Kate come in from the patio.
Kate has her hands shielding her eyes like she’s walking in on us making out. “Sorry. Pretend we’re not here. We just need a broom and another garbage bag.”
I roll my eyes and smile. “It’s fine, Kate. We’re cleaning up the candles right now. You can drop your hands.”
She snaps her fingers. “Bummer. Maybe next time there will be something to interrupt.”
Dawson covers a laugh with a cough.
Carter’s brows furrow. “Are you two dating?”
“We have way too much to clean tonight,” I say before anyone has a chance to tell Carter what’s happened between Dawson and me. Until Dawson and I talk and resolve our situation, there’s no point getting other parties involved.
Carter points at me. “We’re talking later. ”
The chances Carter forgets about this are slim to none, but I’m praying it’s closer to the one hundred percent side of things this time. “Fine.”
We get back to cleaning, listening to soft rock as we go. It takes us two hours to return the barn to its normal appearance. Carter and Dawson’s trucks hold the decorations, leftover desserts, prizes, and books. I don’t know what Carter wants to do with it all, but my part is done.
We walk around the barn, turning lights off as we go, making sure all the doors are locked.
“Chloe, Dawson,” Carter says, holding out two gift bags. “These are for you as a thank-you for all the hard work you put in for tonight’s festival. I know it was a lot, especially everything I threw at you at the last minute.”
Dawson takes his bag. “Thank you, Carter. Do you mind if I give it to my son to open? He loves unwrapping gifts.”
“Not at all.”
After my efforts and every high and low with this festival, I’m more than ready for this unexpected token of appreciation from Carter. Yanking the tissue paper out of the bag, I see a white box. I gasp as I flip it over to see the front. A brand-new cell phone.
I snap my gaze to Carter’s. “This is too much. I can’t accept this.” Not after the bakery fiasco and going over budget by five hundred dollars because of it.
“You can and you will.”
“Carter,” I hedge. He doesn’t need to keep taking care of me. Sure, he makes way more money than I do, but I get by.
“Yes, Chlo?”
“I don’t need— ”
Carter puts up a hand, stopping me from explaining why this gift is too much. “I’ve seen your YouTube channel. You need a better camera if you’re going to keep uploading fitness videos.”
I haven’t uploaded anything in more than a month. My schedule’s been a little busy. But the fact that Carter thought about this present, that he knows me so well, brings tears to my eyes. I blink rapidly to clear the moisture, but there are too many. My twin loves me. I open my mouth to say thank you, but a sob from deep in my core heaves out of me.
Carter clears his throat and looks at the room behind me. He doesn’t like when I cry, even if they’re happy tears like right now. My phone works fine, but if my twin insists I keep this, I will. He’s right, a better camera will help and a bigger screen will be a huge upgrade from my current cell.
Closing the distance between us, I throw my arms around Carter and let all my emotions drain out of me. My tears soak his shirt. It’s not just my gratitude for him I’m feeling. This hug and cry fest is for every time I’ve messed up a relationship. Every terrible moment Carter and I went through because of Mom. My breakup with Dawson. Missing Finn. Wanting to believe in myself and try with Dawson again. For Carter, Kate, and our grandparents who love me. If my feet didn’t ache as fiercely as they do, if my limbs didn’t feel like a thousand pounds each, if my emotions weren’t so high, my reaction would be a simple hug and maybe a few jumps and squeals.
It’s the perfect storm colliding within me and forcing its way out. Tomorrow, I’m sure I’ll be humiliated, but right now, I need comfort from my twin .
Carter rubs circles on my back. “Umm.”
I feel another set of arms around me. “I love you, babe,” Kate whispers. “You are amazing.”
“Get in here, Dawson,” Kate says.
Dawson’s hand squeezes my shoulder. “The festival turned out amazing because of you. Well done, 007.”
“Thank you,” I manage to get out between sobs. If Kate or Carter wonder why he’s calling me that, they don’t ask.
What feels like hours later, I’m calmer. My head pounds and I’m ready for some pain meds and my bed. “Sorry guys.” I attempt to wipe Carter’s shirt, but it’s useless. His entire shoulder is damp.
“Don’t worry about it,” Carter says.
“Can you get yourself home okay?” Kate asks, her arm around my shoulder as we make our way to the parking lot.
The cool fall night air stings my hot, wet cheeks. “Yeah. Thank you, everyone, for your help tonight.”
We all say our goodbyes, get in our cars, and head out to Sunnyside Avenue. My drive is short and painless. I don’t care about washing my face or brushing my teeth tonight. I shimmy out of my jeans, unhook my bra and fall into bed. Unless Armageddon is coming, I don’t plan to get up for anything the next twelve hours except to empty my bladder.
A few moments after my head hits my pillow, I’m out.