Sweeter Than My Baby
Wednesday rolled around, and my excitement for the fall market was palpable.
I woke up with my mind already racing with all the plans for the day.
What outfit I would wear, the times I needed to get ready, when we should leave by, and the items I wanted to look for while we were there.
It was endless. My sweet lover boy listened to me talk nonstop in stride and let me rattle off everything to him while he sat on the daybed in my office.
“The most important thing to get tonight is a caramel apple with nuts. I will settle for nothing less.” I pointed my finger at him as I swiveled around.
“Yes, ma’am. One caramel apple with nuts will be located and acquired.
Pinky promise.” He looped his pinky around mine, the most focused look on his handsome face, showing me how seriously he was taking this.
I couldn't help but giggle and loop mine back around his.
It was almost time to log out for the day, and Emma would be here shortly too.
“I’m so excited I—” My email pinged letting me know I had a new message, and I quickly checked it to make sure it wasn’t anything of high importance. I ran my eyes over it once and then again for good measure, my breathing quickening. If I was reading this right…
“Baby, you okay?” Spencer asked from behind me.
“I think I got an interview for that position. I actually got one. Oh god, I’m so nervous, I think I may be sick.” My hands trembled as I pointed toward the email as Spencer came up behind me, reading over my shoulder. My eyes scanned the same section over and over again.
“You did! I knew you could do it. I’m so fucking proud of you!” He turned my chair back around, cupping my face as he kissed me. I was still reeling because this was such a huge step; it almost didn't seem real. So many good things were happening.
“I did it. I can’t believe it!” I squealed with excitement, finally catching up and overriding the nerves. I knew this was just the first step, and I needed to prepare, but the fact that I got the first interview was amazing.
When I began with Prestige Consultants, I never would have imagined myself interviewing for the department head position.
I truly was content with where I had made it.
Being a leader of one of our teams and watching my people grow.
If I’m being honest, if it weren’t for Spencer's unwavering support and faith in me, I don’t think I would’ve had the balls to apply.
“So now we have to get you two caramel apples because one has to be a celebratory one.”
“What are we celebrating?” Emma asked, walking into my office.
I was so focused on the email that I never heard her come in.
What good Dolly did as a guard dog. I looked over to where Dolly was lying on the daybed and quirked a brow at her.
She was sprawled out on half of it on her back, legs up in the air, and feet bent.
Even at the sound of Emma’s voice, she didn’t budge.
I rolled my eyes and turned back around to answer Emma.
“I got an email saying that I got an interview for that promotion!”
“I knew you could do it, girl, I had total faith in you.” She came up and threw her arms around me, squeezing me tight. “And whenever they officially give you the position, we all have to go out and celebrate.”
“We absolutely will, Emma, good idea. I’m so proud of you, baby girl.” Spencer came over to me and pulled me into another bear hug and kissed my forehead. His body was warm and inviting, that woodsy clean scent enveloping me as those strong arms wrapped tight around me.
“Alright, y'all, let's get a move on before all the good stuff is gone!” Laughing, I pulled away from my best friend, and the love of my life. Emma provided unwavering support since we became stitched together when we were in school. Spencer fell into my life so unexpectedly, but not once had he wavered in his support for me, and he’s treated me nothing short of queen treatment.
My stomach knotted up again, and I took a deep breath to ease it. I had to stop feeling like a shit show was a second away from breaking out and just enjoy what was happening now with two of the people who cared so much about me.
We pulled up to the square, and everything was already a bustling of activity.
“Oh, princess parking!” Me and Emma both shouted as I flung my arm toward a front parking spot for us, ensuring that Spencer didn’t miss it.
“Ow my ears. I think y'all's screeching caused a permanent ringing in my ear.” He rubbed the inside of his ear with his finger.
“You’re fine, pretty boy. Now park so we can go.” I rolled my eyes at him, ever the drama queen that one.
“You think I’m pretty?” I could feel his eyes slide over to me, and that damn smirk on his lips, causing his dimple to pop.
“Oh, shush it.” I rolled my eyes even harder then, but still, he pulled that smile out of me regardless.
We all climbed out and headed to the entrance, which was constructed of tall towering stacks of different pumpkins and corn stalks with a Welcome banner strung between them.
It had cute mason jar lanterns strung throughout the area, a small stage for live music, various food trucks, and picnic tables situated on one side for people to relax and eat at.
It was straight out of a cheesy romance movie, and I loved every second of it.
There were tons of booths to explore with local shops and their items to sell.
From candles, fresh flowers, baked goods, jams, and even soaps.
Weaving in and out of each booth, I got a jar of honey and some homemade bagels from one of the booths, fresh cinnamon apple donuts from another, and then Spencer refused to not get me a bouquet of fresh flowers for the house.
After we looked through everything, we made our way to the pumpkins they had out for people to pick from.
“We have to find the biggest one. I want a massive Jack-O’-Lantern.
” With determination set in, I grabbed one of the wagons to carry our pumpkins, and we started walking up and down the aisles.
“Ah HA! This is the one!” I ran over to the most massive pumpkin among the bunch.
It had to weigh a good forty or fifty pounds.
I bent down to pick my prize up, happy with my choice.
“Here, let me help so you don’t hurt your back,” Spencer said as they made their way to me.
“I’m perfectly capable, thank you. Here, bring the wagon over.” Lifting it easily, I set it down as gently as I could, making sure not to squash Em’s pick. I dusted off the dirt on the front of my denim overall dress and the sleeves of my undershirt.
“Well, it certainly is big,” Spencer said as he started to examine it.
“That’s what she said,” I snickered, unable to resist the joke.
“I’m so done with you.” He shook his head, but he couldn’t stop laughing either. “Now. We got your caramel apples, tons of baked goods, and now your pumpkin. Are there any other booths you wanted to go back by to check out, or anything else you wanted?”
“Hmm, no, not that I can think of. How about we get some food and take a break at one of the tables?”
“Yes, that thing. It sounds perfect, let's go!” Emma grabbed the wagon handle and led the party. If it was my guess, she was probably starting to get hangry. Actually, she was probably hangry five minutes ago and didn’t say anything.
Spencer sent us to find a table and went off to get us food and drinks.
Thankfully, it had cleared out some since it was a weekday and later in the evening.
Currently on stage, there was a woman playing guitar and singing an acoustic version of “Work Song” by Hoizer.
Her voice was lower and full, similar to mine, and I couldn’t help but sway and sing along with her.
“I’ll never get tired of hearing you sing.
I don’t know why you didn’t pursue that as a career.
Your voice is beautiful and has a unique rasp to it.
” Spencer said in greeting as he came back over with tons of cartons and cups in tow.
Fried Oreos, funnel cake, corn dogs, fries, and some fresh lemonade and water.
We put them all in the middle and shared everything.
“She and I have already had this conversation,” Emma said as she snatched a carton of fried Oreos up. “Multiple times, actually.”
“I didn’t have that luxury. Yes, I love it, and it would have been amazing, but I had to have safety and security.
Unfortunately, making it as a singer isn’t always practical.
” I pulled a paper plate and a fork over to me.
“Oh, this funnel cake is heaven in my mouth.” I all but moaned as I continued to shovel more into my mouth, powdered sugar flying everywhere.
It was perfectly fried and had the right amount of powdered sugar sprinkled on top. Meaning every inch was coated in it.
“That’s how I’m feeling about these Oreos. They’re perfect.” Em’s mouth was stuffed, and she had little puffs of powdered sugar spraying out as she talked.
“I agree. All of the above. These are perfect.” Spencer managed in between bites of his corndog. Swallowing, he then moved on to the fries and praised the food truck that made them.
I took a long sip of the cold lemonade and looked around the area again.
The sun had set, and all the twinkling lights were on, casting a hazy, warm glow around us, and a slight breeze blew through, causing them to sway along with the trees.
It was truly beautiful and peaceful. After we finished eating, we loaded everything up into the back of the car and headed back home.
All of us were full of greasy food and sleepy now.
Once we made it inside and discarded all of our items on the table into one big heap, we all sank onto the sun-warmed couch and fell into food comas.
Today was one of my favorites and a memory I would cherish, as simple as it was.