Chapter 10 #2
“I know.” And there it is. It’s what most people thought when we were together.
The popular girl and the geek. Most thought she was with me to help her study or there were rumours that I was secretly rich from selling a computer game—neither were true.
What happened was that we were just two people who felt lost in high school and somehow found each other.
When she wasn’t putting on a front of being the popular cheerleader, she was quiet and unsure of herself.
She was smarter than she ever let anyone believe she was, and funny.
So funny. We would spend hours laughing as we drove the back roads of town, talking about everything we wanted to do with our lives that didn’t involve Woodland Springs.
But on the outside? She was so far out of my reach that I didn’t deserve to be in the same realm.
“I mean, sure, she’s pretty, but I don’t get it. She’s so…mean.”
“Wait, what?” I stop us, facing her, but still keeping our hands linked.
“I don’t want to say anything negative but, that’s not who I pictured you with.”
“Because she’s out of my league? I know.”
“No! Matthew!” With her free hand, she reaches up and cups my cheek, making sure that my attention is solely on her—which it is.
Now that we’re holding hands and she’s brushing her thumb along my skin, I barely register there’s anything outside of the two of us. Nothing except for the light snow that’s starting to fall. I only even notice that because flakes land on her eyelashes, making her look like a snow princess.
“That’s the exact opposite of what I mean.”
I’m about to open my mouth and ask her to explain when I hear my name being called behind me.
“Matthew? Matthew Roberts? Is that you?” Agnes Miller’s eyes open wide in shock as she calls us over to her tent. “I didn’t know you were back in town!”
“Really? My mom didn’t broadcast it across the town square?” I joke, but knowing my mom, she was likely one step away from doing just that the moment I walked through the door last night. I know she was messaging on a group chat she has with some of the other women in town.
I swear my mom with a cell phone should be considered a weapon.
“She mentioned you were heading home to help with the store after your dad took the fall, but I didn’t know it would be this quickly. Welcome back!” She turns her attention to Avery. “And who is this you have with you?”
“This is my girlfriend, Avery.” Referring to anyone as ‘my girlfriend’ feels odd, but I find the more I use it to describe Avery, the more I like the sound of it. “Avery, I’d like you to meet Agnes Miller. She makes the best caramel apple cider that you’ve ever tasted.”
“Oh, you.” Agnes waves her hand at me as a blush rises in her face.
The woman may be older than my mom, but she still blushes like a teenager when it comes to her apple cider.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Avery. And girlfriend?
Another thing your mom didn’t mention to me on our knitting nights.
I’m going to have to have a word with that woman.
Keeping us up to date on everything but this! ”
“It’s not her fault, Mrs. Miller. I kept it from her too because it’s so new. She only just found out herself this morning. She hasn’t even met Avery yet.”
I try not to cringe when I think back to the conversation. There were a lot of raised voices and a few tears from my mom over the breakfast table.
“Well, how wonderful is it that you’re back, and with your girlfriend, just in time for Christmas? And you’re able to make it for the kickoff of the games tonight.”
“We wouldn’t miss it,” Avery adds with a smile—a genuine one.
“How wonderful. And your mom will be in for a lovely surprise.” Mrs. Miller grabs two cups and passes them to us. “Here, take these and enjoy a bit of the market before your mom gets here. I bet once she gets ahold of the two of you, you won’t have a moment to yourselves.”
“Thank you,” I say honestly, taking the cup from her, immediately wrapped in the scent of apples, cinnamon, and caramel.
It’s like a scent from my childhood. Mrs. Miller has been making and selling cider during the holiday for as long as I remember.
Even before Woodland Springs became Christmas-crazy, it was a tradition that everyone looked forward to, no matter what they were doing to celebrate.
As owner of the town cafe, she would create seasonal drinks that would instantly spark a connection for me that lasted until today.
The smell of lemonade is summer, pumpkins are fall, and apple is winter.
I found out at my stop at what is now called the GingerBrew Cafe that Mrs. Miller retired when the town changed everything to Gingerbread and it’s now being run by her daughter, Rebecca. I see that Mrs. Miller still comes out for the holidays to make her famous apple cider.
“Yes, thank you,” Avery adds, accepting her own cup. “I’ve only heard amazing things about your cider. I can’t wait to try it for myself.”
I couldn’t help but watch as Mrs. Miller holds on to Avery’s mug for just a little longer as she lowers her voice and says, “Thank you for bringing Matthew back to us.”
There it is, the stab of guilt to the gut that I had been expecting.
While I had been doing my best to avoid anything to do with the holidays, my family, and the town, I realized that everything wasn’t all bad.
I have fond memories of playing with my friends in this town square.
Of growing up in a small town that was safe and happy.
While having everyone know everything about you was annoying, it could also be comforting.
If you needed help, someone was there. Lost?
Someone would point the way. Hungry? There was a town full of people that would feed you off their own plate.
And some had many times while growing up for one reason or another.
That was something the city would never be able to compete with.
“Oh, I didn’t have much to do with that,” Avery adds.
That’s not true. She had a lot to do with it.
“I’m not just talking about him being in town, dear. He seems like his old self, before that whole mishap with the mayor’s wife. He hasn’t been here for so long, but he’s back here with you.”
“Oh, I’m just here to help my dad…” I add, but I am waved off.
“Thank you,” Mrs. Miller adds again to Avery before giving her a pat on her hands and moving on to the next person in line.
Have I changed? What did the town see in me, or think of me, that makes the mere fact that I’m in town helping my dad such an amazing feat that it needs to be pointed out?
Am I really as heartless as that sounds?
“Hey, are you all right?” Avery asks, placing her hand on my arm and giving me a squeeze.
“Yeah. I—I guess I just never thought much about how me leaving might have affected the people in town. I didn’t think anyone other than my parents even noticed.”
“I’d say they noticed.” Avery stops and takes a sip of her drink. “Oh my goodness, this is the best apple cider I’ve ever tasted.”
“I told you.” I grin as I take a sip of my own. “Hey, there’s something else I want to show you.”
Grabbing Avery’s free hand, I lead her off to the corner of the town square, checking to make sure no one is watching us.
There may have been a lot that has changed since I left Woodland Springs, but there’s one thing that I know will always stay the same.