Chapter 69
The apple festival pulled together all the good parts of autumn into one weekend.
The leaves that had already fallen to the ground crunched under boots that had been put away for the summer.
The sun was warm, but the air was crisp, and people stood chatting around the stalls, wearing puffy vests and holding steaming mugs of apple cider and munching on bratwurst piled high with sauerkraut.
Kids with sticky fingers lined up for the apple pie eating contest where the prize was even more apple pie but with a side of pride.
Guys had their arms around their girls but one eye on the University of Wisconsin football game score that they pulled up on their phones.
And their wives and girlfriends caught up on the latest town gossip and traded ideas for weekend getaways once the football season was behind them.
A local band strummed fiddles, guitars, and banjos on a makeshift stage.
Their music got toes tapping, and a few couples, like Ted and Jeanie Jankowski, made a little space in the crowd so they could dance together, feeling light on their feet.
For those too shy to dance, a sway or two got them into the spirit of the festival.
For a few hours that weekend, the outside world was far away, and Cedar Falls felt like the center of the apple universe.
Joe and Grace Taylor arrived after the festivities were underway.
“The weather cooperated today,” Grace said as Joe parked their Suburban in the town lot.
“Yep.” He was clearly distracted.
“Joe, is anything wrong?” Grace put her hand over his before they got out of the vehicle.
“There’s a lot wrong, Grace,” he said, grimacing. “I’m afraid we’re nearing the end of the road. We may not have enough time to save the farm. It’s not looking good.”
“Have you heard anything more from the lawyers?”
“Nothing. They said they’re being stonewalled by the governor’s office. At first it was excuses, polite delays. Now it seems like they’re being ignored so the government can run out the clock.”
“Well, let’s pray the good Lord is listening, since apparently the governor has no ears.”
“Well, let’s also pray He has a heart,” Joe said. “He may be our only hope of holding on to our place.” Then, not wanting to worry her any more than he already had, Joe put a smile on his face and said, “Come on. You love the apple festival. Let’s go have a good time.”
Knowing when not to push, Grace readily agreed with the plan. They’d go have fun even if the concern about losing the farm was like a stone in their shoes—impossible to ignore.
“You got it,” she said, opening her door to get out of the vehicle.
Joe came around to shut her door for her.
She stopped him from just moving on. He turned to her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him more deeply than over forty years of marriage usually provides.
She felt him give in to her and his arms pulled her strongly into his chest. They let the kiss linger awhile.
When they finally pulled apart, Joe asked, “What did I do to deserve that?”
“You’re a good man, Joe. I believe in you.” She knew what he needed to hear, and what she needed to say.
“I don’t deserve you, Grace,” he said, then he gently took her hand and they walked to the festival with smiles on their faces to mask their worries.
WITH JAKE ON duty for the apple festival and Dot working on the campaign, Mary and Harper walked with Tommy down the middle of Main Street. Cars were banned from downtown for the day, and citizens spilled into the streets, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells.
Mary wore dark brown suede pants tucked into tall brown leather boots, and a navy, green, and light pink plaid coat. Harper stepped out in her black leggings, her well-worn cordovan ankle boots, and her green puffy jacket.
A big sign above them stretched across the street that said, “Cedar Falls Applefest 2028—Life Is Sweeter Here.” Pippi rode along in her tote bag, and Tommy carried it for Harper.
“Can’t that dog walk?” Mary asked him.
“Why walk when you can ride, right, Pip?” Tommy asked, patting the dog’s head. Pippi licked his hand in return.
Harper and Tommy had made up after the book reveal. For all her fears, she had no idea that her book wouldn’t be an embarrassment; rather, it turned into quite the turn-on.
“I wasn’t embarrassed. I was impressed .
. . my foxy friend,” Tommy had said when Harper had bypassed a cold text and had opted to call to apologize instead.
He’d been relieved that she’d forgiven him, and they’d been inseparable ever since.
They held hands as they walked through the crowd.
Harper noticed several locals catching their affection for each other.
“There goes another eligible bachelor,” she imagined them saying.
The three of them stopped to listen to a local singer-songwriter who’d grown up in the area but made it big in Nashville. He had a hit song on the radio, recorded by a big-named artist. Still, the success hadn’t gone to his head.
“I love coming home,” the singer said, before launching into the hit that helped him and his wife buy their first home. Their three young children sat in the front row, cheering on their dad.
“The festival is a huge hit, Tommy. Look at all these happy, smiling people. They have no idea how much work goes into it,” Harper said to Tommy as she looked around at the booths.
“Well, I learned a lot, that’s for sure. I’m just glad we kept the two gourmet jam booths separated,” he said. “They might have come to blows.”
“And the food is so good,” Mary said, tossing some apple-popcorn into the air and expertly catching it with her mouth.
Joe and Grace met up with them at the bandstand, and the group made their way to the finish line of the Applefest 5K. They’d volunteered to hand out snacks and waters.
“Hurry. Some of these folks run fast and could finish the race before we even get there.” Tommy led the way through the crowd.
Joe, Grace, Mary, Harper, and Tommy found their table and started grabbing mini waters to hand out, along with bananas and, of course, apples.
A familiar face came through early on: Danny Dawson, with his big dark eyes and floppy hair. He’d barely broken a sweat on his run.
“Hey, guys,” he said, taking a water from Harper.
“Hey, Danny,” she said.
“How’ve you been, Danny?” Mary asked, fearing the answer was “not well” given that Dot had been slow to send him a note, and they’d not even seen each other in weeks. She knew Dot was miserable—did Danny feel the same?
“I’ve been better,” he said. He motioned Mary to step out of the way of the other runners. “Is Dot here?” He sounded hopeful.
Mary shook her head. “I’m afraid not. Senator Lopez is finally coming to town tomorrow for a big rally here at the fairgrounds, so she had to work. She’s literally not done anything but work with the election so close now.”
“I see.” He looked away. “Do you think she’ll ever come around? I . . . miss her.”
“I’ll see what I can do, Danny. I promise.” She gave him a hug, noting she’d made a lot of promises that afternoon.
“Sorry, I’m probably sweaty from the run,” he said.
“You look like you walked two blocks instead of running three miles.”
“Three point one. Don’t forget the point one. Hardest part of the race.”
She gave him another big hug and spotted Jake, in uniform, working the fair shift for the police department, making his way to them.
“Come on, let’s make Jake a little jealous.”
They both laughed as Jake came over.
“Hey, hands off my girl!” Jake said.
“She’s all yours, bro.” Danny laughed, but his sad eyes came back. “You’re a lucky man, Jake.”
“Don’t I know it.” He put an arm around Mary and pulled her close. She looked up at him and smiled. She loved him in his uniform.
Just then she felt her phone buzz. She’d just received another email from Patricia Parker in New York. “I found another something regarding the Taylor farm.” Mary jumped. “Jake, can you run me home?”
“Right now? I thought you wanted to stay and eat some more Wisconsin delicacies.” He loved her big appetite.
“I just need to get going. It’s . . . about work.” She didn’t want to say she had a possible lifeline to save the farm until she was sure it was solid.
“All right, sure. My shift ends in five minutes. We can go. I’ll just radio the guys.” He spoke into his shoulder mic, and they waved goodbye to everyone.
“What’s this about?” Jake asked as they pulled out of the parking lot in his cruiser.
“It’s actually not about my work. It’s about the farm. I have a lead,” she said.
Upon hearing that, he stepped on the gas.