Chapter 13 Amber #2
“Oh, Rachel is so excited to test out her new Cocoa Bus II at your winter shopping...I’m sorry. What was the name?”
“Haven Winter Wonderland.”
“Right. How exciting. She’s got the bus set up at the hayride for the kids today if you wanted to have a little taste test.”
“Really? That would be amazing.” He came up beside me and peeked down at my basket. “I see you’re already doing damage.”
“I can’t help myself. I think I might make a dent in my shopping for my people.”
He absently laid his hand on my lower back. “Don’t forget I’m going to have twenty of these kinds of things at our shopping village.”
“Oh, you underestimate my shopping abilities.”
Laverne grinned. “My daughter and I are planning to take a trip out to see. I’m always on the lookout for new artists.”
Tate touched one of the stained glass sun catchers. “Actually, Billie Preston was one of the first artists to take one of our spots.”
Laverne’s eyes widened. “Oh, this place must be something special. It’s hard to get Billie out of her workshop.”
“I’m luring the best artists in the tri-state area with low rental costs to make this a success.”
“That’s the way to do it.” Someone called Laverne’s name and she sighed. “My usual store manager is sick, so I’m in charge. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Ronson.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Laverne, please. I’m looking forward to your village of stores even more now.” She patted my arm. “Best put those sunglasses back on. We’ve got a lot of kids here today.”
I slid them back down. “Good plan.”
“Want to help me pick out a few items? Sounds like we’re going on a hayride.”
“We can skip it.”
“Why?”
“Pretty sure a bunch of kids will recognize you. Especially since I saw a bunch of preteens in the mix.”
“I love kids.”
“Are you sure?”
I nodded. “Thank you for thinking of me though.” I tugged on his ever present flannel shirt, and he lowered his head for a light kiss.
“Then let’s spend your money.”
“Bet that’s a change of pace for you.”
His ears reddened, but he didn’t say anything.
I knew what it felt like to have everyone assume you’d pay. And since I did want to support all the artists Tate was bringing into Haven, I behaved myself. If a triple digit total at the registers was behaving myself.
The staff was patient with wrapping all of the breakables, but when I mentioned we were going to the hayride and they could finish up while we were gone—there was an obvious relief on their faces.
Tate left his number for them to text him when it was ready.
“How comfortable are those boots?”
“Twenty blocks in an hour in Manhattan comfortable.”
He laughed. “I’m not sure what that means, but you up for a walk to the orchard?”
“Definitely. I need to walk off those cider donuts.”
When leaving the gift shop there were cute signs to tell people which trail led where.
We followed the one to the hayride. Not that we could really miss it.
The kids were at max volume. There was a playground in a field and a massive truck with carts strung behind it parked at the edge of the trees.
He caught my hand and we decided to cut across the winding path to get there faster. When we cleared the hill, a converted school bus painted white declared itself the Cocoa Bus II. There was an awning over the middle windows, and they’d replaced the little kid safe windows with a huge slider.
Two women and a guy were passing out drinks to the already hyped-up children.
“That is very cool.”
“Yeah, it really is.” Tate grinned down at me. “Think I’m going to have to get creative for a spot to fit that bad boy.”
I thought it over as we made our way down to the crowd of kids. I kept my sunglasses on, but braced myself for recognition. We stood in line, but I was pretty sure the kids were more interested in the flannel giant next to me.
“Hiya.” A pretty woman with huge blue eyes and a fringe of bangs leaned on the counter. “What can I get you?”
“Hey, Rachel. We’ve spoken a few times. I’m Tate Reynolds.”
“Oh!” She grabbed an orange and black gingham towel and flipped it over her shoulder. “Len, can you take over?”
The man nodded and replaced her at the window.
Rachel waved us down to the back of the bus.
We excused ourselves and followed her direction.
There was a set of doors at the back end of the bus.
One was already open for ventilation. I imagined it could get hot in the close quarters while they were steaming milk.
The other opened and she hurried down the stairs.
“I didn’t know you were coming.” She wiped her hands on the towel then held one out. “Rachel Winslow.”
“It was a spontaneous thing.” Tate shook hers.
She glanced at me and gave me a friendly smile. I held mine out as well. “Amber.”
“Glad to meet you. I’m really excited to bring the bus up to Haven. We’ve been working the kinks out here on the orchard and a few parties in the area, but this will be the first time we take it on the road for real.”
“It all smells amazing.”
“We’re definitely getting you a mug. In fact, my assistant is making you up a thermos to take with you. Are you doing the hayride?”
Tate glanced down at me.
“Yes, it looks like fun.”
“Beware my cousins will be doing jump scares. They get really into Halloween over here, but they keep it tame for the little ones in the daytime. Night? Yeah, you are warned.”
I laughed. “Good to know.”
“This looks amazing. I didn’t realize it was so big. I thought it was one of those little buses.”
“The first one was a VW Bus.” She laughed. “That’s a long story. We still have that one over at the Christmas tree lot, but that doesn’t open until Black Friday. We do a big event for our patrons that have been with us since the beginning.”
“Hmm. That’s a good idea.”
I could feel Tate’s brain spinning since we’d arrived. And my own, if I was honest. I’d run my own business for a long time, but my skills in keeping a large operation running could help Tate as well. Well, if he wanted my help.
“My advice is to write everything down. Especially the stuff that doesn’t work. Iteration has been huge here at the orchard that’s for sure. My cousins are insane, but damn if they aren’t the smartest people I know.”
“The learning curve has been...rough.” Tate laughed, but there was some stress under it.
“I love that you’re helping your community. Which is why I was so excited you asked us to come for a long weekend.”
“I’m really glad you said yes.”
An arm and a thermos came out from the bus.
Rachel rolled her eyes and reached up to take it.
“Thanks, Len.” She handed Tate the thermos and a pair of tin cups.
“Courtesy of the Cocoa Bus.” The thermos had a huge jack o’lantern with a sharp toothy grin.
The tin cups were in the same artistic style with bats and ghosts instead.
I flipped up my sunglasses on top of my head without thinking to look at the adorable ghosts. “I’m such a sucker for ghosts.”
Rachel’s eyes went huge in recognition.
I held my finger up in a shush. “I’m just a regular girl.”
Her blue eyes danced. “That hayride is going to get interesting.”
I took the thermos from Tate. “I bet we’re going to do just fine.”