Chapter 33
The whole town looked forward to the Spring Fling every year. It was a big event where we all came together and had fun. There were booths selling stuff from local shops, food stands with yummy snacks, and an Easter egg hunt for the kids. What made the Spring Fling awesome was that it brought everyone together. You saw people you hadn”t seen in ages, made new friends, and just had a good time.
This year felt extra special for me because I was setting up a booth for the first time. Being able to share my baking with the community—it was a dream come true.
On the one hand, I was very excited, but there was also a pit in my stomach. A sudden wave of grief threatened to overwhelm me. I used to come to the Spring Fling with Mom and Eden. We had so many memories of walking arm in arm, shopping, enjoying food, and laughing about the current topic of gossip the knitting circle was talking about. My mom always told me I”d have a booth here one day. She’d believed I would open my own bakery here in town even when I didn”t see it. It just hurt so much that she wasn”t here to see that statement become a reality.
Eden must have known how hard today was going to be because she offered to help me man the booth all day so Aspen could spend it taking Hunter around. It was the first time they would be experiencing our cute little event, and we all really wanted them to enjoy it.
We both wore bright pink t-shirts with the Whisk Me Away logo plastered across the front. I paired my shirt with a pair of blue jeans with some rips in the knees and strappy sandals. I tied my hair half up with a silk bow pinned across the small ponytail. I wanted my hair out of my face while I worked but still wanted it to look somewhat put together.
”Is this good over here?” Eden asked as she set up the long picnic table under the bright pink pop-up tent I custom-ordered.
”That”s perfect,” I gave Eden a bright smile, hoping it reached my eyes. I really want to be happy today, but I couldn’t help the war of emotions happening inside me.
My smile must not have been as convincing as I thought it was because Eden walked over to me. I was organizing the baked goods I prepackaged this morning before leaving the shop. When she was within arms” reach, she wrapped me up in a tight embrace.
”Mom would be so proud of you,” she whispered in my ear as we clung to each other.
I”m sure we looked like a bunch of weirdos, but at this moment, I couldn”t care less. This hug from my sister was everything my heart needed.
”Thank you,” I choked out, trying to hold back the sob that was working its way up my throat.
Eden gave my shoulders one more big squeeze before pushing back. ”No crying today. Mom would want us to be happy.”
I gave Eden a watery smile before wiping away the stray tears rolling down my cheeks. That”s the thing about grief. It came in waves. There were moments when it felt so thick, wrapping itself around my heart, making it hard to breathe, and other times when it was just a faint presence in the back of my mind. It never really went away altogether, but it wasn’t always crippling. I didn’t know if I’d ever get used to it.
”What”s left to do?” Eden clasped her hands in front of her, looking around the booth we set up.
”We need to set up the stands and put out the baskets before laying out all the baked goods. I also got a few mini chalkboard signs we can use to display the prices of each item,” I responded, digging through the boxes I packed with everything we needed for today.
Eden and I spent the next thirty minutes ensuring my booth was perfect. When we were done, I moved around the table double checking everything was ready.
I was surprised by the arm that wrapped around my waist. Before I knew it, I was being pulled into a strong, warm embrace. The minute his arm went around my body, I knew it was Brant. I could smell his signature scent.
”Hey, Peach,” Brant whispered as he drew in a deep breath. ”I missed you.”
Laughing, I leaned my head against his chest to look up at his face. ”You saw me yesterday.”
The corner of his lips tugged as if fighting a smile. ”You”re right,” he leaned in to give me a kiss. ”It”s been way too long.”
The smile he was holding back finally broke free, and my stomach did a summersault. I would never grow tired of having his charming smile aimed my way.
”Your booth looks great. You know I”m going to have to buy one of those blueberry crumble muffins,” he arched his thick brows at me.
”Oops, you never got one of the ones you baked the other day, did you?” I giggled.
”Nope,” he replied, giving me a mock scowl.
“Hey! It’s not my fault you forgot about a meeting and had to rush away. But if it”s any consolation, they were amazing,” I grimaced, only feeling a little guilty for eating two of them after he left that day.
The arm wrapped around my middle tightened as his fingers dug into my side. An involuntary screech flew from my mouth.
”Brant! Stop!” I gasped, trying to wiggle out of his hold. It was useless, though, because he had me in a vice grip.
”Okay! Okay! Take them all. I didn”t want them anyway!” I managed to get out through my laughter. ”Just stop…tickling me!”
Brant”s hold on me loosened. By the time I caught my breath, Brant was standing in front of the basket overflowing with muffins.
”Hey, Eden,” Brant”s deep voice called out.
”Hi, Brant. How are you?” Eden replied.
They exchanged pleasantries, and Eden made faces and danced around every time Brant turns his attention to me. Then, when he turned back to her, I waved my hands around, trying to get her to stop.
I slapped my palm to my forehead harder than intended, drawing Brant”s attention.
”You good, Peach?” Brant”s knowing smirk made me realize he knew precisely what Eden and I had been doing behind his back.
Heat slowly crawled up my neck and settled in my cheeks.
”Mmhmm. All good,” I gave him two thumbs up like I was in elementary school.
Smooth, Karis. I wanted to slam my palm against my forehead again.
Brant chuckled as he grabbed his wallet from the back pocket of his uniform pants. He pulled out a twenty-dollar bill and placed it in my hand.
”Brant, no! That”s too much,” I tried shoving the bill back towards him, but he just shook his head and stole another muffin.
”You deserve it. These muffins are delicious,” he leaned in and stole a chaste kiss before sauntering down the sidewalk.
I was left standing in the middle of the sidewalk with a giant, goofy smile.
”Hellooo! Earth to Karis!” Eden called, bringing me out of the trance I was in.
I shook my head slowly, trying to unscramble my brain after that encounter with Brant.
”Sorry. What?” I mumbled as I made my way under the tent.
Eden gave me an exasperated sigh. ”I said, when did that happen?” She pointed at me and then looked over to where Brant was standing on the opposite side of the road, talking to Sunny.
I gave her a sheepish smile, knowing I should have called her after he showed up at the bakery a week ago.
”Only like a week ago,” I tried to sound nonchalant, but I should have known Eden wouldn”t buy it.
”What happened a week ago?” Mia”s chipper voice called from the front of my booth, scaring me. I gasped, spinning to stare at my best friend, who was now shooting daggers at me.
”Don”t tell me something happened with the Sheriff, and you didn”t tell us until a week later!” Mia glared.
”Oh, that”s exactly what happened,” Eden chimed in, folding her arms over her chest.
I held up my hands up in a placating manner, hoping to calm them down before they got started.
”Okay, now, just hear me out,” I pleaded.
Mia mirrored Eden”s stance, and now my best friend and sister were waiting impatiently for answers. I glanced around quickly, making sure none of the old ladies from the knitting circle are anywhere near my booth.
”I”m sorry!” I hissed. ”It happened so fast, and then I was prepping for this event, and it just hasn”t really had time to sink in yet. I promise I was going to tell you!” I gave them my best puppy dog eyes.
Mia and Eden exchange glances before focusing their attention back on me. Mia is the first to speak.
”Fine, but start from the beginning.”
Blowing out a long, deep breath, I dove into the story of how Brant and I became a thing. I told them about him coming into the bakery and all but demanding I give him a chance. I reminisced about us spending the day baking, talking, and laughing until he rushed away for a meeting.
Eden and Mia both oooh and ahhh through the entire story and had goofy grins on their faces by the end.
”We forgive you,” Eden laughed.
”Yes, and we are so happy for you, K!” Mia pulled me into a tight embrace. ”You deserve all the happiness in the world.”
”Thank you,” I sighed as Eden moved Mia out of the way so she could have her turn to hug me.
”I”ve got to run. I set up a book exchange booth, and the event is about to start. I”ll see you girls later! Let”s get dinner soon,” Mia waved as she left our both.
”Sounds good. I”ll text you!” I called after her.
Eden and I spent the rest of the event chatting with the locals until the last treat was gone. My heart wasn’t fully healed, but after a day like this, I knew it was well on its way. I would always miss Mom, but I knew she”d want me to live the life God had called me to, even when it hurt.