Page 33 of Shuttered Hearts

“Yes. Bug, because you’re bugging me. Now get in the truck.” I try to remain serious, but once Quinn starts laughing, I follow right along.

“Are you ready for this?The competition looks tough,” Quinn asks Emily as she sets out her finished pie for the judges to taste.

It may be silly, but Ashford Falls takes its Fall Harvest Festival seriously. While we have the same competitors every year, and Marybelle Burns almost always wins, the pie-baking contest is one of the most popular events of the morning, along with the apple cider tasting in the afternoon.

This year will be a little more exciting, though. Rose and her friends have all entered, along with the few regulars who make the same pies they do every year. And Emily isn’t the only new participant, Abbey Selby has entered too. Both of them making pies I’ve never seen entered in the contest. Emily with her pumpkin apple pie and Abbey with a cranberry crumble pie.

For the five years I’ve attended this festival, Abbey has always participated in—and dominated—the apple cider tasting contest. Her apple cider is amazing. She could go into business making that stuff. So, seeing her enter the pie-making contest this year—she could give everyone a run for their money.

“Of course I’m ready. I know it’s cheesy, but I honestly just entered for the fun of it.”

Caleb laughs next to me. “Sure you did. The bragging rights you’d get for winning over Marybelle have absolutely nothing to do with it.”

“Oh, shut up.” Emily swats at him playfully. “He’s not wrong, though,” she tells the rest of us, making everyone laugh.

The judges—members of the town council—make their way over for their tasting, jotting notes on their clipboards before moving along.

“I think it’s so funny how seriously everyone takes this, even though we all know Marybelle is still going to win, like she does every year.” Quinn chuckles, grabbing a small taste of Emily’s pie. “Wow, this is amazing.”

“Now you know why this is still one of the most popular events.” Caleb leans over to kiss Emily on the cheek and then grabs a slice of pie.

“You never know. Maybe this year will be the year the council stops being afraid of what Marybelle will do if she doesn’t win.” I grab my own slice and dig in. Emily makes a few pies at Thanksgiving, but this one is hands down my favorite from her. “Good choice on the pumpkin apple pie.”

“Thanks.” Emily leans into Caleb’s side, smiling.

“Did you win?” Max runs up to us, Scott and Lucy not far behind him.

“Judges just came through for the tasting. We’ve got a little longer to wait and find out,” Caleb says, pulling Max into his side and ruffling his hair. “You have fun with Dad and Lucy?”

“Yeah! Lucy went with me through the hay bale maze and they took me bobbing for apples. I won a free hayride for later tonight!”

“Awesome. I’m sure Quinn will go with you. The hayrides used to be her favorite.”

“It’s my favorite too! Will you take me?” Max immediately turns to Quinn. “Normally, Declan takes me.”

“Well, don’t you want your favorite person to take you tonight?” Quinn asks, smiling down at him.

“Yeah, but you can come with us,” he says as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

Before we can say another word, we hear a voice clear through the speakers set up throughout the festival. “Can we get everyone’s attention?” Red Weaver, the mayor of Ashford Falls, says from the little stage.

The crowd quiets down, and we all turn to look at the mayor.

“All right, we’ve got our winner, but before I announce who that is, I just want to say it was a tough decision this year. You all did an amazing job with your pies. I wish you could all be named the winner.”

“I swear that’s the same exact speech he gave the last time I was at this festival,” Quinn whispers from next to me.

I chuckle. “That’s because it is. He says the same thing every year before he announces Marybelle as the winner.”

“Can I get the contestants to stand before the stage here?” Emily and the rest of the contestants move to the front of the stage. Once they’re all lined up, Red continues. “All right, in third place, we have Rose Meriwether with her classic apple pie.” The gathered group offers a confused round of applause.

“That’s new,” Scott says quietly. “She normally takes second place.”

“Sometimes she and Esther alternate second and third,” Max says from Scott’s lap.

“In second place, we have Abbey Selby with her cranberry crumble pie.” The round of applause is louder this time.

“Well, that explains it. Abbey was a new participant this year, and it’s not surprising she would do well,” Caleb says. “Have you been by the bookstore when she brings in treats she’s made at home? They’re amazing.”

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