Page 12 of Autumn Skies & Pumpkin Pies

I place the mop back into the bucket and walk up behind her. I place my hand on top of hers as she wipes the counter. My other hand moves to her waist and I turn her to face me. “Rocker...what are you doing?” Without answering her question, I slip my hand behind her neck and bring her mouth to meet mine. Home. I never thought a person could make you feel like you are home, but she does that to me.

We begin to sway to the song and by the time I release her mouth we are in the middle of the bakery, dancing to the song she loves. “Dance with me,” I tell her.

“I don’t think I have much choice in the matter.” She giggles and I watch a blush flood her cheeks. I pull her close and breathe her in, the familiar scent of spices, apple and pumpkin, the scent that will forever be tied to her and every memory I have of her. “Rocker,” she says with a sigh.

The song comes to an end. I pull back just enough to see her eyes, which are a little greener today than normal. “I love you.”

Her eyes widen at first, her cheeks darken once more and then she moves to her tiptoes and places her lips to mine in a quick kiss. “I love you, too,” she whispers against my cheek. My heart soars because I was so scared, she wouldn’t feel the same. It’s only been a week since our first date to the homecoming dance. I know to most that’s not long enough, but for me...it’s been a lifetime.

FOURTEEN

Warbee

My alarm goes off and I reach for it blindly on the nightstand. Three in the morning comes too early, but it’s also necessary. I never thought I’d be one to take on farmer’s hours, but here I am. Slowly, I pull myself from my bed and into the shower. The hot water beats against my skin and starts to wake me up. Afterwards, I make my way through my one-bedroom rental house to the kitchen where I start my pot of coffee, before I go back and get dressed for the day.

I stand in front of my closet admiring my autumn wardrobe. It’s one of my favorite things about the season. Eventually, I decide on a pair of dark wash denim jeans, olive green t-shirt, and rust orange cardigan with matching booties. I dry my hair and leave it down in its natural wave. As I head out the door, I grab my to-go cup and fill it with coffee and pumpkin spice creamer before heading out.

The streets are still dead, and the sun is hours from rising, but balancing two jobs right now means I’m on a tight schedule. I pull behind the bakery and grab my keys to unlock. Once I’m inside my first stop are the ovens to get them preheated. I slip off my cardigan, pull my hair into a ponytail, slip on my apron and get to work. My bakery has every fall flavor you could want. Today’s specialties are the apple cinnamon scones and tea. Every day I do a special, something that matches the season. Autumn’s flavors are my favorite. I’ll take pumpkin, apple, sweet potato and spices any day of the week.

By the time Capri, my manager, comes through the back door the entire bakery smells like apple cinnamon. “I love when you come in early to start the baking.”

I laugh. “I’m glad you approve. That’s actually the last batch in the oven, do you think you can pull them out?”

“Of course. Did you leave the recipe for the tea?”

I nod my head. “Yeah, it’s taped to the side of the brewer. If you need more scones, send me a text and I’ll swing by during lunch to make the batter for you guys,” I tell her, as I start to clean up.

Capri walks over and takes the rag from me. “You should go on over to the school and get the classroom ready for your first day. I can clean this up and we’ll be baking the rest of the goodies soon enough.”

“Are you sure?”

She nods. “Yes, we can hold down the fort here. You go have some fun. I think it’s great you’re filing in during Mrs. Prado’s maternity leave.”

“I’m actually really excited, but nervous.” Admitting that seems silly. I’m just teaching at the cooking class at the local high school for the next six weeks, but for some reason it’s a bit nerve wracking.

“You’ve got this, now go be your bad baking self,” she tells me, as she nudges me with her hips. I laugh and roll my eyes as I grab my cardigan and head out the back door.

I pass vehicles and school buses this time on the road. When I get to the high school, I find the faculty parking and climb out of my Jeep. As I make my way to the building, I spot the football field in the distance. A pang of regret settles in my heart. I’ve avoided this place because of the memories attached to it. The boy attached to it to be more accurate. I decide to take a closer look because I’ve always been one to yank the Band-Aid off quickly. Might as well get it over with.

As I cross the parking lot to reach the field, the memories of that day come flooding back and my heart hurts.

Summer was ending and the first chill breeze of autumn had arrived. Rocker leaves tomorrow for college in Florida. It was a full ride scholarship to the college of his dream. I knew what I was coming here to do today, but my heart still wasn’t prepared. I’m not sure there was a way to prepare yourself for shattering your heart. No matter what I couldn’t find anything to make it easier. I saw him up ahead standing on the field with some of the other graduates. The guys he had played football with who had also graduated this past year wanted to gather here to say goodbye.

Rocker had his back to me, but I could find him in a crowd of a thousand people, blindfolded, if I had to. My heart and soul were connected to his and I feared they always would be. Letting him go was going to be the hardest thing I ever had to do. As if he was just as connected to me and could sense my arrival, he turns around and his eyes find me instantly. His smile is large and instant. Those dimples I love appear and my heart begins to break.

I stay back to give the guys time to say their goodbye to one another and this field. Once they’re finished, Rocker turns around and heads towards me. I didn’t realize until he almost reaches me that I’m standing where we were the night of the homecoming dance when he kissed me. I can feel the pinpricks in the back of my eyes, but I take a deep breath and force them away the best I can. He pulls me into him, wrapping his arms around my waist, tightly. “I was going to head to the bakery. I figured that’s where you’d be.”

I nod my head. “I was, but I figured you should get all your goodbyes done at one time.”

Rocker pulls back but I can’t bring myself to meet his eyes even though I can feel his burning into me. “What are you talking about?”

I clear my throat as the lump of emotions begins to form, making it difficult to talk or even breathe. “You were already saying goodbye, so I figured we might as well get ours over with.”

His hands fall away, and I feel their absence instantly. “No! You’re not doing this. We’re not doing this. We talked about this.”

“No, you talked. I listened, but I have a say so too.” My voice sounds stronger than I feel.

Rocker shakes his head, and he begins to pace back and forth. “I’m not saying goodbye to you, Warbee.”

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