Page 13 of Autumn Wishes and Pumpkin Kisses

I do need to get my SUV and with Warbee being shorthanded off and on thanks to the local stomach bug who knows when she’ll be free. Besides, if we’re going to have to work together for this website then I’m going to have to get used to being around him again. Finally, I nod my head. “Okay, I’d appreciate that.”

“My pleasure. How about I grab you in an hour?”

“Sure, that sounds good.”

Keefer smiles and passes the boxes to me. “See you then.” I watch as he slides his sunglasses on with an easy grin that could melt the coldest heart. What the hell did I just get myself into?

ELEVEN

Keffer

I’m not sure what I was thinking when I offered to take Teaganne to Atlanta to pick up her SUV from Cody. I guess I wanted to prove to everyone, myself included, that she really didn’t have an effect on me. After what Rocker said about answering an unasked question. Well, it wouldn’t leave my head and led me to this point. After leaving the bakery, I swing by my parent’s house. My dad is out fishing, as usual, but my mom is sitting in her over easy chair with a book in her hand when I walk in. “Hey, mama,” I greet her, as I walk over to her chair and press a kiss to the top of her head.

“Hi, baby, I’m so glad you could stop by.” She pats my hand the way she’s always done. There will always be something about a mother’s touch. It’s different from anyone else’s.

I hold out the fancy little box that Capri packed the donuts into from Bee’s Bakery. My mother’s eyes light up when she recognizes it. “Oh goodness, what did that little angel make today.” I explain the donuts to her. “I’m practically drooling right now and I wasn’t even hungry. That Warbee sure does have a talent for baking. One of the best I ever met she’s just like her grandmother, June.”

“She does. So, what’s on your agenda today?” I ask, as I take a seat on the couch. It’s been here a good ten years now, but it’s rarely used. Both my parents have matching over easy chairs that they have claimed. Guests know to sit on the couch or loveseat while in the den of the house. The room still smells like vanilla and brown sugar. It’s the scent my mother’s always worn and any time I catch a sniff of it I’m instantly reminded of her. A couple of years ago, I helped my dad and brother, Keith, paint an accent wall Tiffany blue and re-trim the molding and baseboards white. Then we realized that the rest of the white in the room needed to be refreshed. An afternoon job turned into a weekend job, but it’s exactly what my mama wanted. The den is a big room. Directly in front of me, across from the brown couch is the TV, sitting under the TV is a cabinet that takes up the whole wall. Inside the cabinet you’ll find every VHS, DVD and Blu-Ray known to mankind. Sitting across the top, are mix and match picture frames with all shapes and sizes of candles. The candles that aren’t meant for burning, but just to sit and look pretty. Behind me is a wall of floor to ceiling shelves. My dad built them for my mama as part of a wedding anniversary gift. My mama has always been a big reader which meant she needed a place to store her book collection. Every shelf is completely filled. The place always warms my heart.

She sighs. “Do you mean, besides these delicious donuts and a date with my book?”

“Yes,” I reply, with a laugh.

“I’m sure I’ll cook some dinner before your dad gets home and we’ll spend the night right here, in our chairs. I’ll read and he’ll watch the news as he falls asleep in the chair, snoring like a grizzly bear.” My mom’s face is lit up with a smile. “What about you?”

I pull my baseball cap from my head and rest it on the couch. “I’m going to head over to Atlanta in a bit.”

“Already? You just got back to Blue Ridge two days ago. Surely, your company can manage longer than that.”

My mom is the easiest person to talk to but I’m finding it difficult today. A part of me is worried about what she’s going to tell me. More than likely it’ll be something I don’t want to hear. “It’s not for work. I’m taking Teaganne and her kids to go grab her SUV. It broke down on the way here.”

“Teaganne Voss is back in Blue Ridge?”

I nod my head. “Yes ma’am. She bought a place over in that new subdivision.”

“I must be slacking at my age. I missed this juicy piece of gossip.”

“I’m not sure anyone besides Warbee and Rocker really knew.” I was curious if my mom had known about Teaganne’s return but had decided not to tell me. My mama had always been Team Teaganne. She admired how intelligent, determined, and full of life she was. She always said we were a good balance for one another.

“I’m so glad to hear that. So, what’s going on with y’all?” She eyes me expectantly.

I run my hands over my face before diving into the story of how we are now supposed to be working together to get the bakery back up at the top, and how I volunteered to take her to Atlanta without fully thinking it through. “So, nothing is going on.”

“Yet...but do you want there to be?”

I shrug and stare at the pictures in front of me. I don’t know how I’ve missed it, but there is a picture from prom night mixed in. Teaganne and I stand outside under one of the large trees. She looks as gorgeous as ever. My mom’s question lingers in the air but I’m not sure I truly have an answer for it. “I don’t know. She hurt me so badly with how things ended between us. Of course, I’m still attracted to her. She’ll always be the most beautiful creation I’ve ever seen, but I don’t know if I trust her.”

“But you wanted to help her.” I look over at my mom. Her blue eyes shine with knowledge. After a few moments of silence, she gives in and tells me exactly what’s on her mind. “People who are meant to be will find a way in the end. If you doubt that just look at Warbee and Rocker. Life is all about the timing. If the timing isn’t right, then it won’t last, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get a second chance.”

“Do you really believe that?”

My mama waves her hand in dismissal. “With all of my soul, Keefer. Then again you know second chance romance is my favorite kind of book to read.” We laugh for a bit then it falls quiet again. “Why don’t you bring the kids to me this afternoon?”

“Are you sure?”

She nods her head. “Of course, traveling with children is never a fun task. Plus, it’ll be fun since I don’t see any chance of grandkids any time soon and it’ll give you and Teaganne some time alone.”

“Mama…” I tell her in a warning tone.

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