Page 17 of Autumn Wishes and Pumpkin Kisses

Teaganne: Hey it’s Teaganne. I was wondering if Silas would need anything for football tryouts tomorrow?

Keefer: Actually, he probably needs a couple of things. I can show you where to grab them.

Teaganne: You don’t have to take time out of your day for that. You can text me a list and I’ll manage to find it.

Keefer: We need to get together anyway. Warbee’s bakery and what not. I have my general idea of what I want to do with the website, but she wanted your ideas and mine to match so I need to know what you’re thinking.

Teaganne: Oh I just sketched mine out.

Keefer: Great. Do you and the kids want to have lunch with me at Burger Hop? We can discuss the bakery and then I can take you to the store to grab what Silas will need for football.

I hesitate for a moment. Being around Keefer is a struggle for me, but I know he’s right. We have to get things going with the bakery, and if Silas makes the little league football team there really is no avoiding Keefer. If I’m being honest, it’s scary how badly I want to have lunch with Keefer.

Teaganne: As long as you’re sure it won’t inconvenience you in any way.

Keefer: No inconvenience at all. It’ll be my pleasure. How about I’ll see y’all at Burger Hop in an hour?

Teaganne: Sounds great. See you then.

“Okay ya’ll! We’re going to go have lunch with Keefer and grab whatever Silas needs for football.” Both of them jump up immediately and take off upstairs. I turn off the TV and gather the crayons and books before laying them on the coffee table and heading upstairs myself to help them get ready. Once the kids are ready, I rush into my room, crunched for time as always, and head straight for my closet. I manage to wiggle into a pair of dark wash, distressed, skinny jeans with a pair of brown booties paired with a coral and hunter green plaid shirt, coral tank top and black, strappy bralette. After throwing on a couple swipes of mascara and eyeliner there’s no time to mess with my hair, so I just leave it down and natural. Luckily, my hair has a little natural wave to it so it looks okay. “Okay y’all, time to go,” I announce to the kids, as I step out into the hallway. They both come running out of Seraphina’s room. I help them each slip a light sweater on just in case it’s a little chilly outside. You can never tell with seasons changing. I collect Seraphina in my arms and take Silas’ hand as we head down the stairs and out to the SUV. Once the kids are secured, I hop up front and send a quick text to Keefer.

Teaganne: Headed your way. I don’t think we’ll be late but just in case there happens to be traffic.

Keefer: No problem. I’m already here. Would you like me to order for y’all?

Texting will take up too much time, so I decide to call him through the Bluetooth in the SUV as I back out of the driveway. Keefer answers the phone, “Hello.”

“Hey, if you want to order for us so we don’t waste more time I can tell you what to grab,” I offer. I don’t know what all Keefer has to do in a day so I don’t want to keep him any longer than necessary.

I hear him moving around on the other side of the line. “Okay, I’m ready.”

“Just grab the kids a chicken nugget basket with fries and a glass of iced tea.” My kids usually end up with water, but they might as well get to the true southern experience and there’s nothing more southern than tea. “And for myself…”

“A barbeque bacon burger with extra cheese and a side of onion rings and spicy mustard to dip them in. Half sweet tea, half unsweetened tea with extra ice and lemon.” My heart stops. I don’t know why I keep getting shocked by the fact that Keefer remembers so much about me. For whatever reason, I have convinced myself that after we broke up, he just moved on and forgot all about me, including the little details he used to know by heart. Maybe, it was easier for me to picture him like that, but clearly, I was wrong. “Teaganne?” Keefer asks.

I clear my throat where the emotion has started to grow. “Yeah, that’s perfect.”

Keefer’s perfect, tummy clenching, chuckle comes through the line. “Some things never change.”

“I guess not,” I reply. “There doesn’t seem to be a lot of traffic so we should be there soon.”

“Okay, be careful and I’ll see y’all in a few.” The line goes dead and I take the last few minutes to collect myself before having to come face-to-face with Keefer again. We have to drive around the block a couple of times before I’m able to snag a parking spot. After I gather Silas and Seraphina, we head down to Burger Hop. I spot Keefer easily enough even though he’s gotten a haircut since I last saw him. It’s trimmed short on the sides and back but longer on the top. A stray piece has fallen over onto his forehead and my fingers instantly itch to move it but that’s not my job anymore. His head bent down over a tablet so I get to take a few moments to drink him in. His light colored denim button up shirt hugs his muscles like a glove. A peek of navy blue shows where he stopped the buttons. The arms of the shirt are rolled up to his elbows. Black denim jeans and black work boots complete his outfit. As if he feels my eyes on him, he looks up. The smile that graces his face awards me with a peek of the dimples I love so much. In a flash, Keefer is on his feet and coming over to help me. Silas gets excited. “Keefer!”

Keefer squats down. “Hey there, buddy. Are you helping your mom today?”

“I sure am. Are we having lunch with you?” Silas asks, his voice is eager.

“Yes, you are. I’m excited to. Your mom and I need to talk about some work stuff, but after lunch we’re going to get what you need for football tomorrow. Does that sound like a good plan?” Keefer asks.

Silas jumps up and down a little. “It sounds like a great plan. I’m so excited!”

“Good,” Keefer says, as he stands up. His eyes travel from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet and back up again. My skin heats as he takes in all that I am. I wonder what he sees now. I know it can’t be the same girl I used to be, but I’m curious what all differences he can pick out. Keefer extends his hand to Silas. “Then I guess we better get on with lunch then.”

Silas drops my hand and rushes to Keefer’s side. Whenever Keefer decides to become a dad, he's going to be a great one, not that I ever doubted that. It’s just seeing him with Silas and Seraphina makes my heart ache. This is what I always wanted for them. Joe just wasn’t it. We all have a seat at the sidewalk table Keefer picked out. It’s a beautiful day, not too cold, not too hot. One of those perfect autumn days. A light breeze in the air, leaves are starting to change on the trees around us and it’s perfect. Keefer already had booster seats for both Silas and Seraphina at the table. The food arrives just after we take our seats.

I moan in appreciation the moment my teeth sink into the burger. It’s even better than I remember. Keefer laughs and I look up at him. “What?” I try to ask, but realize my mouth might just be a little too full for that.

Keefer continues to laugh and shakes his head. The next thing I know, he reaches over and with his thumb, and he ever so gently swipes it on the side of my mouth. His skin is rough like a man’s should be and the action creates shivers down my spine. “You always did get barbeque sauce on your face when you ate that.”

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