Page 19 of Autumn Wishes and Pumpkin Kisses

Silence hangs between us, the air feels like it’s growing heavier by the minute and I’m just starting to regret my decision to ask when she asks, “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

I shake my head, no. “We don't have other plans and I don’t want Silas to stick out like a sore thumb.”

“Then it’s settled. Be there by six.” My smile is too large, but I can’t wipe it off either. Afterwards, we all walk back to Teaganne's SUV. I load the bags of stuff into the back and then help her secure the kids. I open the driver’s side door and she blushes. “I’ll see you at six. You should have my address in a text message in a few.”

“Okay, sounds good,” Teaganne replies. I close the door and watch as they back out of the parking space and drive away.

I thought Teaganne and I had closure years ago, but I’m starting to think we never really did. To the world and even me, it looked like she had moved on, but now I’m beginning to wonder if it was all just an act. Teaganne knew she was being watched by the world and maybe she wanted everyone to think her life was perfect. The few times I’ve spent with her and the kids, I notice that none of them bring up her now soon to be ex-husband, the father of her children. It leaves questions in my mind. Maybe I can get some answers tonight.

SIXTEEN

Teaganne

After lunch with Keefer, I head over to my parents' house. My mom agreed to watch Silas and Seraphina while I meet with Jayse, the possible contractor, at Bee’s Batter this afternoon. My dad will be at work which is the only reason I’m dropping the kids off with my mom. My father and I don’t see eye to eye anymore. He’s made it perfectly clear that he believes I have failed more than I have succeeded and maybe he’s right, but at least I haven’t given up. I also don’t consider my children failures, so I can’t be upset with my decision to marry Joe. Of course, I wish I had done things differently. When I see Keefer spending time with them, I find myself wishing he was their father but then Silas and Seraphina would be different versions of themselves, and I hate the idea of that. I wouldn’t change a single thing about either of them.

The home that I grew up in seems over the top now. It didn’t at the time. I guess considering I was one of seven kids, my parents needed the large farmhouse but my dad likes to flaunt his money in my opinion. When my family decided to move from Chicago to Blue Ridge, they really gave up the city. I grew up on eleven acres of land that had two barns (none of which were used) aside from me and my siblings hanging out in them. The white and gray two story house is six bedrooms and six bathrooms with an open floor plan and a three car garage. Once we moved in, my parents completely finished the basement, making it their master suite. So now the house has seven bedrooms, seven baths, but only four, soon to be three kids remain in the house. The rest of us have flown the coop, so to speak.

I follow the long drive down to the house. My mom appears on the front porch with her little Yorkshire Terrier, Lulu following behind her. “Teaganne,” she says, and she pulls me into her arms. She smells of Chanel perfume and daisy shampoo. Her pants suit is perfectly tailored to fit her like a glove and not a single strand of hair is out of place. Her olive skinned face doesn’t show a year of age. I look just like my mother except that my eyes are lighter than her nearly black ones. We carry the Egyptian bloodline within us for sure. Her hair is shorter than what it used to be, barely brushing her shoulders. “How are the little ones?”

“They’re good. Silas is excited today because he starts football tomorrow and we just got all his stuff bought for it. I actually have a question, is Spins Dance Studio still open?” Seraphina had always been obsessed with dance. She has danced around the house since she was old enough to walk. Since Silas is starting football, it seems only fair to let Seraphina try dance.

My mother smiles. “Yes, it is. Ella Mae owns it now but still has the same name. Are you considering placing Sera into dance?” My mother has never liked the name Seraphina, so she has always called her Sera for short.

“Yeah, she really wants to try it. I may swing by after I finish up at the bakery. Are you sure you don’t mind watching them for a little while?” I ask for the hundredth time. It’s silly really because she asked if she could have them for the afternoon, although I’m not sure what she plans on doing with them dressed the way she is.

She waves her hand in dismissal. “Yes, I’m sure. Go on and take care of business. We’ll be here when you get done. Let me help you get them down.” Once I say goodbye to my kids, I head out to the bakery. The streets are busier than I anticipated. I assumed things would be slower since the lunch rush should have died down by now but apparently, I was wrong. Then I noticed two city workers hanging the sign for Bushels of Fun. Every year Blue Ridge holds an annual fall festival. That explains why things are so busy. People are gearing up for it. After I grab a parking spot, I head straight for the bakery. Jayse Lyons is easy to spot. He graduated a few years ahead of us but before Rocker, Jayse was the town's football golden boy. He is tall and slender with longer, shaggy brown hair and piercing blue eyes, scruff growing along his strong jawline and tattoos on one his forearm. His jeans are worn and faded and the navy blue button down work shirt has definitely seen better days. The sleeves of his shirt are pushed up to his elbows. “Hello, Jayse, I’m sorry I’m a little late.”

Jayse shrugs his shoulders. He may be tall and lean but all muscle. “It’s not a problem. Here’s the estimate we discussed earlier.”

Luckily, he’s reasonably priced. “When can you start?”

“I’m finishing up a project tomorrow so this weekend or next week. Whenever it is good for you.” He looks away and I notice the scars coming off his shoulder, up the right side of his neck.

The sooner the better is what I think. “Do you not take the weekends off?”

Jayse shakes his head. There’s a sadness lurking in his eyes. “No, there’s no reason for time off for me.”

A laugh rings out through the bakery and Jayse instantly looks over. I follow his line of sight, straight to Capri. I can’t help but wonder if there’s a story there. Capri didn’t grow up in Blue Ridge, but she’s been here for a few years now. Now, that I think about it. I’ve never known her to have a public boyfriend. I wonder if there’s something between them. They’d make a cute couple. “Well, if you’re sure you don’t want the weekend off then I say the sooner the better.”

Jayse stands up. “Sounds great. I require half down as a deposit for my work.”

“No problem. I’ll write you a check right now.” I write him a check and then I watch as he heads out the door and climbs onto a motorcycle. It rumbles to life. Jayse Lyons is very different from the boy I remember. Warbee joins me at the table.

“Did you hire Jayse?” she asks.

I nod my head. “Yeah, he’s reasonably priced.”

“He does great work,” Warbee mentions.

“So, what’s his story?’ I ask. Warbee opens her mouth to reply but I never get the answer because she’s pulled away for a kitchen emergency. I take a moment to email the plans over to Jayse, and then I decide to grab dessert for tonight. As I head down the street to Spins Dance Studio, I send a text to Keefer to let him know I’m bringing dessert with me.

Spins Dance Studio is light and bright. Different music comes from each room. There’s a young girl sitting at the desk in front. After talking with her, I sign Seraphina up for beginning ballet and hip hop. Both are six week courses and we’ll see after that what she thinks. I get a list of things she’ll need and head back to the store we were at earlier and grab the stuff. Once everything is loaded in the SUV, I head back to grab my kids before my dad gets home.

When I pull down the drive, I’m shocked to see my mom sitting in the grass with Seraphina and Silas playing with Lulu in the yard. Everything is really falling into place and I couldn’t be happier. Every day that we spend in Blue Ridge I know I made the right decision to come back. As I climb out, Seraphina and Silas run over to greet me. They tell me all about their days although, if I’m being honest, I only catch about half of it because they’re both talking a mile a minute at the same time.

I sit with my mom and watch the kids play with one of my younger brothers. We catch up for a bit. My mom and I have always gotten along well. She’s always been a great listener without expecting you to be something that you’re not. My father wanted me to become a doctor or lawyer so I failed in his eyes. After checking the time, I decide to collect the kids and head home so they can take a nap before heading to Keefer’s.

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