Page 18 of Autumn Leaves and Pumpkins Please

Once my boxes are full, I take the boxes to the side counter where some people are waiting and start to distribute stuff out. Warbee appears with two drink holders full of drinks. “What happened?” I ask.

She stops to wipe her forehead with the back of her hand. Her glasses slip down her nose and she pushes them back up. “I’m not sure. Bushels of Fun is packed. My mom called and gave me a head’s up that they were almost out of food, so I instantly started baking up new batches, but then it got crazy in here. Thankfully, Teaganne was here and could pull the baking sheets in and out.”

Jolie slides some more orders our way. Warbee and I get to work on boxes, bags, and to go cups. Jocelynn, one of the local newspaper reporters, steps up. “Did y’all hear?”

I look at the leggy, blonde with hair as big as Texas itself. Her perfectly straight, overly whitened teeth bites down into her collagen filled bottom lip. “The Sip and Smack is closed until further notice.”

Warbee’s head whips in Jocelyn’s direction. Things between the Sip and Smack and Bee’s Batter were slightly heated a couple of months ago. Sip and Smack was a new restaurant and while Warbee was in full support of a new business for the residents of Blue Ridge, Fran, the owner of Sip and Smack, was a real piece of work. She believed she was special apparently. Every time she was around, she made people feel small and then she hired a bakery chef to add to her menu. Totally unfair considering that Warbee is the best baker in town, but the newness of the business took from ours. Teaganne and her boyfriend, Keefer, who also happens to be one of Warbee’s best friends, revamped the bakery and website and now things are booming, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about what happened at the Sip and Smack. Most of the time, I try to keep my ears out of the local gossip mill, but this one feels almost necessary. Warbee comes over, forgetting the order she was working on. “What happened?” she asks.

“Well, from what I heard there was a possible gas leak in the building so the gas has been turned off and everything has to be fixed before Fran can reopen.” Jocelyn wags her eyebrows like this is the juiciest bit of gossip she’s ever heard. I doubt it is considering she’s a reporter for a living.

Warbee places her hand over her heart. “Oh goodness.” That’s the thing about Warbee; she has the heart of a saint. No matter what you do to her she still feels for you if something goes wrong. Don’t mistake that though as her being a pushover because she’s definitely not a pushover.

“That’s what I said when I got the post-it passed to me. I’m actually heading over to try and get a comment or interview with Fran to see what she has to say about all of it.”

I clear my throat. “Is that even possible, though? Didn’t she have to have an inspection on the building when she bought it and if something was wrong, wouldn’t she know about it?”

Jocelyn’s smile is wicked when it appears on her face. “That’s the thing she would have. I’m thinking she probably should have had it fixed but didn’t and look where it got her. Serves her right for trying to take out the bakery if you ask me. Well, I’m off to get the scoop. Y’all better get prepared for one busy day and possibly many more to come.” Jocelyn waved as she heads out of the bakery. Warbee and I exchange a look, before she goes back to the box, she was filling with her homemade autumn inspired donuts.

After I catch up on the drinks and start brewing fresh pots of coffee and tea, I move towards Warbee and start helping fill the orders. “You should go start baking some more stuff up.”

“We’re swamped. I can’t leave y’all.” She glances at me quickly and I can read the indecision in her eyes.

I nudge her shoulders. “Go. We’re swamped, but if we run out of food it’ll be worse. Go bake. Send Teaganne to help me.”

“Are you sure?” she asks. I can tell she’s worried and probably feeling a little guilty, but she shouldn’t. Any of us can take or fill the orders, but none of us can bake like her so I nod my head. She rushes to the kitchen and a few minutes later Teaganne appears with an apron around her waist. It’s actually funny looking considering her sky-high heeled boots and long sleeve sweater dress. Her hair is pulled up into a ponytail and she smiles as she joins me.

For the next few hours, it’s nonstop. Teaganne, Jolie, and I take more orders than I could have ever imagined. Warbee had to stop and place an order with our vendor for more coffee, tea, and products she uses to bake. By the time it slows down, we all look like a semi-truck has run us over. Since I came in later, I send everyone else home and promise to call them if it gets swamped again, but by the look in the sky a storm is brewing. Most people will be tucked home at this point or enjoying the last few nights of Bushels of Fun, but the drop in temperature has me doubting that it’s packed tonight.

I’m just about to head to the door to lock up when the bell above chimes. I turn around but the greeting dies on my tongue. Jayse is standing there, taking up so much space that he almost looks larger than life. His stormy gray eyes meet mine and they remind me of the storm brewing outside the walls of the bakery. Jayse has a storm brewing within his walls, too, and I’m not sure I’m strong enough to weather it. “Looks like you had a busy day.”

His jeans are just loose enough to make my heart patter and the black t-shirt he has on hugs his body. A red and black flannel over that and a denim jacket makes him look like a true Georgia boy. He runs a hand through his hair which is down and loose. It’s my favorite look on him even though he doesn’t wear it like this often. “Yeah, you could say that.” We stand there awkwardly and in silence. Finally, I ask, “Did you need coffee or something to eat?”

I start to move towards the counter when he replies. “No.”

Okay...I think to myself. I turn back around to face him. “Then what are you doing here?”

“I need you, Capri. I need to talk to you.”

My heart stops because for a foolish moment I think he might tell me his story. I think he might open up to me, but almost as quickly as that thought enters my head it disappears. It’s wishful thinking. I have walls, but Jayse has walls wrapped in electricalbarb wire. No one is getting through, and he isn’t about to open that gate. “I don’t think there’s anything to say.”

“There’s plenty left to say. Are you closing up?” he asks. I nod my head. “After you’re done, will you go with me?”

My eyebrows pull together. “Go where?”

“To the cemetery.” His eyes refuse to meet mind. The way his body is angled, feels like he’s struggling. I want to go to him, but it won’t end well for either of us, so I just plant my feet to the floor.

“You do realize how strange that request sounds, right?”

Jayse nods his head. “Yeah, but it’s the only place that feels right.”

I nibble on my bottom lip. Why am I even considering this? Because you’re a dumb girl who just wants to be near him. I knew I missed him but being back in his presence is overwhelming. “I don’t know…”

“Please,” he says. His voice and eyes are pleading, and they pull at that invisible string between us. My heart and head both screams yes so, I nod my head. “Thank you,” he says quietly. “Do you want some help closing up?”

As tired as I am, I know I can’t let him stay. Being around him is difficult and since I’ve agreed to go to a cemetery with him once I’m done, I think I need some time to prepare myself. In his absence, I realized how much he means to me and now I can’t ignore it. “No, thank you, I’m good. It should only take about forty-five minutes.”

He seems to understand that I need time to myself. “Okay, I’ll meet you there.” Without another word, he turns around and leaves. I watch until he’s no longer visible and the roar of his motorcycle is nothing but a distant memory.

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