Page 24 of Autumn Leaves and Pumpkins Please

Slowly, I sink back down into my seat. I eat lunch with my family before heading to work on Mrs. Colson’s house. I work until the sun goes down and the stars come out. My mind and body are occupied with two completely different things. By the time I get into my truck, my body is exhausted, but my mind is wide awake with excitement of seeing Capri. I checked my phone, but I don’t have anything missed from her. I stopped to grab some sweets from the bakery, but she’s not working so I’ll surprise her when I get home.

My dad’s words still play in my mind and for the first time in what feels like forever...I’m content and at peace.

TWENTY-ONE

Capri

The spa was amazing and relaxing. I learned so much about Teaganne and I have to admit that once the day was done, I found I didn’t really feel like much of a third wheel anymore. We joked about being Charlie's Angels, took some selfies to help advertise the spa on social media, and relaxed, which was something I hadn’t truly done in a very long time. As we get situated in Teaganne’s car Warbee announces, “I’m hungry!”

Teaganne and I burst out laughing because Warbee literally sounds like Teaganne’s little girl, Seraphina. It’s the same thing she says every time she steps into Bee’s Batter. “Well, I guess you know where Seraphina gets it from,” I tease Teaganne from the backseat.

“Apparently. Okay, I guess I’ll feed you,” she teases. We head into town and decide Burger Hop sounds good until we pull up and the place is packed!

“Oh goodness! I’m going to starve if we have to wait this long.” Warbee must really be hungry.

Teaganne sighs and scans the area. “There aren’t a lot of choices right now. A lot of them are closed because of the weekend, and then everything else is full because the Sip and Smack is closed due to the gas leak. We can go to Blue Bar. Are you okay with bar food?”

Warbee moves her glasses down her nose to look at her best friend. Warbee’s look says, ‘really?’ “It’s food, right?”

“Technically, that’s up for debate, but yes it resembles food.” Warbee looks back at me and laughs at my comment.

“Okay, Capri isn’t wrong, but yes let’s go there.” Warbee turns up the radio as we head towards Blue Bar. We sing along. As we pull up, I’m sure Warbee is happy to see that the bar isn’t as full as Burger Hop. Now my stomach has begun to grumble in hunger.

We climbed out and head inside. Blue Bar is no different than any other bar you could go into. Country music blasts through the speakers, filling the area, along with the stench of stale smoke and beer. The sound of pool being played on the tables and darts mix with the country music along with the chatter and laughter of the customers. Timber, one of the local guys and bartender, greets us from behind the counter. “Sit wherever you like, ladies, I’ll be there in a minute to grab y’alls order.”

We take a seat and Timber comes around a couple minutes later. We order just about everything on the menu and sodas. After he leaves the table, we sit back. Teaganne eyes Warbee. “Okay, what’s going on with you?”

“What do you mean?” Warbee asks, but her tone is too defensive, giving away that there is in fact something going on.

I tilt my head as I wonder what it could be. “What is going on?”

Warbee sighs. “Okay, so Rocker and I are adopting a baby.”

“What?” Teaganne and I squeal in unison. Warbee and Rocker will never be able to have children of their own naturally due to Warbee’s medical past, so this is huge and I’m sure something she’s overjoyed about, yet she looks terrified right now. “What’s wrong?” I ask.

Her eyes meet mine. “I’m just worried that something is going to go wrong, and it won’t work out.”

Teaganne reaches across the table and lays her hand over Warbee’s while giving it a little squeeze. “It’ll work out because the two of you deserve it. I’m so happy for you.”

I reach over and lay my hand on top of theirs. “I am, too. I can’t think of two people who will be better parents.”

“You mean, aside from Keefer and I,” Teaganne says, with a teasing tone.

Warbee, Teaganne, and I laugh. “Yes, of course, besides y’all.”

“How’s everything going since y’all moved in with Keefer officially? How did Silas and Seraphina adjust?” Warbee asks.

Teaganne smiles and there isn’t a trace of sadness or stress behind it. When she first arrived back in Blue Ridge from New York City, her smiles always seemed a little forced, but now they seem sincere, and she seems content. “Great, actually. I think they’ve viewed Keefer like a father for a while now, so it feels natural for them. We have a good dynamic going. He’s officially adopting them in a couple of months. The paperwork is already sitting on my lawyer's desk.”

Warbee squeals. “That’s amazing.”

“It really is. I’m happy for you, too,” I tell Teaganne.

Teaganne smiles and takes a deep breath. “It’s such a change. I’m so completely happy with my decision to come back home. So now the question is about you and Jayse?”

My shoulders lift in a shrug as Timber comes over with two trays of food and drinks. After he arranges everything on the table between us, we fix our plates and I answer. “I don’t know. I didn’t intend for anything to happen between us. Years ago, I made myself a promise that I wouldn’t try the relationship thing again, but it’s looking like I might be breaking that promise.”

“Sometimes we make promises in the moment that are right at that point in time, but they aren’t meant to be there forever.”

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