Page 83 of There's Pumpkin About You
I arrived at the farm at seven this morning, wanting to make sure that anything and everything that can go wrong does so early in the day. Thankfully, so far things are running smoothly. Knowing my luck, however, the chances of it staying that way are slim.
Bash has been a massive help, as has Sam but, unfortunately, Gus is nowhere to be found. Hasn’t been for a week as a matter of fact. I thought he would only need a day or two to calm down, and yet two days turned to three, three to four and so on until seven days have come and gone and I haven’t seen him once, even though I’ve been on the farm every day since preparing for today.
Even Bash hasn’t seen him. The only reason I haven’t been concerned is because Bash isn’t. He says it’s normal for Gus to disappear occasionally, when the weight of the world is too heavy on his shoulders. He leaves so that he can regroup, reassess and return calmer than when he left.
I think about how that would work in a relationship, if that would be something to cause more harm than good, but the more I think about it, the more I know that I would deal with it if it’s what he needs. I want to be with Gus as he is, not change him to suit me.
“Not disturbing, am I?”
Nigel stands by the doors to the barn, smiling warmly. I walk over and return his smile, hugging him as gently as I can.
“Nigel, how nice to see you!”
“Right back at you, my dear.” He smiles. “I have a flower delivery for you.”
Oh, my God. I forgot to order the goddamn flowers.
But wait, if I forgot to order them… then who…
“Someone ordered flowers for the party?”
“Oh, yes,” he says with a mischievous look on his face. “A secret admirer, I believe.”
Of course Gus would be so thoughtful. It wasn’t enough that he sorted the food and drink—even if he was just doing it to try and get rid of me. He had to go one step further and think of the one thing I should have sorted from the beginning. I’ve been planning parties, both professionally and unprofessionally, for five years now… and I forgot to buy flowers for my best friend’s thirtieth?
“Thank you, Nigel,” I tell him as he leads me to his truck, where there is a bed full of black and red roses, baby’s breath, and delphiniums. My breath is stolen from me when I see the array of bouquets, registering that Gus really did take into account everything I told him. We’d had a conversation, Gus and I, regarding the flowers I wanted. Well, it was more like me speaking and Gus sitting there, so I had no idea that he listened to all of it. But he had. Every single word I said.
“How much is there?” I ask breathlessly.
“A hundred of each,” Nigel replies. “I’d be more than happy to help set them up if you would like. As long as there are no ladders that is. I don’t think my knees could take the workout.”
Nigel assists me with setting up the bottom floor of the barn, the two of us laughing and joking around as we arrange the flowers in a way that looks both beautiful and haunted—beautifully haunted, I suppose. Some of them look to be blooming from the hay bales, others in black vases on the tables. Nigel even managed to direct me on how to arrange them on the railing of the balcony. He even gave me some eucalyptus leaves to add to it so that the metal rail is nearly invisible.
The only thing left are the pumpkins. The pumpkins which I really hoped Gus would deliver. We started this together, it would have been nice to end it in the same way.
“Lost in thought, my dear?” Nigel asks.
I smile wryly at him. “Just nervous. It’s been a while since I planned an event and I seem to be all over the place.”
“You need to believe in yourself, Wren. You’re more than capable of doing whatever you put your mind to, but you need to believe that yourself.”
He plants a swift kiss on my cheek before heading back to his shop.
About an hour later, Bash enters the room just as I’ve finished setting up all of the treats that Lori made. Working with her has been an absolute dream. She’s a kind, interesting woman who really has a passion for her craft.
The pastries she’s done for me are amazing—all following the theme of theNightmare Before Fallwith their color coordination, and spooky decorations.
I’m still waiting for the excitement to kick in—that rush through my blood as I realize that I have, once again, planned a party. Something that I enjoy doing. I’m waiting for it to flood my veins, replacing the nervous gloop that’s clogging them up instead. But it’s still not come. The set-up is usually my favorite part, but right now, all I can think about is the fact that there is someone missing.
“Oh, my God!” Oakleigh screams as she enters behind Bash. “My bestie does it again!”
She runs up, throwing herself at me. “I love it! I love it! I love it!”
I can’t help but laugh as I hug her back. “It’s not done yet! Still gotta set up all the pumpkins.”
“Even without them it’s amazing!” She turns to Bash. “No offense.”
“None taken,” he chuckles. “I’m just about to bring them in now, but, um… Wren? I think you should come outside and check them before I do.”
