Page 96 of No More Secrets
“Your stand is going to be photographed today. It should look its best,” she lectured, opening one of the paper sacks and weighting it with a beefy cucumber so that the Pierce Acres stamped logo was visible.
Summer stood back to admire her work and gave it a nod.
“Okay. Now what?”
“Now we wait for the crowds to descend demanding high quality vegetables,” Carter said, rubbing her shoulders.
“Well, look who decided to step up their game.” Beckett strolled over, hands in the pockets of his shorts. “I can tell neither one of you style-less idiots did this.” He swept Summer into a bear hug, lifting her off her feet.
“Summer classed up our stand.” Jax picked up three tomatoes and started to juggle.
“It’s more art directing,” she laughed, as Beckett put her on her feet again.
“If you can hang out here for a few minutes before going all Mr. Mayor on us, I’ll take Summer on the grand tour of the market,” Carter said to his brother.
Summer checked the time. They still had an hour before Niko was due to meet them.
“Sure, but it’ll cost you. Bring me back a bag of those mini donuts,” Beckett said, joining Jax behind the table.
Carter led Summer away by the hand as Beckett challenged Jax to juggle cucumbers.
“Are you sure it’s safe to be seen together here?” Summer said, tugging at their joined hands.
Carter brought her hand to his lips. “I realized that as long as the BC thinks they won, they leave me alone.”
“Have they won?” she laughed, as they walked past a stand selling reusable shopping totes.
“They don’t consider it an official win until there’s a marriage license. So we’ve got some time before they crank up the pressure again.”
Carter was just kidding, Summer told herself as her stomach pitched with guilt. They had known each other for a month. It was too soon in a summer fling to start talking futures.
“Where are these donuts Beckett asked for?” Summer asked as they looped past a handmade soap stand run by a woman wearing a turquoise jumpsuit and round Lennon sunglasses.
“Right next to Willa’s vegan flip-flop stand,” Carter said, nudging her forward.
“Vegan flip-flops?”
––––––––
They returned to the booth with little bags of fresh donuts for everyone and two pairs of Willa’s flip-flops for Summer. Willa had predicted a long and loving relationship. Summer still wasn’t sure that she had been talking about shoes.
Phoebe had arrived and paused in her booth supervision to greet Summer with a big, heartfelt hug.
“So happy to see you again, Summer,” she said, giving her one last squeeze. “Are you going to help me whip these boys into produce-selling machines?”
Summer stepped over a smashed tomato, the victim of a juggling mishap, she presumed.
“Nikolai will be here soon. I think I’ll just watch you all work your market magic.”
“Yeah. Mom’s not going to let that happen.” Carter said, digging out the cashbox. “It’s all hands on deck here.”
And it was. Within minutes the entire square was bustling with business. It seemed everyone in Blue Moon was either a vendor or a shopper. It was friendly, colorful chaos. She caught snippets of conversations about summer vacations, the closing of the local yoga studio. Apparently Maris was closing up shop and moving to Santa Fe.
Everyone knew everyone, and that included the Pierces. They answered questions about the farm and asked after everyone’s Uncle Bill or family dog. Jax caught up with old friends from high school and their parents, spouses, and children.
The whole market had the festive feel of a summer picnic. And it wasn’t long before Summer was drawn into conversations with Fitz, who was there for a bag of donuts, and Ernest Washington. Rainbow stopped by and officially introduced herself. She passed Summer a brochure on opening a new checking account at the bank.
Beckett took a break to catch up with the other vendors and make himself available to the rest of the residents. Carter called it his “kissing babies lap.” He came back twenty minutes later with a carrier of coffees. “Overly Caffeinated traded me coffee for two dozen eggs. Can you bag ’em up for me, Summer?” he asked, handing over the coffee.
