I had no idea what I wanted, and that he was questioning his future filled me with hope. I didn’t need all the answers right now. I could enjoy this for now. “Nope. I hate plans, remember?”
He laughed. “Oh, I know.” He opened his door and came around to meet me. Holding my hand, he walked us to his dad’s truck.
Should I drop Scott’s hand? What would his dad think?I decided I would let Scott lead with the whole dad thing. The door to the truck groaned in protest at opening.
“Scott, my boy.” His dad stepped out in a green and yellow Hawaiian shirt and cargo pants. He hugged his son. There was something about his dad’s face that was cheery, like he knew a joke and was excited to tell it.
Scott hugged his dad without dropping my hand. Scott held up our hands. “This is Marissa.”
“Oh yes.” Scott’s dad pulled me into an enormous hug and his warm bear arms drew me in. He stepped back. “Thanks for helping my son. Heard he was quite lost here without you.”
I shrugged. “I'm just glad he didn’t fire me after the black eye.”
His dad threw his head back and laughed loudly. “That was you,” he chuckled. “Small world.”
“Yeah, well I’m freezing. Let’s go inside and go over the books.” Scott headed to the door.
“There’s my Scotty boy, always so serious.” He grinned. “Just a second.” His dad turned to his truck and grabbed a box of cookies off the seat. “Here are the cookies you asked for from Bella’s Bakery. I even got extra of the sprinkle kind you asked for.” He looked at me. “Have you developed a sweet tooth, Scotty?” He grinned and shut the truck door and started walking to the front door.
“Something like that.” Scott smiled at me and jitters took over my stomach. Although maybe it was just about the cookies.
We all went through the office door. Scott was different from his dad. He was less colorful and not as loud, but there was something deeper that was the same. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was.
Chapter Twenty-Four
SCOTT
It waspie and pumpkin judging day at the fairgrounds.Apparently, that was a thing. As I walked toward the long white building on the Hillsdale fairgrounds, I realized I must have missed a memo. Everyone was dressed in boots, jeans, and a flannel button-up. At least I got the jeans part right. I had made myself change out of the dress slacks, even though I was a judge. There was a small petting zoo with the animals protesting the cold, food vendors, and a stage blasting country music.
Somewhere along the way, I’d begun to feel differently in Hillsdale, less of an outsider. I now planned an extra thirty minutes every time I went to the grocery store, for when people waved me over to chat. I saw Mrs. Bates at the Mercantile the other day. She was buying a rake and milk. I apologized for our first encounter and told her I would make it up to her by raking her leaves that night. The woman may have had an army of yard gnomes, but she made the best homemade jam I had ever tasted.
It was certainly a unique place, quirky but loyal to their own.
“Hey. You ready for this?” Marissa snuck beside me andwrapped her arms around my waist. I smiled down at her. I loved that as soon as she was near me, we were holding hands or touching. And kissing. Lots of kissing.
“Should I be worried?”
“Yep. Come on, pie contest this way.” Marissa pulled me to the large white building. “A word to the wise. Be careful, these ladies seem sweet on the outside, but if you don’t give their pie a good review, it’s likely to turn lethal.”
My eyebrows shot up, and I looked at Marissa. Was she teasing me again? She looked serious.
I followed Marissa up the wooden ramp into the building. It had warped floors, plastic folding tables, chairs, and space heaters sprinkled throughout.
“Oh, thank goodness.” Ashley was wearing a dress that made me feel cold. She sighed and rushed to my side. “I was worried you might not make it.”
Marissa stiffened beside me.
Ashley eyed Marissa. “Did you learn to bake and enter a pie?” Ashley's words sounded sweet but were full of venom. “I would’ve looked after Mr. Elliot for you if you were busy.” She reached up and touched my arm. “By the way there sugar, I'm not sure if Marissa has told you about her past, but?—”
Marissa flinched and pulled away. I leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “I’m always happier when Marissa is with me, and if there is anything Marissa wants to tell me about her past, I’ll hear it from her.” My voice was bold and sure. I refused to let this harpy hurt her. At that moment, I realized how true my statement was. I was relaxed and happy when Marissa was at my side.
Ashley stepped back. “Yes, of course. How silly of me.” Ashley's lips pouted, and she turned to join the others.
Marissa relaxed and leaned back into me. I looked down at her. She was smiling up at me, then reached up and kissed my cheek. I had been proud of a lot of my accomplishments in school and life, but somehow it all paled next to making Marissa happy.
Marissa led me to the front room and showed me to my seat. Two other men with deep scowls and gray hair sat beside me. I smiled at them. “Lucky for us to get to eat all these pies. I’m Scott.”
They both nodded gruffly and stuck out their hands. “Name’s George, this is Doug, and trust me, no luck here boy, you’ll see.”
