I thought it over as we made our way down to the crowd of kids. I kept my sunglasses on, but braced myself for recognition. We stood in line, but I was pretty sure the kids were more interested in the flannel giant next to me.
“Hiya.” A pretty woman with huge blue eyes and a fringe of bangs leaned on the counter. “What can I get you?”
“Hey, Rachel. We’ve spoken a few times. I’m Tate Reynolds.”
“Oh!” She grabbed an orange and black gingham towel and flipped it over her shoulder. “Len, can you take over?”
The man nodded and replaced her at the window. Rachel waved us down to the back of the bus. We excused ourselves and followed her direction. There was a set of doors at the back end of the bus. One was already open for ventilation. I imagined it could get hot in the close quarters while they were steaming milk. The other opened and she hurried down the stairs.
“I didn’t know you were coming.” She wiped her hands on the towel then held one out. “Rachel Winslow.”
“It was a spontaneous thing.” Tate shook hers.
She glanced at me and gave me a friendly smile. I held mine out as well. “Amber.”
“Glad to meet you. I’m really excited to bring the bus up to Haven. We’ve been working the kinks out here on the orchard and a few parties in the area, but this will be the first time we take it on the road for real.”
“It all smells amazing.”
“We’re definitely getting you a mug. In fact, my assistant is making you up a thermos to take with you. Are you doing the hayride?”
Tate glanced down at me.
“Yes, it looks like fun.”
“Beware my cousins will be doing jump scares. They get really into Halloween over here, but they keep it tame for the little ones in the daytime. Night? Yeah, you are warned.”
I laughed. “Good to know.”
“This looks amazing. I didn’t realize it was so big. I thought it was one of those little buses.”
“The first one was a VW Bus.” She laughed. “That’s a long story. We still have that one over at the Christmas tree lot, but that doesn’t open until Black Friday. We do a big event for our patrons that have been with us since the beginning.”
“Hmm. That’s a good idea.”
I could feel Tate’s brain spinning since we’d arrived. And my own, if I was honest. I’d run my own business for a long time, but my skills in keeping a large operation running could help Tate as well. Well, if he wanted my help.
“My advice is to write everything down. Especially the stuff that doesn’t work. Iteration has been huge here at the orchard that’s for sure. My cousins are insane, but damn if they aren’t the smartest people I know.”
“The learning curve has been...rough.” Tate laughed, but there was some stress under it.
“I love that you’re helping your community. Which is why I was so excited you asked us to come for a long weekend.”
“I’m really glad you said yes.”
An arm and a thermos came out from the bus. Rachel rolled her eyes and reached up to take it. “Thanks, Len.” She handed Tate the thermos and a pair of tin cups. “Courtesy of the Cocoa Bus.” The thermos had a huge jack o’lantern with a sharp toothy grin. The tin cups were in the same artistic style with bats and ghosts instead.
I flipped up my sunglasses on top of my head without thinking to look at the adorable ghosts. “I’m such a sucker for ghosts.”
Rachel’s eyes went huge in recognition.
I held my finger up in a shush. “I’m just a regular girl.”
Her blue eyes danced. “That hayride is going to get interesting.”
I took the thermos from Tate. “I bet we’re going to do just fine.”
14
