His expression changes in an instant, morphing from a combination of frustration and determination to concern. Understanding finally registers as he nods. “I’m taking you.” His tone is softer, almost pleading.
“Okay.”
Some of the coiled tension in his body releases. “When do you want to leave?”
“Let me check in with Granny first.” I leave him in the kitchen as he refreshes the coffee in his stainless steel tumbler.
It occurs to me that he’s familiar with the layout in Granny’s kitchen, knowing his way around like he’s here often. My jaw grinds as I wonder if he visits Granny more than I’ve heard.
Rex used to have dinner with Granny Jo and me every Wednesday and Sunday night. That was before he broke my heart, and I left town to escape him. I ran because I couldn’t deal with the humiliation and rejection, but I also needed distance from this town and all its memories.
The only reason I’ll ever set foot in Raven’s Crest is because of Granny. She’s everything to me. I’ll do whatever it takes to get the bakery back on its feet, but once it is, I’m leaving.
Rex can have as many dinners as he wants with my grandmother. It doesn’t change the past.
Phantom’s chuckle reaches me before I enter Granny’s room. She’s sitting up in bed, a blanket draped over her lap and a diamond art set beside her. Thank God it’s not a bedazzled penis.
“I’m going to the bakery,” I tell Granny. “I need to see the damage. There probably isn’t anything salvageable, but I have to be sure.”
“Of course. Take photos for the insurance company.”
“I will,” I promise.
“Be careful. The fire spread throughout the whole store. I don’t think the structure is stable. I’m afraid the roof might collapse on you.”
I already thought of that. “That’s why the big mountain will check before I go in.”
Phantom ticks his chin toward the door, and I turn, seeing Rex. “He’s got you.”
His confidence and evident respect for his club brother keep me from saying anything snarky.
“We’ll be back late,” he tells Phantom. “The Fear Farm will be busy tonight.”
Right. The Fear Farm. How did it escape my notice that it’s the busy season? Tourists will be shopping and filling the streets as they visit the attractions and corn maze. The haunted hayride draws in a crowd, and the line is usually long.
It’s been years since I’ve been home. I’ve forgotten how alive the town feels from September through November. It’s like something mystical takes over, the veil between the living and the dead thins, and the shadows feel like they’re watching, waiting, and plotting mischievous deeds.
It’s always been a favorite time because of the candy apples, popcorn, freshly baked pies, and the thrill of the season. L.A. nearly bleached the memory from my brain.
“I’m going to change, and then we’ll go,” I tell Rex before I leave the three of them alone in Granny’s room.
I take the stairs up to my room, entering as I see that nothing is out of place. Granny hasn’t changed a thing since I left. My shelves are still stocked with all my cooking books and romance novels. The awards I’ve won in baking competitions are the only addition. Granny has added them to the big board on my wall. Newspaper clippings and online articles she’s printed. Every accomplishment I’ve had since I left.
“Oh, Granny,” I whisper. I love her so much.
Once I change my clothes and grab my purse, I meet Rex at the front door. He’s taken a few minutes to freshen up. His flannel is a different color, and I can smell his woodsy, fresh pine-scented cologne.
“You ready?”
I nod.Let’s get this over with.
The drive into town is quiet. We don’t say more than a few polite sentences to one another. Even so, it’s not uncomfortable. More like a temporary truce.
The second he parks and I exit his truck, I’m hit with a wave of nostalgia. It smells like fall in the air. I close my eyes briefly and inhale all the delicious smells, enjoying all my favorites like cocoa, cinnamon, and pumpkin. The Mystic Emporium is already busy with a few employees dressed as witches handingout bubbling cups of hot cider to customers from a massive cauldron.
All the shops are open late. It’s a tradition in the fall and during the festival season. Now that it’s October, they’ll fill every hotel, bed & breakfast, and RV park within at least thirty miles of Raven’s Crest. The business will keep everyone fed and the lights on through the winter. It’s a blessing to our small town, one that the townspeople have embraced.
I’ve missed it.
