“Really, it’s fine. Besides, if I’m honest, it has crossed my mind today. He would have loved to have done this with Bo. Now I’m stepping in and it isn’t quite the same.” Nash’s voice when he goes soft and exposed is more than a comfort; it lifts light inside of me as we share an understanding.
I extend my fingers to touch his arm gently. “I think we’ve gotten this out of the way, so let’s focus on having a good day. I know the Blisswood farm is more than a winery, but someone mentioned they have a great pumpkin season with cider, too.”
“It is. Their connection to Lake Spark also scores bonus points for choosing this place to visit. Sometimes, you see the brothers making a delivery in Lake Spark. They also have family there, too, as someone married Hudson Arrows’s son.”
“Everyone knows who is who in town.” I check once more to see Bo beginning to stir. “Uh-oh, the Little Baby Creature Thing as you sometimes call him is awakening.” I find it adorable the way Nash was at first unsure of being around kids, but then he glides right into being a pro at it, and I know that’s going to happen today.
“Is he going to be cranky until he gets a snack?”
I nod a few times and reach for my bag on the floor by my feet to search for a soft baby cookie. “Most definitely. That’s why I always come prepared.” I hold up the cookie with pride, and that half-smile of his stays permanent.
“We’re almost there. Like do we need one classic pumpkin or are you going to take it a notch up and we buy a few?”
“I guess as many as your arms can handle.”
He chuckles. “Fair play.”
Bo gives me a few blinks before he yawns, and then a smile begins to curve on his chubby little cheeks.
“Remind me to get him a Halloween costume. The Dizzy Duck has a staff party coming up, which I’m sure you know since your executive meetings are at the ice rink and very informative where lots of work gets done.” I flash my eyes at him before I stretch my body to the back and hand Bo his snack.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. It’s team building, and we do discuss the Dizzy Duck.”
I doubt this tremendously. “Really?”
Nash tips his head to the side and grins to himself. “Okay, we mostly listen to Holden complain about the expensive coffee machine breaking and how we are currently using a French press for coffee.”
I interrupt and point my finger at him. “Which the guests actually love and feel it’s a classic touch.”
“Tell that to Holden. But really, the Dizzy Duck is successful without me. There isn’t much to discuss.”
I’m not sure how I’ve been so ignorant to the fact that Nash is only supposed to be in town for a short time. Suddenly, a small dose of fear swims inside of me.
Luckily broken by the car coming to a halt in the parking lot.
“Here we are. I get the stroller out of the trunk, right?” Nash asks, oblivious to my thoughts.
I unbuckle my seatbelt. “It’s probably better if I use the baby carrier.”
“Cool. I’ll get him out before he can cause any more crumb damage to my car.”
That is such a Nash thing to say, and it does the trick, as all negative thoughts fade away.
We get everything settled and Bo strapped to the front ofmy body. The weather is great today, with sun and temperatures in the high 50s, but it feels warmer. The farm is gorgeous, well taken care of, and I understand why it’s often a weekend hotspot.
“I know the wine is good, but since they do have two rooms for their bed-and-breakfast, then we should be wondering if we’re cheating on your business investment and my place of employment,” I tease.
“We’re good,” he assures me and zips up his jacket then yanks my arm, carefully since Bo is in his carrier. “Come on, we have a hay maze to conquer.”
I laugh because it’s so silly but also perfect. “I like that idea. If you get us lost, then you have to do dishes for a week.”
“I’m being sentenced to a chore chart again?” This is the banter I need.
When we enter the maze, I’m already completely lost, and we haven’t even turned a corner. “Remember in high school we would all head to the haunted hayride at Pioneer Park outside of town? It’s like the only time of year that they don’t cater to the kid population.”
“That ride was scary shit. After, there was always some crazy party at someone’s house that would get out of hand,” Nash recalls as he debates which way we go at the fork in the road.
I playfully slap his arm. “You always went as the same thing. No costume at all.”
