“Okay, but how about you be a cat this year?” Kenna suggests, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “Hmm, a cat could work,” I admit. I already have a jumpsuit. Kenna can work her hair magic to style me.
“Perfect,” Kenna grins. “Cat it is.”
The week goes by quickly as I prepare for my first Fall Festival. It’s my first year running a booth, and I want everything to be perfect.
I created a special fall themed menu with drinks inspired by the season, flavors, and tv shows that give off a cozy fall vibe. I have been perfecting my macaron recipe and have a few different flavors that I will be selling during the festival as well.
Each business gets their own booth to sell their products. This being my first year, I wanted to run it with two of my employee’s.
Seeing everyone come together in town despite the crisp autumn air, I can still feel the excitement buzzing all around me.
The streets are alive with color—hay bales, corn stalks, and pumpkins of all shapes and sizes create a picture-perfect scene that stunningly captures the essence of our town during fall.
Families walk throughout the town square, visiting each booth. At the base of the town statue, a stage is set up, and a band is playing music. I watch as children run around in Halloween costumes with painted faces, their laughter ringing through the music as they play games and make fall crafts.
I recognize people who have been in the café. Our booth is doing well when the one person who I didn’t want to stop at our booth stands in front of me.
“Hey, Bumper,” Gabriel says, smiling.
I can’t take my eyes off of him, it’s as if nothing happened over the past two weeks.
I try to focus on Aura, who is in her stroller, but it’s impossible to ignore Gabriel standing there, looking exhausted but still so beautiful.
I unbuckle her from her stroller, fixing her beanie hat so it covers her ears. “Hi, my baby girl,” I coo. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“She’s missed you too, Bumper. So have I. So fucking much,” he says, shaking his head slowly.
I swallow hard, trying to keep my emotions in check. “I miss you guys too…”
Gabriel opens his mouth to say something, but I’m already talking, my voice unsteady. “I’m just not ready, Gabriel. I love you. I love Aura. But I can’t marry you right now. Not like this.”
I walk away before he can respond, heading toward my sister’s booth. Kenna looks up, immediately pulling me aside when the conversation dies down.
“Did I just see youtalkingto Gabriel?” she asks, her eyebrows raised.
I groan, sinking into the chair behind the table. “Yeah. I just…I can’t seem to shut him out, Ken. Why can’t I walk away for good?”
Kenna pulls me into a tight hug. “Cause you’re in love, baby sis.”
I almost laugh at how simple and obvious it sounds, but she’s right. I just didn’t want to admit it yet.
Love was never the question. It was the timing. The fear. The broken places in me that still haven’t healed, no matter how many late-night baking sessions or distraction coffees I make.
The rest of the festival goes smoothly, and when I finally return to my booth after running to the café, I find a note tucked on top of a cooler.
Please let me explain. Meet me on Saturday night at Reuben’s place. I promise to make it worth your time. I’ll be there at 7.
All my love,
Gabriel
I fold the note from Gabriel and tuck it in my back pocket,my heart hammering. I know I’m walking into a conversation I’m not fully prepared for, but I owe it to myself to hear him out. I just hope I’m not setting myself up for heartbreak.
Hope is a dangerous thing, especially when it’s tangled in promises that might never come true.
It isn’t that I don’t love Gabriel. I do. I love him more than I’ve loved anyone else. I just never imagined getting married under these circumstances.
As I walk back to the café, a million different questions run through my mind.What if he loses custody of Aura? Am I being overdramatic? Is this little bump in the road worth losing Gabriel forever?Gabriel is all that is on my mind. I need to sort out my feelings before I meet with him next weekend.
