“Hey, uh, Little Miller?” he says, stopping halfway into the door. His black jeans and black long sleeved Henley, along with the dark, brooding attitude he usually portrays lend him an air of mystery, and a touch of danger. I’ve seen him zipping around town on his motorcycle, and sometimes I wonder if he really gives a shit if he’s careful or not. “Could you maybe not mention to Sunny that I asked about her? Our secret?”
Rolling my lips between my teeth, I nod once.
Nash taps his fingers against the edge of the door, and then he’s gone.
I finally make it to my car and settle the drink carrier in the front passenger seat, making sure it’s steady and won’t tip over or spill. Turning on Ella Langley on Spotify, I sing along on my twenty-minute drive out to Bliss Garden, soaking in the beauty that is the sunshine dripping through the fall-colored leaves still adorning the trees. They’ll be gone in a week or so, once the weather turns cold and rainy.
At least they’re not calling for snow on Halloween next weekend.
For now, anyway.
Pulling down the long, winding drive that leads to Bliss Garden, I smile when I pass the four twelve-foot-tall skeletons. This year, they’re dressed as Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. To my mother’s horror, we’d addedanother skeleton to the gang… a four foot tall dog with a collar around its neck reading ‘Toto’. He’s the perfect addition to this year's display.
“Excuse me… you look like you love me…” I sing loudly and off tune as I pull into a parking spot. “Baby I don’t blame you… for looking me up and down across this room…”
Turning my head, heat sears my cheeks when I realize there’s a family sitting in the car directly next to me watching me belt out to the music. I wave awkwardly, then turn my car off. Taking an extra second to gather my things—and my dignity—I climb out, walking across the parking lot to the barn to get this day started.
By the end of the evening, I’m exhausted. It was busy and non-stop, the weather cooperating and giving us an absolutely beautiful fall day.
All hands were on deck today, which meant all four of us girls were working, and now that the last of the customers are gone for the day and our clean up is done, we’re enjoying a bottle ofWitches Brewaround one of the firepits.
“Ohmygod what a day,” Darci sighs, twisting her Adirondack chair slightly so she can prop her feet up in the one next to her. “Thank you for coming in to help today, you guys.”
Tessa takes a drink of her wine. “It’s fall; we know the drill.”
“I know that, but I also know guys help out around your own work schedules, too—”
Sienna’s eyes find mine over the fire.
“Jodi and Kit have the bookstore handled,” Tessa says, shrugging. “They know my availability shifts during peak fall season.”
Sienna nods, twisting her chair so she can put her feet in the same seat as Darci’s so that they’re facing each other, kind of kitty-corner. She has a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, her camera in her hands. “What Tess said. And, the beauty of working for myself is that I choose my own schedule. If a shootdoesn’t work for me, guess what? I don’t have to take it. Crazy how that works,” she mutters out of the corner of her mouth, and Darci kicks her feet where they’re bumped next to each other on the seat. “By the way, we got some great shots today. They’re perfect for the website and the social media accounts.”
I wonder briefly how Zach’s talk with Abigail went. I peek at my phone, but no messages are waiting for me. It’s late, though, and I’m sure he’s long since put the girls to bed for the night.
“Any fun weddings coming up?” Tessa asks, nodding her head to the camera in Sienna’s hands.
“I have a black-tie formal wedding I’m shooting next weekend on Halloween. No costumes,” she amends, laughing when she sees our faces. “All the guests have been required to dress in black. The bridal party is in deep purple, and the bride’s dress is art deco.Sopretty.” She looks over her camera at me then. “Speaking of weddings… I ran into Andi Brentmoore this morning, Lou.”
“Oh, I love when we get to work with Andi. Her weddings are seriously so dreamy,” Darci whispers, nodding.
My cheeks heat and I take an unladylike gulp of my wine. This traitor. Sienna widens her eyes at me, like, ‘Come on, do it already’.
Twisting the globe of the wine glass between my fingers, I swallow hard.
“Umm. So I wanted to talk to you guys about something. About a job. It’s a job I would really like to do, if I get it,” I mumble. I’m rambling. Taking a deep breath, I look at Darci. “You know I love working here with you guys, and with Mom. I quit college to come home after Dad died, and I kinda never left, and that’s been great, I wouldn’t change it for the world. Anyway… Andi is looking for an assistant… and I think I might apply?”
I’m not entirely sure why the last part comes out more as a question than a statement. Like I’m still asking for their permission, somehow. Or maybe I’m just looking for their blessing. I don’t know.
My heart is in my throat. Darci’s dark brows arch over her eyes, and she nods slowly, and I think I might die of anxiety. “I think that’s a great fit for you, honestly. Have you applied? Do you need help with a resume?”
“You’re not mad that I’ll have to cut back my hours here?” I ask, surprised.
“Why would we be mad that you’re going after your dream job?” Darci asks, tilting her head to the side in puzzlement. “Girl, you’ve been obsessed with everything weddings since you were a kid. This is literally the perfect job for you. I hope you get it. And you will,” she amends, confidently.
I look over to Sienna, who gives me a little smirk and an almost imperceptible nod of approval. “You got this,” she mouths, and I take a deep, relaxing breath in, releasing it slowly.
Yeah. I do got this.
