Chloe:And he couldn’t stop staring at you.
Celine: I’m tired. Got to go to bed.
Chloe: Denial is not growth.
I climbedinto bed and put my phone down, still smiling.
My sister was relentless. I had no doubt she would wear me down.
But I wasn’t ready to answer her questions about Josh.
Not yet.
Chapter 20
Josh
The scents of cider, wood smoke, and kettle corn hit me before I even parked the truck a couple of hours ago. Now, lanterns swung gently and hay particles floated in the chilly air, kicked up consistently by the crowds of people. They were everywhere, playing games, enjoying the music on the town green, and eating all the delicious food.
Opal Lin had stopped by the hayride station earlier with a takeout container of butternut squash soup that may have actually changed my life. I had to promise her a special bottle of the late season Grade-D syrup from my personal stash, but I got a second bowl.
Year after year, I’d provided supplies for the maple festival, just like my dad did and his dad before him. But I hadn’t actively participated in a town event since my mom died. I’d thought it was best to keep my distance, that being here would only make her loss more painful, but I was beginning to see the benefits of active participation.
Mainly being in the proximity of the smiling redhead who was bundled up and controlling the chaos with me.
Celine was in her element, energized and laughing while keeping everyone in line. She loaded the riders, checked wristbands, managed the kids, and chatted easily with parents.
We each had a radio, allowing us to communicate easily over the tractor engine.
Once she gave me the go-ahead, I pulled out with a fresh wagon full of shrieking kids and parents sipping hot cider spiked with maple whiskey.
“Tractor One,” Celine said less than a minute later. “This group is heavy on tourists.”
“Copy Tractor Command,” I replied. “Any special instructions?”
“Don’t scare them. Maybe attempt a smile?”
I huffed. “I don’t scare people.”
“Debatable. Do your best.”
“Copy,” I said, struggling to suppress a laugh. “Will attempt friendly.”
“Don’t injure yourself. We still need you to drive. Over.”
The wagons were lit up with string lights, and Celine had created a family-friendly spooky soundtrack that played through a Bluetooth speaker as we made the twenty-five-minute loop around the town square and out toward the falls. Along the way, kidsoohed andaahed at the decorations and the teens snapped selfies. Driving the tractor was an easy gig. The festival shut down most of the main roads, and Nolan had his officers set up barricades to keep any rogue vehicles from ending up on the route.
I’d have to wait for Gabe’s report, but the festival seemedbusy, with tourists everywhere, wait times at all the restaurants, and vast crowds at the concert this afternoon. With any luck, this would be the economic boost the town had been looking for since Will’s murder.
After unloading this set of riders, I spotted Celine and gave myself a moment to take her in. She wore layers to keep warm, and her navy blue knit hat made her eyes sparkle.
“Tractor One,” she hollered like she was trying to get my attention.
She already had it, but if she didn’t know that, then at least I was doing a semi decent job of hiding the way I couldn’t stop watching her.
“Got you a present.” She strode over and held up a cardboard cup. “Cider.”
I reached out a gloved hand. “It’s not spiked, is it? I’ve got to drive.”
