CHAPTER THREE ~ ABBY ~ SIXTEEN YEARS AGO
Abby & Drew’s FallFun List
-Visit a pumpkin patch
-Do the Haunted Walk of Kingston
-Try pumpkin spice lattes from at least three different cafés
-Collect leaves for crafts Fern wants to try
-Halloween party??
Drew has convinced Fern and me to host Thanksgiving at our place, despite the fact none of us have ever cooked an elaborate meal.
And in the spirit of talking people into things, Brodie has convinced his older brother to drive us to a pumpkin patch just outside town.We’ve been wanting to go anyway, but Drew decided if we’re hosting a big dinner next weekend, we’re doing it right, which apparently means making pumpkin pie from scratch.I informed her I’ll help with dinner, but any pumpkins I buy will be used for jack-o’-lanterns.
Drew and Brodie have been inseparable for the last month.He spends most weeknight evenings at our place, and on weekends, he plans romantic dates for them around the city.The man is a unicorn; not only can he cook, but he happily makes dinner for us most nights.He’s also invited Fern and me to come along on several excursions because he knows how important we are to Drew, and he wants to get to know us better.
Drew confided in me last week that she’s felt an anxious sort of anticipation lately.“No guy can bethatperfect, right?I keep waiting for him to get angry about something or tell me I’m too much or...I don’t know, kick a puppy or something.”
She was clearly in distress, so I stifled the laugh that wanted to spill out.“That’s your trauma talking.You’re not used to things being effortlessly good.”
She’d bitten her lip and tilted her head, her eyes glassy as she pondered that.
“I won’t lie, I keep waiting for him to reveal some hidden, nefarious side too, but there’s not a disingenuous bone in that man’s body.”
She’d smiled then, slowly at first until it unfurled into the beaming smile I loved so much.“You’re right.I just have to trust myself and trust him, which you know isn’t easy for me.You’re the only person I’ve everfullytrusted.”
Now, as she, Fern, and I wait outside the house, I ask, “What do we know about the brother?”
“Graeme?He’s a sweetheart,” Drew says.“I’ve met him a few times.He’s basically an older version of Brodie.He came here for university and stayed after he graduated.”
A shiny silver car pulls up in front of the house.For a moment, I think whoever’s driving has stopped at the wrong place until Brodie opens the passenger side door.I don’t know much about makes and models of vehicles, but I do know I wasn’t expecting such a nice car from someone only a few years older than us.
As we make our way down the front walk, Brodie’s brother rounds the car to stand beside him.Without meaning to, a soft “wow” slips out between my lips.
I can hear the smirk in Drew’s voice as she says, “Good genes, eh?”
I’ll say.Besides their similar facial features and height, Brodie and Graeme also have the same brown hair threaded through with strands of dark red.But where Brodie has the lanky appearance of someone who’s still growing into his body, Graeme has filled out and has a solidness to him.
