Page 79 of The Pumpkin Pie Book Nook

Robyn lifted up and kissed him on the cheek. “Yes.”

An hour after that, they were on the road, Tyler driving with Robyn in the passenger seat, and Emma chattering happily in the backseat like she had a built-in motor. The morning sun was steadily climbing, streaming through the windshield and catching the auburn highlights in Robyn’s hair. She’d dressed for the farm in jeans, ankle boots, and one of her soft orange sweaters. A green and gold plaid scarf looped loosely at her throat. She looked like an autumn catalog come to life, and Tyler was trying very hard to keep his eyes on the road.

“You know Levi, Dad?” Emma didn’t wait for a response. “Chloe said that he fell playing hockey and broke his wrist. Do you think we can bake him some cookies?”

“Levi from your class?” Tyler clarified.

“Uh-huh, peanut butter is his favorite, but he’d eat any cookie.”

“Yeah, we can do that.” Tyler wasn’t sure when, but they’d fit it in. Just like how he’d fixed Mrs. C.’s flat tire last week, and then Emma had baked her an apple pie to cheer her up. The importance of helping your neighbors was a lesson he wanted Emma to grow up with.

“Excellent. I told Chloe you’d probably say yes. Oh! I almost forgot, Chloe and I are going to go as witches for Halloween. I need a new hat! Can we get one today?”

Tyler looked back in his rearview mirror. “Maybe not today…”

“But Halloween’s on Friday. That’s only six days away! If we don’t go today, I might not find any hat. And what’s a witch without her hat?”

Robyn looked to Tyler. “She’s got you there.”

“Alright, alright. Maybe later, okay?” Tyler acquiesced.

“Thanks, Dad,” Emma replied.

“How was Chloe’s party?” Robyn asked.

“It was the best. We went roller skating,” Emma announced. “And they had a disco ball. And laser lights!”

Tyler glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “Laser lights.”

“Yes!” Emma said. “And we ate pizza. And then we stayed up way too late watching movies.”

Robyn turned slightly, smiling over her shoulder. “How late is way too late?”

Emma hesitated, as if calculating what sounded acceptable. “Um. Midnight.”

Tyler glanced back at his daughter. “I don’t know. If you stayed up that late, maybe you’re too tired to go to the pumpkin patch.”

“What?” Emma’s voice spiked in alarm. “No! I’m not tired at all. Promise.”

Three minutes later, Emma tried to hide a yawn behind the sleeve of her coat, blinking hard like she could bully her body into cooperating.

Tyler bit back a smile. Robyn caught his eye and smiled too, and even though it had only just begun, it felt like the whole day was already going right.

In no time at all, they were cresting the hill, and Winding Creek came into view. The pumpkin patch was a madhouse, in the best possible way. They hadn’t even parked yet, and Tyler could hear the distant squealing of kids, the rumble of a tractor, and a cheerful country tune coming from a loudspeaker, carrying over it all.

Cars packed the gravel lot, families spilling out with kids in puffy coats and knitted hats. The farm was laid out like an autumn postcard with hay bales stacked near the entrance, hand-painted signs pointing toward Pumpkin Patch, Hayrides, and cider + donuts.

A tractor pulled a hay wagon across the field, kids squealing every time it bumped over a rut. Nearby, families tugged green metal grate wagons with the oversized wheels, already piled with pumpkins like they were treasure.

Tyler breathed in deep.

Smoke from a crackling fire drifted through the air, mingling with the scent of apples and cinnamon and damp earth. The whole place hummed with noise and laughter.

“This is incredible,” Robyn murmured beside him, sounding a little uncertain, like she wasn’t sure she was allowed to enjoy it.

“It’s Winding Creek,” Tyler said. “They know how to celebrate fall.”

Emma grabbed Robyn’s hand without hesitation and started tugging her toward the hayride line like it was an emergency.