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He reached across the little table and took my hand.

“Good. Sienna will want to see you.”

I smiled.

“I want to see her too.”

He finished his coffee, rinsed his mug, and came around to kiss me before leaving.

I walked him to the door.

The morning air was crisp, and the oak beside the driveway had dropped another scattering of leaves around my SUV overnight.

Duncan paused on the porch.

“Last night was good, Goldie.”

I looked up at him.

“It was.”

He touched my cheek.

“I’ll see you in a little while.”

I kissed him again before letting him go.

Then I stood watching until his truck disappeared between the trees.

Back inside, I rinsed our cups and went to shower.

Tomorrow, I’d be driving back to Chicago.

For the first time since I’d taken this assignment, I wasn’t especially eager to go home.

***

By eleven-fifteen, I was back at the municipal park, dressed in jeans, boots, and a warm sage-green sweater beneath my tan coat.

The festival was winding down, but there were still plenty of people enjoying the final morning. Families wandered between the booths with cups of cider, children carried painted pumpkins, and the vendors were beginning to pack away the decorations they wouldn’t need after noon.

I found Lisa near the Factory, reviewing the closing schedule with two crew members.

We walked through the building together, confirming that the mechanical effects had been safely shut down and the remaining equipment was ready for inventory. Duncan’s repaired pieces would need proper storage, and I made sure nobody intended to disconnect or dismantle anything before he’d approved the method.

Once I was satisfied, I passed the final instructions to the crew and returned outside with Lisa.

“Everything should be straightforward from here,” I told her. “I’ll have the complete weekend report to Janine once we’ve reconciled the attendance and expense records.”

Lisa nodded.

“You should be proud of what you accomplished.”

“I am. I’m proud of everyone who worked on it.”

“Well, enjoy the rest of your Sunday. You’ve earned it.”

I thanked her and headed toward the festival booths.