Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58051 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58051 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
“Wow.” His dark brows furrowed. “So how will we get them to show up and buy our stuff?”
It was a good question, but I hadn’t been gone so long that I forgot how things worked around here. “They’ll show up and buy our stuff. But if you’re worried, I have a task for you.”
Everest’s shoulders fell and a groan slipped from his mouth. “What is it?”
“Take this cash and go buy some things. Get some of that fresh corn for us to eat, maybe a jar of peach preserves, and something from one of the artisans. When they ask who you are, tell them. Word will spread and the people will come over.”
His skeptical grey gaze studied me for a full minute before he pushed off the chair. “No wonder you’re such a weirdo.”
“Right? And be sure to bring me back a corndog. The spicy one.” I waved him off and smiled as he ambled off, so long and lean with an easy, almost lazy gait.
Too many weeks had passed without Everest even attempting to go into town and meet kids his age, and I was getting worried. It was early enough, not quite summer yet, but in a small town it took time to make friends and cultivate friendships when you didn’t grow up here. But Everest had all the tools to belong, and it would make the next few years better, easier for him.
Ten minutes after the market officially opened, lines formed in front of the booths around me, and I officially began to worry. But the people in line stared at me with a hint of recognition that was confirmed when they took in the York Farms umbrella. Soon enough, I had two long lines of folks eager for fresh produce and gossip on my return. It meant making a living and settling in here in town, so I gave them what they wanted, squash and tomatoes with a quick rundown of my life since I left Carson Creek.
“Hey, what’s all this?” Everest returned and quickly set down his purchases to dive right in and help.
“Told you.” I winked at him and turned back to customer after customer who wanted to spend money and chat. The day grew hotter with each passing minute, but I didn’t care, because so far business was booming.
“Bella York is back in town, and I had to hear it through the grapevine.” The next customer was my only real friend in high school, and when I caught sight of her and the stunning younger man at her side, I couldn’t help but smile.
“Valona, wow you look amazing.” She was always pretty, but now she was beautiful in an easy-going, effortless way. “How are you?”
“I’m great,” she said enthusiastically. “This is my fiancé Trey, his niece Keri, and my daughters Belle and Bridget.”
I waved sheepishly, unsure what to say to the big, beautiful family. “It’s so good to see you.”
“You too. Carlotta told me you’re the owner of that gorgeous meadow, and I cannot wait to shoot it.”
My eyes went wide. “You did it, pursued photography? That’s wonderful Val!”
She rolled her eyes, but the blush on her cheeks could not be contained. “I got a very late start, but I have a studio in town if you’re interested. Now tell me everything,” she said and slid a gaze to Everest.
“This is Everest, and we recently moved back to the farm. Everest is the one who will be taking care of bookings and payments for the meadow.” I didn’t want to keep mentioning the fact that Nicola was dead, because it was painful, for both of us.
“You have a teenager?”
“He’s my nephew, my best friend’s kid.” I knew what question came next, and I wasn’t ready to get into it here. Talking about Nicola in the past tense never got easier.
“My mom died too,” Keri said to Everest with the maturity of a child at least twice her age. “No one knows how to say it, like saying it out loud makes it contagious or something. I’m sorry though, it sucks.”
“Big time,” Everest agreed with an easy smile that made me wonder if he’d already made a friend. “Thanks, and I’m sorry about your mom too.”
“How old are you?” She asked bluntly.
“Thirteen. Why?”
“You’re tall,” she said with a shrug. “Bella and Bridget are your age, but all four of us will be in the same grade, and it sucks being the new kid. We should hang out,” she said simply. “When you’re ready.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Val handed me a card and pulled me in for a hug across the table. “That’s all of my contact info. Use it, Bella. If I don’t hear from you in a week you know I’ll show up at the farm.”
“I promise,” I told her as she rallied the girls and took Trey’s hand and off they went, a happy family, to enjoy a beautiful day at the market.