Page 85 of The October Arrangement

“That was then. This is now.” I brushed my lips against hers. “Forget that even happened.”

“Does this mean I get to keep all the fall products from Ever & Oak?” She grinned.

“Yes.”

“Let me know how much the invoice is for, and I’ll pay you back.”

“There’s no need to pay me back. If I didn’t want to do it, I wouldn’t have offered.”

She turned to the island, walked over, and picked up Harold.

“Did you hear that, Harold? You’re all mine now. You get to stay here with us.” She held him up.

I stood there, shaking my head.

“Can I ask you something?” She walked over and ran her fingers down my arm.

“You can ask me anything.” I smiled, gripping her hips.

“Can we go to the pumpkin farm tomorrow morning and get a couple of pumpkins to carve for Halloween?”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“No. I saw online that they’re having a fall festival with crafts, different foods, and pumpkin picking.”

“Bella, I am not⁠—”

“That’s okay.” She walked over to the table and grabbed her phone.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

She hit a button and put it on speaker.

“Hello, darling.”

What the fuck? That was my father’s voice.

“Hi, William. I was wondering if you and Mary would like to go to the fall festival tomorrow morning for some fall festivities and pumpkin picking?”

“Now that sounds fun. We’d love to go with you and Simon.”

“Oh, it’ll be just me. Simon won’t go.”

“For fuck’s sake. What the hell is wrong with him? Is he there?”

I clenched my jaw.

“He’s standing right here. You’re on speaker.”

“You listen to me, son. You’re going tomorrow, and you’re going to like it. There’s no reason why you can’t have a little fun in your life.”

“Have you forgotten that tomorrow is the charity event?” I asked.

“No, I haven’t. But that doesn’t start until six-thirty. It won’t kill you to spend a couple of hours at a fall festival.”

“It just might, Dad.”

“Only if I don’t get to you first. You’re on the way, Bella. We’ll swing by and pick you two up. How is ten o’clock?”