Page 73 of Pumpkin Spice Promises
“No I couldn’t ask that.”
“Carson, this town wants to help, we know you’ve been doing your best to run that ranch just how James did. And the years have been hard on you, a young woman like yourself shouldn’t be handling it all on your own. James would have wanted us to help.”
The room went quiet. I was speechless. What did I say to that?
Rosie walked over and tapped the folder. “Local businesses pay to sponsor sections of the festival. We already spend that money somewhere. If Marigold hosts, some of it goes toward infrastructure.”
“What kind?”
“Lighting. Temporary fencing. Portable restrooms. Signage.”
Walter added, “Wagon repairs.”
Jax stared at him. “You’re enjoying this.”
“Very much.”
Clover leaned across Hunter; her eyes twinkled. “And decorating.”
Someone near the front began arguing that the scarecrow competition needed separate adult and child categories because last year a nine-year-old beat three grown men and, “destroyed morale.”
Darlene loudly agreed, But June insisted children should be allowed to humiliate adults because it built character. Margaret proposed a family category instead, and Walter suggested a mechanical scarecrow. Jax told him that defeated the purpose…
For several minutes, the meeting forgot about me entirely.
I sat there listening and watching as Willow Creek argued around me. My gaze moved toward Meme. She was watching the room with tears shining faintly in her eyes. I touched her hand.
“You miss it.”
She didn’t pretend not to understand. “Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Her thumb moved slowly over my knuckles. “Because you couldn’t.”
“I couldn’t…what?”
“Come back.”
My throat tightened. “Meme—”
“You weren’t ready.”
“How would you know?”
“Because I know you.” Her voice remained gentle. “I lost James. You lost James too, but you lost something before him that I never knew how to help you grieve.”
I looked down. Around us, people continued debating scarecrows. Nobody listened.
“You came home from that hospital different,” she said quietly. “Not bad. Not less. Just hurt in places nobody could see.”
My eyes burned. “I was trying.”
“I know.”
“I still am.”
“I know that too.”
