Page 20 of Fall at Once

His meow was not convincing. This cat was made to cause drama. I set him down and grabbed my keys on the way to the door.

Saturday mornings were busier than weekdays. Cozy Creek was a tourist destination as much as a homey small town. A few years back, a social media influencer called Cozy Creek the best, worst-kept secret in Colorado, and it stuck. Weekends were for brunching, shopping, and wandering around Main Street, where visitors and locals alike could peruse the marquee at the visitor’s center to find all the latest town announcements.

I stopped at the marquee to see the fundraiser for the Cozy Creek Fire Brigade announcement pinned to the top. I stood there lost in thought for a minute, imagining Cole in a dunk tank, wet T-shirt contest, or shirtless for some random yet totally valid and not at all gratuitous reason. They should have hired me to plan it. Oh well, maybe next year.

I let my eyes wander as I headed down Main Street for a fast-paced walk. Fall was in full effect, with haystacks, pumpkins, happy scarecrows, and colorful pots of mums placed up and down the street, decorating doorways and staircases in numbers too big to count.

I turned the corner toward Gigi’s house, waving at Natalie as I approached. She was sitting on her front porch and did not look happy at all. “Are you okay, sweetheart?” I called to her.

“Hey! I’m fine. Are you going to walk Basil today?” She was a sweet girl. After school, she sometimes visited Gigi’s shop with her friends for lemonade and cookies.

Occasionally, throughout my time here, she’d catch me early in the morning at Gigi’s house or come up to the counter to chat about makeup and boys and sometimes in-depth topics likecollege choices and what she should do for the rest of her life. For now, she wanted to be a veterinarian, and I thought it was a great idea. She was great with the cats, and Basil adored her. She made me remember how I was at her age, and I missed it.

Where did all my hopes and dreams go?That wasn’t the right question. Why had I set them aside to work for my mother and settle for a man who wasn’t sure if he even loved me? I had let other people steer me in the directions that benefitted them, which was what I needed to think about. But later—I could think about all that when I returned to Colorado Springs. Cozy Creek was supposed to be my respite from all the complicated feelings I didn’t want to deal with.

“Can I come with you?” Her voice broke through my reverie.

“Oh, of course, you can if it’s okay with your dad. Go ask him, and I’ll grab Basil, then meet you in the front yard.”

I watched her run through the garage door before crossing the street and letting myself into the house. Gigi was already at the Confectionery. Her friends had picked her up early today for their standing brunch date.

Basil came running to greet me at the door, leaving a trail of canine gas behind him. I quickly hooked his leash to his collar and grabbed a few bags to clean up after him.

I smiled at Natalie as she darted across the street to meet me. “He said it’s okay!”

“Want to go to the park? I mean, after Basil finishes.”

“Yes! I wanted to talk to you.”

“Oh yeah? About what?” Basil found his way to his favoritemulberry bush and lifted a leg. He was fine, so I focused on Natalie. I’d make sure she ended our time together feeling better. It was my morning mission.

“Dexter Ryan. How do you get a boy to ask you out? I can’t ask my mother. She’s too busy lately.”

I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. From the tone of her voice, it seemed like her mother was her biggest worry, not Dexter Ryan and their potential date.

“You’re fifteen, right?” I decided to cut to the chase. “Are you allowed to date? I don’t want to encourage something your parents would disapprove of.”

“Yeah, I can go to dances and stuff with my friends. Not car dates, whatever that is.”

“I see. Nothing with just the two of you?”

“Exactly.” She rolled her eyes. “Like I’m some kind of baby. All my friends can date. And my mom has no business telling me what to do when—never mind. It’s embarrassing. I’m over it.”

“You can talk to me if you want. My parents have been divorced since I was a baby, and I rarely see my dad. I’ve been here for over two weeks. Have I heard from him? That’s a big fat nope. Awkward is the nicest way I can describe being around both of them. Rare is another word. They avoid each other like it’s their job.”

“I’m sorry, that sucks. And, yeah, it’s awkward, all right. I hate it, and I’m sorry you have to deal with this crap too.” We turned our focus to Basil. “Is he going to let us go for a walk or just nose around in the grass?”

“He has to start his business in his own front yard. Picking a prime spot is part of his process. Part two will be in the park, somewhere behind that big group of aspen trees or near the gazebo. It is not for us to question. Basil has his ways.”

She laughed, but it seemed forced. “Got it. Dogs are weird. Boys are weird. Mothers are weird too.” Her chin wobbled. “Like, she was supposed to pick us up this morning to take us to brunch, but she canceled. Apparently, Todd’s kids are more important. They’re not ready to be a family or a stepfamily or whatever the hell we’re supposed to be since she cheated on my dad and busted up our family. So she went to the Skytop Diner with them and left me and Evan here. Supposedly, she’s going to talk to them and smooth things over. But who cares about us, right? Her own kids? Ev is inside playing Xbox with Dad. Like, she wouldn’t dare go to Gigi’s with them for brunch. Gigi would give her that look and probably kick her out.”

“She totally would.” I kept it light. I wasn’t sure what she wanted from me yet—sympathy, distraction, or the freedom to vent her feelings and have someone impartial to listen. “I’ve seen that look; she always gave it to my ex and sometimes my dad. Her judgy face is legit. I’m so sorry this is happening to you, Natalie?—”

“It’s okay. I’m okay. I mean, did she ever ask if Evan and I are ready to have a stepfamily? Nope. We’re supposed to go along with whatever she wants. But his kids can throw a fit and get their way.” Her head shook from side to side as she seemed to realize what she’d shared with me. “God, I didn’t mean to dumpall that on you. I’m so embarrassed.”

She needed someone to talk to, and that was obvious. “Don’t be. It’s fine,” I reassured her. “I’m glad I could be here for you. Please don’t worry. I know how much this sucks. Believe me, I get it.”

“I can’t talk to my dad about this. I know he’s still mad at Mom and Todd, and I don’t want to make things worse, especially after what happened at Bookers. He’s trying so hard to make everything all right for Evan and me?—”

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