Page 3 of Adventures in Spring

“You definitely did the right thing. I’m sorry she doesn’t see it that way.”

“It’s okay, she said I blindsided her and maybe I did. But it’s been five years…”

Lukas nods at me, we’ve talked about this more than once and he knows my frustration. I get that I hurt her, but after five years—I just wish she would meet someone, and that would help her move on.

“You riding with me and Emma?”

“Yeah, if that’s okay.”

“Of course. Let’s get going soon, I need to get the new popcorn out today.”

“Smells good. Tiramisu. Yum.”

Lukas hands me a sample bag and I dive into it.

“Holy fuck, that’s good,” I say with a mouthful of popcorn.

Lukas laughs. “Felicity thought of that one. If it does well, then we’ll add it to the permanent list.”

My brother has spent the last few years working on his flavored popcorns. Just this last year, it’s exploded. He spends all his time creating flavors and we use our country store to try them out. We have people coming from all over wanting to try his popcorn. There’s even a theater in Chicago that sells it exclusively. It’s been a lot of fun. That also gives us more reasons to visit Lake Renegade. It’s become our second home.

* * *

“I hear we’re getting a new science teacher at the high school,” Felicity says as we’re opening up our store.

“Cool, we need some new blood in Wintervale. I wonder what they’re like,” Paxton says.

“From what I heard, she’s a single mom and is coming from Illinois,” Felicity answers.

“Hopefully the new teacher and her kid will like popcorn.” Lukas chuckles.

“Doesn’t everyone like popcorn?” I laugh.

“I haven’t found anyone that doesn’t yet.” Lukas laughs.

We open our store from ten to ten and we’re the only country store in town. We’re not only the pharmacy, which I run, we have a lumber store. Paxton is a carpenter and he runs that part of the store. Our baby sister, Felicity, runs the rest of the store along with Emmanuelle.

Emiko

The drive to Wintervale was actually a lot of fun. I expected it to be more stressful for everyone, especially my kids. But they had so much fun. For the first time, we were able to make new memories. And it gives me hope that we will be able to make more.

“Wintervale looks like a nice town,” my mom says as we drive through what looks like downtown.

“It does. Let’s stop at the country store.”

When I walk into the store, I feel relaxed and I find myself smiling at everything I see. When you walk in, it has all kinds of handmade stuff, then you walk into the grocery section. As we’re walking and picking out some fruit to munch on, I see someone at the pharmacy. He’s really attractive, he smiles at me and I can’t help but smile back.

“Mom! Can I have some popcorn?” Kaito asks me.

“Yes. What kind do you want?” I ask as I walk over to him.

“They have so many flavors. Can we get a bunch of different ones?”

“Sure. Why don’t you and your sister pick out a few.”

“Okay.” He smiles as he calls for his sister.

I smile as I watch them argue over which flavors they want to get. I feel like I’m being watched, and I look over to the pharmacy to see the same man watching me. He’s still smiling at me and again, I can’t help but smile back at him.

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