Page 24 of A Recipe Called Home

“Miles, nice to see you here,” he said with a wide smile before coming to a quick stop, eyes resting on Jules.

“Jules Cuccia, is that you?” he bellowed, pulling her in for a tight hug. Jason Fedema was a legend in these parts. For more than three decades, he led the high school band, taking it from obscurity to the powerhouse ensemble it was today.

“Hi, Mr. Fedema. It’s great to see you,” Jules mumbled into his wide shoulder, delighted to see him.

“Oh, none of that now. It’s Jason. I haven’t gone by Mr. Fedema since I retired two years ago.” He took a deliberate step back, chuckling at himself. “You haven’t changed a bit!”

While they both knew that wasn’t true, Jason looked like he hadn’t aged a day since the last time she saw him twelve years ago. The same salt and pepper curls poked from his head in an unruly way that gave him the air of a distinguished professor with no fashion sense, and his round belly still tested the limits of the buttons on his shirt.

Pushing his metal-framed glasses up his nose, a confused looked crossed his face as he looked between between Miles and Jules.

“Are you two kids back together?”

A long pause hung in the air until Miles held his hand out to Jules in a gesture to explain.

“We’re just friends. I’m home to help my grandma, who just had her hip replaced,” she said. She could see Miles’ jaw clench out of the corner of her eye.What did he expect her to say?

“Well, isn’t that nice? You should come by the school to see the band practice one day. Miles could use all the help he can get.” Jason slapped Miles on the back, adding that he often dropped in as well. Jules logged that for later. She wondered if he was part of the reason Miles came back to Riverbend. The timing lined up.

After a few more minutes of small talk, Jason excused himself to regale others with his fiddle, a crowd forming around him as he played near the candy-apple stand.

The early evening sky took on a purplish and pink hue, like it had been painted in watercolors just for them. Every few minutes, Jules would spot someone she recognized from her childhood, all grown up and with children of their own. It was like she had time hopped from high school to present day. Her life in D.C. felt separate from Riverbend, on a different timeline altogether.

Watching Miles as they walked around, she noted how comfortable he seemed here, smiling and saying quick hellos to many people walking by. He appeared to fit in here in a way that he never had back when they were in high school. Now, he’d found his home, and Jules was only a guest.

She thought about what others must think of her:Jules, the big city slicker, who had moved away as soon as possible;what was she doing back here?Couldn’t handle the pressure?

The night crawled by, almost as if they were walking through sweet molasses. Soon enough, though, the sun had set and bonfires were ablaze throughout the field, smoke drifting up through the trees, pointing to the stars shining bright above. When they met back up with Winnie and Emily, someone remarked that it felt like a storybook evening, almost too perfect.

“Well, I know how we can fix that,” Miles said with a sneaky grin playing on his lips. “I say we head to the Golden Kernel for something stronger.”

Jules hadn’t even thought about where the rest of the night would take them, but she didn’t hate the idea, either. Forgetting that Emily couldn’t drink, she gave an enthusiastic, “I’m in.”

“Sounds fun, but I think we’re going to call it a night. You two should go, though!” Winnie said, taking Emily’s hand.

Jules froze. This was turning into more of a date than she expected. The Golden Kernel would lead to more, if she let it. Was she ready for that? Her stomach flipped out of fear and anticipation, giving way to excitement. Sheneededthis, she told herself. Keep it casual; nothing more than a fling.

Miles looked at Jules. “What do you say? Care to join me for a nightcap or two?” His voice reverberated low, alluding to more.

A thrill ran through Jules’ lower spine. “Sure, let’s do it.”

Chapter 9

Girl, just have fun! Let loose a little and maybe you’ll get lucky ;) Don’t over think it. Love you <3

Right, don’t over think it, Jules thought to herself as she rolled her eyes at Winnie’s abuse of emojis. She’d been this way since middle school, scribbling hearts and smiley faces all over her notebooks. Jules loved how supportive her best friend was about everything, especially this. It made the whole Miles situation feel less serious than it would have otherwise.

Jules shot a quick text back to apologize for ditching them, promising to make it up, before putting her phone away and resigning herself to do what Winnie said: relax and see where the night took her.

Pulling into the gastropub’s parking lot, they realized they weren’t the only ones looking for something stronger. The place was packed. Miles had to cruise around back to find an open parking spot.

“Is it always this busy?”

“Not usually. Do you want to go somewhere else?” Miles jerked his head to her.

“No, let’s go in. It’ll be fun." She swallowed her nerves. Tonight might test her, but she was determined to make the most of it, regardless.

The music blared some kind of country song that was popular a few years ago as they stepped through the front entrance. There had to be at least a dozen people on the dance floor performing a line dance she recognized from high school gym class. The bar stools and tables were all full and others stood in groups holding glasses of beer or liquor as they chatted with each other, forming cliques of all sizes.

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