Page 33 of This Memory
“Is that for the apple festival tomorrow?” I asked, making my way around the counter.
“Yep. I made a display for you, one for Aurora, one for Cadie, and one for Lorie for the coffee shop.”
Smiling, I took the arrangement with apples skillfully placed throughout and brought it to the counter. “It looks great, Harp.”
“How’s business?” she asked, as she joined me at the counter.
“Busy. I swear there must be a few hundred extra people here on Main Street alone today. We’ve been so busy, my mother was here helping out earlier.”
Harper looked around. “What happened to Jen?”
“She’s on break right now. I think I might have to hire a couple more people, especially once we get closer to Christmas.”
Harper bit her lip, glanced around again, then leaned in closer. “How are you feeling?”
I had told her, Aurora, and Cadie I was pregnant. I’d made them promise not to utter a word to anyone. The only other people who knew were my mother, Evelyn and Denny, and Gavin, whom I hadn’t seen since last weekend.
“Fine. Nothing out of the ordinary, at least not yet. I’m about four weeks now. I go to the OB in another four weeks. Evelyn is excited about that.”
Harper smiled. “I’m sure she is. I’m glad you’re feeling okay. This early on, most women wouldn’t even know they were pregnant. When does the morning sickness kick in, if it does at all?”
“From what I read, between four and six weeks. But I feel normal, so I don’t think I’ll have any issues with it.”
Harper raised her brows. “Don’t jinx yourself.”
I waved her off. “Are you going to be able to swing by the bakery later and help Cadie? Sounds like she has a lot of baking to do.”
Laughing, Harper replied, “I am. I think Aurora will be meeting us there, as well. She’s bringing a bushel of apples from her uncle’s orchard.”
“Oh man, nothing like fresh apples. I can’t wait.”
The bell rang again, and we both looked over to see customers coming in.
“I better get back to the flower shop. Let me know if you need any help with anything.”
Walking her to the door, I welcomed the customers before turning back to Harper. “Don’t start treating me like I’m fragile. I want to be treated like normal.”
“You say that now but just wait.”
She opened the door, and I followed her out. “Oh my gosh, it’s freezing out here!”
Harper shook her head. “It’s going to be a cold winter.”
I looked up at the gray sky and frowned. “Hopefully, it won’t be overcast tomorrow during the festival.”
She followed my gaze. “You can hope, but there’s a chance of rain.”
With a groan, I called out goodbye to Harper and headed back into the store to help my customers.
The apple festival was one of my favorite events held in Moose Village. Main Street was closed to through traffic, and booths were set up with different vendors. Some sold crafts, but most sold food, any kind of food you could think of incorporating apples. Battery Up Bakery had a booth, of course, and when we walked into the bakery later that afternoon, Cadie was covered in white powder nearly from head to toe.
“Did you play in the flour?” Harper laughed as Cadie shot her a dirty look.
“Ha ha,” she replied. Her brown hair was pulled up into a ponytail, and even that was dusted with flour.
“What happened?” I asked, setting my bag down and walking over to get an apron from the many hanging on the wall. Someone had cut old rolling pins down and fastened them to the wall as pegs. It was so cute, seeing all the aprons hanging on them.
Letting out a huff, Cadie replied, “Whatdidn’thappen? Opal got sick, Katherine had to run errands, and Chelsea’s at the store because we ran out of butter.”
