Page 77 of A Love Like Pumpkin Spice
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper, my eyes drifting over the entire scene: the pumpkins carved by kids and attendees, stacked on hay bales and glowing softly as the daylight fades. Laughter carries through the air, mingling with the warm scent of every fall treat you could imagine.
I wish I could bottle this moment, keep it tucked away to revisit whenever I need it.
I take a deep breath. I've found my last piece. Now it's time to put it in its final place.
“You know what this feels like?” I whisper and gulp, trying to fight against the tears forming in my eyes.
“What?” Henry asks curiously, and I choke up as I answer.
“Home.”
He presses a kiss to my temple, and I close my eyes, trying to savor this moment, the realization that I’m exactly where I’ve always wanted to be. Surrounded by people who love me, in a place that feels like home.
But suddenly, the shrill feedback of a microphone makes everyone jump and turn their heads to the little stage Kieran helped set up right in the middle of the town square.
Henry gives my hand a quick squeeze, and his whole body goes rigid with tension. This is it. The moment we figured would come.
“Are you sure about this?” he whispers, giving me the chance to back out. “We could still run off and ignore that this is happening.”
“No,” I object gently, taking a deep breath and squaring my shoulders. “I’ve had enough. I’m dealing with this today. For good.”
“Okay,” he says, with a proud smile playing on his lips. “I’ll be right here, every step of the way.”
“I know,” I assure him then turn back to watch Marissa, who is now on the stage, her face distorted in a sugary,I’ll melt your face off, grin.
Chapter 31
Nic
“May I please have your attention?” Marissa taps against the microphone, even though all eyes are already on her. She smiles brighter than as if she’s about to give a toast at my wedding. I cross my arms in front of my chest, trying to brace myself for whatever she’s cooked up.
I know what she’s about to say will be attempts to tear me down, disguised as backhanded compliments. Even though that’s how she’s spoken to me all my life, and even though her opinions shouldn’t matter, I know this is about to sting nonetheless.
“What the hell is going on?” Andrea whispers beside me, and Henry untangles my arms, grabbing my hand to pull me closer to the stage, the murmurs around us getting louder with every step.
“I want to thank you all for being so welcoming during our stay,” she declares sweetly, putting her hand on her chest and pretending to blink away tears.
But from the way the mood shifts from carefree and happy to grim andwhat the fuck does she want?it’s not giving her quite the reaction she was hoping for. Instead of cheers, there's whispering. Instead of hospitality, there are crossed arms and glares in her direction. Which is already making me feel a whole lot better. She can only thank herself for that. She didn’t exactly become a town favorite over the past few days.
“And because you are all so nice, I think it is my duty to tell you who the new addition to your wonderful town really is.”
We are still making our way to the front of the crowd, but I can’t quite bring myself to lift my gaze from the ground. Shame weighs heavily on my shoulders for being the reason she’s here, that she’s disturbing the autumn fair for her own petty agenda. God, I wish the ground would open up to swallow me. Or her. I’m not picky.
“It means the world to us. Especially to me. Seeing my little sister surrounded by so many … kind,trustingpeople.” She smiles wider, like she’s tasting something bitter but trying to sell it as honey.
“I know she’s made a big impression on this town,” she continues dramatically. “She always does. That’s kind of her thing, showing up somewhere new, pretending to be a different person. I used to think it was brave, honestly. Starting over, pretending none of the wreckage she leaves behind matters.”
A murmur goes through the crowd and flashes from cameras light up the approaching night, making my heart beat into my throat and my hands clammy with anxiety. Henry gives my hand a reassuring squeeze, and when I look up at him, it’s to a reassuring smile.
“And because you’ve all been kind, it’s only fair to tell you more about the person you’ve embraced so wholeheartedly. In her last relationship,” she says with a sorrowful shake of her head, “Nicola was … not faithful. She cheated on her fiancé only days before the wedding. We were all devastated. He was,is, a good man. And now he’s heartbroken after getting so utterly humiliated.”
I can’t help but nervously giggle when she dabs beneath her dry eyes with a tissue she clearly brought up there only for this moment.
Damn, they’ve really dramatized and rewritten their version of events. It’s almost funny.
She wipes another nonexistent tear off her face before she continues. “And then she disappeared. Walked away without a care in the world. No explanation. No apology. She left everyone who loves her behind. Especially me.”
She takes a fake shaky breath right into the microphone for the full effect, while I straighten my shoulders and finally lift my chin.
