Page 105 of The Strawberry Patch Pancake House
‘I’m fine. Just a little off this week. No big deal.’ She forced a smile. ‘I’ll get dressed and be ready soon.’
‘I’ll make you some breakfast.’
Iris couldn’t help her real smile. This man’s need to feed her was one of her favorite things about him. ‘Okay.’
‘Eggs and bacon?’
Except at the moment, food was tricky. Iris’s stomach turned. ‘How about tea and toast?’
Archer frowned. ‘That’s all you want?’
‘That’s all I want, really. Thank you.’
He was still watching her from the doorway in that intense way of his.
‘I promise, I’m fine.’
‘Okay.’ He finally cracked a smile. ‘I’m glad you’re coming with us.’
‘Me too.’ And she meant it, even though she still felt a little bit like she was going to barf. This would be their first outing all together since she and Archer had started sleeping together, since the L word had been spoken between them. It had been going well for the past two weeks. The sex had been incredible, but more importantly, every time he whispered he loved her, his body pressed against hers, his breath warm and fast against her ear, it felt real and true and right. And when she whispered it back, shemeantit.
But when they were with Olive, they had to keep their distance. No kisses, no touching, and it was harder than Iris had thought it would be. Especially with a kid who was always watching and listening. It had started to feel like they were lying to her, and Iris didn’t like that feeling. She didn’t want to lie to this kid who trusted her. Not to mention, it was just really hard to keep her hands off of Archer. She wanted to hug him when he got home from work. She wanted to hold his hand and brush the hair from his face. She wanted to feel like they were a real couple and not like she was the hired help fucking her boss. It turned out that fantasy was less hot the longer it went on. And even though they’d agreed they would dateandshe would stay on as Olive’s nanny, that whole plan was starting to feel worse every day.
So this outing to the first annual springtime Strawberry Fields Forever Festival felt like a big deal. Almost a test to see if they could be a family. A real family, out in public.
If today went well, maybe they would tell Olive.
The idea made Iris’s stomach swoop again and luckily Archer was gone when she leaned over the bed and threw up into her trash can.
* * *
Like most lifelong Dreamers, Iris loved a festival. It was in the DNA of the town. These people just loved a reason to gather. So even though this was only the first year of the Strawberry Fields Forever Festival, the place was packed.
Logan Anders was hosting the event at his farm, and his fields were filled with craft vendors, snack stands, and more strawberry-flavored treats then Iris knew existed. Olive was vibrating with excitement beside her, and Iris had to admit that now that she was out in the fresh air with a nice layer of plain toast in her belly, she was feeling much better.
The air was warm and the sun was shining. It was the perfect June day. Everything felt new and fresh and hopeful. Iris had her eyes closed and face tipped toward the sun like a thirsty flower when Olive’s shriek cut through her peaceful springtime thoughts.
‘Baby animals!’ the little girl squealed. ‘Iris! Baby animals!’
Iris looked down at where Olive was tugging on her hand and her heart surged with affection. Her little rain-boot clad feet were squished down in the mud and she was already wearing the new strawberry hair clips that Archer had bought her at Bernadette’s craft stand, and she looked so damn cute. She stared up at Iris with anticipation in her large brown eyes.
‘Can we go see them?’
‘Of course.’
‘Let’s go.’ Olive started tugging Iris along to the pen with the animals. ‘Dad! Come on!’ she called to Archer, who’d been buying them a giant strawberry lemonade from Jeanie’s stand to share.
‘I’ll catch up with you, but don’t try and sneak any baby bunnies in your pockets.’
Olive laughed but Iris made a note to check her overall pockets before they moved on to the next attraction. Iris did not trust Olive not to try and smuggle out a bunny. She’d caught her a few days ago with carrots and a shoe box in the backyard attempting to rig up some sort of trap.
They made their way across the field, avoiding mud puddles and ruts in the grass to get to the animal pens. Dozens of kids swarmed around the fences to get a better look at the baby goats and piglets. Iris spotted a few familiar faces in the crowd.
‘Look, Olive, Ivy and Cece are here.’ She pointed to where the girls were giggling over a pair of baby goats nibbling on the wire fence.
Olive ran to meet them shouting about her new strawberry hair clips and her love of baby goats the whole way. By the time Iris caught up to her, all three girls were jumping up and down together, with a slightly frazzled Hazel and Noah looking on.
‘It’s possible we’ve given them too many strawberry-themed sweets already,’ Hazel said.
