Page 25 of Spotlight on Poppy

“Me either, you can do so much better than him.”

“I can, but I think I need to focus on me. I think I got swept up in all of that because I’m always looking for a way out of Mystic Falls, and really I’m not sure why. Why I want to leave, why I don’t seem able to, why I just feel so antsy all the time.”

“I hope you figure it out. You deserve to be happy, Poppy. You deserve everything you have ever wanted.” He meant that, sure he had a dream of being with Poppy, but he would never want her to settle, and he could never leave Mystic Falls. It was his home.

“You have always seemed so content here. How do you do it?” she asked.

“What do you mean?”

“You seem to really like living here,” she said.

“I do really like living here. I guess I just look around and see so many people in this town as my family. Mr. Fipps, Theo Williams, Mena at the diner. These people know me, and I know them. You don’t get that everywhere. I feel lucky to live here.”

They walked the last couple blocks in silence. Poppy seemed to be lost in thought.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“What?” she looked over at him as if being pulled out of her own thoughts. “Oh yeah, I’m fine. Just thinking about some stuff.”

Poppy’s car was only about half a block away now.

“Well, here’s your jacket, thanks for letting me wear it,” she said to him. Her face looked earnest. That wasn’t a look that naturally seemed to find her face often.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asked, taking his jacket from her.

“Yeah, I’m just trying to figure some stuff out.”

“I’m a pretty good listener if trying to figure out loud would help?”

“Thank you, Josh, I appreciate it, I really do.” She reached out and hugged him. He pulled her close to him. She laid her head on his shoulder as he held her close. He could hold her like this forever, holding all of her softness against him. Taking a deep breath, she pushed away.

“Are you good to drive?” He asked.

She nodded. “Yeah, I’m good.” She stopped and looked up at him and for the second time that night, time seemed to stand still. “Good night, Josh, thank you for everything. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Good night, Poppy.”

She unlocked her car and got in. He watched as she started it up, she smiled and waved at him as she put it into drive. Waving back, he walked over to his own car. He slipped his jacket back on. It smelled like her. Taking in a deep breath he smiled at the scent of roses and Poppy.

CHAPTER13

Poppy

Kids raced around the orchard’s store trying to get in line first for cider.

“No need to push, there is plenty of cider and donuts to go around. Please line up in an orderly fashion so we don’t spill anymore,” Poppy said through a forced smile.

Field trip day was Poppy’s least favorite day at the orchard. On these days she never had enough time to get back into the kitchen to bake. Not only that but the kids were loud and messy.

She was happy Sam had made such a success of the orchard. When they were growing up, it was just an orchard. They had the trees. Sometimes people would come and pick their own, sometimes they would just buy them at the store front. They always had cider, apple butter and some jellies and apple pies, but it was nothing like it is now that Sam took over. Which was good, this had meant good things for her family. She just couldn’t quite find her place in it, nd it seemed like since her talk with Bridget, all she had been able to think about was her place in things.

A sharp scream came from the kid third in line. Poppy looked up and saw her pointing to the boy in front of her who had blood streaming out of his nose.

“Oh Joel, your nose!” The teacher grabbed a handful of napkins and shoved them to his face. “He always gets nosebleeds,” she said, turning to Poppy with an uncomfortable smile. “Class, Ms. Jacobs will help you get your cider and donut. Then go sit at the picnic tables,” she called out to her class.

The other teacher stepped up to the line.

“Come on, Joel. Let’s go get you cleaned up,” she said, leading him out of the store.

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