I tried unsuccessfully to leave Rhonda and Burt forty dollars for the pumpkins. They refused to take it. Lola and I had a fast lunch of premade turkey sandwiches and sweet potato chips outside the Corner Market, before heading back to our shops.
I was covered in dust and debris from the pumpkin patch. Ryder insisted he could keep shop the rest of the day while I went home and showered before delivering my heavy load to the hotel.
My car chugged as if it was dragging a twenty foot trailer up Myrtle Place. I turned into the driveway. Kingston paced the back of the seat, anxious to get to his cage and his snacks.
Dash's truck was sitting in front of his house as I pulled into my driveway. He was hard at work painting the railing on his front porch. Dash had only just recuperated from a nasty fall off the roof. I was glad to see him standing on firm ground instead of loose roof shingles. Kingston flew up to the roof to wait for me to go inside. In an unusual display of energy, Dash's dog, Captain, came plodding across the yard to greet me. The dog's moment of unexpected energy caught Dash's attention. He turned to see where Captain was heading. His smile was blinding white under the shade of the porch.
He put his brush into the paint can and followed Captain's path to my side. "Hey, neighbor, you're home early."
I held my hands out and stared down at my dirt crusted shoes. "I've been hanging out with Linus in the patch waiting for the Great Pumpkin, so I decided to take a shower."
He stopped and took note of my shoes. "I see that. Any luck with the Great Pumpkin?"
"No but I do have a car filled with fat orange squashes." I waved back at my poor little car still panting from the drive up the hill.
"That would explain why the chassis is nearly touching the driveway." Dash was in a better mood than I'd seen him in a long time. I wondered briefly if it had anything to do with the town's new visitor. Turned out, I didn't have to wonder long.
"I saw you in the bakery today," he said unnecessarily. He looked down and kicked at a few blades of grass. It was another rare moment of shyness for Dash. "Guess you met her niece, Britney." Apparently he wasn't finished stating the obvious. Or being obvious, for that matter.
I paused to pat Captain on the head. "Considering I was gobbling up her macarons, I had no choice but to say hello." Usually Dash and I were in sync when it came to humor, but I sensed that he was in no mood for my silly sarcasm. He had something more important on his mind. Oddly enough, I felt the tiniest twinge of jealousy about his keen interest in Elsie's niece. I pushed the ridiculous twinge away. "Elsie told me that her niece had been a shy, awkward little girl. I think she worried she was going to have to deal with the same nervous girl. I'm still trying to work out if Elsie is relieved or dismayed about the fact that Britney has left behind that bashful, little girl and bloomed into a confident, beautiful woman. Her baking talents are nothing to be sneezed at either. I think that has Elsie on edge more than anything. You know she doesn't like to be out-baked."
Dash smiled. "Little chance of that. I'm still trying to figure out how I'll survive without those pumpkin muffins."
"Which reminds me—thanks for the heads up about the Martins' pumpkins. That nugget of information came in handy. I just cleaned out half their patch. They looked pleased to see the back sides of them." I tapped my chin. "Do pumpkins have back sides?"
"I guess that depends on how you carve them." He had lightened up in this new thread of conversation. It felt strange talking to Dash about a woman, and I was just as glad to change topics. If only he felt the same.
"So, do you think I have a chance?" he asked. His question was incomplete, but I knew exactly what he was asking.
"Dash," I said matter of factly. "As hard as you are to look at, you know with those outlandish broad shoulders and smoldering green eyes, I'm sure Britney will be able to look past all that unpleasantness and see the true man beneath." It seemed I was still pushing my luck with my sarcastic wit. My mom often told me I didn't know when to wrap it up and tuck it away. Apparently she was right . . . again.
"I can see this is a serious question, so I'm going to straighten up and be a good friend, instead of a babbling nincompoop. Yes, Dash. I was there when the two of you met, and my hair nearly stood on end from the static charges shooting through the air."
His smile returned. I'd never seen him so unsure of himself. "Then, I wasn't just imagining it."
"Not unless I somehow crawled into your imagination. I'd give her some time to get settled in though. She only just got to town, and she and Elsie are in the middle of trying to figure out their relationship. She probably doesn't need anything new thrown into the mix. Although, she does seem like a woman who knows exactly what she wants and how to get it."
"She does. I guess that's why I'm feeling unsure of myself," Dash said.
"Well don't. Be yourself. Bring back the sure of himself Dashwood Vanhouten. That's all you need."
A soft thud against my front window carried our attention to the house. Nevermore was twisting and turning though the curtains, balancing on the windowsill, making sure I knew that he was waiting for me to come inside.
Dash raked his fingers through his thick hair. I was about to add that performing that gesture occasionally wouldn't hurt either, but I decided to keep that advice to myself.
"That's what I've always liked about you, Lacey. You're so easy to talk to. How is it going with Briggs?"
Dash and I rarely spoke about my relationship with Briggs. Their rough history of friendship, betrayal and competition made it a subject better left untouched.
I smiled up at him. "Things are going great. I enjoy being with James."
He nodded. "I'm glad to hear it. Well, I've got to get back to painting. Got off work early today so I decided to tackle the job I've been putting off forever." He rolled the shoulder that had just healed. "All the parts are back in working order, so I don't have any more excuses."
Nevermore thumped his paw against the window. "That's good to hear. I better get inside before Never busts through the window pane."
"Thanks for the pep talk," Dash called as he headed back across his lawn.
"Anytime."