Page 154 of Pumpkin Spice Promises

Beau

I know.

I frowned.

Carson

How?

Beau

Your interview.

I’d forgotten about that old video. Me laughing about buying Pops a truck. Another lifetime preserved online…

Beau

We think he’d approve of the repair.

I looked through the windshield. Willow Creek’s welcome sign stood beyond the gas station. Orange ribbon wrapped around the posts, and someone had added small wooden pumpkins near the bottom. The town was already changing around the festival.

I looked down at my phone, at the messages from a man I was letting in, after keeping my heart guarded for so long.

Carson

He would’ve complained you charged too much.

Beau

I like him more every day.

I laughed.

Then typed before I could overthink it.

Carson

Thanks for making me laugh today.

The typing bubble appeared.

Beau

Bad day?

There it was again. The opening to telling him some of my truth.

Carson

Shhh, I just needed a good laugh.

Several seconds passed.

Beau

Anytime.

He let me keep what I wasn’t ready to give. That affected me more than if he’d asked. I got in the Camry and rested my head against the seat. For years, I’d assumed letting someone close meant eventually handing them every ugly piece of myself and waiting to see which one made them leave.