Page 84 of Pumpkin Spice Promises

Maybe he was. James wasn’t exactly a philosopher. Still, I’d never forgotten it.

He made me pull the post. Reset it. Do it correctly. Then he stayed beside me until sunset helping, even though he could’ve gone inside hours earlier.

When we finished, he handed me a Coke from the cooler and told me the second attempt looked considerably less stupid.

That had been James Rome. The type of man who built things expecting them to outlive him.

Marigold Ranch had. I wondered what he’d think if he could see it now. Then I immediately knew. He wouldn’t blame Carson.

Dad didn’t.

Meme didn’t.

The only person who seemed to believe every failing board and overdue bill was proof she’d disappointed him was Carson herself.

I turned off the television and went upstairs. For once, the boxes in the spare room didn’t bother me as much. Maybe because I finally understood what they represented. I had spent years assuming there would always be time.

Time to decide what I wanted beyond the shop.

Time to buy land.

Time to build something.

Time to meet someone.

Time to have a family.

Time to turn the house I slept in into the life I actually pictured when I thought about home.

Carson Rome had probably believed the same thing.

Until one day, she didn’t have it anymore.

The next morning, Dad was already at the shop when I arrived. So much for retirement.

His thermos sat on the front counter beside an invoice while he stood beneath the fluorescent lights reading the parts delivery sheet.

“You sleep here?” I asked as I shuffled inside slowly.

“No.”

“You beat me here three days this week.”

“Sounds like you should start getting up earlier.”

I dropped my keys on the desk. Jax hadn’t arrived yet. That wasn’t unusual, he considered anything before seven thirty a personal attack.

Dad handed me the delivery sheet. “Rome parts should be here by nine.”

I scanned it. “Good.” They’d be here earlier than quoted, but everything I’d ordered was listed.

“Rosie called.”

I lowered the paper. “That sentence never ends well.”

“She wants someone to look at the old festival equipment.”

“Carson hasn’t agreed.”