Before she could catch her breath, Tami launched herself at me, arms and legs wrapping around me as if she hadn’t seen me in years, not weeks. She gushed about missing me, while Eloise cackled next to me.
“Oh!” Tami exclaimed as she finally realized there was someone with me. Prying herself off my person, she kneeled down until she was eye-level with Eloise. “Who is this adorable creature?”
“This is my stowaway, Eloise. She and her twin sister, Molly, are staying at the bed-and-breakfast.”
“Stowaway, huh?” she asked, looking up at me in question, and I gave her the condensed version. “Well, you both have had quite the morning. Tell me, though, did you get to see the sunrise like you planned?”
“I did!” Eloise shouted.
“Well, then we know it was all worth it. Plus, you get to spend the morning with my bestest friend.”
“I like your tutu.” Eloise’s small hand reached out as she felt the crunchy material, smiling as she fisted a handful, then released it.
“Thank you. Do you think it clashes with my shirt?”
Eloise looked up at me with furrowed brows, so I explained, “Clashes means it doesn’t go with it. Like they don’t match.”
Her pinched gaze traveled over Tami’s outfit as my friend stood to her full height and twirled. “I like it,” the little girl confirmed.
In fact, the top and skirt did clash to the naked eye. Tami wore a plaid red and navy tank top with the rainbow-colored skirt, but she could pull it off in only a way Tami could. She could make any off-the-wall combination work, because she oozed enough confidence to fill the Empire State Building.
Another hour passed where Tami and Eloise hung out with me at the stand. It was nice to have someone to talk to between customers. Even Mrs. Hensen was on her best behavior when she chatted. I was disappointed there was no more talk about bumpy cucumbers, but it was probably for the best. I didn’t want to spend the time coming up with an excuse to tell Eloise why Tami and I couldn’t stop giggling.
There was a lull in the crowd, and Tami offered to hang out at the booth while I walked Eloise around the market. I had a few things I needed to pick up if I planned on making cakes this afternoon. I could go to the store, but fresh was always preferred.
Our first stop was at the small library stand. Eloise’s choice. I loved that she was fascinated by books. I’d never been a big reader as a kid. Not really one either as an adult except for romance novels, but that was more or less because I didn’t have the time. She eyed a book about fairies the librarian said was a great starter book. Not passing up the opportunity, I bought it and another in the set for Molly. I made sure each could be read by themselves.
The girl’s answering smile when I handed her the book was everything in that moment. I would do anything to keep her grinning like that. I could already hear everyone calling me an enabler and spoiling the twins, but I couldn’t help it. I loved that rush of serotonin.
With the books hugged to her chest, Eloise and I made our way to a stand a few tables over. Mystic sold any and every spice you could imagine. I had no idea what some would be used for, but I wanted to try them all. Grabbing a few things from there, I moved onto Farmer Chris’s booth. His farm milled their own flour, and it was the absolute best for baking. I was determined to utilize local ingredients when I opened my cake shop, and using Chris’s flour was number one on my checklist.
We chatted for a bit while Eloise stood at my side. Chris was only a few years older than me and had taken over the farm when his parents decided to retire and move south to Key West, Florida. Normally, his family would join him at the stand, but his wife was home with their newborn.
I asked if he would be interested in being one of my vendors for goods, and he heartily agreed. Locally sourced goods were what kept a lot of the farms in Ashfield afloat.
With one last stop at the jelly stand for some raspberry compote, Eloise and I made our way back to the Sunny Brook Farm booth. Tami had done a good job manning it in my absence, selling a few full crates of produce.
Just as I emptied the last crate onto the display, Tami tapped me on the shoulder.
“Don’t look now, but Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome is headed this way.”
Spinning around, I stared out at a frantic Nate with sweet Molly trailing behind him, going as fast as her little legs could carry her. This was going to be fun.
“Eloise!” he shouted, his voice hitching at the end in panic.
“Daddy!” she replied, dashing out from around the stand and running toward her father.
Everyone at the market stopped what they were doing and watched the tearful exchange. A few curious gazes flickered over to me but then returned to the reunion when I shrugged.
I couldn’t hear what Nate was saying, but the way he held Eloise and pushed her hair back from her face told me everything I needed to know.
“So… want to fill me in?” Tami asked, nudging me with her hip.
“That’s Nate Sullivan… and… he’s the guy.”
“What guy?”
I pulled my attention away from the family and focused on my friend.
