Page 72 of Tricked in October
Kelsey groaned. It wasn’t even eight a.m.
“Please, give me something.” Hannah clasped her hands together like she was praying.
“I gotta go, thank you for the coffee. And please, keep this between us.” Kelsey turned and rushed out of The Daily Grind, hoping to not bump into anyone on her way out.
* * *
Main Street had been blockedoff to through traffic. It had been completely transformed, looking more like the entire season of fall had puked all over it. Hay bales lined the sides of the road, pumpkins arranged in pyramids were scattered about. Vendors with booths took up the entire street. Some selling fall favorites like candy apples and kettle corn, others selling locally brewed beer and hard ciders, and others with their handcrafted goods.
Dressed in layers of a long-sleeved shirt and a black and white flannel and dark jeans, Kelsey chased after June and Zach while pushing Charlotte in the stroller. They wanted to stop at the face painting booth first, followed by deep fried twinkies, and then a trip on the small merry go round. Being in a small town where most all the locals knew her, Kelsey still tried to blend in by wearing her sunglasses and an old baseball hat.
It had only been two hours since she left The Daily Grind and already she’d received texts from Isabella, Norah, and two other friends all stating they heard the same rumor. She and Garrett hooked up at the Halloween costume party. How had they thought that? Even though Garrett and Davis were dressed in the same costume, how could no one else tell them apart? And who was it who went to The Daily Grind that morning? Davis or Garrett? She didn’t know because she still hadn’t heard from Davis.
What was the protocol after having sex with someone, how long were you supposed to wait before you texted or called? She’d been with Ricky so long, she really didn’t know. Did you wait a few hours to call? Twenty-four hours? Three to five days?
She and Davis usually stayed in close contact. Texting every day or two. So it felt weird to think she may have to wait a few days until she heard from him. She already didn’t like this change to their relationship.
Kelsey hunkered down, sitting on a hay bale while she waited for the kids to have their faces painted. Her phone had been buzzing with incoming texts from Isabella and Norah but she’d been ignoring them. She wasn’t ready to explain. She regretted coming to the Fall Festival. The last thing she wanted was to run into someone who had heard the rumor and wanted to question her.
Because to be honest, she didn’t know what to say. If she told the truth—it was Davis, everyone would know her business. But if she allowed the rumor to continue, people would think she slept with Garrett Vance, the biggest player in town. Which was worse?
“All done, Mama,” June said, interrupting her thoughts and showing off a unicorn painted mask on her forehead.
“Aw, sweets, that looks beautiful.”
“Can we go on the Ferris wheel now?” June asked.
“As soon as Zach is ready, we’ll go.”
“Yay!” June grabbed a hold of Charlotte’s hands and jumped up and down causing Charlotte to squeal in delight.
Zach approached her next, showing off his painted Batman mask and looking satisfied with his appearance as well.
“Wow, that looks great, Z. So mysterious,” Kelsey said.
“It’s not as pretty as mine,” June contested.
“It’s not supposed to be pretty, it’s cool,” Zach argued with his sister, his face going stony.
“It’s very cool,” Kelsey reassured him, standing and double-checking Charlotte was still secure in the stroller’s seatbelt. Sometimes June liked unlatching her, helping her to become the world’s tiniest escape artist. Kelsey didn’t have time to worry about Houdini today.
“June wants to go on the Ferris wheel now,” Kelsey said, pushing the stroller into the crowded foot traffic on the street.
Zach stopped walking and crossed his arms. “But you said we were getting Twinkies next. I want a Twinkie.”
“Oh, we’re gonna do it all today, don’t you worry, Z. But maybe Twinkie’s after the Ferris wheel would be better so you don’t get an upset tummy on the ride.”
He seemed to consider this for a moment before he started moving again, stomping in his boots. “I want to go two times on the Ferris wheel.”
“Fine, two times. We’re here all day.”
The sun peeked out from behind a group of clouds and warmed Kelsey’s skin. She welcomed it after Pineridge had seen several days of non-stop rain that week. The fall season only reminded her that winter was coming. And when winter arrived in Pineridge, it was there to stay for an unprecedented amount of time, much like Cousin Eddie inNational Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
As they weaved through the crowd, Kelsey waved at a few acquaintances along the way, exhaling a breath of relief when none of them wanted to stop and chat. They had nearly reached the line for the Ferris wheel when she spotted Isabella and Leo. Her stomach pinched as Isabella’s eyes never left hers while she and Leo zigzagged their way toward her.
“Did you lose your phone? I’ve been texting you all morning,” Isabella said once she’d finally managed to reach Kelsey.
“No…I…I’ve just been busy.” Widening her eyes and gesturing at the kids, she hoped her friend wasn’t too dense to understand her meaning. They couldn’t talk about what Izzy so obviously wanted to right now. Not in front of the kids. And sure as hell not in public.
