Page 48 of Autumn at the Cat Cafe

A sign appeared on the side of the road:Pumpkin Paradise 2 miles ahead. Soon a huge swathe of orange orbs dotted the fields on both sides of the road as they neared the patch.

“Whoa,” Leo said, slowing Gold Yeller down a bit and looking to the right. “That’s a lot of pumpkins.”

They turned into the half-full parking lot. The patch had been open since mid-September and business would steadily increase until Halloween, then slow down again until mid-Novemberwhen it closed. Leo parked Gold Yeller four rows away from the entrance. They got out of the truck and shut the doors. While he locked the truck, Via slung Sir’s catpack over her shoulders and fastened the belt around her waist. There, the cat was snug.

Leo put his hands on his hips. “All right, ladies. Let’s get our pumpkin on.”

Via groaned.

“Yikes,” Dora said.

“What? I’m not cool enough for you two?”

Oh, he was cool all right. And handsome as always. Earl’s jacket accentuated his broad shoulders, the red sweater he had on underneath tapering at his narrow waist and covering the belt line of the old jeans he had on. When her gaze lifted to his, his mouth was forming that half smile that had her toes curling. “Cool is overrated,” she said, averting her gaze to Gold Yeller.

“Guess I got my answer. What do you think, Dora...?”

But she was already halfway to the arched entrance of the pumpkin patch.

“Is your sister always in a hurry?” Leo asked as they walked between the cars in the lot.

“No.” Then it dawned on her. She left her and Leo alone by his Turismo. Insisted she sit by him in the truck. And now Dora was hightailing it to the pumpkin patch when normally they walked together. Could she be any more obvious?

A minute later they walked through the arch and saw her standing by the pile of hay bales nearby. “How about we divide and conquer?” Dora said, moving away from them again.

Via grabbed Dora’s parka sleeve before she escaped. “How about not?”

“Dora!” A stocky man with deep brown skin and wearing an orange cap with the Dipstick Depot emblem on it waved as heapproached them, holding a little girl’s hand. A smaller version of the hat was perched on her soft, curly brown hair as she licked an orange dream ice-cream cone.

“Charlie?” She rushed to them. “What are you doing here?” She looked at the girl. “Hi, Phoenix.”

“Hi.” Lick. Lick. A thin drip of ice cream ran down her chin.

Dora opened her purse and pulled out a tissue. “Let me get that for you.” She knelt and wiped off the drip. “Better?”

Phoenix nodded and looked up at her dad. “Can we take a picture with Mr. and Mrs. Pumpkinhead?”

“Sure thing, sweetie.” He looked at Dora. “Want to join us?”

“I thought you were staying in Akron tonight.”

“Changed my mind. P wanted to go to the pumpkin patch and the orchard instead of the zoo. Kesha was fine with us switching weekends.” He grinned. “Couldn’t get back here fast enough.”

Dora looked over her shoulder at Via, who immediately nodded. “See ya later.” She took Charlie’s other hand and the three of them walked away.

“Cute kid,” Leo said.

“They’re all cute at that age. But P is one of the cutest.” Via was still watching them. Dora was just an inch or two taller than Charlie in her sneakers. This was the first time she’d seen her with Phoenix, although she’d met the child a few times at church when Charlie had her on his weekend and summertime visits. He was a good dad, and her sister would be a good stepmom if things kept going as well as they were now.

Alone now, she and Leo walked farther into the patch. There were mostly families and plenty of kids, but there were a few groups of teenagers and some couples walking around, enjoying the popcorn, ice cream, lemonade, and of course, picking outpumpkins. They didn’t talk, but it was a comfortable silence after a rocky start to doing the bucket list.

Leo’s hands were stuffed into his jacket pockets and he was looking around the patch with newcomer interest.

“Let me guess. You’ve never been to a pumpkin patch?”

He sidestepped a toddler who escaped his mother. He nodded at her shout of “Sorry!” as she whisked him away. “What would I do with pumpkins?” he said.

“Decorate?”