Page 80 of Autumn Kissed

Before, I was head-over-heels for Archer because of his swoony looks and cowboy vibes. Now, it’s so much more. He would make the best husband—the best dad. And that’s coming from someone who had the best dad.

Am I ready to no longer be the center of my own dad’s universe and to have someone else as mine?

My heart twinges at the thought. Whoever Dad chooses, the time of it just being the two of us is swiftly coming to a close.

A few hours pass by, and I wander from the Witch Hat Ring Toss to the Donuts on a String, then back to the Corn Husk Dolls. Archer catches my eye a few times, tipping his hat to me in his usual manner. My body seems to think it’s running a marathon, my heart racing each time I see him.

By the time the pony rides are scheduled to end, there’s still a line of twenty kids or so. A few of the teenagers leave, but Archer stays.

I want to go help, but Rosie finds me with her typical frenzied look.

“What’s wrong?” I ask calmly.

She shakes her head, her blonde hair sticking out of its ponytail. “I can’t find your dad. He’s late for the dunk tank. No one’s seen him anywhere.”

I glance around as if I’m going to magically spot him. “Have you checked Town Hall?”

“Yeah. No one’s seen him for hours.”

“I’ll give him a call. I’m sure he’s around here somewhere. He’s not usually late to things.”

Dad doesn’t pick up or respond to my texts. I leave a still-worried Rosie and make the rounds, stopping a few people to ask if they’ve seen him, moving on to the next after each, “No, sorry” I receive.

I pass by the face painting and the carnival games with still no sign of him, then discover the Ednas at the fall wreath crafting station in the church.

If anyone knows where the mayor of Autumn Ridge is, it’s them.

“Hey, ladies,” I say. “Any chance you’ve seen my dad running around here?”

“As a matter of fact,” Edna B. begins, “we saw him heading into the first aid tent about a quarter of an hour ago.”

“I wonder what he could be doing in there,” Edna G. says, her thin fingers stretched over her lips before she pushes her glasses farther up her nose.

I want to roll my eyes at their lack of inconspicuousness, but I nod in gratitude before attempting to leave.

“Juliet?” Edna B. calls out, her dark hair curled to the nines. “I just have to ask. How is it being back in Autumn Ridge? Especially on the, well, dating front?”

Edna G.’s eyes sparkle, her yellow-white hair curled to match her best friend’s.

I know whatever I say to these women will be spread all over town in a matter of minutes, so I choose my words carefully.

“Oh, you know me, ladies,” I say.

Truth is, they don’t. But their eyes widen all the same as they wait for me to say something more, like, “I don’t have much time to date,” or “I’m dating everyone within a forty-mile radius.”

Instead, I say nothing else, wink, then sprint away before they ask for more. I can almost feel their disappointment, but I ignore it, darting toward the First Aid tent nearby.

Each day, a nurse has taken charge of the tent. Today, it just so happens that nurse is Sharon Price.

I enter the oversized tent and scout the space. A few beds and chairs are propped up, a small refrigerator runs in the corner of the space, hooked up to a generator, and tables are organized with lollipops, blister kits, bandages, antiseptic wipes, and cold packs.

One woman sits in a nearby chair with her leg elevated, while an older gentleman lays on the pop-up bed with a cool pack over his forehead. Sharon stands over him, a look of care across her features.

But there’s no sign of Dad.

Sharon turns to face me, a pleasant expression across her stunning features. Her blonde hair is pulled up in a loose pony, curled and wavy. Despite being close to Dad’s age, she has very few wrinkles. Clearly, this nurse knows how to take care of herself.

“Hi,” she greets, stepping away from her patient for a moment. “Can I help you?”