by Jeff Shelby
Gunnar grabbed a bag of popcorn and we each took a cup of cider. The steam billowed in front of us, thin wispy trails that disappeared into the darkness.
“So what’s going to happen to Savannah?” he asked.
I took a tentative sip of my cider, hoping it wouldn’t burn my tongue. “No idea,” I said after braving the first swallow. “She was removed from the ladies society the night of the emergency meeting, when she confessed to taking the money. No one has seen her since.”
“Unbelievable.”
“That she’s missing?”
Gunnar shook his head. “No, that she went through such an elaborate set up to frame Sophia in an attempt to get her position in the group.”
I couldn’t argue. I was still in shock over Savannah’s explanation for why she’d stolen the money. She’d wanted to move into an officer position in the society. Wasn’t there a better way to do it than framing one of the current officers? Like, say, just running for the position the next time there was going to be an election?
A woman dressed as Little Red Riding Hood strolled by with a very large Big Bad Wolf. It took me a minute before I recognized them.
“Sophia!” I said.
She smiled at me. Her blonde hair was hidden underneath her cloak. She clutched a basket in both hands, a basket that contained a small white dog dressed in a nightgown and cap.
“Grandmother,” Sophia said, nodding at the basket.
“It’s a great costume,” the wolf said. “Surprised that dog is keeping it on.”
I gave Walter a cool look. I still hadn’t forgiven him for what he’d tried to do to his wife.
A man wearing a corduroy jacket and a weathered cowboy hat interrupted us.
“Say, Gunnar, you think you can give me a hand with the tractor? Engine’s giving me a bit of trouble.”
“Sure, Glenn.”
So this was Glenn, the farmer. Gunnar glanced at me and I nodded, and they both hurried over to a large red tractor hooked up to a wagon. Next to it, a group of kids were waiting to board.
“I should see if I can help,” Walter said, a little unconvincingly.
I watched him follow the other men, my arms folded tightly across my chest, a deep frown settled on my face.
Sophia noticed. “Walter’s a good man,” she said.
I snorted.
“Truly,” she said. She held the basket against her stomach to support Tallulah’s weight. “His heart is in the right place.”
“He tried to trick you into getting pregnant.”
“And he feels badly about it,” she said. “We’ve talked a lot over the last few days. I’ve been very insensitive to his needs and wants, and very focused on the things that matter to me.”
“That isn’t exactly a bad thing.”
“Yes and no,” Sophia said. “I do need to do the things I want to do, but I can’t keep putting off what Walter wants, and what we agreed to before we married.”
“Children?”
She nodded.
“So you’re on board now? With getting pregnant?”
“Not right away,” she said. “I still want to have time to run my business and work with the ladies society, but I agreed to step down as treasurer.”
I almost laughed at the irony. If Savannah had only waited, she could have stepped right into the position she’d wanted. Sophia would have practically handed it to her.
“As long as you’re sure the timing will be right for you,” I said. “Kids are a lifelong commitment.”
“So is marriage,” she said.
“If you’re married to the right person.”
“I am,” she said, smiling. “I know I am.”
She peered across the parking lot and toward the church. “I suppose I should go see if all the kids are finished with their crafts inside. The older ones will need to be out here for their turn for Money in the Hay.”
I watched her walk away, the basket tucked tight under her arm. I wasn’t sure I agreed with everything she’d said, but I was happy she and Walter had worked things out. I still disagreed with his actions, but Sophia had forgiven him, and that was what mattered.
“I almost expected you to show up as Eve,” Declan said from behind me.
I smiled and turned around. He was dressed as a leprechaun, sporting a green jacket and green pants, with a green top hat perched on his head.
“Even I’m not gutsy enough to try to pull that off,” I told him.
“You would have frozen to death,” Declan said, blowing out a breath for emphasis.
“Most likely.”
“So,” he said, shoving his hands in the pockets of his green pants. He tilted his head. “You and Gunnar, huh?”
He looked adorable in his costume, his red hair peeking out from his hat.
I took a sip of my cider. It had already cooled to lukewarm, at best. “Yeah,” I said simply.
He nodded, toeing the parking lot with his loafer. “You’re happy?”
It wasn’t a loaded question. It only required a simple yes or no answer.
I thought about the past few weeks, the past few months, and the past few days. A lot in my life had changed in a matter of months. I’d moved to a new house, met a lot of new people, and experienced a lot of new things—not all of them good.
I’d taken some risks, most of them small. I’d made simple decisions as I navigated this new life I’d embarked on, trying to figure out exactly what I was looking for on this new adventure.
And with Gunnar, I’d finally taken the plunge.
No, I wasn’t ready to move in with him or get married or anything drastic. But I’d decided to move past testing the water with him; I’d jumped in.
Maybe it would be too cold. Too choppy. Maybe a wave would knock me down and I’d decide it was too rough, the water wasn’t worth it.
But for now?
I glanced toward the tractor. Glenn was up in the driver’s seat and Gunnar was standing by the engine, giving him a thumbs up. Glenn did whatever he needed to do to start the engine and it roared and rumbled, and all of the kids standing in line cheered.
“Yeah,” I said to Declan, smiling. “I’m happy.”
And I was.
The water was just fine.
For now.
THE END
Make sure you don't miss out on future releases by signing up for Jeff's monthly newsletter right here!
And if you enjoyed PLANTING EVIDENCE, please consider taking a few moments to leave a brief review for other customers. Thank you!
