“Oh, you know we don't do the pie competition,” Matilda said. “But make sure you take a look at our giant pumpkin. I think it's a winner.”
Leona's eyes lit up when she noticed Lila wearing her shirt. “I knew that one was for you as soon as I painted it!” Leona gave her a squeeze and Lila was glad she'd worn it.
Looking around her, the feeling of dread and the desire to be elsewhere dissipated. The large barn was draped with strands of lights and the Old Hodger's Bluegrass Band were tuning their instruments. Kids waited impatiently as carnival games were set up. In the distance, men piled wood for a gigantic bonfire. It was hard to believe there could be evil in an atmosphere filled with so much joy and excitement. She forced herself not to look for Asher's face among the crowd.
“Do you want me to get Gourdon out of the truck?” Lila asked.
“No, I'll get him. But would you mind taking one of those apple pies to the competition table?”
“Sure.”
As Ada walked away Lila spotted Elmer Green hanging a sheet for the fish pond, and a wicked idea occurred to her. Without taking a moment to allow good sense to set in and spoil things, Lila picked up a caramel pie along with the apple.
Lila strode over to Elmer. “Hello, Elmer. You're looking sharp today.”
“Thank you kindly. I picked up a new pair of overalls at Auburn Implement.” He glanced at her hair. “I like that style. It suits you.”
“Thanks. I wanted to tell you that I installed a couple of new lights in the house. I really appreciate you taking the time to teach me.”
“My pleasure.” Elmer eyed the pies. “Can I ask where you're taking those delicious looking pies? I suppose Ada cooked them up.”
“Well, it's your lucky day. Ada asked me to bring this caramel pie right over to you.”
Elmer paused, watching her face tentatively, but his blue eyes lit up.
“It's true.” Lila handed him the pie. His rough hands received it as if it were a delicate treasure.
“You know, Ada's kitchen faucet has sure been giving her trouble. Do you know of anyone who might know what to do about that?”
A smile spread across Elmer's face. “I'd be right happy to stop by and take a look at it.”
“That would be wonderful. You might talk to her about it. She's around here somewhere.”
“I certainly will.” Elmer looked into the crowd, then back at Lila. “You have a wonderful time tonight, young lady.”
“You too,” she said, grinning. She watched Elmer walk away. It was her last shot at doing something good here. As long as stubborn old Ada didn't attack the sweet man when he thanked her for the pie. Lila crossed her fingers.
She brought the apple pie to the table of pastries awaiting judgment. Each one had a label: lemon meringue, peach, pecan, coconut cream. She filled out a form and a label for Ada's apple pie.
Lila spotted the area devoted to gourd creations nearby. A row of the most amazing jack o' lanterns she'd ever seen lined the walkway. They led to a display of carved and painted gourd vases and bird feeders. She waved at Ada, who'd just finished tying Gourdon onto a pole. Lila stared at two other gourd scarecrows flanking him. Apparently Gourdon wasn't the only frightening gourd-man creation.
Shuffling up to Ada, Lila took a deep breath. “I just said hello to Elmer.”
Ada eyed her warily. “Glad to hear you remembered your manners.”
“He loved the caramel pie you baked him.”
“I what?” She tightened her lips. The look Ada gave her was as sour as rhubarb pie minus the sugar.
“He seemed happy enough to burst,” she blurted. “And besides, I mentioned the kitchen faucet.” Lila looked down at her feet. “I'll be gone soon, or I'd try to do it myself.”
Lila looked up with large, watery eyes. She made an effort to keep from smiling when she saw Ada's edge had melted.
Ada bit her lower lip. “It's alright, dear. Don't look that way. I suppose I could use help with a few things. Being proud has its drawbacks.” She put her arm around Lila. “It runs in the family, you know. Don't let it make all your decisions.”
Lila sighed in relief. “I'll keep that in mind. Want to see the giant pumpkins?”
“Of course. They're back this way.”
They walked among the grotesquely shaped giants. They ranged in color from pale to a deep red-orange. Some slumped on the ground as if someone had deflated them with a pin, or like they were humongous slugs about to slide away. Finally they found the one marked “Bell”. Matilda and Leona were right; it was definitely among the largest, and it had a nice, round shape.
They found Betsy and Gladys inspecting the competition pies.
“What did you bring this year, Betsy?” Ada asked.
“I brought peach. I found peaches this year that were absolutely divine. They'll be tough to beat if I say so myself.”
Ada stood taller. “It does look tasty. But the apples from my tree are always perfect for baking, and the crust turned out exceptionally well.”
They began critiquing the other pies on the table, and Lila took her opportunity to slip away. She smiled when she spotted Doug with his fryer. She was hoping she'd get to see him before she left.
“Lila,” he called, his blue eyes lighting up. “You back for another fried-food adventure?”
“Depends. You frying up any oysters today?”
“Naw, not for this event.”
“Good.” She laughed.
“The Fall Festival is the day I offer a new creation. Today: shepherd's pie wrapped in dough and fried.”
“Shepherd's pie?”
“You know: roast beef, gravy, mashed potatoes, and corn. You haven't come by the diner enough, Lila.”
“I'm sorry. That sounds interesting.”
“That's the idea.” Doug's eyes turned to someone standing beside Lila, and he broke out into a grin. “Here she is, with my annual frying challenge.”
Lila turned to see Juniper staring down Doug and holding a bag. With the hint of a smile, she opened it.
Lila realized that if Juniper was there Max must be close, and Erica too. She wanted to slink back into the crowd, but curiosity got the best of her.
Juniper pulled out a pack of Starburst candy. Doug raised his eyebrows and the corners of his mouth turned down as he nodded. He battered a few pieces and dropped them in the basket. A moment later they were ready.
After letting them cool, he passed them around. “I'm a little disappointed I didn't think of this one, Junie,” Doug said as soon as he was done chewing.
Lila had to admit, they were surprisingly good.
Juniper plucked another item from the bag: a fresh peach.
“Now, I've done that one before, Junie. But it's gonna' be delicious.” He battered the peach and dropped it in. “What else you got?”
Juniper's eyes sparkled with mischief as she pulled the next item out: a small carton of chocolate milk.
He stared at her, his face serious. “She's bringin' it this year. She thinks she's gonna throw ol' Doug. Watch this.” He brought out a container of flour and made a mixture with the chocolate milk. After pulling out the peach (and putting it on a stick and dipping it in cinnamon and sugar for good measure) he rolled the chocolate milk and flour mixture into little balls and dropped them into the fryer. A moment later they were ready.
Juniper bit into one. “Not bad.”
“That all you got?” he asked.
Her eyes locked on his as she pulled a tuna fish sandwich from the bag.
“Aw, no, you win. I am not putting that thing in my fryer. Nobody wants their shepherd's pie to taste like fish.”
Juniper giggled.
Max came up behind her, looking like he hadn't shaved in a few days, and wearing a soft, worn plaid flannel in greens that brought out the color in his eyes. “How did you do, Junie?”
He started when he saw Lila. She stood frozen for an impossibly long second, pretending her heart wasn't wreaking havoc in her chest.
He avoided eye contact for a moment, took a breath, then locked his eyes on hers and nodded.
She contrived a casual smile. At this particular moment she was grateful for the proud streak. Max didn't need to know he'd hurt her.
“I got him,” Juniper answered.
“Way to go.” Max came closer.
“I thought that kid was on a health food kick,” Doug said.
“Not this week,” Max answered. “Hey, Lila. I wanted to come by and see how you were doing, but . . . ”
She laughed uncomfortably. She knew she had told him to go away, but she didn't remember doing it. “There was no need. I probably sounded insane. It's almost a relief to know that I was under the influence of drugs.” Her eyes flashed to Juniper. “I didn't take them on purpose.” She lowered her voice. “Someone slipped them into my drink.”
“What?” Max moved in even closer. His eyes were intense, angry. “Who would do that? Tell me what happened.”
She forgot herself for a moment and imagined telling him everything. She was careful about what she told Ada, because she didn't want to frighten her, or get her involved.
Just then Erica came from behind and caught his arm. “There you are. I've been looking for you.” He froze and glanced at Erica, who flashed him a sweet smile. Lila turned and walked away before he could look back.
“Wait!” Doug called.
He caught up with her, handing her the peach and a napkin. “I hear you're leaving soon. Here's a little good-bye gift, from Juniper and me.” As usual, Doug's eyes gave away everything. He looked sorry, and she was embarrassed to think it was not just because she was leaving, but because he knew how she felt about Max.
Lila thanked him and continued on, eager to put as much space as possible between herself and the happy couple behind her. She would be out of here soon enough, and didn't need to waste any more of her time thinking about Max.
She concentrated instead on the peach. She took a bite, and it was juicy, warm, and sweet. Like peach pie on a stick. She thought it was probably best she hadn't stayed with Doug any longer or she wouldn't have to fake a stomach ache.
The deep orange sun was dropping toward the horizon, as if it was too heavy to hold itself up any more. That was something Lila would miss about the Midwest. The open horizon left nothing to disrupt it. She'd never seen the sun look so enormous.
The bonfire had been lit, and strong, vibrant flames rose from the depths of the wood pile, so she walked over and found a chunk of tree trunk to sit on and listened to the Old Hodgers play. She'd never seen such a huge fire. It was so hot she had to scoot back to avoid burning her face. It roared its breathy roar and tiny sparks flew frantically into the sky before disappearing. A kid next to her was trying to find the right spot to roast a marshmallow without turning it into a flaming mass. When it was golden brown he pulled it out, and the toasted sugary smell drifted toward her.
Then Gladys was tugging at her arm. “Lila, I need you to come with me.”
She stood up. “What is it?”
“It's been so long since I rode a ferris wheel. Ada won't go with me, and I need someone who won't rock the seat back and forth like Leona would.”
“Of course. It sounds like fun.”
She took Gladys's arm and they walked over to the ferris wheel. The ride was $2 per person. Lila pulled a wad of bills out of her pocket and handed them to Eddie, who was in charge of the ride. It wasn't a very large ferris wheel, but her stomach still flipped and her toes tingled when she looked up. She didn't care much for heights.
Soon it was their turn, and they sat on the tiny, bright-yellow gondola. Gladys held out her hand as Eddie came to lower the bar. “Wait. I forgot. I can't do heights. I get sick.”
Lila stared at her in confusion. As Gladys pulled herself up and waddled off, Max slid into the seat beside her.
Chapter 25
Heights
Max buckled the seatbelt and smiled nervously as Lila stared at him, clinging stiffly to the bar. She turned to see Gladys standing next to Eddie, grinning. Gladys spoke into Eddie's ear and the ferris wheel quickly jerked to let on the next passengers.
“Another ambush? You need to stop encouraging your grandma.”
“You wouldn't talk to me.”
“What is there to talk about, Max? And I came by once, you know.”
“You did?” The muscles in his jaw twitched and he slumped his shoulders. “I'm sorry. I should have come over sooner. Things got complicated, and I didn't know what to do. I was an idiot.”
She looked down as the ground fell further beneath her feet. “That's a good start.”
“I talked to the sheriff a few minutes ago,” he said. “Got him to tell me about the drugs. Once Betsy Barker knows something, confidentiality's a lost cause anyway. He's used to doing damage control. Nobody knows where Asher is?”
Lila shrugged, rubbing her arms.
“I hope he does show up. He'd have to be a special kind of stupid, though.” Max clenched his fists.
Lila knew she was supposed to be angry at Max, but it was a nice feeling, knowing there were plenty of people in town who would have her back if Asher dared show his face in town again. Back in Montana, there'd been a guy who'd had a hard time understanding that no meant no, and wouldn't stop harassing her. Her own mother had told her she should be more careful about the impression she gave. She sighed.
The car rocked, and Lila grabbed the bar. A jolt went through her chest, and tingled through her fingers and toes as she looked down. She focused on the yellow and russet treetops clustered around the farm, and the green and gold fields that stretched away like a patchwork quilt. The flickering glow of the jack o' lanterns had begun to compete with the waning daylight.
An autumn chill had set in. When Max laid a warm hand over hers, she chose to accept it as a friendly gesture. With the clamor and the laughter below feeling worlds away, it was comforting. Too comforting. Lila tried to move her hand, but Max didn't release his grip.
“I'm sorry,” he said. His eyes had that same look she'd seen before; saturated, the way rain intensifies color. “He had a lot of people duped.”
“Not Gladys,” Lila said.
“'Course not Gladys,” he agreed, grinning. “But you're too good for an artificial guy like Asher. Even if he weren't a sociopathic maniac.”
Lila laughed weakly. She was embarrassed that in the beginning, she'd fallen for it. “It wasn't like that. He didn't break my heart or anything.” She looked down at Max's hand, noticing the way the muscles and tendons stood out. She was tempted to run her fingers along them.
“Oh.” He exhaled. “Good.”
They sat quietly for a moment, watching dark billows rise from the bonfire, and breathing in the smoky scent. She wondered if this ride had exceeded the standard time limit. She knew the answer when she noticed Gladys slipping a bill to Eddie Barker. She leaned back in her seat, remembering how Max had told her Gladys didn't care for Erica, and she was a spot on judge of character. But it didn't seem right to interfere when he had made his choice. It wouldn't be fair to Juniper, either.
“I've been really worried about you.” The urgency in Max's voice distracted her from her train of thought. He pushed his hair back from his forehead, his hand clutching at it briefly. “When we found you lying in the woods like that, bleeding—.” He paused, blinking his eyes as if trying to erase the memory. “I wasn't sure you were going to be okay. And the way you were talking...” He raised his eyebrows and smiled.
“I heard that I was a raving lunatic.” Lila bit her lip. “What did I say to you. I shouldn't ask, but I have to know how bad it was.”
He scratched his chin and looked away as he searched for the words. “You said you had a flock of birds in your bedroom.”
“An unkindness.”
Max looked at her funny. “I'd say so.”
“And I did,” she said. “Just not that night.” She wondered if Asher had anything to do with the birds upstairs as well.
She would think about it later. “Sorry. And?”
“And you said your uncle David was in the house, and that he was angry.”
Lila knotted her brows together, remembering the details.
Max continued with difficulty this time. “When I picked you up you looked so happy to see me.”
“I imagine I was.” Lila laughed, trying to ease the tension. “I'd take you over an evil poltergeist any day. Was there anything else?”
“Not really.” He looked away again.
“I know there was. Just tell me.”
His fingers stroked hers in a tense, nervous way. “I laid you down on the bed upstairs, and you told me to stay with you awhile, so I did.”
The words brought the memory back with perfect clarity. She remembered wincing at the sting as Max cleaned the cuts on her limbs, and the tender wound on her head. He'd covered her with blankets, then laid down beside her on the tiny bed. She remembered how he'd wrapped his arm around her to hold the dry cloth in place on her head, his breath warm on her face. She searched her mind, desperate to remember what happened next.
“You said you liked my nerdy glasses, and told me that my eyes were pretty,” he said.
Heat rose in her cheeks. “Hasn't a girl ever told you that before?”
One side of his mouth lifted. “Matter-of-fact, no.”
Lila was completely sucked into this vortex, as if the ferris wheel was all there was in the world. Maybe she could trust Max. “And what did you say?”
“I said for the first time in months, maybe longer, I felt grounded.” His eyes darted away in that nervous way of his, but then he took a deep breath and looked at her, the connection direct and intense. “When I see you, I feel like I've been away from home for a long time, and I just came back to a home-cooked meal and my own bed. Only there are a million tiny ants in my bed, biting me, because you make me nervous and crazy. What I mean is, you belong here . . . with me.”
Lila could barely move her mouth. “You said all that?”
“Something like that. And you wrapped your arms around me and—and kissed me.” He rubbed at his stubble, searching Lila's face as if gauging her reaction. His hand gripped hers.
The Obituary Society Page 17
