“What?”
“You should text Danny. You’re letting your worries about getting hurt get in the way of what you know you should do. I get it—you’re afraid that if you fully open your heart that you’ll get hurt. But that’s not fair to him and I think deep down you know that.”
Dot sighed heavily. “Maybe you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right,” Mary said. “Plus, I know he’s reached out to you several times. Jake told me. At least you could respond. Give him a chance to explain who he was with that night. And even if the answer is that he’s seeing someone else, at least then you’ll know.”
Dot set the glasses on the drying rack. She knew Mary was right. And that her pride was getting the best of her.
“What’s the worst that can happen if you text him?” Mary asked. “You’re always advising us to consider the worst-case scenario. Have you done the same? You’re being overly cautious, and it’s hurting someone else.”
“You have a point.” Dot gave Mary a hug. “I’ll sleep on it.” Then she headed upstairs to answer more emails about the campaign.
Mary wrapped up the cookie dough and put it back in the freezer.
“When did I become the responsible one around here?” she asked.
Chapter 69
The apple festival pulled together all the good parts of autumn into one weekend. The leaves that had already fallen to the ground crunched under boots that had been put away for the summer. The sun was warm, but the air was crisp, and people stood chatting around the stalls, wearing puffy vests and holding steaming mugs of apple cider and munching on bratwurst piled high with sauerkraut.
Kids with sticky fingers lined up for the apple pie eating contest where the prize was even more apple pie but with a side of pride. Guys had their arms around their girls but one eye on the University of Wisconsin football game score that they pulled up on their phones. And their wives and girlfriends caught up on the latest town gossip and traded ideas for weekend getaways once the football season was behind them.
A local band strummed fiddles, guitars, and banjos on a makeshift stage. Their music got toes tapping, and a few couples, like Ted and Jeanie Jankowski, made a little space in the crowd so they could dance together, feeling light on their feet. For those too shy to dance, a sway or two got them into the spirit of the festival.
For a few hours that weekend, the outside world was far away, and Cedar Falls felt like the center of the apple universe.
Joe and Grace Taylor arrived after the festivities were underway.
“The weather cooperated today,” Grace said as Joe parked their Suburban in the town lot.
“Yep.” He was clearly distracted.
“Joe, is anything wrong?” Grace put her hand over his before they got out of the vehicle.
“There’s a lot wrong, Grace,” he said, grimacing. “I’m afraid we’re nearing the end of the road. We may not have enough time to save the farm. It’s not looking good.”
“Have you heard anything more from the lawyers?”
“Nothing. They said they’re being stonewalled by the governor’s office. At first it was excuses, polite delays. Now it seems like they’re being ignored so the government can run out the clock.”
“Well, let’s pray the good Lord is listening, since apparently the governor has no ears.”
“Well, let’s also pray He has a heart,” Joe said. “He may be our only hope of holding on to our place.” Then, not wanting to worry her any more than he already had, Joe put a smile on his face and said, “Come on. You love the apple festival. Let’s go have a good time.”
Knowing when not to push, Grace readily agreed with the plan. They’d go have fun even if the concern about losing the farm was like a stone in their shoes—impossible to ignore.
“You got it,” she said, opening her door to get out of the vehicle.
Joe came around to shut her door for her. She stopped him from just moving on. He turned to her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him more deeply than over forty years of marriage usually provides. She felt him give in to her and his arms pulled her strongly into his chest. They let the kiss linger awhile.
When they finally pulled apart, Joe asked, “What did I do to deserve that?”
“You’re a good man, Joe. I believe in you.” She knew what he needed to hear, and what she needed to say.
“I don’t deserve you, Grace,” he said, then he gently took her hand and they walked to the festival with smiles on their faces to mask their worries.
WITH JAKE ONduty for the apple festival and Dot working on the campaign, Mary and Harper walked with Tommy down the middle of Main Street. Cars were banned from downtown for the day, and citizens spilled into the streets, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells.