Page 83 of Love in Mission City

He winced. “I, uh, didn’t manage to make it work. It, uh, collapsed. Maybe I used too much force?”

I replayed yesterday in my mind and remembered having given him what I believed to be a good, solid pumpkin. “Well, I suppose it might’ve been defective. Or maybe you did use too much force.” I met his gaze. “Sometimes you have to use less pressure. It can be an exact science.” That might’ve been a bitof BS I was shoveling, but I was happy to infuse an underlying meaning.

Clearly oblivious, or not wanting to take me up on my offer, Ashton removed a knife from his bag. “Can you show me?”

I blinked. Okay, totally not where I’d thought this was going. “Sure.” I indicated the jars. “You’re going to have to help me if a customer comes along.”

His dark-brown eyes sparkled. “Definitely.”

“No problem. I’ll show you.” I grabbed a spare kitchen garbage bag and laid it on the table. Then I selected the best pumpkin out of the group. “Okay, so you need to pick your spot to make the first incision.” I smiled.

He smiled back.

Over the next half-hour, I took him through the process.

He watched avidly, asking questions, and selling my pumpkin spices like he was a born salesperson. He had everyone buying multiples as he explained how popular they were.

I was almost superfluous to the process. And Ashton came across as earnest. Not pushy or pat. He appeared to genuinely believe in my product. I liked his name. I wondered if anyone ever called him Ash, but that curiosity could wait as I finished the last of the carving.

“Wow.” His eyes widened as he took in the finished jack-o'-lantern.

“Now it’s your turn.” I used a wipe to clean off my hands. Pumpkin guts. Gross.

“Oh, I couldn’t.”

“Sure you could. Come and stand by me, behind the table. You can work on it while I help this nice person.” I smiled as someone approached. “Hey, Tristan, how’s it going? Hello, Olivia.”

The couple, holding hands, smiled. Both were students at the university. Tristan had almost completed his environmentalscience degree. Having to work so many hours at Starbucks meant he was only taking a part-time curriculum.

Olivia was studying psychology. She was newer in town, and shy. Still, she offered me a wide grin. “Loriana bought some of this on Thursday.”

Right, our librarian.

“And she couldn’t wait until Christmas to give some to Marnie.”

Marnie…the assistant librarian. Also the woman married to Olivia’s uncle. Whom Olivia lived with.

Inwardly, I grinned at being able to put that together. “Uh, wow. I hope Marnie likes it.”

“She baked cookies last night.” Olivia chuckled. “I’ve never heard so many adults babbling like excited toddlers.”

Tristan rolled his eyes. “We weren’t that bad.”

“Oh yes, you were.” Olivia’s grin didn’t falter. “Anyway, Marnie’s working today, but she asked me to drop by and to buy half a dozen. She’ll keep them around as, you know, potential gifts.”

“She’s totally going to use them all herself,” Tristan added.

Olivia shot him a glance.

He grinned and shrugged.

She turned back to me. “Six?”

“Definitely.”

She pivoted to Ashton. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Olivia.”

Ashton smiled. “Tristan and I went to high school together.”