Page 54 of You Had Me At Pumpkin Patch

Rosie finished the chapter she was typing and gave a happy sigh.

She was back in the writing nook inside her log cabin at Autumn Meadows, and everything felt glorious.

She’d spent the night in Zain’s cabin, as she often had in the week since she’d returned.

With her words written and her pumpkin-spiced hot chocolate finished, it was time for some fresh air.

Her mind and body needed it, especially with her first writing retreat weekend starting in just a few days.

She stood up and stretched herself.

Working on her latest story was a joy, and she knew this one had something special.

It was flowing with all the same magic as before, but this time the plot and characters were from her own imagination.

Much like with real life, she didn’t know exactly how the story would end.

Perhaps that was part of the enchantment.

There would be ups and downs, and bumps in the road.

Her characters would change and grow and become so much stronger.

And she knew that hand in hand, they would reach their happy ever after. Everyone deserved a chance at that.

Tap, tap, tap.

‘Rosie.’

It was Zain’s voice at the door. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever stop smiling to be back in his world, and to have him back in hers. He lit her up.

‘Can you, erm, come out here? I have a surprise.’

He sounded nervous, as he did at times, when something was important to him, or he didn’t quite have the words. She loved that about him.

‘Of course,’ she replied.

She grabbed a coat, the late October temperatures growing cooler now. Soon enough it would be weather for mittens and bobble hats and blowing clouds of foggy breath. She had a feeling she would embrace and find happiness in every season here.

Rosie opened the door, expecting to see Zain. Instead, she found a large Cinderella pumpkin with a note attached. It was handwritten, in Zain’s writing. Her heart always filled when she saw his words. She read it:

Follow the trail. We’re going on a date. (Promise I made this one up myself. Might not be that good.) Zain. X

Rosie laughed, knowing that everything they did together was good – even the mundane bits, like sorting out the compost toilet. Though she hoped their date wasn’t that.

She looked up to see a trail of small pumpkins, leading out of the field and beyond. Well, it looked like she’d be off on an adventure. She’d better bring her wellies.

As Zain’s note had instructed, Rosie followed the line of miniature pumpkins, the names and stats of which she was coming to know.

Zain’s quirky passions fascinated her. She greeted them like old friends as she walked.

Jack be Little, the smallest of the bunch.

Munchkin, looks cute in a decorative basket. Baby Bear, tastes delicious in a pie.

Once she’d passed the orange glow of the pumpkin patches, she was at the dirt-track exit from Autumn Meadows Farm.

Following the last tiny gourd, she rounded the corner to find Zain.

He was sitting in the cab of the tractor that he now used for hayrides, though it wasn’t hooked up to the trailer of hay.

The cab was decorated with the leaf bunting Rosie had made for retreats, and bunches of autumn wildflowers.

He’d taught her the names of some of those too.

Hearing her surprised laugh, Zain turned to look at her, and then jumped down, running a nervous hand through his hair before putting both in his pockets and then taking them out again, as if he’d forgotten what appendages were for.

‘Fancy a date?’ He swept an arm towards the tractor.

‘Nothing elaborate this time. No starry picnics on the lake, or whatever. Just a normal, let’s go on a date, kind of date.

Thought I should prove I can manage that, without a chatbot.

’ He winked at her, then looked unsure whether he should have mentioned the ‘c’ word.

‘Just a normal date?’ Rosie teased, nodding at the tractor.

Zain shrugged. ‘Well, a normal date for a gruff pumpkin farmer.’

‘Where are we going?’

He scratched the back of his neck. ‘This is where it gets a bit sketchy. I don’t get out of my pumpkin patches much, other than for farming stuff. Maybe a country pub? Pie, chips, one of those log fires that crackles and spits out dangerous red sparks that burn the carpet.’

‘You had me at pumpkin patch.’ If she’d been describing herself like a character from one of her novels right then, she’d say her eyes were twinkling.

He breathed a sigh of relief, stepping towards her. ‘I’ll even shout you pudding. They do a mean apple crumble.’

She bounced towards him, putting her arms around his neck and kissing the tip of his nose. ‘Perfect. And when we get back, will you show me your Prizewinners?’ She raised an innocent eyebrow.

‘Always.’

Then he kissed her.

Slowly and softly, as though trying to show just how much he meant it.

And she knew that like all good stories, theirs may have ups and downs too.

Bumps in the road. Changing, growing, getting stronger.

But now they had each other – and together, they would keep stepping.

Because everyone deserved their chance of a happy ever after.

~ The End ~