“Thanks. How’s wedded bliss?” I asked. Amanda and Brian had gotten married in June.
She grinned. “Better than I could have ever imagined. When are you and Ethan going to tie the knot?”
I chuckled. “We aren’t there yet. We’re just having fun being together.”
“Okay, well, I hope it’s soon. I can hardly wait for another wedding, especially since it won’t be mine and I can focus on enjoying it and not stressing out over every little thing.”
“Gee, thanks. But I’m not ready to get that stressed out yet.” Amanda’s wedding had been less than stress-free, and I hoped that when—if, Ethan and I got married, things would be a lot less stressful.
She laughed. “I’m just trying to help you out.”
She rang up my order, and I paid for it and left. The next ten weeks would be busy. Actually, it would be busy until the end of the year. If we were lucky, we’d get a couple of weeks to rest before things got busy for the Christmas season. But I was excited in spite of all the extra work. The Halloween season was finally here, and it would be followed up by Thanksgiving and Christmas. The holidays were my favorite time of year even though there would be no rest for us candy makers for a good long while.
As I carried the cardboard drink carrier back to the candy store, I saw a familiar shape in front of me, but I couldn’t quite place who it was. I squinted my eyes. Who was it? His gait reminded me of someone. And then I suddenly knew. I picked up my pace, wondering if I could make a detour and head down another street before he got to me. But it was no good because as that thought crossed my mind, he spotted me and smiled like I was an old friend. I hesitated, then kept going. There was no rule that said I had to stop and speak to him. He had made his decision, and it didn’t concern me anyway.
I looked straight ahead, wondering if I’d get away with pretending I hadn’t seen him and walk right by. I couldn’t keep my eyes from going to his face. The smile was unexpected. Shouldn’t he try to dodge me? What he’d done was wrong and hurtful to my entire family. He didn’t have a right to smile at me.
“Hey, Mia,” he said with a nod. His eyes went to the cups of coffee in my hands. “I bet there’s a mummy’s curse in that carrier.”
Chapter Two
I stopped in my tracks and looked at him, unsure of what to do next. I inhaled, trying to come up with something to say. “How are you, John?”
It wasn’t what I really wanted to say to him. I didn’t care how he was. Maybe it was immature of me, but he had hurt my sister, and I didn’t care how he was getting on these days. But part of me just couldn’t come right out and be rude. Rudeness wasn’t in my nature, but I decided it was something I was going to have to work on.
He smiled again, his hands shoved in his front jeans pockets. “Good. How have you been?”
I inhaled. Did he really want to know? Nope. He was making small talk, of course. There had to be a reason he was here in Pumpkin Hollow and whatever it was, it couldn’t be good. I hoped he wasn’t here for Christy.
“Fine. What are you doing in town?”
The smile slowly left his face, and he suddenly looked like a small dejected boy. John Green had always been cute. I say cute, because at twenty-six, he still looked like he was fourteen. “It’s the Halloween season. I thought I’d stop by and enjoy the festivities.” He looked at me, waiting for me to say something, but when nothing came, he continued. “I miss this place, I guess.”
I gave him a curt nod of my head. “Great. It’s the Halloween season. Enjoy the sights.” I made a movement to walk past him, but I didn’t get far before he spoke again.
“How’s Christy?”
I stopped in my tracks. “She’s fine. Being single suits her.” I looked at him pointedly when I said it. Maybe I could be rude after all.
His eyes widened. “Really? I mean, that’s good. Good for her. I thought I’d stop by the candy store and say hello. If that’s kay.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “It’s not okay. She’s doing just fine without you, John. Why don’t you let her alone?” I was shocked at how hard my words sounded in my own ears. I’m not usually the cruel kind, but what did he think I was going to say? Why was he even here? If he wanted to take in the Halloween season, then there was no reason to stop by and see Christy. She wasn’t a part of his life anymore.
He breathed out through his mouth, taking this in. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to intrude on her life. Or yours. I just wanted to stop by and say hello. I understand we don’t belong in each other’s world anymore, but there’s no reason we can’t be civil to one another.”
I eyed him. He had said he wanted to end the marriage, that he had married too young and he felt trapped. But I had had my suspicions. I thought there might be a woman on the side and that was why he wanted out. There had never been any evidence of it, but it made the most sense to me. Not that I would ever bring it up to Christy. She didn’t deserve that, and I wasn’t going to be the one that suggested it to her.
“I don’t really have any say in what you can or can’t do,
