by Abby Tyler
No, she couldn’t go that far from Caden. But she could definitely go other directions. There was Fayetteville. Springfield. Columbia.
Thinking of the city where Andrew had taken her made her stomach drop. She needed to nip this right now. She had to give up on what they’d started.
She’d turned away from Andrew when she was fifteen years old. She could do it again.
Andrew sat in his car a while, looking at the text from Sandy one more time in the vain hope that he’d somehow read it wrong the first time.
Andrew – must cancel dinner on Saturday. Must cancel everything. Life got complicated. Sorry. I will still make the cake for the centennial.
He’d driven across town the moment school let out to talk to her about it. But then he’d only gotten as far as the parking lot on Town Square. He wasn’t sure he had the nerve to walk into Tea for Two.
And he didn’t know if he should anyway.
Something had gone on between Sandy and Jerry, something that made Sandy rush to Caden’s junior college. But the cryptic note didn’t explain why she was pulling away from him.
The message was so simple, he couldn’t figure out any context from it. Did this mean Jerry had changed her heart? Were they going to see each other now? Raise Caden together? Celebrate his football career?
Or was she in some sort of trouble again? Had Jerry Lavinski derailed her life again, eighteen years later?
Andrew had let her go before and regretted it. There was no way he was going to do it again, not with this second chance they’d been given.
He would fight for her.
With this new surge of certainty, Andrew got out of his car and walked swiftly down the street to Betty’s tea shop.
The bell jingled as he entered. There were no customers in the shop, and Sandy’s table was empty. In fact, it was shoved in the corner, and the padded chair she had been using was no longer in the main room at all. It looked as though Betty no longer intended to have Sandy decorate out there.
What did that mean? Did Sandy quit her job? Was she moving somewhere?
His heart thudded. Had Jerry stolen her away from him again?
“I figured you’d be darkening my door,” Betty said from her stool behind the counter. “Can I get you some Applebottom tea?”
Andrew nodded as he headed toward the counter.
Betty slid off the seat and moved to the hot water spigot with pained slowness. Clementine was with her today, curled up on a little miniature throne beneath the sink.
“Is everything okay?” Andrew asked. He really wanted to ask about Sandy, but propriety forced him to give it a minute.
“Depends on what you call okay.” She filled a cup with hot water and opened the canister marked with her special tea blend.
Andrew glanced at the door to the back. He strained his ears, but he heard nothing.
“She’s here, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Betty said. “But I can’t let you back there. She’s asked to be left to her work.”
“Am I allowed to even know what happened?”
Betty passed him the steaming mug. “I reckon if she wants to talk about it, she’ll do it herself.”
“But she still works here? She’s not moving away?”
“She still works here, son,” Betty said, her expression softening. “You bide your time. Sometimes life has its complications, but they have their way of working themselves out.”
He couldn’t help but ask. “Does she seem okay, though?”
“She’s fine. We’ll take good care of her.”
Andrew looked down at the insulated to-go cup she had passed him. Normally he got a ceramic mug that meant sit and talk a while. Clearly, this one meant he needed to leave.
He pulled his wallet out to pay for the tea, but Betty waved him away. “On the house, of course.”
“Thank you.” He turned for the door. “Will you tell her I came to see her?”
“I’m sure she knows,” Betty said. “The shop isn’t that big.”
Andrew headed out onto the sidewalk. A gust of wind sent leaves skittering across the sidewalk and brought on a sudden chill.
He kept his head down. How quickly optimism could be chased away, just like the warm sunny days of summer giving way to fall.
He would do what Betty suggested. Ride it out. Give her a little space.
Applebottom was a small town. If anything happened that meant Sandy was lost to him forever, he would know it soon enough.
When Andrew was gone, Sandy leaned against the doorframe between the back room and the tea shop. Betty had settled back on her stool.
“How was he?” Sandy asked.
“He looked a little dejected, as you might expect.”
Betty adjusted herself on her seat. Clementine lifted her head from her little bed and cast a bleary glance at the two of them, and set it down again.
“For the record, I think you’re making a mistake,” Betty said. “I don’t know what happened between you and that character who caused you so much grief. But Andrew is a good man, so make sure you treat him that way.”
A lump formed in Sandy’s throat. “Things are just too complicated right now to date somebody. I have to think of Caden.”
“Caden is a young adult now,” Betty said. “It’s high time that you started thinking about your life. What you want.”
Sandy turned back to Fierce’s sweet sixteen cake, which was slowly coming together. She’d spaced out the hard frosting pieces and practiced attaching them to a sample cake. She would be delivering this one on Friday. She sort of looked forward to that. Black decorations, doom, gloom. It sounded like the perfect backdrop to her life as she was living it right now.
Chapter 16
Andrew sat in the conference room at the high school as nervous as he’d ever been. The centennial celebration committee would be meeting, and he wasn’t sure if Sandy would show or not.
This time, it would not just be the two of them. The school secretary had taken his notes on the history of Applebottom and run with them, recruiting several people from town to host various booths that would be set up in the school cafeteria. The citizens of Applebottom would get a sample of all the things that had made their town unique as it celebrated the school’s one hundredth anniversary.
Clearly, he was just a figurehead, and the meetings had been to put him with Sandy. The real work of the centennial was being done by Sadie.
Fine by him.
Within minutes of his arrival, Gertrude and Maude showed up with samples of the pie they were going to provide at their booth.
They were quickly followed by Janine, who owned the town’s nail salon and spa. She had put together little packets of her signature Applebottom hand cream to give out at the celebration.
Topher and Danny arrived next with the drawings of the bouquets and a large topiary arch they would be constructing around the entrance, using plants and cuttings from the native trees in the area.
Even the town mayor, T-bone, had showed up in his usual black leather motorcycle vest complete with patches, a long grizzly beard, and heavy boots. He would be giving a speech.
They were all happily munching on miniature pies when the band director rushed in, plucking at his navy blazer and apologizing for being late.
“I have the marching band practicing a couple extra songs from the era,” he said. “Is the plan for us to march in during the middle of the festivities? Or do you want us to lead everyone in at the start?”
Gertrude brushed her hands free of crumbs and said, “I think it will be fine for them to come in partway through. It would be a grand entrance and get everyone’s attention just in time for T-bone to speak.”
Andrew nodded. They were pretty much running the meeting without him. It was just as well, since his mind couldn’t focus on anything but Sandy. They were twenty minutes in, and their cake decorator had not shown up.
Maude passed a tray of pies down to the band director. “It’s my understanding tha
t someone will be rolling out the cake,” she said. “And that it needs an explanation because it is so elaborate.”
The committee turned to him. “Right,” he said. “Sandy really wasn’t up for getting up to talk about the cake, but I was going to explain it from the historical standpoint.”
“Very good,” Maude said. “So it sounds like we’ll open the door to vendors around six, and then maybe around six forty-five the band will come in. At 7 o’clock, the mayor will speak. Then roll out the cake. You will talk a little bit about the significance. Then everyone will eat cake and it’s over.”
“Sounds good to me,” Andrew said.
“Has anyone seen this cake of hers?” Gertrude asked with a bite in her voice. “I still think a pie is more important than a cake for a town named after a pie.”
“Hush,” Maude said. “Nobody cares. You can’t put the history of the town on a pie.”
Andrew shifted in his chair. “I’ve seen the sketches,” he said. “It will be amazing.”
“Good enough,” Maude said, shushing Gertrude.
After that, the meeting devolved into chatter. Andrew sat at the head of the table, feeling removed from it all.
Eventually, a voice cut through the noise to capture his attention. “Where is Sandy, anyway?” Danny asked.
“I’m not sure that girl is as devoted to Applebottom as she ought to be,” Janine said.
Andrew tried not to bristle at the accusation. He wanted to say, And why should she be, after the way all of you treated her years ago? But he didn’t.
Janine still wore her pink smock from her work at the spa. Seeing a smear of cooled wax marring her sleeve gave him a small sense of justice as she and Gertrude nodded knowingly.
Maude pushed the tray of pies at Janine. “Might be best if you filled that mouth with something sweet.”
Andrew coughed over his laugh. These people definitely had their quirks. If he had to pick, though, Maude would be his favorite. She’d saved Applebottom Pie Shoppe from closing by buying out half, and kept the curmudgeonly Gertrude in line. The two of them could not have been any more devoted to Applebottom, even if they were as different as peas and turnips—a favorite expression of Maude’s.
He sat back in his chair. No sense drawing this meeting out until it became pure gossip. “Sounds like it’s all under control. I’ll make sure the cafeteria is unlocked so everyone can set up. Meeting adjourned.”
Everyone took one last pie from Maude’s tray and filed out. Andrew waited for all of them to leave before picking up his folder and shouldering his bag. The room was quiet, the halls going still again.
He glanced at the chair where Sandy had sat the first time and wondered how he could get them back to where they had been.
Maybe it wasn’t possible.
Chapter 17
As Sandy chugged along the highway to the obscure little football stadium where Caden would be playing his second college football game, she practiced all the things she might say to Jerry Lavinski when she saw him again.
He wouldn’t be taking her by surprise this time. She would say all the things that she wished she’d said in the eighteen years she’d raised their son alone.
As the miles passed by, Sandy wished she had Andrew with her. Even though this drive was only two hours compared to the four she spent with him going to Columbia, it seemed to pass much more slowly.
She’d botched that, she knew. But while this problem raged with Jerry, she couldn’t subject a new relationship to it. Besides, she was just as aware as everyone else about what it looked like, to once again ditch Andrew for something Jerry had done. Why did her history have to keep repeating itself?
After what felt like three days, she pulled up to the football stadium. She was ridiculously early, because she wanted to take no chance that Jerry might show up and try to bully his way into the field house before the game.
She wished she had followed him outside a few days ago to see what sort of car he drove. No doubt it would be fancy. His family came from a long line of car dealers. Maybe that was why they were so good at convincing people to do things they shouldn’t. They treated every part of their lives like a sale that needed to be closed.
Only fifty or so cars sat in the lot at this point. The team itself had arrived on buses. The idea that Caden still occasionally rode a little yellow school bus made her smile. Poor college. They didn’t even have enough money to upgrade the transportation for the team.
But they were doing the important part — covering her son’s tuition.
She took a few minutes to wander the parking lot, looking at each vehicle. She seemed to remember from back in the day that Jerry’s family always had decals announcing their dealership on their cars. They missed no opportunity to advertise. A quick walk in the crisp, cool air assured her that unless something had changed, Jerry’s car was not there yet.
Good. He couldn’t do anything unexpected without her being there to mitigate his actions.
Another bus arrived, this one holding the cheerleaders. Then the band. The early spectators started to arrive, and the ticket booth window opened. Sandy kept her eye on the field house as she paid her admission and entered the stadium. It seemed unlikely any coach would let a random father, much less a father unwanted by a player, to infiltrate the pregame meeting while they were suiting up.
She settled on a low bench on the visitors’ side, almost completely alone, as workers organized the sideline equipment.
The weather was beautiful for football. Cool but not cold. The late afternoon sun warmed Sandy’s face. From beneath the stands, popcorn began popping, and the smell made her stomach grumble. Since the team had not even taken the field for warm-up yet, she hurried down to the concession stand and bought some hot chocolate and popcorn. When she returned, a few other fans were sprinkled throughout the seats, waiting for the players to emerge.
A friendly couple maybe ten years older than her walked across the stands, holding hands. Once again, Sandy regretted not having Andrew with her. He would’ve been totally happy to show up and see the football game rather than have dinner in Branson. He just wanted to do something with her.
She really had messed up. But what could she have done differently? For all she knew, Jerry and his entire family were about to show up and make a big spectacle in the stands. No, this was something she had to do alone. She needed to see the whole problem through, and then maybe she could rethink her plan. Maybe she didn’t have to leave Applebottom.
The home side had considerably more spectators arrive early, and they all stood to cheer as their team ran out on the field for the warm up.
The couple she’d spotted clapped politely for the opposing team. Sandy tried to set aside her anxiety about Jerry and enjoy the moment.
Sitting low in the stands was new. For Caden’s four years in football, she had climbed to the top corners, keeping to herself. But here, no one around her knew her history. They wouldn’t look down on her or whisper about how she’d gotten pregnant as a sophomore in high school.
She sat up a little straighter. She didn’t need to leave Applebottom to start over. Her fresh start was right here. With her son.
Caden’s team ran onto the field, and Sandy jumped to her feet with an exuberance she’d never felt brave enough to show in her hometown.
She shouted. She clapped. She might have screamed a little. A handful of students from the college rushed into the stands, all decked in Fisher Junior College green and gold. They sat near her, adding to the noise. Sandy wanted to laugh out loud. This was fun.
The tiny band clunked up the metal steps to fill in the space to her right. The cheerleaders ran out onto the track in front of the stands. Sandy felt exuberant. She could almost have been one of the students. She unbuttoned her coat to show off the T-shirt Caden had given her.
As the team began their stretches and the general furor died down, the older couple scooted closer to her. “You look like a football mom,” the woman said. She exte
nded a hand. “I’m Shannon. This is Bill. Our son Tanner plays for Fisher. Does yours?”
Sandy actually felt her eyes prick with pride as she said, “Yes. My son is Caden Miller. He’s just a freshman.”
Bill leaned forward, adjusting the brim of his green and gold ball cap. “He’s the fella that had that viral video from the last game, isn’t he?”
Sandy nodded. “He called me about it that night. Pretty crazy recovery.”
“I’ll say,” Shannon said. “I think he’s going to advance pretty fast. If Fisher isn’t careful, some four-year college will snatch him up.”
“You think so?” Sandy hadn’t considered that Jerry could be right. Maybe Caden was better than she realized.
“It happens all the time,” Shannon said. “Tanner says half the team is trying to make big plays to get noticed.”
“I was just pleased that he got his tuition paid,” Sandy said.
“It’s definitely a perk,” Shannon said. “These boys always want to go pro. But that’s like lightning in a bottle.”
The band struck up a number, playing so loud that it made conversation impossible. Contentment washed over Sandy as she watched Caden zigzag with sprints across the field. He’d found a place where he belonged. Where he had potential. And where he could be seen. If more came of it, that was great. If not, he would still get the degree, and a head start on his future.
This was all she could really ask for in life. To have a child and watch him succeed.
Although, a little tickle in her belly said that there was more. There was family. There was connection.
And, possibly, there could be love.
She ate popcorn and chatted with Bill and Shannon between band numbers, until the players left the field again in preparation for kickoff.
Sandy watched warily for Jerry and possibly his entourage, but so far, nothing. She had no idea where he lived now. Had he taken a flight to see Caden earlier this week?