goes to putting on the whole affair, though no one can say that the Farrells don’t contribute a significant amount of money and time as well. As well as their property.
It’s evolved as I’ve grown. When I was a kid, it was wilder and freer, and now it is nearly a city that pops up overnight. Local vendors and craftsmen. Specialty food booths outside the buffet. Carnival games. Elgin usually makes back what they spend and more on the night.
The Farrell’s farm is a mum farm. The hundreds of gorgeous flowers are raised in pots and completely sold out by the end of October. So not only is the field empty, it’s flat, and little work has to be put into it. Plus, no one cares if there are a few broken bottles or if someone’s car gets stuck in the mud. There is always plenty of time to get that sorted before the new planting season comes around.
The grounds are surrounded by woods on all sides. In the summertime, they are lush with berries and animals, but in the winter, though they are bare, they are still thick enough to get lost in. I’ve gotten lost in those woods once with a girl.
I try to fend off the memory, but it comes on me anyway. Breathless and hot, the two of us panting under the stars and the flashing colors of exploding light over our heads. I thought we had a chance at forever, but she only wanted a fling before she left for college.
She used me well—that night is still bright and perfect in my mind—but she didn’t speak to me again for the rest of our senior year. Or ever. She left Elgin and never came back. Moved to Chicago and married a fancy lawyer. Somebody I could never compete with. I don’t like to remember Carley, but everyone made sure I knew that she’d married that lawyer. I’m not sure why. Maybe it was just that classic Elgin gossip, but I heard the story from damned near everyone.
I turn off the country lane and head toward the highway to continue my errands for the day, running through why Red would pull this right now and forcing thoughts of Carley Farrell out of my head.
I haven’t been back to the Farrell Fireworks since that night. Not that it matters all that much. The Farrell’s property is right next to mine. I can sit on my porch and watch the fireworks—which I do—every year without having to wade into the carnival and relive memories I’d rather forget.
Another reason Red’s request is a little ridiculous. Picking him up to go to the fireworks is a big trip out of my way. Not that I mind, but the ride clearly isn’t his goal. It’s not exactly a secret that Red’s been trying to marry his granddaughter off to various men around town. And it isn’t the first time I’ve been conveniently arranged with daughters and granddaughters.
Everyone in Elgin hates that I’m not married. Comes with the territory of living in a small town. Everyone is up in your business, especially when you don’t want them to be. But nevertheless, I like Red, so I’ll indulge his request. Even if his hope of me sweeping his granddaughter off her feet is close to zero.
I turn off the highway toward Helenwood and head toward the general store. I need a few things, and I have a delivery to Mr. Doubleday just down the road. It will be good to see how he was doing.
The goal is speed. Efficiency. Get in and out of the store quickly so I can make the delivery and get home. But true to Elgin fashion, there’s no such thing as a short trip to the general store. I’m picking up some chicken out of the freezer when Big Sal waves me down. “Haven’t seen you around much, Casey. How you been?”
“Good, Sal, busy. You?”
“Good, good. Got some new equipment coming in that I’m excited to try out. But I wanted to know if you heard about the Farrells?”
I raise my eyebrows. Seems like my neighbors are the talk of the town today. “No, what about them. Everything all right?”
Sal grins. “Yeah. I just figured you might know seeing as you live so close. But Carley is back in town. And she’s alone.”
“What?” I swear my heart stutters. I don’t need to pay attention to what was happening in Carley Farrell’s life. It doesn’t matter. But she is