CHAPTER TWO

NATALIE

Letting out a content sigh, I survey the festival and grin widely. It’s such a perfect day! The weather is warm enough that the sweater I have in my car is unnecessary and I even need to push up the sleeves of my long-sleeved orange shirt. And all around me, yummy scents hang heavily in the air. It smells like fall, my absolute favorite time of the year.

The colors, the smells, just the overall feeling. I adore it.

Even better, I got a fat stack of cash in my wallet and I’m ready to do some serious shopping. I just moved into my house two weeks ago and I need decorations. Considering I’m getting such a late start, I might keep them up until Thanksgiving, maybe even until December.

And why not? It’s my own place and I can do whatever I want. For once.

A small happy squeak escapes me.

Guiltily, I glance around, hoping nobody heard that or has noticed the joyous full-body shimmy that I’ve been doing.

Thankfully, it seems everyone is too caught up in their own excitement and shopping to pay any attention to a little weirdo like me.

Because let’s face it, these events are the perfect place to be yourself and embrace your inner weirdo or let your everyday freak flag fly. My attire and even the leftover glitter in my blonde pigtails are tame here.

“Oh yeah, let’s get shopping,” I say to nobody in particular and join the steady throng of people working their way down the first row lined on both sides with vendors selling a bit of everything.

I’ve barely made it past the fifth stall when I have to stop for some apple cider and a donut. Then I run into an old coworker, Jackie. She’s never seen me outside of work before and I can tell by the way her eyes go over my short black skirt, orange and black stripped thigh-high stockings, chunky black combat boots, and orange shirt with the words boo ya in black glitter that she’s a bit surprised.

“Hey Nat!” she says, throwing her arms wide for a hug.

We weren’t super close when we worked together, so the hug surprises me. Still, I roll with it, smile, and wrap my arms around her when she squeezes me tight.

I don’t have a ton of friends, so it’s nice to have a bit of girl time.

“Jackie, how have you been?”

Laughing, she gestures behind her where I see a short, thin man holding the hands of twin girls that look like miniature Jackies. “Busy, like always.”

I don’t remember her husband's or daughters’ names, so I smile awkwardly and wave at them. “How old are the girls now?”

“Four and a complete handful! I’d say enjoy your twenties and have kids in your thirties, but I’m wishing I had the energy I had in my twenties.” She laughs, her brown eyes bouncing around almost manically.

Since I’m single and have no kid plans anytime soon, I nod and try to keep the forced grin from slipping off my face.

And it’s hard because for the next five minutes Jackie rambles about kids, how expensive daycare is, and the horrors of scented laundry detergent. I’m not quite sure how that ties into things, but sheer willpower keeps me smiling while I slowly start edging away.

“Wow, it was great catching up, Jackie. Don’t let me keep you any longer. I know you’re busy.” I quickly give her and her family a friendly wave and set off in the opposite direction. I’ll revisit this row last before I go.

Jackie and I worked together at a pet store doing dog grooming over a year ago, and while we weren’t best buddies by any stretch, we did chat a bit during our shifts together. I don’t remember her being quite so vocal about certain things. Or maybe I’ve simply forgotten about that in the excitement of my new life?

I finished my courses and got hired at Simon’s Animal Hospital nine months ago. It’s been a dream come true. Growing up, my parents would joke I’d either end up a farmer with a barn full of animals or a veterinarian. A vet tech isn’t too far of a stretch from that.

And with my new salary and savings, I was able to buy a cozy little three bedroom, one and a half bath rancher. Is it my dream house? Nope. But it’s a house and better than paying rent to my landlord that took his sweet time fixing anything but could certainly cash those rent checks fast.

Finally, with no more classes and my job and house squared away, I can start enjoying life. Going to festivals, making more friends, maybe even dating again. It’s been over a year since my ex and I broke up and I think I’m ready to give a relationship a chance again.

This time I won’t be drawn in by looks.

Well, okay, I probably will. If you’re not attracted to someone, how can a relationship work? It needs that spark.

It also needs some common ground, similar life goals, and having the same core beliefs would certainly make life easier.

My ex and I had none of those, which is why we only lasted five months. In reality, we should never have dated at all.

I shrug and pick up a crocheted black cat. It’s adorable.

And for twenty dollars it goes into my bag along with the smiling painted gourd I already purchased.

Yes, I can find a nice, down-to-earth guy, one that enjoys walks in the park, movie nights at home, vacations to the beach. Basically one that wants to spend time with me outside of the bedroom as well as in.

Kids aren’t on the horizon yet for me. I’m only twenty-four! Yet I think I might want to have one. Maybe two. Despite what Jackie said, thirty can’t be too old to start having them. Besides, I want some alone time first with this mythical amazing guy that I haven’t started dated yet before we bring kids into things.

Continuing to browse down the row of vendors, I glance around at the crowd and smile. It’s doubtful I’ll find him here. Looks to be all couples or single girls like me.