The Cottage on Pumpkin and Vine Read Free Page B

before clearing away the dishes.
    â€œI’ve already had two.”
    â€œYou’d be doing me a favor, no leftovers.”
    â€œOne of your guests might enjoy it.”
    â€œThey ate earlier and are all away for the day.” She placed the lobster roll onto his plate. “Some planned to shop while others were headed to the World’s Biggest Pumpkin Patch, south of town.”
    â€œQuite an attraction,” Grace agreed. “Customers walk the acreage, hunting for the perfect pumpkin.”
    â€œI was there last week,” mentioned Cade. “With my niece. It took Sara over an hour to make her selections. A big one for the family porch and a smaller one for her teacher’s desk at school.”
    â€œI’ve met Sara,” Amelia commented. “What is she now, six or seven?”
    â€œSix,” he confirmed.
    â€œDid you carve the pumpkins?” Grace was curious.
    â€œI did the eyes and noses and Sara did the goofy smiles.”
    â€œGoofy?” from Grace.
    â€œI wouldn’t let her hold the knife by herself—too sharp,” he explained. “We carved with my hand over hers, which got her laughing. Her fingers shook with each tooth. One side of the big pumpkin’s mouth was higher than the other. Almost reached an ear.”
    â€œSounds perfect to me,” said Amelia as she warmed the apple dumplings in the oven. “A pumpkin with personality.”
    â€œLots of character,” he agreed.
    â€œWhipped or ice cream on your dumplings?” she asked them, once the crust browned and the filling bubbled. She sprinkled additional cinnamon sugar on top.
    Grace and Cade responded as one, “Ice cream.”
    Cade leaned his elbows on the table, cut her a curious look. “I didn’t think we had a thing in common.”
    She gave him a repressive look. “Ice cream doesn’t make us friends.”
    Amelia scooped vanilla bean into the bowls with the dumplings. Her smile was small, secret, when she served their dessert, and she commented, “Friendships are born of likes and dislikes. Ice cream is binding.”
    Not as far as Grace was concerned.
    Cade dug in to his dessert.
    Amelia kept the conversation going. “I bet you’re more alike than you realize.”
    Why would that matter? Grace thought. She had no interest in this man.
    A simultaneous “doubtful” surprised them both.
    Amelia kept after them, Grace noted, pointing out, “You were both born, grew up, and never left Moonbright.”
    â€œIt’s a great town,” Cade said. “Family and friends are here.”
    â€œ You’re here,” Grace emphasized.
    Amelia patted her arm. “I’m very glad you’ve stayed. Cade, too. You’re equally civic-minded.”
    Grace blinked. We are?
    â€œThe city council initiated Beautify Moonbright this spring, and you both volunteered.”
    We did? Grace was surprised.
    Cade scratched his stubbled chin, said, “Mondays, I transport trees and mulch from Wholesale Gardens to grassy medians between roadways. Flower beds were planted along the nature trails in the public park.”
    Grace hadn’t realized he was part of the community effort. “I help with the planting. Most Wednesdays.”
    Amelia was thoughtful. “You’re both active at the senior center.”
    Cade acknowledged, “I’ve thrown evening horseshoes against the Benson brothers. Lost. Turned around and beat them at cards.”
    â€œI’ve never seen you there,” Grace puzzled. “I stop by in the afternoons, drop off large-print library books and set up audio cassettes for those unable to read because of poor eyesight.”
    â€œThere’s also Build a Future,” Amelia went on to say. “Cade recently hauled scaffolding and worked on the roof at the latest home for single parents. Grace painted the bedrooms in record time.”
    â€œThe Sutter house,” they said