interest the boys in a farmers market,” Mary said, testing a tomato.
“Did you call each other this morning to see what the other was wearing?” Natalie’s mother caught up to them on the boardwalk. “You look like the Bobbsey twins.” She straightened her colorful gypsy broom skirt and adjusted the wide-brimmed straw hat on her head.
Mary smiled and motioned at the crowd in front of them. “It’s Bayside’s uniform, see?”
They all laughed when they caught sight of at least a third of the crowd wearing cutoff jeans and sleeveless blouses. The only difference in some was in the name brands. Some people paid more for casual.
“Nat? Are we looking for anything in particular or are we just browsing?” Her mother pointed to the left side of the market. “I want to check out the candles and that interesting looking crystal booth over there. Either come find me or I’ll find you. The place isn’t that big.”
Natalie watched her leave, her colorful clothes blowing behind her. “God, I love my mother.”
“Who wouldn’t? She’s a wonderful character. How long is she staying?”
“Dad called last night, says he’s falling apart without her. So I’m not sure.”
“Is he really?”
“No. My father’s perfectly able to take care of himself. He just misses her something fierce when she’s away. He gets bored.”
“I can see how life with your mother could be far from boring.”
“Mmmm.” Natalie’s attention was drawn to a large section in the far corner. She could see various yard sculptures, colorful plants and benches, and hear the sound of wind chimes in the slight breeze. She felt herself drawn to the display.
When she got closer, she could also hear splashing water. The sound hitched in her stomach, reminding her of the dream of Sarah and the fountain.
“Can I help you?”
Natalie let her eyes follow the sound of the voice. “Um…” Natalie felt a sexual tug when Van approached her. She tried clearing her throat. “Um…” She felt stupidly tongue-tied.
Mary came to her rescue. “Hi, my friend just moved here and I was showing her around. Is this a new business? I don’t recall seeing it here before.” She held her hand out to her. “I’m Mary, and this is my friend Natalie.”
“I’m Van. It’s nice to meet you, Mary. Natalie and I have met, and yes, this is my first year here at Bayside Farmers Market. I started a landscaping design business out of my father’s nursery not too long ago. This is my attempt to snare business for the rest of the year.” Van took a step closer to Natalie and took her hand. “How are you?”
Natalie wanted to sigh but smiled instead. At least, she hoped it was a winning smile; her face felt a little numb. Mary interrupted. “Can we look around? You have some beautiful art here.”
Van let go of Natalie’s hand slowly and smiled. “Of course. Yell if you need something.”
Natalie let Mary lead her over to the fountain structure. She could feel an itch between her shoulder blades. Sure enough, when she glanced back, Van’s eyes were glued to her. She flushed with an unfamiliar heat between her thighs. She tried to concentrate on what Mary was saying. She nodded at what she hoped were appropriate places, but her gaze kept tracking back to where Van was standing.
“Hey!” Mary slapped Natalie’s bare arm. “You haven’t heard a word I’ve said.”
“Ouch. I have too, smarty.”
“What was I talking about?” Mary stuck a hand on her hip.
“Um…you know…about…stuff!”
“Stuff?” Mary chuckled and then narrowed her eyes in mock annoyance. “You have no clue, do you?”
Natalie gave up the pretense and shrugged. “Not a one. Have you looked at her?” She fanned her face with her hand. “No, don’t look. She’s watching.”
“Who are you talking about?” Mary turned around in confusion. “She who?”
Natalie shot her a look and then panicked. “Oh God, don’t look now. Here she comes. What do I
“Did you call each other this morning to see what the other was wearing?” Natalie’s mother caught up to them on the boardwalk. “You look like the Bobbsey twins.” She straightened her colorful gypsy broom skirt and adjusted the wide-brimmed straw hat on her head.
Mary smiled and motioned at the crowd in front of them. “It’s Bayside’s uniform, see?”
They all laughed when they caught sight of at least a third of the crowd wearing cutoff jeans and sleeveless blouses. The only difference in some was in the name brands. Some people paid more for casual.
“Nat? Are we looking for anything in particular or are we just browsing?” Her mother pointed to the left side of the market. “I want to check out the candles and that interesting looking crystal booth over there. Either come find me or I’ll find you. The place isn’t that big.”
Natalie watched her leave, her colorful clothes blowing behind her. “God, I love my mother.”
“Who wouldn’t? She’s a wonderful character. How long is she staying?”
“Dad called last night, says he’s falling apart without her. So I’m not sure.”
“Is he really?”
“No. My father’s perfectly able to take care of himself. He just misses her something fierce when she’s away. He gets bored.”
“I can see how life with your mother could be far from boring.”
“Mmmm.” Natalie’s attention was drawn to a large section in the far corner. She could see various yard sculptures, colorful plants and benches, and hear the sound of wind chimes in the slight breeze. She felt herself drawn to the display.
When she got closer, she could also hear splashing water. The sound hitched in her stomach, reminding her of the dream of Sarah and the fountain.
“Can I help you?”
Natalie let her eyes follow the sound of the voice. “Um…” Natalie felt a sexual tug when Van approached her. She tried clearing her throat. “Um…” She felt stupidly tongue-tied.
Mary came to her rescue. “Hi, my friend just moved here and I was showing her around. Is this a new business? I don’t recall seeing it here before.” She held her hand out to her. “I’m Mary, and this is my friend Natalie.”
“I’m Van. It’s nice to meet you, Mary. Natalie and I have met, and yes, this is my first year here at Bayside Farmers Market. I started a landscaping design business out of my father’s nursery not too long ago. This is my attempt to snare business for the rest of the year.” Van took a step closer to Natalie and took her hand. “How are you?”
Natalie wanted to sigh but smiled instead. At least, she hoped it was a winning smile; her face felt a little numb. Mary interrupted. “Can we look around? You have some beautiful art here.”
Van let go of Natalie’s hand slowly and smiled. “Of course. Yell if you need something.”
Natalie let Mary lead her over to the fountain structure. She could feel an itch between her shoulder blades. Sure enough, when she glanced back, Van’s eyes were glued to her. She flushed with an unfamiliar heat between her thighs. She tried to concentrate on what Mary was saying. She nodded at what she hoped were appropriate places, but her gaze kept tracking back to where Van was standing.
“Hey!” Mary slapped Natalie’s bare arm. “You haven’t heard a word I’ve said.”
“Ouch. I have too, smarty.”
“What was I talking about?” Mary stuck a hand on her hip.
“Um…you know…about…stuff!”
“Stuff?” Mary chuckled and then narrowed her eyes in mock annoyance. “You have no clue, do you?”
Natalie gave up the pretense and shrugged. “Not a one. Have you looked at her?” She fanned her face with her hand. “No, don’t look. She’s watching.”
“Who are you talking about?” Mary turned around in confusion. “She who?”
Natalie shot her a look and then panicked. “Oh God, don’t look now. Here she comes. What do I
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