Pumpkin Spice ⭐

2 - Opening Day

It was a week later, and I was arriving at the pumpkin patch and gift shop for opening day.

This was left to John and me by our parents when they passed away. It had been in the family since mom and dad had been married. It was given to them by the old couple that owned it before. My parents had been going since they were teenagers. My father proposed to my mother there, they got married there, and my mother told my father she was pregnant with me there. It held a lot of special meaning to my family. I mean the main reason I was named Autumn, my parents loved the season.

The wasn't just a pumpkin patch, we had some land with apple trees, so people picked some apples, we had a gift shop with homemade baked goods cooked on sight using the apples and pumpkins from the orchard, small little knick knacks and just a whole bunch of little things.

I cared for this place so much more than John did, but he wouldn't give me his half and just let me run it. Now with Olivia gone maybe he would because she was the only one out of the two of them who cared.

I parked my car and before I could get out Garrett was at my door opening it for me super excited.

"It's opening day!" He exclaimed. I smiled and hugged him when I got out of the car.

"I know! I'm so excited!" I said matching his excitement.

"Dad isn't..." Garrett then said getting slightly upset. I just shook my head slightly.

"Where is he?" I asked.

"In the shop, he said he is staying there all day." Garrett said.

"Okay well how about you go check on Bellatrix." I said and Garrett got excited running towards the barn. Bellatrix was a black cat we had since she was a kitten and wandered into the barn for warmth and shelter 2 falls ago. We took care of her, and she became the pumpkin patch cat. Bellatrix got her name from yes, you guessed it, Harry Potter, Garrett was a huge fan, Olivia and I read it to him and once the cat showed up and she was a female, that was the name he chose. She likes staying at the barn all year round and would be here to greet the people come fall and Christmas when we also sold Christmas trees from the back lot and had a small Christmas festival. Something new John talked my parents into 6 years ago when they gave him some free reign.

I watched Garrett run off towards the barn and I smiled, which soon faded when I walked into the gift shop and saw John standing there with a grimace.

"You're late."

"Excuse me?" I asked.

"We said we would be here at 8am. It's 8:10."

"Oh for fucks sake, call the press and informed them of the injustice. If you must know, I was outside talking to Garrett." I said and John sighed and then hung his head.

"I didn't think about how hard it would be to open this place up this season without her." John said and I sighed looking at the picture on the wall behind the register. It was Olivia, John, Garrett and me. I sighed and walked over to John.

"Hey, we got this. I promise you we will keep her memory alive here." I said and John grunted.

"I'm going to move around some of the pumpkins outside. You know how to open everything?" John asked and I groaned.

"Only been working here since I was a kid..." I trailed off as John walked out slamming the door.

"Is it safe to bring everything out?" I heard a voice say and I laughed as Agatha, our resident baker came out of the back carrying 2 trays full of fresh baked goods. I took a tray from her.

"Yeah, John is just being John." I said and she sighed. We started setting up the displays.

"Sweetie, you need to see if can buy him out of his shares and just run this place yourself." Agatha said and I sighed shaking my head.

"I don't have the money or collateral. This is all on John and me, that's what mom and dad wanted." I replied, Agatha shook her head.

"No sweetie, your mom and dad wanted the place to be the happy place it used to be. When you're the face of the business everything and everyone is happy. When gloomy Gus is around, no one is happy." Agatha said and I shrugged.

"I don't know..." I said and looking out the window to see John hastily moving some of the displays. "I'll figure something out." I said and she smiled. She gave me a hug once we finished putting the pumpkin bread she had baked and wrapped on the display table. She then handed me a piece.

"Breakfast." Agatha said and I laughed.

"Thank you." I said and snuck another one.

"Garrett." I said and she smiled.

"Send him in to help me later. I can always use his expert cookie decorating skills." Agatha said and walked back to the kitchen. I walked outside and looked at John. I broke my slice of pumpkin bread in half.

"Eat and stop being grouchy." I said as I walked away. I walked into the barn, and I heard Garrett talking in the hayloft.

"Mom won't be here this year Bellatrix, she is missing...I know she is gone and not coming back though. She loved you and me so much she would want us to be strong for dad and Aunt Auta. Bellatrix, do you think my mom hears me when I talk to her at night?" Garratt asked. My heart broke as I climbed the ladder to the hayloft. When Bellatrix sensed me, she perked up and I smiled.

"Hey you two." I said and worked my way over to where they were sitting. I handed Garrett the pumpkin bread. "Gift from Agatha, who also asked for your expert cookie decorating skills later." I added and he smiled. I placed an arm around him after I handed him his pumpkin bread.

"Hey, I heard what you asked Bellatrix. You know your mom listens to you and she will always listen. But just know I'm here too. I know it may be hard for your dad or even me sometimes, but we all loved your mom, and we all miss her. We can help each other okay?" I asked and he nodded. I kissed the side of his head. I then looked at my watch.

"Time to get ready to open for the season." I said and started to the ladder.

"I'm coming too!" Garratt said and we both left the barn together. Time to start the best season of the year.