Chapter 35

Ashley

I felt a little guilty for dragging Jasper out at the crack of dawn, but it was necessary. This would be a good memory for him. I remembered going to the farmer’s market with my dad on many occasions. It was our time together, which was important to me. Being the youngest of four siblings in a single-parent household often left me feeling like I did not get enough of attention. I was the only one who wanted to get up early in the summer to go with dad, and I was secretly glad of that fact. It was my one chance to be alone with him.

The truck was loaded with beans and tomatoes and a variety of herbs. Dad said he wanted to come down later but wasn’t quite ready to head down that early in the morning. I understood and encouraged him to sleep in.

The headlights shone on the corn as we drove down the driveway. It wouldn’t be much longer before we would be selling the corn at the farmer’s market. These sales wouldn’t pay the mortgage, but it would give me a good idea about the market. Was it worth growing the crops? Was it worth spending the money to pay people to harvest the food?

My dad insisted it was, but I needed to see for myself. I looked in the back seat of the truck and smiled. Jasper had his favorite blanket tucked around him and was sleeping soundly. I’d told him it wasn’t cold out, but he had insisted on the blanket.

When we got to the market, I quickly filled out the necessary paperwork and pulled the truck around to my designated stall. I backed in to make unloading easier. Jasper opted to stay in the truck and stretched out on the back seat.

I got busy setting up the table and chatting with the other people setting up their own booths.

“You’re Tanner’s youngest daughter, aren’t you?” one elderly gentleman asked.

I smiled and nodded. “I am. And you are?”

“I’m Lester Smith. I knew your mama. Are you living back at home?”

I nodded. I hated when people said it like that, as if I couldn’t make it out on my own and had come running home for my daddy to support me. It was nothing like that, more like the opposite in fact, but I didn’t want to air my family’s dirty laundry. The gossips were already having a field day with the whole Jasper situation.

“I am. Helping Dad out and taking care of the marketing of the vegetables,” I said with a smile.

“Good, good. How’s he doing? I heard he has cancer. That’s a damn shame,” Lester muttered.

“It certainly is, but I think he is going to make a full recovery. We’ll know more real soon.”

“Tell him I said hello. Good luck on your selling, young lady. Those tomatoes look great,” he said before moving down the row.

As expected, the market started filling with buyers early. It was the normal habit. People wanted to get the first pick of what was available and showed up early in the hopes of beating the crowd. These shoppers inevitably became the crowd.

I kept a watchful eye on the truck, making sure Jasper was still inside. After about an hour of the town busybodies peppering me with questions about Jasper, Brock, and my dad’s health, I was running out of patience. It was none of their business, but that seemed to be lost on them.

After one particularly aggressive woman refused to take “no comment” for an answer, I took matters into my own hands. I grabbed the big, fat black marker and a piece of paper from the notebook I had brought along for Jasper to doodle in and made a sign.

“I’m just selling veggies, not gossip,” I wrote in it.

I taped it to the front of my stall, hoping to keep out the people who only wanted the latest bit of info about my family. It seemed to work. I still had plenty of buyers stopping by, and I had to admit, Dad was right.

“Hey.” Anna appeared in front of me. “How’s it going?”

She looked at my sign and chuckled.

“It’s been going pretty well. Dad has a solid reputation for good produce. I think that is helping sales a lot,” I said.

“And that?” She pointed to the sign.

I rolled my eyes. “That is because I am tired of people asking about my life and other things that really are none of their business.”

Jasper opened the truck door and climbed out.

“Have a nice nap?” I asked, ruffling his hair.

He yawned. “I’m hungry.”

“Well, you are in the right place for that. Come on, I’ll take you to get some good stuff,” Anna said, grabbing his hand.

“Hold on,” I said, reaching into my pocket and pulling out a ten. “Please don’t give him a lot of sugar. Go for the good stuff, like muffins, or some of that homemade cheese I saw someone selling.”

Anna giggled. “My job as an aunt is to get him jacked up on sugar and then bring him back to you.”

“Well, payback’s a bitch. Remember that.”

The two of them set off to walk around the market. I leaned back in my camp chair and relaxed. Then Brock appeared.

“Hi.”

“Hi,” I said a little awkwardly.

“Can I get a few tomatoes?”

“Of course. You can pick them out,” I said.

He did so, paid, and then left.

I felt a little stunned. I had never known Brock to visit the farmer’s market. In all the years we were together, he had never been interested in buying fresh produce. It was a little odd. I wondered if he was checking up on me.

I didn’t have to wonder long. He returned with Anna and Jasper.

“Mom, can I go to work with Dad and Aunt Anna?”

I looked at the two adults. Brock looked at me, trying to say something, but I wasn’t exactly sure what.

Anna leaned forward. “We can watch him for a couple hours. He can hang out at the office with me. I’m sure it will be more fun for him there. And cooler. This way you won’t have to keep an eye on him and can focus on making lots of money.” She winked.

“Oh yes, I’ll be out buying that Ferrari with my profits.”

Brock looked at me. “Probably best if he isn’t subjected to all the eyes, if you know what I mean?”

I nodded. I knew exactly what he meant. People had been looking and watching Jasper as if he were the eighth wonder of the world.

“Are you sure you can handle him?” I asked Anna.

“Yes, Ashley. Jasper is a good kid. Aren’t you, Jasper?”

“Okay. Thank you, guys,” I said. “Let me grab his booster seat. Jasper, be good.”

With Jasper out of sight of prying eyes, I could relax my guard a little. I had fun chatting with the various customers that stopped by and was pleasantly surprised to see the produce selling so fast. One lady said her friend had called her and told her to get her butt down to the farmer’s market because Parks farm was back. That made me practically glow. I was glad my dad’s reputation was enough to sell what I had brought along.

I promised everyone we would be back with corn and possibly more tomatoes in the coming weeks. I managed to sell out shortly after lunch. I wasn’t going to stick around any longer than necessary. I packed up and headed for Brock’s office.

“Hi!” I said to Jasper, who was sitting on the floor coloring a picture of what looked to be mountains.

“I printed it off the internet. Brock ran across the street and bought crayons, markers, and pencils.”

I cringed when she said markers and looked back at Jasper. As I expected, his fingers looked like rainbows.

Anna laughed. “Yeah, we figured out the markers weren’t the best idea.”

I chuckled. I had learned the hard way as well.

“Thank you for watching him.”

“You’re early. Is that good or bad?”

“Good. Very good. I sold everything and had many requests for more. I plan on going back with corn once it’s ready.”

“Dad will be very happy to hear that.”

“Is Brock in his office?” I asked.

She winked and nodded. “Yep.”

I headed into his office and found him on the phone. He held up a finger. I waited for him to finish his call.

“You’re back early. He’s okay. I hope you didn’t pack up and leave because you were worried we couldn’t handle him,” he said with frustration.

“No. I sold out.”

“Oh.”

I stared at him and then just blurted out what I had gone in there to say. “Fine. I’ll go on a date with you. Pick me up at seven.”

His mouth dropped open. I spun on my heel, walked out of his office, and told Jasper we were leaving. I grabbed his booster chair that was sitting in the corner and headed out with Jasper’s hand firmly in mine.

Anna waved good-bye as we walked out.

I buckled Jasper into his seat and headed for the farm. I couldn’t wait to tell my dad how successful the market had been. I knew he was worried it might have been a failure.

“Did you have fun?” I asked Jasper.

“Yep. Dad got me a cheeseburger and fries from the diner. Then I colored and Anna showed me some rocks on her computer,” he said.

I assumed he was referring to Anna surfing the internet.

When we pulled up in front of the house, Dad was sitting in his chair on the porch.

“There’s Grandpa!” Jasper exclaimed.

“Yes. I see him.”

I climbed out of the truck. Jasper had already bounded out and was up on the porch. I climbed the stairs behind him.

“You sold everything?” he asked with restrained excitement.

I smiled and nodded my head. “All of it. Once word got out that produce from your farm was at the market, it created quite a stir. People were flocking to the booth, Dad! You would have loved it. Lots of people asked me to pass along their hellos and well wishes, but I can’t remember any names now.”

“That’s great. I hope I’ll feel well enough to go next time.”

“You will. I know it,” I promised him.

“I’ll go with you, Grandpa,” Jasper assured him.

“Good. I couldn’t imagine doing it without you.”

“Dad, can you watch Jasper tonight?”

He looked up at me. “Do you have plans?”

I grinned. “I do.”

“With a certain young man?” He winked.

I fought back a giggle at Brock being called a young man. I guessed in my dad’s eyes Brock was young.

“Yes, Dad. So, will you?”

“Of course. Jasper and I will kick back and watch some television and maybe have some popcorn.”

“Okay. I’m going to go take a shower. I didn’t have time to get one this morning.”

After hurrying inside, I showered and then dug into my closet to try to find something to wear for my date tonight. Brock had only seen me in jeans or cutoffs. I wanted to show him I was a grown woman and not the youthful teenage girl he used to know. It was strange, but this was our first date. This was our chance to get a fresh start. After tonight, I would know whether or not we could make a real go at a relationship.

I was extremely nervous and excited at the same time. I refused to even consider the idea that he wouldn’t show up. He better show up. He was the one who had pushed me to go out with him. Now that I’d agreed, he damn well better show.