The mayor and his wife were standing ready by the stage that had been set up for them. The big red switch would soon be turned and the whole town square would be a light-filled park of colorful glory and joy.
"Who is that talking to Melissa?" Jax asked and looked at the back of Ed's head. A smile grew on Lola's face from ear to ear and the giddy feeling returned.
"His name is Ed, we met him yesterday. He and Melissa hit it off quite quickly, aren't they cute?"
Jax's brow raised.
"You met him yesterday?"
"Mhm, why?"
"I don't remember you telling me about it," he said.
She stepped back and raised a brow.
"In between the screaming and the avoidance you didn't really give me a chance too." Lola's voice grew edgy, she crossed her arms, shielding herself off from him, and stared dumbfounded.
Jax stared in silence, he rubbed his hands on his jacket and chewed down on his lip.
"You're right. I'm sorry," Jax said.
Ash joined them and pulled them both from the rising friction and yet another conflict that grew from the nothingness in the air around them. It was odd how many of these occasions were finding them, were they challenges of love or something entirely different?
"Admitting when you're wrong, is this personal growth I see?" Ash chimed.
Jax turned, his eyes flickered over Ed.
"You know I'm gonna have to talk to him, right?"
"Why?" Lola asked.
"If he's going to be in your life I need to know who he is or else he's not getting close to you," Jax said. Ash chuckled and scratched his jaw.
"Because you'd let him close to her if he's clean," Ash said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Just leave him alone today. Do your thingy on the computer and look him up but don't you dare ruin Melissa's date, at least someone should have a good time tonight," Lola's words stung him sharply and it wasn't a hidden fact. Jax's eyes sunk into his sockets and he took a step back as though he'd been pushed.
Ash looked awkwardly between them. "The mayor wants to talk to us," He said and put his hands in the pockets of his thick leather jacket.
"Let's go," Jax said. He turned halfway and fought to soften his commanding glare. "Don't walk off, please," Jax continued trying with a soft voice to convey his message without it sounding like an order.
The guys walked away to meet with the mayor and his family as they had close relations with the Blackwoods.
Lola stood by the table unsure of whether she should join Melissa and Ed or if she should just wait here until Jax was back. She looked over the heads of the people, everyone stood gathered around but as she looked towards the stage she saw that Jax and Ash were gone.
Lola huffed a breath and pulled the waistband of her coat tighter.
She decided to join her best friend on her date, hoping that they wouldn't be bothered by her imposition.
Melissa's face lit up when she saw Lola and she pulled her in closer.
"Is everything good with Jax?" Melissa asked.
"He's fine, he and Ash are just saying hi to Mayor Clan and his wife."
Ed scoffed but it seemed to be in admiration as his eyes glimmered.
"You're really married to Jax Blackwood?" He asked. It was a topic that Lola would rather avoid but she understood the shock and the intrigue it brought out in people.
"I am yes, it's been...great," she lied.
"Your face really screams happily married," Ed joked not knowing what he was poking into.
Melissa cleared her throat and clapped her mitten-covered hands together.
"Let's change the subject, what movie are we watching tonight?" She asked.
The mayor stepped back onto the stage as they were talking.
Jax and Ash stood there behind them, whispering incoherent words to each other and sending looks that told a story you couldn't hear.
"What about Annabelle?" Lola said.
"Yes!" Melissa cheered. Ed gleamed as he looked at Melissa's joyful expression.
The mayor tapped on the mic and a piercing sound waved waved over their heads.
"You're welcome to join, Ed," Lola said.
He smiled, tapped his foot gently against the ground, and backed up to stand next to Melissa.
"I'd love to," He said. Lola watched intently as he slowly snaked his arm around Melissa's waist, he was nervous and it took a few tries before he embraced her.
His fingers wrapped around her waist and pulled her in, close to his side and she leaned her head against his shoulder.
Her eyes caught Lola's in a brief, flustered gaze and she choked back a giggle.
"Good evening everyone!" The mayor began.
"As always it's nice to see everyone coming together in celebration of the Harvest Moon festival- but it's not only tonight, it's every gathering and celebration we have in Wild Cliff, each one representing something significant and reminding us all of the meaning behind neighbor and friend. We all come together, we dine together, we talk and we laugh and we support each other. This is what I love about our small town, this is why I would never change it for anything else in the world. Darker times are coming now that fall has broadened itself over the country but fear not, because in Wild Cliff there will always be light." The Major turned the red switch and an ear-to-ear smile stretched on his lips.
everyone clapped as the lights all around them lit up. They screamed and whistled for the speech and the lit-up square.
The mayor stepped down from the stage and started shaking people's hands and talking with people he'd known for years, some he had known since childhood because people didn't often leave town. They settled down and started families that carried on the traditions. Everyone here had some sort of history together, that's why most of them stayed. Nobody longed to get out of the small town because it was a big part of all of them.
A flashing light blinked behind the stage. Lola turned her head to get a better look and saw Jax disappearing with the mayor and his wife. They walked further away and it didn't seem like Jax had any intention of coming back to Lola.
Melissa and Ed were walking down each stand, holding hands and looking at all of the homemade items.
Lola contemplated going after them but at this point, she felt like a third wheel. Jax wasn't returning and she refused to stay in the same spot taking all the glares coming her way.
She walked down the street and over the patch of grass until she reached the roundabout. Townies were lighting the candles inside the pumpkins, sending out messages to the spirits of the ones they'd lost.
Lola, racked with guilt and shame, walked over and grabbed one of the matches.
She squatted down next to a pumpkin with a carved-out heart and angel wings. She closed her eyes and sent out a message in hopes that Cassidy would hear and grant her forgiveness. She saw Mr. Adams in the corner of her eye sitting alone on a bench and watching the lights.
She lit the candle and the little flame roared to life. If she were to walk back she would have to pass Mr. Adams, she wanted nothing more than to sit by him and talk or maybe just listen but she couldn't. She was the reason why his daughter was dead, he just didn't know it.
She swallowed the lump in her throat and rounded the pumpkin shrine. Another flash of light appeared down the road and Lola followed it.
There were people everywhere, she walked amongst the masses and figured that no danger could befall her here.
"Excuse me," she said as she rammed into the side of another girl. She followed the light, it kept flashing around the shops and the tables. She saw Ed and Melissa standing further down as she rounded the carousel.
The flashing stopped, it disappeared as if it had never been. Lola turned on her feet and chuckled when she realized how crazy she must look- chasing a light in the middle of a festival.
She dragged a hand over her face and laughed over the paranoia.
As she turned around she slammed into someone.
"Sorry," she said and looked up. With a black coat hanging to his knees and slicked-back hair, he looked like one of the men she met at the chateau the other day, wealthy and smug.
"Hi there." His voice was deep and raspy, it didn't match the softness of his face, and his golden green eyes narrowed on Lola.