Of Stars and Harvest Moons

This story is by Ingrid Pearce and was part of our 2017 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.

Three days sulking in her room was enough! Maeve sighed as the shop door chimed and dragged herself out of her funk. She pulled her hair into a sloppy knot and went downstairs through the kitchen and into the tiny antique store.

“She lives!” exclaimed the tall grey haired woman.

“Morning, Aunt Jo.” She smiled weakly at her aunt and looked across the counter where a man held an old wooden rocking chair, beautifully finished in a dark walnut stain. Setting it down, he acknowledged Maeve with a serious, almost unfriendly gaze.

“Maeve, this is Ned Parker. He refinishes old treasures that we find for the store and does wonderful work.”

Ned hesitated and reached out his hand to her.

“Hello,” he said, still staring at Maeve with his uncertain, blue eyes.

“Hi,” she answered, unsettled by this introduction. Trying to lift the mood she added, “It’s beautiful.”

Ned’s eyes widened ever so slightly. It wasn’t the reaction she’d expected.

“The rocking chair.” She walked over to the chair and slowly ran her fingers along the smooth surface of its arms, the carved design of its back. “A Windsor, 18th Century, quite rare. The restoration job is superb. If I had a place for it, I’d buy it in a heartbeat.”

Surprised by Maeve’s knowledge of antique furniture, Ned felt chastised.

“Thanks,” he said.

“He learned everything from his very skilled and handsome Uncle Mike,” Aunt Jo said. “This should cover it,” and she handed him an envelope.

“Thanks, Jo. I’ll have the table ready Monday.” He turned and walked out the door, bells clanging behind him.

“Whoa! Who and what was that?” Maeve asked.

Aunt Jo said, “Ned is a nice young man. To be honest, I’ve never seen him act so strangely. Maybe he just hasn’t had his morning coffee,” she smiled, busying herself with some costume jewelry in the glass display case.

“Speaking of coffee, I’m going down to Spencer’s. Want some?” Maeve asked.

“No thanks, hon. You go ahead.”

Maeve slipped on her jacket and walked down the hill of the town’s Main Street. The brisk air, glorious blue sky and the collage of fluorescent oranges, yellows and reds of the autumn leaves lifted her spirits. It was her favourite time of year. Planters of chrysanthemums were placed along the sidewalks and arrangements of corn stalks, pumpkins, colourful gourds and dried flowers adorned the old brick storefronts, beckoning late season tourists to visit their shops.

She had taken the train from the city days ago after her boyfriend of four years ended their relationship. It wasn’t a great surprise since he was away on a travelling adventure with friends and for six months had barely been in touch. Still, the phone call from Bali had stunned her and she came to the only place she thought would help her recover, the small town in Ontario’s cottage country where she grew up and her favourite aunt still lived.

With steaming coffee in hand, Maeve walked through the park in the centre of town where the familiarity of the surroundings soothed her. Then, her mind drifted back to the bizarre encounter with Ned. Why did he treat her so oddly? Something wasn’t right and she wracked her brain trying to think of what it was. They had only just met. His serious blue eyes. Had she looked into them before? But when or where?

Back at the antique shop, Maeve wanted to learn more about him.

“Well, Ned moved here about six months ago to go into business with his uncle. He’s friendly and helpful. Everyone in town likes him,” Aunt Jo explained. “Maybe you just need to get to know him better. ”

“That’s the thing, though,” Maeve began. “I have a weird feeling that we might have met before. I just can’t figure out why he was so standoffish with me.”

“Why don’t you come with me to the Harvest Hop tonight? A good, old fashioned gathering, music and dancing will give you the chance to talk to him.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Maeve hedged. “Anyway, what makes you so sure he’ll even be there?” The thought of seeing Ned and talking to him filled her with an unexpected, nervous thrill.

“Because, I’m meeting his Uncle Mike there and I know for a fact he is making Ned come, too!” Aunt Jo blurted out.

Maeve, mouth gaping open in surprise, looked at her aunt who was now blushing profusely.

“Aunt Jo, you minx!” Maeve said slyly and together they laughed.

“Ok, ok. Why not? I’ll go to the Hop with you. It’s been a long time.” Maeve said.

“Great!” Aunt Jo hugged her niece. “You won’t regret it.”

The old barn was decorated from its floorboards to the rafters. Scarecrows, straw bales, pumpkins too numerous to count, cornstalks and beautiful flowers were arranged everywhere. Already, people danced to the band’s lively music. Mike and Ned were across the room in conversation with some people when Maeve and Aunt Jo walked through the wide open doors and for the first time, Maeve noticed Ned smile. She liked it and felt encouraged by his friendlier face. Mike, noticing the women, excused himself to head in their direction. Ned followed, but the smile left his face when he saw Maeve.

“Oh, come on!” she moaned to herself. “You’re not going to make this easy for me, are you?”

Maeve stepped backwards to make room for someone walking by. Suddenly, she stumbled over a bale of straw and felt the painful crack on her head before falling hard on the floor. “Hey, I see stars, just like in cartoons!” she mused before everything went black.

Calm voices lured Maeve back to consciousness and she tried to raise herself to her elbows when a pair of gentle hands came up behind her, helping her. Dizzily, she looked up into the blue eyes which now expressed deep concern. She felt the back of her head where an impressive goose egg was forming.

The doctor, having been dragged off the dance floor by Aunt Jo and Mike, checked Maeve’s bump and reassured her that she would be fine.

“I’ll keep an eye on her,” Ned said to them as he helped Maeve to her feet.

When Aunt Jo was satisfied this was true, Ned and Maeve were left on their own.

“Let’s go outside for some air,” Ned said, guiding Maeve through the door with his arm around her waist. They sat on a rustic wooden bench and looked up at the sky, the golden moon and stars twinkling brightly.

“You don’t remember me, do you?” Ned asked, turning to look at her.

“Well, I do have this ostrich egg sized lump up here but I do remember you from this morning,” she winced, touching the back of her now throbbing head. “Is this a test?”

Ned couldn’t help but smile.

“Right, but that’s not what I meant. Ten years ago. The Harvest Hop. You were with your friends and I came with my cousin. We had some drinks and we danced. When everybody left, you and I sat out here,” Ned paused and looked up. “It was a full harvest moon and you said it looked like a pumpkin. I gave you my jean jacket because you were shivering.”

Maeve was speechless, struggling to remember that night. Then she did.

“You were only here for the weekend and I was in my last year of high school. You were busy the next day but said you’d come to see me at school before you had to go. You never did,” she said with regret.

“But I did!” Ned exclaimed. “I waited till school was out and then I saw you all cozy with and hugging that guy. So, I left.”

Remembering, Maeve defended herself. “That was my best friend, Charlie! He was moving west and I was saying goodbye!”

They were both quiet. Maeve stared down at her boots, recalling feelings from that time and continued.

“I had a huge crush on you. When you didn’t show, I gave up and made myself forget you.”

Slowly, Ned reached for her hand. “I never stopped thinking about you. It’s partly why I came to live here, hoping I’d see you again. In your aunt’s shop, I didn’t know how to act. I shouldn’t have given up so easily. I’m sorry.”

Maeve leaned into him and they kissed softly. It all felt so right, coming home at this precise time, just for this moment. They held each other for a long time, neither wanting to let go. Finally, they looked at each other, smiling.

“I’ve always thought this time of year was special,” Maeve said. “Now I know with all my heart it’s true.”

“You’re right, but not just for us. Let’s go back inside. I think my Uncle Mike is going to propose to your Aunt Jo tonight. And tomorrow, if you want, we can move that old Windsor into our house.”