Cinnamon and Spice Conundrum (Cinnamon Rolls and Pumpkin Spice)

Chapter 25

Ryan/Jack

The local talent show portion of the concert is surprisingly good. Julio’s country swing band had the best performance by far and the flashiest outfits. I didn’t realize Julio could sing; he not only played the steel guitar but was also the lead vocalist.

Dilbert’s band was a bit of a disappointment. He apologized before they began that the keyboard player was under the weather. The first few tunes were barely recognizable without the main melody, as the bass and drums carried the background beat. Sweet Mabel saved the day when she hopped onto the stage, strode over to the mic, and began singing, belting out the melody in a slightly off-key voice. The crowd loved her, and everyone sang along with the chorus.

Two other local talent acts included a man who juggled pinecones, hitting himself in the face several times, and a woman who did a dance/gymnastic routine where she twirled a brightly colored scarf attached to a stick. Unfortunately, she got tangled up in the scarf and fell about halfway through the routine. The paramedics were called to carry her off the stage, but the crowd acknowledged her efforts with a polite round of applause.

A hush falls over the audience when Agnes reappears to present the trophy to the talent show winner.

“What’s that supposed to be?” I ask, squinting at the creation in Agnes’s hand.

“A microphone made from pinecones. We refer to it as the PinePhone Award. Get it?” A flood of giggles peel from Sadie’s luscious lips and I desperately want to lean over to kiss her .

Screech! Screech! Screech! The real microphone makes an ear-splitting noise as Agnes adjusts it to her height. People in the crowd wince or put their hands over their ears until the noise subsides.

“Please give another round of applause to all the participants. Weren’t they all just excellent?” Agnes yells into the mic. The crowd claps loudly, although I hear a few murmurs wondering about the extent of the dancer’s injury.

“Here’s the moment you’ve been waiting for.” She pauses dramatically for several beats, holding the trophy over her head. “The winner of the coveted PinePhone Award is... Julio Gonzales and the Country Pines!”

The crowd erupts into applause as Julio accepts the gaudy trophy. He bows and thanks his band, plus his parents, his uncle who taught him to play the steel guitar, and his fifth-grade music teacher. When he starts to drone on, Agnes wheels back to his side and swipes the microphone from his hand.

“Ten-minute intermission,” she belts, effectively cutting off Julio’s speech.

Sadie and I remain seated while most of the crowd sounds like a herd of buffalo as they disperse to the refreshment booths. The aroma of corn dogs and funnel cakes drift over the stands, and I feel compelled to ask, “Do you want anything to eat or drink?”

Sadie shakes her head. “No, I don’t want to ruin my dinner.”

We gaze at each other with goofy love-sick smiles. I’ve got it bad for this woman. When a man carrying four beers jostles us, it breaks the moment as I stand to give him room to pass.

“Do you know any of the headliner’s songs?” I ask after I sit back down.

“Have you ever heard ‘He’s Not Worth a Rotten Tomato’?” Sadie asks, suppressing a laugh.

My eyes widen at that wacky title. “Can’t say I have. But I have heard the one about the guy who’s pretty good at drinking beer. ”

Sadie waggles her eyebrows. “Well, then, you’re in for a real treat with the rotten tomato song.”

“Let me guess, the woman breaks up with her boyfriend—”

“He lies to her and pretends to be someone he isn’t. She wants to throw a rotten tomato at his head but decides he’s not worth it.”

We both laugh, but mine is forced. How’s Sadie going to feel when she finds out I’m pretending to be someone I’m not? That song hits a little too close to home.

“Ryan? Ryan Turnbill?”

I squeeze my eyes shut and wince as the shrill female voice utters my real name, instantly shattering my incognito image of being Jack. When I reopen my eyes, Sadie’s staring at me like I have a second head while Victoria White looks on with a smug expression.

“I knew that was you at the Pinecone Toss! Nice try hiding out—”

Cutting off Victoria, I whirl to face my date and say, “Sadie, I can explain everything.” My cover is blown to smithereens, so I might as well come clean with Sadie. Panic laces my voice; I’ve waited far too long to come clean, and just as Sam suggested, having Victoria out me in front of his sister is the worst-case scenario.

“You’re Ryan Turnbill?” Sadie says, barely above a whisper. A look of shock turns her pretty face pale. “A billionaire?” she squawks.

“I can explain!” I wail, reaching my hand towards Sadie, trying to implore her to listen to me. Instead she cringes and moves away. My carefully built world constructed of white lies and an assumed persona comes tumbling down around me. Why didn’t I confess sooner?

Victoria emits a throaty laugh. “I’d love to hear your explanation, Ryan ,” she spits out. Pointing her finger at my face, she adds, “I bet you thought all the hype over the most eligible bachelor list would die down, but instead all the single females in Denver are trying to figure out where you are. You billionaires think you’re so smart!” Her voice drips with scorn .

My heart plummets to my toes as Sadie leaps to her feet. She blinks back tears. “No wonder you didn’t want to ditch the cardigans and ugly hat, Ryan !” She shouts out my name with disdain. Her lips tremble as she glares at me.

I rush to say, “I’ll tell you everything—”

Sadie shuts me down with a cutting motion of her hand. “And aren’t you supposed to be on safari in Africa spending all your money?” Her voice wobbles, and a few tears trickle down her face. “Excuse me,” she says to the couple sitting beside us as she storms off down the row. I watch with a sick sinking feeling as she rushes down the bleachers like her pants are on fire. In seconds, she’s out of sight. Time stands still as I berate myself over and over. The woman I love may never forgive me.

“She’s too small town for you and you know it,” Victoria comments as she plops down next to me. “I’ll keep my mouth shut as to your whereabouts if you agree to date me when you get back to Denver.”

Ugh! The nerve of this woman.

“Go ahead and tell everyone where I’m at. I just lost the love of my life,” I say sadly.

Victoria’s eyes narrow. “Really, Ryan? You like this cooky small town and you’re in love with that plain ordinary café owner?”

Her criticism of Sadie stings and I rush to her defense. “Yes, I’m in love with her. Sadie is prettier and more big-hearted than you’ll ever be.”

“ Hrmph! That won’t last. You’re going to miss your luxury apartment, your expensive vehicles, and the Denver nightlife,” she says, looking down her beaklike nose at me.

I shoot to my feet. “No, Victoria, I won’t.” I don’t give her a second glance as I stalk down the row, apologizing to the same couple Sadie passed .

As I walk dejectedly towards the exit, I debate my next move. Maybe Sam will have some advice, although I expect his sister won’t want to see or talk to either of us ever again.

I really blew it trying to act like someone else. What started off as a harmless white lie turned into a hurtful deception. I’ve wounded the person who matters most to me. I’m not even worth a rotten tomato.