The days grew colder as autumn deepened, leaves carpeting the ground in vibrant reds and golds. Lia seemed to bounce back quickly, her usual energy returning in full force. She resumed her frequent visits, often showing up at Nate's house with a new project or a barrage of questions that left him both amused and exasperated.
Today was no different. Lia had barged in with two steaming cups of coffee and a scarf slung carelessly around her neck.
"Alright, Picasso," she announced, setting the cups down on the kitchen counter. "I've decided it's time for you to experience the glory of fall. And by that, I mean we're going pumpkin picking."
Nate stared at her. "Pumpkin picking?"
"Yes. You know, pumpkins. Orange things. Kind of like your personality in reverse."
He raised an eyebrow. "Not interested."
"Too bad," she said with a grin, grabbing his jacket off the back of a chair and tossing it to him. "You're coming, whether you like it or not."
Nate sighed but didn't argue. There was something about Lia's determination that made resistance feel pointless.
The pumpkin patch was exactly as Nate expected: noisy, crowded, and far too cheerful for his taste. Families milled about, kids laughed as they rolled oversized pumpkins across the grass, and the air smelled of cinnamon and cider.
"This is ridiculous," Nate muttered as Lia dragged him toward the rows of pumpkins.
"It's fun," she corrected, grabbing a wagon and pulling it behind her. "You should try it sometime."
He trailed behind her, hands shoved into his jacket pockets. Lia was examining pumpkins with a critical eye, occasionally making exaggerated comments about their size or shape.
"This one's lopsided," she declared, holding up a pumpkin and frowning at it. "It's like the ugly duckling of pumpkins."
Nate smirked despite himself. "Maybe it just has character."
She glanced at him, surprised. "Wow, is that... a compliment? Did you actually make a joke?"
"Don't get used to it," he said, though the corner of his mouth twitched.
As the afternoon wore on, Nate found himself relaxing. Lia's enthusiasm was infectious, and he couldn't help but be drawn into her world. At one point, she managed to convince him to help her carve one of the pumpkins right there at a nearby table.
"You're surprisingly good at this," she said, watching as he deftly carved an intricate design into the orange surface.
"It's just a bigger canvas," he replied, focused on his work.
Lia leaned her chin on her hand, studying him. "You know, you're not as grumpy as you pretend to be."
He glanced at her, one eyebrow raised. "Don't ruin my reputation."
She laughed, the sound warm and genuine.
As the sun began to set, the crowd thinned, and a peaceful stillness settled over the pumpkin patch. Nate and Lia sat on a hay bale, their carved pumpkins resting at their feet.
"This was nice," Lia said, her voice softer now. "I needed this."
Nate looked at her, noting the way the golden light played across her features. She wasn't her usual boisterous self in this moment, and it made her words feel heavier.
"You've got a way of making the mundane seem... less mundane," he admitted.
She smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in it. "I think we both need that sometimes."
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching as the sky shifted from orange to deep purple.
For the first time in a long time, Nate felt like the weight he carried wasn't quite as heavy.