Chapter 4
“Em and I are working on some ideas for the orchard’s hundredth anniversary celebration, Dad. I think you’re going to like
them.”
Jake glanced around the kitchen table. It was suppertime, and Mom had made her famous (to the Hughes family, anyway) pork
chops, along with baked potatoes and green beans. He hoped Mom’s delicious meal would soften his father’s stubborn streak.
He peered across the table at Emily, who nodded, encouraging him to continue, while Mom watched him with interest from the
other end of the table. Dad pressed his lips together before eating a forkful of pork chop.
Jake cleared his throat. “We stopped by the McClains’ old orchard. Lancaster’s opening it in a couple of weeks and doing a
fall festival theme.”
“Figures,” Dad grunted.
“Em and I were throwing around ideas, and she came up with something I’d never thought of.
What if we restored the old barn and turned it into a market?
” When Dad’s expression turned to stone, Jake continued talking at a fast clip.
“Think about it, Dad. It’s a whole new revenue stream.
We could have a variety of vendors, like food and collectibles, and we’ll invite members of the community to join us for—”
“No.” Dad’s response was swift and firm. “This is one of your impulsive ideas like you had in high school. Remember when you
tried to convince me to have a demolition derby out in the west field? I said no to that lousy idea too.”
The room fell silent. While Dad continued eating, Mom and Emily shared an awkward expression.
Jake set his fork down and took a deep breath, trying to curb his frustration. His father refused to let go of the mistakes
he had made in high school—the parties, the stupid pranks, the mediocre grades. Dad acted as if Jake were still that same
immature kid, but he wasn’t. He’d grown up and matured. Although Jake respected his father too much to contradict him, he
couldn’t allow Dad’s bullheadedness to destroy their livelihood. He studied his baked potato and tried to think of something
that would make his father entertain their idea.
“Leon, could I please show you what we had in mind?”
Jake’s eyes flickered to Emily, who had spread out her diagram in front of his father. Dad eyed it with cautious curiosity.
“Since the new McClains’ is going with a fall festival theme, I was trying to think of something different to make this orchard stand out.
I’ve always loved the abandoned barn.” She chuckled.
“I have so many memories of playing in it when we were kids, and when I saw the painting I sent Jake for Christmas, the ideas clicked together.” She tapped the barn drawing.
“I think it could be really neat if we restored the barn and turned it into a market featuring local fare. We’d draw so many locals, especially if we highlight all the vendors who make Splendid Lake so special.
” She began listing names of local folks who might want to have a booth there, and the most incredible thing happened—Dad’s scowl warmed ever so slightly.
“You could charge a fee for the booth, so it would be a win-win for the vendors and for you. What do you think?”
Dad studied her diagram with his lips pursed.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea, dear,” Mom said.
Silence drifted over the dining room for a moment, and Jake held his breath. He felt Emily watching him, and when he turned
toward her, she gave him a sweet smile.
Dad pushed the drawing away from him. “This isn’t what my parents and grandparents wanted for their orchard. They always said
that the apples would sell themselves. We don’t need this nonsense to get customers here.”
Jake opened his mouth to protest, but Emily cut him off.
“I know this is different from what people expect from Hughes, but I think asking the community to participate will drive
new customers here.” Emily’s voice was calm. “Everyone loves a fun market with different booths to visit. And utilizing the
barn is a way to keep the Hughes legacy alive. Didn’t your grandfather build that barn?”
Dad’s blue eyes lit up. “He did. I was about five years old, and I helped paint it.”
He’s actually smiling!
Jake settled back in his chair and grinned. Em was brilliant!
“I think he’d be happy to know that his great-grandson was bringing the barn back to life,” Emily declared.
Dad nodded, but then his smile flattened as his stare settled on Jake. “How are we going to pay for this? You know funds are
low since our trees didn’t produce as many apples after last year’s storm, and with Ally’s tuition . . .”
“Dad, we have to spend money to make money.”
The older man frowned. “But you have to have the money to spend it, Jake.”
Emily held her hand up. “I’ll pay for it.”
All eyes in the room settled on Emily.
“Why on earth would you pay to renovate my family’s barn?” Jake asked.
Emily flipped over her barn drawing and began to doodle. “I have the money from the sale of my parents’ house,” she whispered,
her voice barely audible. “I haven’t touched it.”
Jake stilled. She’d sold the house three and a half years ago. He’d assumed she’d been living on it all this time.
Mom touched Emily’s shoulder. “Honey, we don’t expect you to invest in our orchard.”
Emily kept her eyes focused on the paper, and soon a dock and lake took shape. “I’d love to spend some of the money on something
that’s important to me, and this place is like my home.”
Jake’s heart turned over in his chest. He’d always known that Emily felt comfortable here, but having her call the orchard
home was overwhelming in a way he couldn’t quite comprehend.
Mom met Jake’s gaze with a warm smile. “Thank you, Emily. But we can’t let you do that.”
Jake took a long drink of sweet tea, hoping to quench his suddenly dry throat.
“It’s a nice gesture, but the orchard is fine as is,” Dad said.
Emily’s head popped up. “What was the barn used for, Leon?”
“Storage, years ago.”
“We can keep that spirit.” Emily opened a fresh page in her book and started a new drawing. “Tell me what it looked like.”
“I still don’t think . . .” Dad’s voice trailed off.
Emily grinned. “Just humor me, okay?”
Jake’s phone began to ring, and he found Claire’s face grinning at him on the screen. His stomach twisted. It was time to stop avoiding the painful conversation and tell Claire she had to move on.
He stood. “Excuse me, I need to take this.” Then he slipped into the den, took a deep breath, and answered the call. “Hello?”
“Jakey,” Claire crooned into the phone. “It’s so good to hear your voice.”
He dropped onto the sofa and reclined his head against the back. Claire was the master at avoiding big conversations, so it
was just like her to call and act like everything was normal between them. It had been two weeks since he told her that they
should see other people, but she was acting like nothing had changed.
“How are your folks?” she asked.
“Fine.” He rubbed his forehead with his free hand. “We were just eating supper.”
“Your dad’s okay?”
“Yup.”
“That’s good.”
An awkward silence expanded over the phone line, and he knew he had to end this conversation and get back to his folks and
Emily.
“Look, I really can’t talk long,” he said.
“Just give me a minute, okay?” Claire’s voice sounded thick, and his stomach clenched. “I know you said we need to move on,
but I don’t want to. I still think we can work this out. Just consider coming out to Nashville—maybe over a weekend. Then
you could see how great it is here. I know you’d love it. There’s so much opportunity, and we could finally settle down and
build a life here. Get married. Start a family.”
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Hadn’t she heard a thing he’d said? Maybe he hadn’t made it clear that he wasn’t ready for any of that.
She sniffed. “I want a future with you—and only you. I don’t want to see other people.”
He squeezed the bridge of his nose as the all-too-familiar guilt crept back into his chest. He felt like a jerk for breaking
her heart, especially after all they’d been through.
Claire had been in town when his dad had the heart attack, and she’d heard the news through the Splendid Lake grapevine. She’d
shown up at the hospital with food for him and his mom. He’d told her he needed some time alone, and Claire had held his mom’s
hand while he went outside to get some air. When he returned, he found Claire hugging his mom while she cried.
Whether he wanted to face it or not, Claire had been there for him, and vice versa. He’d held her hand at her grandmother’s
funeral and helped clean out her apartment.
Both of their families believed that Jake and Claire would eventually get married and grow old together.
But if that were true, then why did Jake want to end this conversation with her right now?
“Why don’t you come see me next weekend?” Claire asked.
“Can’t.”
Laughter drifted into the den from the kitchen. He moved to the doorway. His father’s bright smile took him by surprise, and
Jake found the corners of his mouth begin to lift.
“This isn’t a good time,” he told Claire.
Mom said something, and when Emily guffawed, the adorable sound seemed to echo throughout his parents’ old farmhouse—and apparently
into the receiver.
“Who’s that?” Claire asked.
Jake crossed to the back of the den and stared out the wall of windows facing the orchard. “Em.”
She paused for a moment. “Is she visiting?” Claire’s question was hesitant.
“Yeah.”
“For how long?”
“Not sure.” He studied the grove of trees, trying to imagine it full of visitors filling baskets with ripe apples.
“Why is she there?” Claire’s words were flinty. Sharp.
“She’s helping me figure some things out with the orchard.” He was done with this conversation. Time to wrap it up. “I gotta
go, okay? We’ll talk later.”
“When?”
He sighed. “I don’t know.”
“Wait.” Her voice was urgent. “Is there a chance we can make this work?” Her voice trembled.
He pushed his hand through his thick hair. He longed to tell her no, but something was holding him back. A sense of loyalty