Chapter 9
Emily stepped out of her bedroom and headed toward the stairs Wednesday afternoon. A sweet, decadent smell filled her senses,
sending a whirlwind of happy childhood memories scrolling through her mind as she made a beeline for the kitchen.
“Are you making—?” Emily gasped when she found a row of candy apples lining the counter. “You are making candy apples!”
Diane chuckled while setting another one on the paper to cool.
“Those are part of some of my favorite childhood memories,” Emily continued. “Jake and I ate them until we got sick every
fall. Do you need help?”
“Nope. This is the last one.” She dipped it in the syrup, turned it a few times, and then set it down to cool. “Take one.”
“Are you sure?”
Diane waved her off. “Don’t be silly.”
Emily chose one of the cool ones and took a bite. She closed her eyes as the flavors of syrup and apple overtook her mouth. “You make the best candy apples in the state of North Carolina, if not the world.” She bent toward Diane and lowered her voice. “Are you ready to tell me your secret recipe?”
Diane wagged her finger at her. “Now, you know better than that. I can’t share the Hughes secret family recipe with anyone.”
“Rats.” Emily snapped her fingers and then took another bite. Delicious!
Diane rested against the counter beside her. “How are things going with the barn project?”
“It’s coming along. We’re still working on the walls. I just came in for a minute, but I’m heading back out there. Hopefully
we’ll be painting soon.” She paused, lowering her voice. “Jake wouldn’t let me help with the roof, but I’m grateful I’m allowed
to help with the walls.” She rolled her eyes, and Diane laughed.
“He always was overprotective of you. I remember when you dated that guy your senior year.” She tapped her chin. “What was
his name?”
Emily sighed. “Evan. Jake couldn’t stand him.”
“That’s right,” Diane exclaimed. “I think he told me nearly every day that you could do better. He said that Evan was a liar
and a cheat.”
“And Jake was right. I found out the hard way.”
Diane smiled. “You two have been through a lot together.”
That’s true. Emily nodded and ate more of the apple.
“I was so relieved when he told me he was going to beg you to come home to help out here. He’s been so stressed out since
his dad’s heart attack.” Diane’s expression filled with concern. “How’s my son doing? Really?”
Emily wiped her mouth with a paper napkin. “He’s worried about the orchard. But I keep telling him that we’ve got this and it’s going to be okay.” She decided to keep the rumors about the competitor’s orchard to herself. No need to upset Jake’s mom.
“Having a market in the barn is a brilliant idea, and I think it just might work.”
Emily glanced down at the row of candy apples as an idea filled her mind. “Could I take a couple of these outside to share?”
“Of course you can.”
“Thanks.”
Jake frowned and glanced around the side of the barn, where Vince continued to hammer new sheets of plywood over where the
rotten boards had been removed.
Vince had arrived right at eight that morning, ready to work, but Jake hadn’t heard from Eddie or Rico, despite his efforts
to text and call them. They’d both seemed off yesterday—very quiet instead of their usual jovial selves. Jake had a feeling
that something was up, but he’d let it go since everyone had bad days.
But having only Vince’s and Emily’s help with the barn walls was going to put them behind. He’d wanted the walls done by Friday
so they could focus on getting the interior ready for the vendors. At this rate the barn would never be ready in time for
the anniversary celebration.
His phone dinged with two texts almost simultaneously—one from Rico and one from Eddie.
Rico: Hey, Jake. I took a job with Apple Haven. Sorry to do this, but I need the higher pay. I have to think of my family. Anyway, I’ll stop by Friday for my last paycheck. Hope you understand. Thanks.
Eddie: Yo, Boss. Sorry to bail, but I accepted a position with Apple Haven. Got a raise and benefits too. I appreciate the
opportunity, but you know how it is. Anyway, I’ll be there Friday for my last paycheck. Thanks, man.
Jake’s stomach bottomed out, and his jaw clenched.
Not only was Apple Haven threatening to take his customers, but now they were stealing his employees. What was next? Would they come for his parents’ home? Their land?
With a growl, Jake dropped his phone in his pocket and picked up his hammer and a piece of Sheetrock. He lined up the sheet
of plywood with the barn frame, lifted the hammer, and set the nail in place. He banged the nail into the wood with all his
might, doing his best to release all the stress and anger swarming his chest. He repeated the process until the piece of plywood
was secured in the wall.
Mr. Tompkins’s warnings about Apple Haven came to the forefront of his mind as he set another piece of the plywood against
the barn’s wall frame. He held it steady with his left forearm while holding a nail between his finger and thumb.
Folks are saying that the new place is going to put Hughes Family Orchard out of business since it’s been . . . ahem, going
downhill.
The words echoed through Jake’s mind, and he lost his concentration and missed the nail, sending a shock wave of pain from
his thumb through his hand and up his arm. Sucking in a deep breath, he dropped the hammer and began to dance around. Shaking
his hand and stamping his foot, he groaned and tucked his hand under his opposite arm.
“Jake!” Emily’s frantic voice sounded behind him. “Are you okay?”
She appeared beside him and grabbed his arm. “Let me see.” Her golden-brown eyes were full of concern, and her empathy made his mouth dry.
He held out his hand, and she examined his thumb, now bright red. She brushed her fingers over his hand, and her warm skin
made his heart flop around like a fish out of water.
“Can you move it?” she asked.
He did, and when the pain flared, he hissed.
“I’ll go get you some ice,” she said, and she started toward the path.
“No,” he said, and she stopped moving. “I’m fine.” She raised her eyebrows, and he added, “Really, I am. But thanks.” He brushed
his hand over his stubble and frowned.
She studied him. “What’s wrong?”
“I bashed my thumb. Remember?”
“You need to turn the frown upside, and I have just the remedy. I have a surprise for you and Vince.” She looked past Jake.
“Hey, Vince! You still here?”
“Yeah.” Vince came around from the back of the barn and pushed his hand over his dark hair.
Emily jogged over to the picnic table and returned with two candied apples. “Jake’s mom is making her out-of-this-world candy
apples. I snagged two for you.” She handed them over. “She still won’t tell me what’s in her secret recipe.”
“Oh man, I love these things! They’re the best,” Vince said before taking a bite.
Jake nodded and did the same, and the crisp treat brought back a rush of childhood memories.
“I have an idea,” Emily suddenly announced.
Jake swallowed another bite. “I’m listening.”
She bounced on the balls of her Birkenstocks. “Let’s put a kitchen in the barn!”
He blinked and then blinked again. Had he heard her right? “A kitchen?”
“Yes!” She danced a little jig. “That way we can sell these beauties.” She pointed at the candied apples. “Along with your
cider.”
Vince did a double take. “When did you start making cider, Boss?”
So much for Em keeping a secret.
Jake ignored the question and took another bite of the apple.
“Just listen. Okay?” Emily took his arm and half pulled, half dragged him into the barn while Vince followed close behind,
chewing his apple. She took off and stopped in the middle of the barn before pointing to the back corner. “We can put the
kitchen over there. It’ll be like a little booth, and then your mom can make her candy apples, and we can keep your cider
on shelves. And then we can—”
“Whoa,” Jake began, interrupting her. He rubbed his free hand over his forehead. “Do you realize what you’re asking us to
do? We have to get a permit, hire contractors, and then—”
She held her hand up, and her happy expression faded. “I’ll pay for it. You haven’t let me pay for anything yet, but I want
to do this. For you.” Something flashed over her face, and she quickly added, “For your family. For Splendid Lake.”
Jake blew out a deep breath and glanced around the barn. It was still a mess, and they had so much work to do: replacing the
rotten wood in the floor, painting the entire inside of the barn—after painting the outside, of course—and then building booths
for the vendors. He met Emily’s hopeful expression and then shook his head. “We have a little more than a month before the
anniversary, which is barely enough time to clean this place up. There’s no way we can build a kitchen.”
“I’ll pitch in,” Emily said. “You think I’m not capable, but I can do it.”
“I believe in you, but right now it’s just the three of us doing all of the work.”
“What do you mean?” Vince asked.
Jake pressed his lips together. “Eddie and Rico quit.”
“What?” Vince’s dark eyes rounded. “When?”
“They both texted me earlier. They went to work for Apple Haven.” Jake grimaced at Vince. “Tell me you’re not going there
too.”
Vince shook his head. “No, I’m not. I had no idea they were even considering leaving.” He paused for a moment. “I’m shocked.”
“Yeah. Me too.” Jake sank down onto an old bale of hay. “I have no idea how we’re going to make this happen. Even if I advertised
to replace their jobs, I’m running through our budget with all of these supplies.”
Emily came to stand in front of him. “We got this. And I’ve already told you I’ll pay for it.” She pointed around the barn.
“Let’s forget my kitchen idea. It was silly. Instead, your mom can make the candied apples in her kitchen, and we’ll bring
them out here to sell them. We just need to go forward with our plan of cleaning up the inside and retrofitting the booths.
We can install counters and shelves.”
“And we need someone to sell the candy apples if we’re running the place.” Jake pointed to the three of them.