Chapter 14
The sky was bright blue on Saturday, and the September morning air was crisp as Jake’s work boots crunched on the rock pathway
leading from his house to his childhood home. After saying good night to Emily the night before, he fed the cat, took a long
shower, and fell into bed. He was certain he was asleep before his head even hit the pillow. The stress of the day had worn
him out. This morning he felt refreshed, and he planned to check on his parents before focusing on what he and Emily had to
do before the orchard and market opened next week.
He’d spoken to Vince yesterday, and the seasonal workers were set to start picking the apples on Monday. Since that was taken
care of, he could focus on the grand opening—as long as Mom and Dad were okay.
The sound of a car motoring up the rock driveway toward his parents’ house drew his attention. He turned to see who it was—and
spotted Claire’s dark blue Audi.
“Can’t she take a hint?” he grumbled.
He waited on the porch steps as she climbed out of the car. Her eyes were shielded by a pair of large, expensive-looking sunglasses, and she balanced a giant tote bag on her shoulder.
“What are you doing here, Claire?”
“Good morning to you too,” she simpered. “I told you I was going to help out, and I meant it.”
He ran his tongue over his teeth while she strutted toward the steps. “We don’t need your help.”
“Could’ve fooled me.” She pushed her sunglasses up on the top of her blonde hair. “Besides, they’re like my second set of
parents.” She stood at the bottom step. “Are you going to move, or do I need to push you out of the way?”
He held up his hand. “Wait.” He studied her for a second. “Why aren’t you in Nashville?”
“Well, you would’ve known that if you had answered any of my calls,” she snapped. “I’m home for a while.”
“How long?”
“A couple weeks.”
Great. He pushed off the railing and made a sweeping gesture toward the door. “After you.”
“Why, thank you,” she snipped before walking into the house as if she lived there.
The rich scent of coffee, mingled with eggs, bacon, and toast, wafted over Jake while he stood in the doorway. Emily set a
plate of food in front of Mom. The young woman’s pretty face pinched into a frown when her golden eyes focused on Jake’s ex.
“Good morning,” Claire sang as she waltzed into the kitchen and set her giant tote bag on the counter. “I brought bagels.”
She began unloading a variety of bagels and condiments.
Emily turned toward Jake. “I made eggs and bacon if you’d like some.”
“Thanks. I’d love some,” he told her, hoping her expression would brighten. But Emily turned her frown toward Claire, who carried a platter of bagels and cream cheese spreads to the table.
“I wasn’t sure what kind of cream cheese you’d like, so I bought one of each.” Claire pointed to one of the bagels. “Would
you like one, Leon?”
Dad nodded, and Claire began cutting the bagel for him.
“How are you feeling this morning?” she asked.
“Sore,” he grunted.
“Well, you make sure you take your pain meds,” Claire told him with a bright smile.
Emily prepared a plate for Jake and held it out to him. “Here you go.”
Jake took the plate and then touched her hand while trying to transmit an unspoken “Are you okay?” with his eyes, but she
spun back toward the counter. He set down his plate across from Dad and Claire and sat beside Mom, who was at the head of
the table. Then he poured a cup of coffee for himself and one for Emily from the carafe on the table.
“Would you like some eggs, Claire?” Emily asked while filling another plate with eggs and bacon from the two large skillets
on the stove.
“Oh no, thanks. I’m going to have one of these awesome bagels. You can have one if you’d like.” Claire looked at Dad. “Did
you sleep okay?”
Dad shook his head. “Couldn’t get comfortable.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I’ll make you a bag of ice after breakfast.”
Mom beamed. “I was going to do the same thing.”
“Great minds think alike.” If Claire’s smile were any brighter, she could’ve lit up the entire orchard.
Emily sat beside Jake, and her expression was grim while she chose a bagel.
“Here.” He handed her his, which he’d already cut open and smothered in cream cheese.
She shook her head. “It’s okay.”
“Take it. I used honey-walnut cream cheese. Your favorite.”
She hesitated and then complied. “Thanks.”
He bent closer to her and whispered, “And I made your coffee just how you like it—lots of cream and sugar and very little
coffee.” He raised his eyebrows, and when she smiled, relief fluttered through him. “There’s that smile.”
Across the table, Jake found Claire watching him, but he ignored her and chose another bagel.
“So, Claire,” Mom began, “how long are you home this time?”
Claire swallowed a bite of bagel. “A couple of weeks. I need to get back for the next staff meeting, but I wanted to check
on some things at home.” She speared Jake with a look before smiling at Mom. “I’m glad I can help out around here. I can handle
your laundry if you’d like, or I can clean for you.”
“That’s so sweet of you, dear.”
Jake peeked over at Emily, but she was studying her plate. He couldn’t stand to see her so quiet. It wasn’t like her. He needed
to yank her out of her shell. “So, Em, what’s the plan for today?”
“Um . . . we need to get vendors.” She pushed a lock of her thick, wavy hair behind her ear. “I designed a flyer we can take
to town.”
“Vendors? For what?” Claire asked.
Jake summarized how they’d refurbished the old barn and set it up for their grand opening and hundredth anniversary party.
Claire scrunched her nose. “That sounds like a lot of work.”
“It’s actually been fun,” Jake said before bumping his shoulder against Emily’s, but she kept her focus on her plate.
Huh.
Was she upset with him? He’d have to find out later.
“It was all Em’s idea,” Jake said. “I asked for her help with figuring out the best way to drive customers from Apple Haven
over here.”
Mom’s face filled with pride. “I can’t wait to see the final product.”
“Well, we only have a week left to make it happen, but we got this. Right, Em?”
Emily finally lifted her eyes from her plate. “That’s the plan.” She gave Mom a timid smile and then took a bite of the bagel.
After breakfast, Jake and Emily carried the dishes to the sink. While Emily began filling the dishwasher, Jake took care of
the skillets and platters.
“Would you like me to make an ice pack for Leon?” Claire asked Mom.
“I can do that, but there’s a load ready to go in the laundry room if you want to take care of it,” Mom said, pointing toward
the hallway.
“Consider it done.” Claire nearly skipped toward the laundry room, and Jake managed not to roll his eyes.
“Jake,” Dad called, his voice sounding ragged. “Could you help me get to my recliner?”
“Of course.”
Jake guided Dad into the den, where he got his father situated in his favorite chair before turning on the television and
handing him the remote.
Mom appeared with an ice pack for Dad’s arm, along with ice packs for his knee and ankle. Once Dad was settled, Mom took Jake’s arm and steered him to the doorway.
“How was Dad last night?” Jake asked.
Mom frowned. “He had a hard time getting comfortable, but he finally settled down around midnight.” She glanced toward the
hallway and then back at him. “Things seem off between you and Claire. Is everything okay?”
Oh no.
Jake was not in the mood to discuss his breakup or get relationship advice from his mother. She had enough to deal with right
now. “I told her that I need some space, but she can’t seem to respect that.” He swiped his hand down his plaid shirt. “Let’s
not waste time talking about my issues with Claire. Em and I need to work on the plans for the orchard. Are you going to be
okay with Dad?”
“We’ll be fine.”
He held up his phone. “Call me if you need me. I promise I’ll answer.”
“Okay.” Mom touched his shoulder. “Don’t give up on Claire just yet.”
Jake swallowed back his response and headed to the doorway. “Have you talked to Ally?”
She shook her head. “It would be great if you could call her.”
“I’ll let her know what’s going on.”
“Don’t worry her too much. She has enough going on with her classes and internship. Tell her that we’re fine and we’ll see
her at Thanksgiving.”
“I will,” he promised before returning to the kitchen, where Emily was loading the dishwasher. Grabbing a dishrag, he began
wiping down the table.
“I got it. You can go outside,” she told him.
He swept the crumbs into his palm and dropped them into the trash. “Is everything okay?”
She nodded and set a dishwasher pod into the compartment before closing the door.
“You’ve been quiet.”
She started the machine and then spun to face him. “I was up late working on the flyer. I’ll print it out, and we can take
it to town if you want.”
“Sure.”
Claire walked through the kitchen and shot Jake a sugary smile before disappearing into the den. He shook his head while Emily
studied him. “I didn’t invite her to come today,” he said softly. “I asked her to keep her distance, but she won’t listen.”
“I know.” She moved her finger along the edge of the counter. “I’ll finish up in here and then print out the flyers.”
“I’ll get my truck.”
“See you outside.”
He touched her hand. “Thanks. Really.”
Her golden eyes met his. “You’re welcome.”
After the kitchen was clean, Emily stuck her head in the doorway leading to the den, where Leon watched an action movie involving
a car chase, and Diane and Claire talked softly on the sofa.
Emily padded over to the sofa and stuck her hands in the front pocket of her hoodie. As she waited for Claire to finish bragging
about how demanding her job was, Emily suddenly felt awkward, like she was back in high school and the third wheel with Jake
and Claire. Even with Diane, Claire had always been the favorite, and Emily the forgotten one, even though they weren’t Diane’s
biological children.
Claire finished her story and then turned to Emily. “Did you need something?”
Emily ignored Claire’s arrogant tone and focused her attention on Diane. “I finished cleaning up the kitchen. Do you need
anything else?”
“No, sweetie, but thank you,” Diane told her. “Are you going to work outside?”
“Last night I designed a flyer to invite vendors to come out to the orchard. I’m going to print some out so we can take them
to town.”
Claire folded her hands. “That’s so sweet,” she gushed.
Emily wondered if Diane picked up on how passive-aggressive Claire was, but she dismissed the thought. “Call my cell if you
need anything, okay?”
“I will,” Diane promised.
Emily jogged upstairs and printed two dozen flyers before dashing out to the barn. Finding the building empty, she continued
to Jake’s house, where the garage door was open. She hurried past the refrigerator and tried in vain to banish the memory
of Jake almost kissing her there less than twenty-four hours ago.
She walked into the house, where Jake was lounging on the sofa and talking on FaceTime while Dusty snoozed on the windowsill
nearby. Emily set the stack of flyers on the kitchen counter before she lingered in the doorway and admired his blond scruff
and his adorably messy hair under his ball cap. He turned toward her, and her cheeks flamed. Hopefully he hadn’t noticed her
staring.
“Hey, Em is here.” He waved her over. “Come say hi to Ally.”
“Ally!” Emily exclaimed as she rushed over and dropped onto the sofa beside Jake. He shifted against her and held the phone
so that they both appeared on the screen, and she cherished the feeling of his whole side snuggled up to her.
“Emily!” Ally exclaimed. “It’s been too long!”
That was true. It had been two years, and Ally had somehow become even lovelier. She’d always reminded Emily of Diane with
her pretty blue eyes, petite nose, and angelic face. Her golden hair spilled past her shoulders and she sat on a tan sofa,
which Emily imagined was in her apartment at school.
“It has been too long,” Emily agreed. “How’s school going?”
Ally made a face. “It’s going.” She sighed. “But now I’m worried about my dad.”
“Don’t worry. We’re taking good care of him,” Emily promised.
Jake balanced the phone with his left hand and looped his arm around Emily’s shoulder. She tried to ignore how every nerve
ending in her body came alive as she reveled in his cozy closeness.
“I can come home,” Ally offered.
“No, no, no,” her older brother insisted. “We got this. You focus on school, and we’ll see you at Thanksgiving.”
“Will you be there this year, Emily?” Ally asked.
Emily shrugged. “I think so.”
“She will.” Jake gave her a side hug, and Emily didn’t want him to ever let go. “I’ll make sure of it. I’m trying to convince
her to move back for good.”
“Yes! You need to come back,” Ally chimed in.
“Are you coming back to Splendid Lake?” Emily asked her.
“I hope to. After law school, of course.”
Emily grinned. “We’re so proud of you.”
“Yes, we are.” Jake drew imaginary circles on Emily’s shoulder blade, sending a flurry of chills cascading down her back.
“And I can’t wait for you to see what we’re doing at the orchard.”
Ally’s pretty face brightened. “Tell me!”
While Jake filled in his younger sister on their plans, Emily’s eyes scanned the room. And when they found the television stand, she could tell something was missing. It took her a moment to realize the portrait of Jake and Claire all dressed up was gone.
Had he put the photo away because he was finally letting go of Claire?
She felt her heart stutter.
“We’re heading to town to find some vendors for the market,” Jake told Ally, and Emily’s focus returned to the phone.
“It all sounds amazing. Send me photos,” Ally insisted.
Jake nodded. “We will.”
A voice sounded in the background, and Ally frowned. “My study group is here. I have to go.” She sighed. “You’d tell me if
I should come home, right?”
“Yes,” Jake told her emphatically. “But Dad is going to be fine, baby sis. I promise you.”
“Okay. Tell Mom and Dad I love them and I’ll call soon.”
“I will,” Jake promised. “Take care of yourself, Al.”
She grinned. “You too. Bye, Em!”
Emily waved, and Jake disconnected the call.
Jake leaned back against the sofa. “So now what?”
“Ready to find some vendors?” she asked.
“Let’s do it.”