Chapter 18 #2
him out of the house and getting involved in the orchard.
Emily began singing “Standy by Me” to herself while she made her way toward the barn. When she found Jake pacing back and
forth and frowning while talking into his phone, she quickened her steps.
She approached him and touched his arm, but he continued his phone conversation.
“We can make this work, Tom,” Jake said.
“Just give me a chance. The grand opening is tomorrow, and I need you here. I’m sure you’ll have a lot of sales.
In fact, you’ll probably sell out the first day.
” He held his fist up to his forehead. “Please don’t back out.
I’m begging you.” He paused for a few seconds.
“Fine. I understand.” He disconnected the call, and his nostrils flared.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“The pumpkin vendor just backed out.” His eyes narrowed. “This is going to be a disaster.”
“No, it’s not.” She touched his cheek.
“I’ve got a bad feeling. I woke up with it this morning, and it’s been following me around all day long like a dark shadow.”
“Jake, everything’s going to work out.”
He pursed his lips. “I hope you’re right.”
She curbed the urge to hug and kiss him, reminding herself that their relationship was supposed to be a secret. At the moment,
however, all she wanted to do was console him.
“I need to go check on a few things,” he told her. “I’ll see you later.”
As she watched him walk away, she hoped she was right: that somehow, some way, everything was going to fall right into place.
Jake stalked through the barn later that afternoon as all of his worst fears had come to fruition right before his eyes. Every
single one of the vendor stalls was empty. Because every single one of the vendors had backed out, without giving him a good
reason why.
And tomorrow was the opening.
“This is going to be a disaster,” he whispered to himself.
“Son, I told you this was a bad idea!”
Jake pivoted toward the entrance of the barn where his father stood, leaning his good arm on a cane. Jake bit the inside of his lip to keep a disrespectful response from escaping.
Dad pointed his cane toward the ceiling. “Now we’ve spent all this money on the barn for nothing.”
“My money, Dad,” Jake retorted, pointing to his chest. “I spent my money on this. I didn’t touch any of your money, or the orchard’s.”
“That’s not the point, and you know it.” With the help of the cane, he hobbled toward Jake. “This was just a lesson in futility,
son. If you’d have just kept doing what we’ve always done, then we wouldn’t be in this mess right now.”
Jake’s body shook as white-hot anger built up inside him. This was not the moment he wanted to hear an “I told you so.” But
he especially didn’t want to face the financial consequences of taking a risk. He’d emptied his savings and maxed out his
credit card. His sister’s tuition was coming due. His father’s medical bills were piling up, and he had the seasonal workers
to pay. The responsibility was all on Jake’s shoulders. He felt like throwing up.
Emily appeared in the barn doorway as if she’d heard his thoughts. “Where are the vendors?”
“They all backed out,” Dad answered for him. “I told you two that this wasn’t going to work, but no one listens to me.” He
hobbled out of the barn while mumbling about how bullheaded kids were these days.
Jake lifted his ball cap and raked his hand through his messy hair.
Emily grabbed his arm and tugged him. “We’re going to town. Come on.”
He remained cemented in place and studied her. “What on earth can we possibly do to fix this?”
“Do you trust me?” She lifted her chin.
He hesitated and then nodded. He’d always trusted her. That would never change. “I do. With every fiber of my being.”
That comment earned him a cute smile and offered him a moment of relief from his anxiety. “Good. Let’s go.”
They jumped into her Jeep, and she drove the five miles to Apple Haven and parked at the back of the lot.
“Why are we here?” he asked her.
She removed her key from the ignition. “I have a hunch, and I want to see if I’m right.”
They headed into the orchard, and soon they came upon a vendor area, where they found Tom, the pumpkin farmer, and the other
vendors setting up booths.
So Apple Haven had stolen his customers, his employees, and now his fall market idea.
Well, wasn’t that just peachy?
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Jake grumbled as he marched over to Tom. “You told me that you couldn’t sell pumpkins at my
orchard, but you’re here at my competitor’s. Why?”
Tom shrugged. “I’m sorry, Jake, but business is business.”
“Just tell me why,” Jake nearly begged him.
“Better deal,” Tom explained. “Apple Haven is waiving the booth fee for the first few weeks, plus they’re not taking a percentage
of sales for the time being.” He looked over at Cassie Ridgeway, who was setting up her jewelry booth beside him. “Right?”
“Yeah,” the woman said. “Sorry.”
Jake rubbed his eyes and tried to take deep breaths in order to stop himself from having a meltdown in the middle of Apple
Haven. Wouldn’t his competitor just love to see him fold right there on their property?
“Let’s go.” Emily half yanked, half dragged him out to her Jeep, where he sank down onto her bumper. “I can’t stand seeing you like this.”
“Sorry, babe, but I’m not sure what else I can do.”
She grinned, and he stared at her.
“Why are you smiling at a time like this?”
“Because you just called me ‘babe,’ which means we’re officially a couple.”
He snorted. “I thought we became official when I kissed you, but okay.” He studied her pleased expression. “Now what are we
going to do?”
“First, you’re going to climb into my Jeep, and then I’m going to take you to the flea market.”
“The flea market?”
“Yup.” She retrieved her keys, and they jingled. “We’re going to round up some vendors and fill that barn before the grand
opening tomorrow.”
He shook his head. “It’s a great idea, but I just don’t know . . .” He covered his face with his hands.
“Talk to me.”
“So much is riding on this.” He opened his eyes and found her sitting beside him on the bumper. “You know I’m responsible
for the orchard, for paying Ally’s tuition, for paying all of the bills. Now my dad’s hospital bills are piling up, and I
have the seasonal workers to pay. How can I do that when I maxed out my credit card refurbishing the barn?”
Emily threaded her fingers with his. “Honey, we got this.”
“You think so?” He hated the uncertainty he heard in his voice.
“Yes, I’m sure of it. And if you need money, I can help.”
He shook his head. “I can’t take your money.”
“We’ll argue about that later. But right now we need to get to the flea market and round up some vendors before the day is over.” She popped up to her feet. “Get it together, Hughes.”
He stood, drew her to him, and kissed her. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For believing in me. And the orchard.”
“Of course I do. Now let’s stop wasting time and get to the flea market.”
He smiled as he climbed into the Jeep. For some crazy reason, he was sure that everything was going to be okay if he had Emily
by his side.