Chapter 20
Jake stared down at the sales sheet and hung his head in his hands. It was a disaster. No, it was a nightmare, just as he’d
assumed earlier in the day. They’d sold a whopping total of eight baskets of apples. Eight. That wasn’t enough for him to pay his employees. Heck, that was hardly enough to put a tank of gas in his truck.
He was ruined. The orchard was ruined. And thanks to him, after a hundred years, his family’s name was ruined.
He groaned into his hands.
Footsteps echoed in the hallway outside the orchard office, and he ignored them. Hopefully whoever it was would just keep
walking.
But they didn’t. Instead, the soft footfalls entered the office, but Jake didn’t move. Motion sounded beside him as the person
sat down on a chair. Then arms encircled him.
Emily. His sweet Emily. Of course she’d be the first person to come encourage him.
“Hey.” Her voice was soothing in his ear. “It’s not that bad. We’ll get through this. I’m sure of it.”
She settled him against her, and he sighed and sat up straight. “The entire day was a bust. We only sold eight baskets of
apples. We might as well put the orchard up for sale. The new owners of Apple Haven wanted it, so I might as well start negotiating
a price.”
“No, no, no.” Her expression was fierce. “Come on, Jake. You can’t give up that easily.”
He lifted his palms in a gesture of surrender. “I’m not giving up. I’m facing facts. Apple Haven beat us. My dad can get a
good chunk of change for the land and we can pay for Ally’s education and have enough for my folks to retire well. I’ll find
a job somewhere.” He snorted. “Maybe I can work for the new owners.”
She studied him, and her expression darkened. “That’s what you really want?”
“No, of course not, but I’m facing the truth. I appreciate your enthusiasm and your faith in me, but the orchard is bleeding
money.”
Emily tapped her fingertip on the desk. “I have an idea. What if we—”
“Supper’s ready.”
Jake and Emily spun toward the doorway, where Claire watched them with an unreadable expression on her face.
Great. As if this day couldn’t get any better.
“What are you doing here?” Jake seethed.
Claire grinned at him. “Helping your mom, of course.”
Emily pushed back her chair and stood, and Jake hated the pained expression that flickered over her face. “I’m going to go
wash up,” she muttered before pushing past Claire and hurrying out of the trailer that served as the orchard office.
Jake’s chest pinched with anger. “Claire, you need to stop whatever it is you think you’re doing. I believe I’ve made it clear that we’re through. So why are you still hanging around here?”
Her face seemed to mock him. “You and Emily have gotten awfully close.” She pointed toward the window. “I saw that adorable
kiss you shared earlier.”
His eyes narrowed.
“So you replaced me with her, huh? You said you needed space, but I guess you really needed more than that.”
He shoved his phone into his pocket and stood. His hands shook with the fury surging through his veins. “What I need is none
of your business.”
“Please. This is just a little phase. I know she can’t make you half as happy as I did.”
“Listen, my life is none of your concern. And you need to accept that.”
She winced as if he’d struck her, and he could almost see the gears turning in her mind.
He continued, “I don’t know what you’re trying to prove by sucking up to my folks, but I can see right through it.”
She had the nerve to gasp and press her hand to her chest. “How can you say that? I love your family.”
“Right. Sure you do.” He glared at her. “Why don’t you admit the truth? You’re just trying to worm your way back into my life,
all because you love sticking to your little plans. But it’s not going to work. We’re done. I’ve moved on. And you should too.”
He tried to walk past her, but she blocked the doorway.
Claire gave him an arrogant smile. “I’m helping your parents while you play in the orchard. You need me. And not only do your
parents need me, they love me.”
Jake fought the urge to shout and somehow kept his voice even. “Do us all a favor and just go home.”
“Well, I made supper. So I’m going to go back to the kitchen, and you and your little girlfriend can join us.” Turning on
her high heel, she flounced back toward the house.
Jake rubbed his eye sockets. It was going to be a long night.
“Eight baskets of apples? That’s all you sold all day?” Dad’s fury seemed to bounce off the cabinets.
Silence suffused the kitchen, and Jake ran his tongue over his teeth while he glanced across the table at his father. He could
feel his mother and Claire staring holes into his head, but beside him, Emily was studying her plate of fried chicken, noodles,
and stewed carrots. He longed to grab Emily’s hand and whisk her out to their fort.
But he couldn’t. Instead, he was stuck in the kitchen with his angry father, his irritating ex-girlfriend, his disappointed
mother, and his sad girlfriend. And it was driving him crazy.
“What are you planning to do now?” Dad demanded. “How are you going to pay all of our bills, along with the employees and
Allyson’s tuition? I believe that’s all in the toilet, thanks to your brilliant plan to rebrand the orchard.”
Jake sat up straight. He was almost thirty. He could stand up for himself—and his orchard. “We got off to a bad start, but—”
“A bad start?” A sardonic bark of laughter erupted from deep in Dad’s throat. “I’d call it an abysmal grand opening, not a
bad start. You’ve been insisting that I should step down, that the orchard would be in good hands if I gave you the reins.
But you did exactly what I thought you’d do—you failed.”
Jake held up a trembling hand. “Please, Dad, let me speak.” He took a deep breath. “This was just the first day. We’re going to try again tomorrow.”
“And what makes you think anything is going to change between today and tomorrow?”
“I’m going to post on the orchard’s website and social media accounts,” Emily announced.
Jake’s eyes snapped to hers. He’d been certain she’d given up on him, thanks to Claire’s interference. But Emily’s eyes were
laser-focused on his father. Jake was so overwhelmed with gratitude that he touched her hand, but when she moved it away,
her rejection felt like an ice pick to his heart.
“I’m not giving up, and I hope you won’t either,” Emily said. “I believe in the orchard.” She turned toward Jake. “And I believe
in your son.”
A snort sounded from the far end of the table, where Claire sat.
Jake shot her a look, and she stared defiantly back at him.
Emily swallowed. “I think if we keep publicizing the orchard, then people will come. We can’t throw in the towel after one
bad day. The anniversary celebration is Saturday, and it’s only Wednesday. We have time to promote it and get people in the
door.”
“I agree with Emily,” Mom chimed in. She looked at her husband. “Your parents and grandparents went through hard times, dear,
but they never gave up. In fact, we suffered last year when that terrible storm took out more than half of our crop. We didn’t
give up then, and you can’t now. If you did, what would your father and grandfather say?” Her face dared him to challenge
her.
Preach it, Mom!
Dad opened and closed his mouth before clearing his throat. Then he turned toward Emily. “Well, you go ahead with your posts,
and we’ll see what happens.”
Emily sat back in her seat, a satisfied smile on her face.
Mom looked over at Claire. “This fried chicken is delicious. You’ll have to give me the recipe.”
“Thank you.” Claire beamed. “It’s my grandmother’s. I’ll text it to you.”
While Mom and Claire prattled on about recipes, Jake leaned close to Emily.
“Thanks for saving my butt.”
Her smile faded. “Sure,” she said before taking a bite of chicken.
“You okay?” he asked.
She nodded, but she was avoiding his eyes. “Uh-huh.”
Jake tried to ignore how his worry and guilt nipped at him during the rest of supper. When the excruciating meal was finally
over, Emily excused herself and fled upstairs while Jake hefted Claire’s giant tote bag and pointed to the door. “Let me walk
you out,” he said.
“Oh. Okay.” Claire almost pranced out the front door.
He walked out to her SUV and set the tote bag down. “I’ve had enough. It’s time for you to stop.”
“Stop what?” She batted her long eyelashes at him.
“Stop everything,” he began, his voice rising. “Stop bullying Emily.”
“But I . . . I’m not bullying Emily. What do you mean?”
“Oh, come on! I heard you make a noise when Em said she believed in me at supper. I see the dirty looks you shoot her way.
She’s innocent in all this.” He rested against her car. “Stop pretending to help my mom. Stop chasing after me. You need to
go home and stay away from my family and me. We’re done. Done. Do you understand?”
Claire’s lip began to tremble, and her green eyes filled with tears.
Jake rolled his eyes. Seriously? Not again.
“Please, just give me a chance to explain,” she whined.
“There’s nothing to explain. It’s time for you to go.” He opened the back door and set the tote bag on the seat. “Take care.”
“Wait.”
He turned just as she wrapped her arms around him.
“Claire, stop,” he said, and he tried to push her away, but she locked her arms around his neck. “Stop!”
“Jakey, I miss you,” she whimpered before lifting up on her toes and pressing her mouth to his.
Emily stared out the bedroom window, and her stomach bottomed out.
Claire and Jake were kissing in the driveway.
Kissing!
Bile rose in her throat, and tears built up in her eyes.
She flopped down on the corner of the bed as her sobs broke free and her heart shattered.
You’ll only ever be his friend.
The cruel words played on a loop in her mind.
Claire was right. Emily wasn’t good enough for him and never would be.
Why would Jake want her when he could have beautiful, gorgeous, perfect Claire?
Covering her hands with her face, Emily fell back on the bed as sobs continued to rack her body.