Chapter 24
The mid-afternoon sun was warm on her back as Emily kept painting. The inspiration for the mural had hit her like a bolt of
lightning last night while she sat on her childhood swing, and once she started sketching the piece, she couldn’t stop. She’d
finished the draft after midnight and then sneaked into Jake’s folks’ house to grab a few hours of sleep. She’d spent most
of the night crying and replaying the horrible scene at Claire’s parents’ house, and she’d decided then that she would paint
the mural and then leave for Charlotte to try to rebuild her shattered life without Jake.
She’d dragged herself out of bed at dawn, eaten a piece of toast, and then hurried out to the barn, where she’d managed to
assemble the scaffolding they’d used to paint the barn and then climbed up and started drawing. She’d poured all of her heartache
and grief into the mural, and she had to agree with Jake—it was the best piece she’d ever painted.
While she worked, she noticed a parade of visitors walk past the barn and also slow down on the street to watch her. Finally, the orchard was busy. She was thankful that Jake and his family were getting the traffic they’d hoped for.
Her throat thickened as her thoughts shifted to Jake and the heartfelt words he’d spoken to her earlier in the day. While
she was starting to believe that Claire had set up the dinner both to hurt Emily and to somehow trap Jake into a life of wedded
bliss (What planet is she from? Emily thought), she still couldn’t understand why he hadn’t immediately called out Claire for her lie. And why couldn’t Jake
stand up for Emily? Why was he so embarrassed to tell the world that they were together? How could Emily believe Jake might
love her if he didn’t have the courage to declare his feelings to his own parents?
All that made sense was that she still wasn’t good enough for him, and that truth ripped her to shreds. Tears began to spring
from her eyes for what felt like the millionth time that day.
Hold on, Em. Just a little bit longer. You’re almost done.
“Excuse me!”
Emily kept painting and ignored the voice. Surely the person wasn’t calling her.
“Um, hello up there! Are you Emily Carmichael?”
She stilled and then turned toward the ground, where a woman stood holding a fancy camera. “Yes?”
“I’m with the Splendid Lake Times, and I’d like to get a photo of you with the mural. Would you mind smiling for me?”
“Oh.” Emily touched her hair, which she’d styled in a messy braid. “Why would you want to take my picture?”
The woman gestured around the orchard. “You haven’t noticed?
Your talent has drawn a huge crowd today.
The mural went viral on social media, and now traffic’s bumper-to-bumper out on the highway—people want to get a good look for themselves.
I was just talking to the orchard owner, Jake Hughes, and he said the phone has been ringing off the hook all day long.
A news station was pulling in when I got here.
I think you’re going to wind up on the news all over the state, if not around the nation. ”
“Really?” Emily asked, and her stomach pitched.
“Yeah, really.” She grinned. “Now, would you mind smiling?”
Emily stood beside the mural and gave her cheesiest smile, and the camera clicked before the photographer gave her a thumbs-up.
“The mural is really fantastic. It shows what makes this community so special. Thank you for sharing your talent with the
world,” the photographer said before ambling down the path.
Emily stared after the woman.
Thank you for sharing your talent with the world.
The words played through Emily’s mind on a loop as she recalled Jake begging her to open a gallery.
Maybe he was right. Maybe she should sell her paintings.
And maybe he really loves you, Emily, but you pushed him away before he got a chance to tell you.
She swallowed back a ball of grief rising in her throat.
She couldn’t allow her emotions to derail her. She had a job to do, which was finishing the mural.
“Emily?”
She peeked down as a man she recognized from the evening news hurried toward the barn, with another man holding a camera following
close behind.
Am I living in an alternate universe right now?
“Hi! I’m Chuck Miller from Channel Four News, and I heard about this incredible mural you’ve painted for the orchard’s hundredth
anniversary. It’s the talk of the town. I’d like to get some shots for our evening broadcast. What do you say?”
“Uh. Sure?” Emily shrugged.
“Great. So tell me, how long have you been painting?”
She leaned on the scaffolding. “All my life.”
“Are you a professional artist?” Chuck asked.
“I’d like to be.”
The man pointed toward the mural. “From what I can see here, you certainly should be. What was your inspiration for this mural?”
“Well.” Her hand flew to her mother’s rings on her necklace, and she began moving the rings back and forth. “Honestly, my
love of Splendid Lake and this orchard. It’s my home.” Her words quivered, and she cleared her throat.
“That’s beautiful,” he said. “Well, thank you for your time. You can go back to painting, and we’re going to take some video.
Just pretend we’re not here.”
Emily turned her focus back to the mural, and while she worked, she considered what she’d told the reporter.
Splendid Lake was her home. She loved the orchard, the lake, and Jake more than anything in the world. She knew to the depth of her bones that
she wanted to make things work with Jake. But could she trust him?
All Emily knew for sure was that she’d be shattered if she had to leave him again. She just didn’t know how to convince her
heart and her head to let go of her doubts.
Jake rested his chin on his palm while he spoke to another reporter on the phone.
He hadn’t been able to leave his office in more than three hours.
Thanks to Emily’s mural, which had gone viral on social media after Vince had snapped a photo of it, the phone had been ringing off the hook.
He’d heard from vendors who called begging to move their business to the orchard, reporters who wanted to interview him and Emily, and folks who wanted to double-check the times for the celebration tomorrow.
The anniversary celebration was going to be a success because of Emily.
Emily.
He needed to figure out how to win her back, but he didn’t have a moment to think about it with the constant phone calls.
After answering the last round of questions, he hung up the phone and rubbed his eyes.
The phone rang again, and he growled. When was it going to end?
“Hughes Family Orchard, this is Jake,” he said into the phone.
“I’m Melissa Gomez, and I’m calling from Mayor Fairmount’s office.”
Jake sat up straight. “How can I help you?”
“The mayor heard about a mural that one of your employees is painting, and he asked me to research what’s going on there at
your orchard. I checked out your website and Instagram page and saw that you’re having a hundredth anniversary celebration
tomorrow.”
“That’s—that’s true.”
“Well, you may already be aware that Mayor Fairmount likes to be involved in community events, and he wants to participate
in your anniversary celebration. Would that be possible?”
Jake was speechless for a moment, and then he found his words. “That would be fantastic. I’m planning a ceremony.” He pulled
out the event schedule and ran through it with Melissa. “Would it work for the mayor to say a few words at the beginning?”
“Absolutely. Your orchard is important to our community, and he would love to be there to share how much it has meant to him
and his family.”
Jake shook his head. He had to be dreaming. “I can’t tell you how much that means to my family and me.”
“We’ll see you tomorrow,” Melissa said before she hung up.
Jake disconnected the call and stared at the phone. Jake had never imagined that the mayor of Splendid Lake would invite himself
to the Hughes Family Orchard’s anniversary celebration. He had to be dreaming!
A knock sounded on the office door. “Come in,” he called.
“That mural,” Mom gushed as she and Dad entered the office. “It’s stupendous!”
Mom and Dad each sat on a chair in front of his desk.
“And the orchard is so busy,” Dad added, shaking his head. “I haven’t seen a crowd like this in years. The barn was packed
with vendors and customers when we walked by too.”
Jake reclined in the chair. “The phone hasn’t stopped ringing all day. The mayor invited himself to participate in the ceremony
tomorrow.”
Mom and Dad shared surprised expressions.
Dad leaned over and tapped the desk. “Jake, you were right. This was a grand idea.” He paused for a moment. “I’m sorry for
not believing in you.” He took a deep breath. “I was wrong. You’ve more than proven yourself during these past few months.
And I never should have said that your ideas were harebrained. They’re brilliant and innovative. And I’m grateful for everything
you’ve done to keep our family’s legacy alive. It’s obvious that you’re putting your heart and soul into this place. You deserve
your chance to run things, and I’m ready to let go and let you.”
Jake swore he could hear his dad’s breath catch.
“So, please, son. Forgive me for the terrible things I’ve said. I’m truly proud of you.”
Jake nodded, and his eyes felt wet.
Mom rubbed Dad’s shoulder. “We’re both so very proud of you.”
Jake cleared his throat and tried to keep his emotions at bay. “Thanks.”
“Did Emily tell you she was going to paint that mural?” Dad asked.
Jake shook his head and focused on Mom. “Did you tell Dad the truth?”
“About you and Claire?” she asked, and Jake nodded. “I did. He said he had a feeling it wasn’t true.”
Jake’s gaze whipped to his father’s. “You did?”
Dad gave him a knowing smile. “The shock was apparent on your face. I could tell you hadn’t proposed.” He paused for a moment.
“Truth be told, I’ve always thought Claire was full of herself and you could do better.”
Jake couldn’t stop his laughter from bursting from his throat. “You were right.”
His father eyed him. “I also got the feeling that something was going on between you and Emily.”