Chapter 25
“You’re not going to believe this.” Maddy, one of Jake’s employees, hurried over to him the following morning. “We’re out
of candied apples and your cider.”
Jake glanced around the orchard and shook his head. The place was buzzing with people. They were moving in and out of the
barn and lining up to buy bushel baskets of apples. This kind of crowd was more than he could’ve dreamed of—because of Emily’s
genius and talent. His heart turned over in his chest.
He’d missed Emily at his parents’ house again this morning, but his mom said she’d left smiling, which was a good sign—he
hoped. She’d told his mom that she’d see her later, which was another good sign that she wasn’t leaving town today.
“Jake.”
He turned as Vince approached him.
“The mayor is here,” Vince said. “It’s almost time to start.”
“Right.” Jake wrung his hands and scanned the area. “Have you seen Emily today?”
Vince shook his head. “Not since early this morning.”
Andi and Seth emerged from the barn, and Jake rushed over to them. “Have you seen Emily?”
A strange expression flickered over Andi’s face. “I know where she is.”
“Where?” Jake asked.
Andi and Seth shared a look before she faced Jake again. “Don’t worry. I’ll get her.”
Jake pointed to the stage, where Carolina Dreamin’ had just wrapped up their first set of the day. “I need her here before
the presentation starts. I have a surprise for her, but please don’t tell her,” he said. “Can you get her?”
“No problem,” Andi said before she headed toward the orchard.
Seth patted Jake’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. My wife will handle it.”
Jake hoped so as he headed toward the mayor. “Mayor Fairmount,” he called. “Good morning.”
A rustling noise sounded from the nearby bushes.
“Em!” Andi called. “It’s almost time for the presentation.”
Emily checked the time on her phone and gasped. “Oh no. I didn’t realize how late it was.” She stood up from behind the easel
and checked the drawing. It wasn’t done. “I need to finish this. I’ll be there in a little while.”
“No,” Andi insisted. “I need you to come now.” She hurried down the dock toward her.
Emily studied her friend. “Why?”
Andi huffed at her. “Just come, okay?” she said.
Emily studied her drawing. She’d wanted to paint it, but she’d run out of time.
She had to settle for a drawing, but if Jake liked it, and she hoped he did, then she’d paint another version of it later.
She moved her fingers over the edges, and her pulse skipped while she imagined presenting it to him and telling him that she loved him.
Saying those words out loud after all these years would be—
“Hey!” Andi touched her arm. “Get out of your head and come with me.”
“What’s the rush?”
“We gotta go. Jake’s looking for you.” She groaned. “Please don’t ask me any more questions, okay?”
Was Jake planning something for her just like she was planning something for him?
She looked at the drawing again. Well, she’d done all that she could. She’d have to finish it after she gave it to Jake. She
set it in a box and then tied it with twine.
She thought her heart might beat out of her chest as she picked up the box. Everything needed to be perfect. “Do I look okay?”
Andi smiled. “You look beautiful.” She touched Emily’s French braid and glanced down at her colorful dress. “I love that dress—especially
with the high-tops.”
“You know I love my Converse.”
Andi grabbed her hand and tugged her. “Come on.”
Emily followed Andi off the dock, down the path, and into the grove of trees. The voices of customers milling around the orchard
drifted over her. When they reached the barn, she found a knot of people gathered around it, and she smiled. She was so grateful
that the anniversary celebration had attracted the crowd that Jake and his parents had hoped for.
Jake stood on the stage with his parents and the mayor.
Emily’s gaze roved over Jake. He had never looked more handsome.
His chiseled jaw was clean-shaven, and he wore a pair of khaki trousers, a blue-and-gray-plaid shirt, and black shoes.
His signature ball cap was missing, and his sandy-blond hair was wavy and perfectly styled.
His blue eyes scanned the audience, and she wondered if they were searching for her.
Mayor Fairmount, a middle-aged man with gray hair, dark eyes, and thick horn-rimmed glasses, approached the podium. “Good
morning. I’m George Fairmount, the mayor of Splendid Lake, and I’m honored to be part of this special celebration. Some of
my favorite childhood memories are of coming to the Hughes Family Orchard in the fall with my parents and siblings to buy
apples. This orchard has been a part of our town’s history for a century now, and I’m so grateful that the Hughes family has
kept this tradition alive.”
He lifted a framed document and slipped reading glasses on his nose. “In honor of the orchard’s one hundredth anniversary,
I’d like to declare today Hughes Day.” He turned toward Jake and his family. “I’d like the Hughes family to come here and
accept this.”
The audience clapped as the mayor handed the declaration to Leon. A few hoots and whistles sounded.
Leon and Diane made their way to the microphone, and the mayor took a seat on one of the chairs on the stage.
Leon cleared his throat. “Thank you, Mayor. It’s an honor to share this stage with you. I’m Leon Hughes. My grandfather started
this orchard many, many years ago. Well . . . I guess it was a hundred years ago,” he said. “When I was a boy, I never imagined
I’d be standing on this stage celebrating a hundred years of the orchard, but here we are.” He paused. “This orchard is more
than a place; it’s my home, my heart. It’s where I grew up, where I brought my beautiful bride.” He glanced over at Diane.
“And where we raised our two children.” He smiled at Jake, and Emily’s heart swelled.
Then he returned his focus to the crowd.
“I’ve seen many ups and downs here. We’ve had good years and bad years with the crop, but one thing has always been constant, and that’s my love for this orchard.
” He cleared his throat. “This year, my son insisted we make some changes and modernize things. I was against it. I was focused on tradition, but my son made me realize that you can honor tradition while also changing with the times and with the community, and he was right. I’m proud of this orchard and all of the changes.
” He looked at Jake again. “And I’m so proud of you, son.
Thank you for loving the orchard as much as I do. I know I’m leaving it in good hands.”
Jake nodded and mouthed, “Thank you” to his father, and Emily wiped her eyes.
Leon glanced around at the audience. “Thank you all for coming today. This orchard has been my family’s legacy, and it means
the world to us that you all continue to come here and allow us to share our home with you. We hope you enjoy your time here
today and that you’ll come back again. It’s our honor to grow apples for our friends and neighbors. We hope we can do it for
many years to come.”
The crowd clapped enthusiastically, and then Leon made a sweeping gesture toward Jake. “Now here’s my son,” he said before
he and Diane sat down in the chairs lining the stage.
Jake crossed to the podium, pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, unfolded it, and smoothed it out.
“Good morning,” he said. “I’m Jake Hughes. My dad and I have managed the orchard together for years, but this year he wanted
me to take over. When I said I wanted to plan a celebration, Dad wasn’t too keen on it. You know how it can be between fathers
and sons.” He grinned over at his father, and a ripple of laughter spread across the audience. “I wanted to do something special,
so I knew I needed someone to help me. And that’s why I called my best friend. Well, I texted her, and I begged her to come
home.”
He paused and rubbed his chin. “This celebration never would’ve happened without her help, and she’s really special to me.” His eyes once again raked over the crowd, and when they found Emily, a small smile lifted the corners of his lips, and his stiff posture relaxed.
She took in his gorgeous face, and a thousand butterflies fluttered in her chest.
“I’m thankful she’s here today.” He took a deep breath. “She not only came up with the idea of turning the old barn into a
market, but she also painted that incredible mural.” He pointed to the barn behind him. “She’s the reason why you’re all here
today, and she’s the reason why I’m the man I am today.”
Jake’s bright blue eyes focused on her. “Emily, you came into my life like a whirlwind when we were only five years old. You
showed up in my orchard, introduced yourself, and informed me that I was going to be your best friend whether I liked it or
not.” A grin overtook his handsome face as more laughter drifted over the audience. “Truer words have never been spoken. Get
up here, because I have something I need to say to you, and I want this crowd to be my witnesses.”
Emily hesitated and scanned the enormous crowd. Was Jake crazy? He expected her to walk up onto that stage in front of all
of those people?
“Emily,” Jake said. “Come on.”
She shook her head.
“Oh, now you’re shy?” He chuckled and then addressed the crowd. “Everyone, give it up for Emily Carmichael. Show her how much you
appreciate that mural.”
Claps, hoots, and whistles erupted, and Emily was certain her face would spontaneously combust.
“Go on.” Andi gave her a gentle nudge. “Get up there.”
Emily spun toward her. “You knew about this?”
Andi rolled her eyes. “Stop being so stubborn and get your rear end up there.”
Emily headed toward the stairs, and the clapping increased.
Jake held his hand out to her and guided her up the stairs, and she set the box down on an empty chair. Then he continued
over to the podium, where he cleared his throat, and the clapping subsided. “Emily Carmichael, you’re my best friend. You’re
the one who has always believed in me and encouraged me to follow my dreams. You never tried to change me or make me into
someone I wasn’t.”