11. Emmy
ELEVEN
Emmy
When I show up on Wednesday to watch Ollie, Hattie greets me at the door with a boatload of thank-yous. Apparently, she was super relieved thanks to all the cleaning I did the other day, and she actually had time to relax.
“You have no idea how nice it was to fall asleep on the couch with something other than cereal for dinner.” Hattie smiles.
“I get it. My mom was a single parent, and while she was amazing, I saw how tough it was. I just wanted to help out where I could,” I explain.
Being raised by a single mom, you see things differently.
There were times when she was exhausted but managed to come home and clean the house.
Or help my brother and me with homework, despite working a twelve-hour shift at the hospital.
She was a nurse, which kept our family afloat, but most days she was running on fumes.
I didn’t notice it when I was a kid, but when I was older it was hard not to notice.
So, I cleaned up after myself more and tried to help out in the kitchen where I could.
Giving back, even a little, was my way of showing my mom how much she meant to me.
“I appreciate it. I’ll be on the orchard today; I have to check up on the animals, so if you need me, it might just be easier to come over. The service there is a little bit spotty,” Hattie explains.
“Got it, thank you.” I say.
“Bye, Love Bug!” Hattie calls to Ollie, who is still upstairs getting dressed.
“Bye, Mom!” he calls back, and I lock the door behind Hattie.
Ollie comes down a few minutes later with a new book in hand and asks to go to the bakery.
“Like the one in town?” I raise an eyebrow.
“No, Auntie Lina’s.” He smiles. “You know, the one that’s on the orchard,” he reminds me.
“Oh! Right, I forgot there’s one here. Sure, I could go for a coffee. Do we need to take my car?” I ask, unsure if it’s a walkable distance.
“No, we can walk if you have shoes,” he says, looking at my bare feet.
“Of course I have shoes.” I laugh. “Go get yours on and we can go.”
It ends up being a fifteen-minute walk through grassy dirt paths, which I guess is why Ollie made sure I have shoes. I internally laugh at the name of the bakery, Get Baked, which clearly must go over Ollie’s head because he doesn’t say anything about it.
The first thing I notice is how good it smells inside; not only is it the usual bakery smell, but it’s also a mixture of pumpkin and apples.
Inside is adorable; everything is fall-themed with dark orange walls, wooden furniture, and warm autumn colors.
There are red and yellow autumn leaves and branches painted on the walls, and a large fall tree sitting in the middle of the shop like a Christmas tree.
“Ollie-pop!” A redhead woman from behind the counter smiles, and Ollie runs over to her.
“Auntie L!” he exclaims.
“It’s Emmy, right?” She looks at me and smiles. Her hair is lighter than mine, more strawberry-blonde, and I can’t tell if it is natural or not, but it suits her. Her eyes are light, blueish-green, and her tan skin is covered in freckles.
“Yes, I’m the new nanny.” I shake her manicured hand and notice an array of tattoos going up her wrists under the back of her long-sleeve shirt.
“I’m Lina; this is my bakery, and I’m one of Hattie’s best friends.
” She smirks at me in a way that makes me believe she knows more about me than I thought.
I blush, and she winks, only confirming my suspicions.
I don’t blame Hattie for telling her friend about what happened with us; it’s just catching me off guard.
“We came for hot cocoa and muffins,” Ollie instructs her.
“Actually, could I have a coffee?” I need the caffeine to keep up with Ollie for the day.
“Of course, anything special? We have a killer Pumpkin CBD latte,” Lina says, walking behind the front counter.
“While that sounds great, I’ll raincheck. A regular pumpkin latte sounds delicious, and one of those pumpkin scones, please. And whatever Ollie wants.” I reach for my wallet, but Lina waves me off.
“Hattie and Ollie are family, don’t worry about money here,” Lina explains.
“A pumpkin chocolate chip muffin, please,” Ollie says.
“Thank you,” I say at the same time.
“Have a seat, and I’ll bring everything out,” Lina says, and Ollie runs over to a table in the front.
“I like sitting here, that way I can see everything out the window,” Ollie says.
“Ollie! What’s going on, little man?” a butch blond says, walking into the bakery. Dressed in a blue flannel and work jeans, she looks a bit like a lumberjack—except for the tousled short hair.
“Aunt Tilly!” He jumps up, hugging her, and I sort of wonder if I’m supposed to keep letting him hug everyone. Hattie didn’t leave instructions about this, but I assume it’s fine.
“Sorry, I’m Tilly. Ollie and Hattie are in the house next door to mine.” Tilly is holding Ollie up but extends a hand to reach mine.
“Gotcha, I’m Emmy. It seems like Ollie knows everyone around here, but I’m the new nanny,” I explain.
“If it’s us, we’re like Ollie’s extended family. We’ve all known him since he was born,” Tilly says. “I actually just saw your mama, Ollie-pop. She was taking care of the new piglets.”
“Oh my gosh! Can we go see them!?” Ollie asks excitedly, looking between Tilly and me.
“Maybe later?” Tilly answers for me. “Your mom needs time to clean and check them all out. But I reckon later in the day would be nice to see them. Maybe bring your mom something from here to snack on?” Tilly asks.
“Oh yes!” Ollie looks at me.
“Hattie often forgets to feed herself, especially if she’s working. I try to bring her things so she actually remembers to eat,” Tilly explains quietly.
“Here we are.” Lina brings over our drinks and pastries to the table.
Tilly and Lina exchange hellos as Ollie invites them both to join us.
I take a sip of my latte as they both sit down, and it feels like I’m about to be interrogated.
I’m not sure whether it is on Ollie’s behalf or for Hattie’s sake.
Either way, I don’t mind; they care, and they probably want to make sure I am good for either of them, maybe both.
“So, where did you move here from?” Tilly asks.
“Seaside, Oregon.”
“Why the move?” Lina asks.
“Uh, actually my dad died. I was originally just in town to sell his house, but I saw the job opportunity and decided to stay for a while,” I explain a little awkwardly.
“I’m sorry.” Tilly winces.
“We just lost someone we loved too. Things haven’t been the same without Benny around here.” Lina sighs.
“I miss Benny; she took care of me before when Mama was at work.” Ollie frowns into his muffin.
“Well, I hope Miss Benny is as nice to my dad as she was to you, wherever they are,” I say. “What’s your favorite memory of her?”
“Playing with the chickens. Mama would worry they would bite me, but Benny would take me, and I’d chase them all the time. I only got bitten a few times.” Ollie shrugs it off.
“Nice.” Tilly mouths to me. At least I was passing one of their obvious tests. Not that it matters; Hattie and I have shut the door on that.
“So, what do you do on the orchard?” I ask Tilly, hoping I could take a bit of the spotlight off me.
“I don’t think I have an official title, but I do a little of everything. If you need anything fixed or put together, I’m your gal,” Tilly explains.
“Gotcha.” I nod. “And is that all who lives here?” I ask.
“No, Benny’s niece lives on the property, too. She just inherited it, actually,” Lina explains.
“It’s Auntie T’s girlfriend,” Ollie says, teasing Tilly.
Everyone laughs and Tilly rolls her eyes. “Yes, she’s my girlfriend. Thanks, Ollie.”
“You’re welcome.” Ollie says not realizing Tilly’s sarcasm.
Tilly’s attention seems to drift off while Lina fills me in on the names of the other crew and grounds people who work during the week. Apparently on the weekends it can get crazy with all the tourists and people exploring the grounds.
“What are you two up to today?” Tilly asks.
“Just exploring the grounds; I wanna take Emmy on a tour of the place,” Ollie says proudly. So that was his plan all along.
“Sounds good to me. I’d love to see all the fun spots; I only saw the place where the masquerade party was,” I say, realizing I’ve almost let it slip about Hattie and me.
“You went to the party?! My mom went to that too!” Ollie exclaims.
“Oh!” I say. “How fun. Are you ready to go exploring?” I ask, attempting to change the subject.
“Okay!” He jumps up, throwing his empty hot cocoa cup into the garbage and bringing the plate back to Lina at the counter.
“Nice save there; I should get back but let me know if you or Ollie need anything. I assume Hattie gave you my number,” Tilly says.
“Yeah, I got it.” I nod.
Ollie comes back just as my phone begins to buzz.
“Give me one second,” I tell Ollie, and he nods. I step a few feet away and pick up.
“Hello?” I say.
“Hi, Emmy, is this an okay time? I have big news,” my real estate agent, Roxy, says on the other end. She’s been mostly communicating by email until now, so I am surprised by the call.
“Sure, what’s going on?” I ask hesitantly.
“So, I got an offer well above asking. But the thing is, they’re looking to move in ASAP, like as early as next week.”
“What?!” I ask. “Is that even possible?”
“I mean, if you’re able to clear the house and let them pay to have the papers expedited, it’s certainly possible. I did tell them you weren’t looking to move so soon, but they asked me to ask. It’s thirty grand above asking if you’re out before the middle of the month,” Roxy says.
I do the mental math; the house is worth almost $650,000 already. Why are these people willing to pay that much over asking?
“Are you there? Did I lose you?” Roxy asks.
“No, sorry, I’m here…” I pause. “Is it possible to think about it?”
“Of course, I can’t imagine they’d find somewhere else overnight.
The town only has a few properties up for grabs right now, and they are insistent on staying in town.
So take the night and get back to me in the morning, okay?
” she asks. I sigh. I was hoping for more like a few days, not a few hours.
“Uh, sure.” I nod. What are my choices?
I hang up and immediately call Eric, who of course doesn’t pick up.
Am I crazy to sell my dad’s home? It isn’t like I’m going to live in it long-term, but then where am I going to live?
But am I crazy to try and keep it? I can’t afford the mortgage on that place.
It isn’t like I can leave Sapphire Falls yet either; my time here isn’t up yet.