Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
NATALIE
Jasper's hand was warm and steady in mine as we approached the front door of his parents' home. My heart pounded in a frantic rhythm that threatened to drown out all other sounds.
"You okay?" Jasper asked, his thumb tracing circles on my skin.
I nodded, unable to speak. What if they hate me now? What if I ruined everything?
Before I had the chance to torture myself further, the door swung open. Emma stood there, her eyes widening as they landed on our joined hands.
"Natalie," she gasped, and for a second, I was frozen, unable to read her expression.
Then she pulled me into a rib-cracking hug. "Oh, sweetheart, we've been so worried."
I melted into her arms, fighting back a sob of relief. When she finally released me, I saw Jay standing behind her, his weathered face grave and concerned.
"Come in, both of you," he said, waving us inside.
The warmth of the Everton home wrapped around me the instant I crossed the threshold. Family photos lined the walls, joyful moments frozen in time. My gaze caught on one of Jasper and me at our high school graduation, smiling and carefree. In that instant, I wanted to step back into that world, where my only worries were homework and squeezing out as many precious seconds with Jasper as I could.
Stop it. It's grown-up time now. No more running away.
I gave myself a shake, and we made our way to the living room, where Chase and Elliot were already seated. Chase's eyes darted between Jasper and me, his expression wary. Elliot offered a small smile, but his shoulders were set and tense.
I perched on the edge of the couch, grateful for Jasper's solid presence beside me. The air in the room felt heavy and fraught. Emma settled into her armchair, her fingers twisting the hem of her cardigan. Jay stood behind her, one hand resting on her shoulder.
Jasper cleared his throat. It sounded startlingly loud in the silent room. "Thanks for coming together like this," he began. "As you know, we've discovered some... issues with the orchard's finances."
Five pairs of eyes turned to me, their gazes a mix of curiosity, concern, and—in Chase's case—a hint of accusation. My cheeks burned, and I resisted the impulse to squirm under their scrutiny.
"Natalie's been working on figuring out what happened," Jasper continued, placing a reassuring hand on my knee. "And she has some thoughts on how we can move forward."
This was it. Don't mess this up.
"The discrepancies started about six months ago. It looked like Dad's illness affected his work more than we realized. He?—"
"So, it's your father's fault?" Chase interrupted.
Jasper stiffened beside me, but before he could respond, Jay spoke up. "Let her finish, Son."
I shot Jay a grateful look before continuing. "It's not just the orchard. Several local businesses?—"
A sudden crash from the kitchen made us all jump. Emma leapt to her feet, her face pale.
"Oops. Broke a glass. Sorry, Em."
The raspy male voice drifted in from the kitchen. A few seconds later, Nana and Papa Everton hobbled into the room. Papa guided Nana to a seat on the couch between Chase and Elliot. Both twins leaned in to give their grandmother a kiss on the cheek.
"Heard there was a family meeting. Our invitation must've gotten lost in the post," Nana said.
"You scared the shit out of me." Emma blew out a long breath and rubbed a hand over her chest.
"Language, Mother."
Despite the awful situation, I had to fight to keep a straight face as Emma glared at Chase.
"Carry on, Natalie," Papa Everton said.
"The discrepancies aren't isolated to Ever Eden," I continued, my voice wavering. "Several local businesses were affected by Dad's... oversights."
I should've noticed sooner. I should've been there for him.
"How bad is it?" Elliot leaned forward, frowning.
I tried to respond, but the guilt constricted my throat, choking off my words. My eyes darted around the room, unable to settle on any one face.
"Natalie, dear," Emma's gentle voice cut through my panic. "Let me get you some water."
She rose, patting my shoulder as she passed. The simple gesture of kindness made me feel even worse. I didn't deserve it.
"Thanks," I croaked.
She returned with the water, and I took a grateful sip, using the moment to collect myself.
"The orchard's losses are significant," I said, my voice steadier now. "But I think with some restructuring and?—"
"How significant?" Elliot asked. "Thousands?"
I grimaced. "More like tens of thousands."
Another horrible silence fell over the room.
Chase, who had been unexpectedly quiet, finally spoke up. "What does this mean for the orchard's future? Are we gonna lose it?"
The worry in his voice brought me up short. I looked up, meeting his eyes for the first time since I started speaking. He looked like an anxious little boy who'd just heard Christmas might be canceled.
"I don't know," I admitted softly. "But I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that doesn't happen. "
Jay paced the room. I held my breath, waiting for the anger, the disappointment, the blame.
But when he turned to face me, his expression was thoughtful, almost... grateful?
"Natalie," he said, perching on the arm of Emma's chair and sliding an arm around her shoulders. "Thank you for your honesty and diligence in uncovering these problems."
"I... what?"
"You heard me. This situation isn't your fault. You've done us a great service by bringing it to light."
Emma nodded, reaching out to pat my hand. "We're grateful. Truly."
I looked around the room, waiting for the other shoe to drop. But all I saw were nods of agreement and fixed, determined looks.
Elliot sat up straight, his eyes intense. "We'll figure this out. Right, Chase?"
Chase looked at me. I saw a flicker of the boy I used to know—mischievous, loyal, fiercely protective of his family. "Yeah," he said gruffly. "We've got this."
Jasper put an arm around me, and I leaned into his warmth. "See?" he whispered. "I told you they'd understand."
A lump rose in my throat. Their acceptance and support were overwhelming.
Nana Everton cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention. "Well, now that we've got all that sorted," she said, leaning a hand on Chase's shoulder and heaving herself upright, "who's up for some pie?"
Nana's mention of pie broke the tension, a few people even managed a feeble chuckle. "Before we dig into that pie," I said, my voice trembling slightly, "I'd like to share some ideas I've been working on."
The room went quiet again, all eyes on me. But this time, their gaze felt different—supportive, encouraging.
"First, we need to streamline operations. I've identified several areas where we can cut costs without sacrificing quality."
As I spoke, my voice grew stronger. I outlined my ideas for modernizing the orchard's accounting systems, exploring new revenue streams, and leveraging local partnerships. With each word, I felt a spark of the old Natalie—the one who thrived on challenges and believed in her ability to overcome them.
Jasper's hand on my knee grounded me. I glanced at him and saw pride and love shining in his eyes.
"We could also consider expanding into organic products," I continued, warming to my subject. "There's a growing market for?—"
"Organic?" Chase interrupted. "Like, pesticide-free apples and stuff?"
I nodded, grateful for his interest. "Exactly. It would require some changes in growing practices, but the potential profit margins are significant."
Elliot snapped his fingers. "What about agritourism? We've talked about it before but never really pursued it."
"That's a great idea!" I said. "We could offer orchard tours, maybe even set up a small bed-and-breakfast."
As we continued to brainstorm, something shifted in the room. The fear and tension melted away, replaced by a sense of shared purpose and more than a hint of the trademark Everton obstinacy. I should've known they wouldn't go down without a fight.
"Oh, Natalie," Emma said, her eyes glistening. "We've missed your spark around here."
Affection and gratitude washed over me. All I could do was return her smile. If I tried to speak, I would have burst into tears.
"So," Jay said, with a hint of his old mischievous grin, "when do we start?"
I excused myself from the family gathering, scanning the room for Elliot. I spotted him in a quiet corner, nursing a beer and observing the family's interactions with that keen gaze of his.
He looked up as I approached. "Natalie." He spoke in his usual quiet, measured tone, but a faint knowing smile animated his features. Without another word, he set down his bottle and motioned toward the back door with his head.
I followed him out to the barn, the cool night air a welcome respite from the stuffy house. Moonlight filtered through the slats, casting long shadows across the dusty floor.
Moving with purpose, Elliot reached into a tool bench, rummaging for a moment before turning back to me. In his hands was a polished wooden object.
My breath caught as recognition dawned. The preserved carving of Jasper's and my initials from the old tree. I reached out, fingers trembling as I traced the familiar grooves, worn smooth by time.
"How...?" I whispered, unable to finish the question.
Elliot's eyes crinkled at the corners. "I salvaged it when we had to cut down that old oak a few years ago. Couldn't bear to let it go."
I clutched the carving to my chest, groping for adequate words of thanks.
"He never stopped loving you, you know," Elliot said, his voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart.
I sniffed and wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. "I never stopped loving him either. I-I was so scared of..."
The wooden carving felt warm against my chest, a piece of the past I thought I'd lost forever. I looked up at Elliot, hoping my expression conveyed how much this meant to me.
Elliot's hand settled on my shoulder, solid and comforting. "I'm glad you came home, Natalie."
I smiled shakily, running my fingers over the carved initials. "Thank you, Elliot. For keeping this. For everything."
He didn't say anything. He simply nodded. But I knew he understood. We stood there in companionable silence, the barn creaking softly around us.