Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley (Arcadia Valley Romance Book 0)

by Mary Jane Hathaway

  Chapter 6

  “Thanks for making dinner, Jo.” Cameron pushed back in his chair. “We missed you on Saturday, didn’t we, boys?”

  “We had burgers and fries,” Oliver informed her.

  “What kind of veggies?” she teased.

  Evan shuddered. “We don’t like veggies.”

  Joanna pointed to the scant leftovers. “But you just polished off a whole bunch of roasted carrots and parsnips.”

  Cameron laughed. “That’s why we need you, obviously.”

  “What did you do before I moved to Arcadia Valley?” She was only half kidding.

  “A lot of take-out.”

  “I can’t believe you never learned to cook. These growing boys need well-rounded nutrition.”

  Cameron shook his head, grimacing. “The cooking ship sailed without me. Besides, I didn’t order burgers and fries or pizza every night. We like Mexican food, and El Corazon does takeout. And then there’s Demi’s Delights. Lots of options for a town this size.”

  By the skeptical way the boys had stared at plates and forks a few weeks ago, let alone carrots and zucchini, Joanna hadn’t been certain they’d seen real food before. “I can kind of see it on workdays but, seriously, Cameron? You can’t not cook forever.”

  “Don’t tell me you’re leaving us,” her brother teased. “One date with Grady Akers and you’re dreaming of better things?”

  Evan plunked both elbows on the table. “What’s a date?”

  Cameron ruffled his son’s hair. “Nothing you need to worry about until you’re an old man like Daddy.”

  “I like Mr. Grady,” announced Oliver. “Did you have veggies for supper with him?”

  Busted. “Um, there were some on our pizza.”

  Cameron’s eyes danced.

  “Does that count, Dad?” asked Evan.

  “I don’t know.” He smirked. “Better ask your aunt. She’s the expert.”

  “It was really good pizza. We stopped at the Train House in Buhl. Have you ever been there?”

  “Can’t say that I have.” Cameron stood. “Help Aunt Jonah clear the table, boys.”

  “Aw, do we have to?” Evan asked with a whine.

  “It’s woman’s work,” announced Oliver.

  “It’s called being helpful,” answered Cameron. “Say, sis, did you make any dessert?”

  “No, I didn’t have time. Didn’t I tell you about the potential client who called?”

  “You did.” He winked. “Just hoped you’d had a chance to whip up something before or after that.”

  The twins each carried their own plate — all but licked clean, she noticed — into the kitchen.

  Joanna glanced over her shoulder. They seemed well occupied for the moment. “Cameron, I’m a bit concerned.”

  “About what? Are the boys misbehaving?

  “No, not really.” She hesitated. “It’s you I’m worried about.”

  “Me? No need. I’m doing well, thank you. Especially since you came and rescued us.”

  “That’s the thing, Cameron. I’m here as a stopgap. And frankly, I’m concerned that you’re not looking to your own future.”

  “What do you mean? I’m working toward a promotion at work. I’m providing stability for the boys. We’re making it just fine without Lisa.”

  How quickly he’d forgotten. “When are you going to start dating?”

  Cameron narrowed his gaze. “I wasn’t really planning to, thanks.”

  “The boys need someone permanent in their life. Someone who loves them and takes care of them. They need a mom.”

  “They’ve got you now.”

  Had he always been this dense? “Do you think I’ll stay right here for the next ten years or more, Cameron? Really?”

  By the look on his face, he obviously had thought that.

  “I’m temporary. I’m not saying I’m moving out of Arcadia Valley, at least not if I can keep attracting new clients, but this arrangement isn’t permanent.”

  “You’ve only been here three weeks, Jo. Are you really planning to ditch us so quickly?”

  She shook her head. “I’m worried about you, is all. It’s not just the boys who need someone. You do, too.”

  His face darkened. “I don’t need another Lisa.”

  “Women aren’t all like her, Cameron. Don’t be an old man before your time. I’m only suggesting you take a look around. Examine your own life and then ask God to give you direction. He will.”

  Cameron’s eyebrows rose. “Now you’re a specialist in relationships, too?”

  “No, I’m definitely not an expert. But it did me no good to think all men were users like Pierce, either. You’re not like him. Millions of men aren’t. I just needed to remember.”

  “Look, I know you mean well, but the church isn’t so keen on divorced people remarrying. You had a failed relationship. That’s not the same.”

  “Cameron, Lisa is the one who left without looking back. She’s the one who was sleeping with your best friend.”

  “Former best friend.”

  Well, yeah. Didn’t that go without saying? “So you both made some mistakes. Do you think God can’t or won’t forgive you?”

  Cameron rubbed his hands across his face. “It’s not that, exactly. I’ve got some baggage. There’s no woman who’d want to take me and the boys on.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “Oh, come on, Jo. Look at me. Twenty-eight years old. Father of two. Divorced. Who’d want that? Would you go out with a guy like me?”

  Joanna angled her head. That deserved a thoughtful answer. “I’m not sure.”

  Her brother’s eyebrows rose.

  “You’ve got a good job. You’re smart and stable. But you’ve gotten into a slump where work is the only important thing in your life. I don’t know any woman who’d want to come so far down the list.”

  “Thanks for being honest. I think.”

  “And…” Dare she say it? “You have rather outdated ideas about women’s roles. I seriously think you need to learn to cook. Another hobby or two wouldn’t go amiss, either.”

  “Anything else?”

  She didn’t miss the edge in his voice. “Cameron, you’re my brother. I love you. I’m not trying to pick on you. Like I said, it’s only that I’m concerned. Whether you start dating again any time soon or not, you owe it to yourself and the boys to have a more rounded life. They’re only young once.”

  “But my job…”

  “How important is earning a corner office really, Cameron? At the end of your life, will you think it was worthwhile, or will you wish you’d spent more time with your kids?”

  He studied her face. “Point taken. I’ll think on what you said. When did you get so wise? Can I blame it on Grady?”

  “I’m not sure. It’s always easier to find someone else’s faults than one’s own.”

  Cameron narrowed his eyes. “So you don’t mind if I return the favor then?”

  Her laugh sounded nervous even to herself. “Um, sure, go for it. How could I be a better person?”

  “Hmm. I’m thankful you came here, sis. You’ve made a big difference to me and the boys. But I get your point that I’m quickly taking you for granted. It’s just that you’re so good at running people’s lives.”

  “I can’t tell if that was a compliment or an insult.”

  Cameron grinned. “Mostly a compliment. But I’ve always felt like the little brother screw-up next to you, the perfect one.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re the one with a steady job and a family.”

  “But no wife,” he reminded her. “Couldn’t even keep that together. I can’t cook. I can’t do anything right.”

  “Oh, Cameron. You’re doing a lot right.”

  “Oh?”

  “You’ve asked God’s forgiveness and rededicated your life to Him. You’re raising two wonderful little boys. Taking them to Sunday school and church and kids’ club.”

  “But it isn’t enough.�
�

  “I wasn’t trying to make you feel inadequate.”

  He sighed. “No, I know. And I appreciate you. I really, really do. Grady Akers is a lucky guy.”

  Was he? “Thanks, I think. I’m not sure it will all work out. I mean, we just met each other.”

  “But you think he’s special.”

  “Yeah, kind of.” She’d barely admitted it to herself before this.

  “Well, I don’t know any dirt on the man. Seems to be an upstanding citizen, a man of the church, with a decent job of his own. You could do much worse.”

  “Been there, done that.” Pierce.

  “At least you didn’t marry the jerk and get a divorce.”

  “I’m thankful, too, but it doesn’t make you any less worthy than me of finding love.”

  “I suppose not. But you know how we were raised. Divorce was definitely not in the cards.”

  “So true. And I’m not trying to make light of it, as though it doesn’t matter. It does. Lisa left a big hole in your life, in the boys’ lives. I can’t help but think you’re better off without her, but only if you don’t wallow in self-condemnation.”

  Cameron put his arm around her shoulders. “Thanks, sis. I’ll take your words to heart, if you’ll do one thing for me.”

  “Make dessert?”

  He chuckled. “I wouldn’t say no to that, but it isn’t what I meant.”

  She rested her head on her brother’s strong arm. “Then what?”

  “Stop comparing Grady to Pierce Bennet. They’re completely different, and the situation is completely different, too.”

  How did he know?

  “He’s a good guy, Jo. Just don’t leave me yet. I’m not ready to manage without you.”

  * * *

  “Do you have a few minutes to go over some accounts with me?” Dad stood in the doorway of Grady’s office.

  Grady glanced at his watch and leaned back in his desk chair. “I’m planning on leaving in ten minutes. Joanna and I are meeting a woman who has some ideas for Granddad’s property.”

  Dad’s brow furrowed. “That’s still ongoing? I thought you’d wrap it up in one or two meetings and be back to focusing on the garden center.”

  “I don’t think I’ve let any of my responsibilities slip, have I?”

  “No, you haven’t.” Dad sighed. “I wish your grandfather had just let us sell the property. Then it would have been off our hands. This whole living trust thing complicates everything.”

  Dad was a businessman to the core. If the numbers lined up, he was happy. If not, there was no rest until they did.

  “It is more complicated, but I think it will be good.” Appeal to Dad’s better nature. “You know the right project on that lot will be its own form of advertising. It’s a good location, not far from downtown.”

  “I know. I know. You’ve told me before. Anyway, it’s your grandfather’s property, not mine, so I suppose he can do what he pleases. I’m not sure how you became involved, though.”

  Grady might not remember how it had happened, either, but he was thankful it had. “I like being involved in community initiatives.”

  “That’s a trait that must have skipped a generation.”

  True. Dad was so focused on running a tight ship that he rarely looked beyond it to the town he served. If possible, Mom was even more single-minded when it came to the flower shop, so they made a good pair. Grady grinned to himself. His parents worked well together.

  “When you get a chance, go over the Fairview B&B account? There’s been a change of hands there, and the new owner wants a standing order for bouquets.”

  “Isn’t that Mom’s department?”

  Dad offered a lopsided grin. “Your mother is looking at retirement, same as I am. She wants you to know more about the day-to-day workings of Blossoms by the Akers, too, since there isn’t anyone else to take over her part of the business.”

  “Don’t blame Kenia—”

  Dad’s hand cut him off. “Who knew your sister would develop an allergy to the plants that are the family lifeblood?”

  “It’s not the plants so much as the chemicals. The fertilizers.” Sometimes it felt like the garden center was just as bad for the planet as Stargil, the giant food corporation that kept half the town employed. Both were involved in food growth and production, and both used whatever methods were needed to achieve their goals. “We should look more into organics. Then Kenia could come back to work here.”

  “We’ve talked about this.” Dad shook his head. “Do you have any idea how much it would cost to switch over everything? Then we’d lose two thirds of our clients due to higher pricing, and leave room for another company to come in. Organics isn’t a viable business model in a town like Arcadia Valley.”

  Grady had done some of his own visioning and number crunching. It would be a gamble, but there should be ways to make it work. At the moment, Akers Garden Center served Arcadia Valley well but, if they focused on organics, they’d pull in gardeners and farmers from all across southern Idaho and into Nevada. Maybe even Utah.

  “There’s one solution.” Dad leaned closer, grinning. “You could find yourself a nice young lady with a love for flowers and a head for business, like I did. It’s about time you settled down, son. Both you kids were already born when I was your age.”

  “It’s also okay to hire a manager for Blossoms.” He couldn’t imagine Joanna running a flower shop. “It’s hard enough finding the right woman without making sure she fits the business profile.”

  Dad chuckled. “You’re right. I was lucky when I met your mother. However, the point still stands. You’ll be heading up the entire enterprise in a few years, so you’ll need to be ready.”

  Nothing like a little pressure. Grady checked the time and logged out of the program he’d been working in. “I need to get going. I’ll see what I can do about wrapping up Granddad’s living trust.”

  “And finding a wife? Your grandfather told me he likes your young woman.”

  Grady looked at his dad. Trust Granddad to get ahead of everything. “We’ve only been on one date, so it’s rather early to start ringing wedding bells, don’t you think?”

  “Maybe. Maybe not.” Dad winked. “This is a good time to learn about Blossoms. There’s nothing like weddings to bring out the need for flowers.”

  Chapter 7

  Joanna surveyed the retail area of the old greenhouse complex. Someone had been in with a mop and bucket by the looks of things. Amazing how much better the space looked without that thick layer of dust. There was a hint of charm now. Hopefully the vintage buildings could be put to good use again.

  Where was Grady? She could only hope he’d arrive before Evelyn Felton did. But that was silly. Joanna didn’t need him there to discuss options with a potential client. How many consultations had she done on her own? Dozens, if not hundreds. No, she wanted to see him for a few minutes to make sure she hadn’t dreamed the connection she’d felt on Saturday.

  Hearing voices, she turned toward the doors just as Maisie entered with Grady and a woman right behind her. Maisie’s mother looked young to have a ten-year-old. Young enough and pretty enough to attract the attention of a man who said he liked kids.

  She shoved the thought aside, put on her professional smile, and approached the trio.

  Grady smiled at her. “Joanna, I’d like you to meet Maisie’s mom, Evelyn Felton. Evelyn, this is Joanna from Kraus Consulting. Joanna and I are working together to iron out the parameters of the living trust on this property.”

  She reached out to shake the other woman’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Evelyn. You have a lovely daughter.”

  Evelyn nodded as she rested her other hand on Maisie’s shoulder. “She’s a good kid.”

  “Let us show you the space.” Grady pointed through the open doors to the greenhouse. “Then we can go over any questions and ideas you might have.”

  The girl hurried ahead of the adults. Joanna suppressed a grin as she trailed behind Grady and
Evelyn. She wouldn’t be jealous. Grady was merely focusing on their guests, as he should. There was nothing personal in the way he smiled at Evelyn.

  Maisie twirled on the gravel path halfway down the greenhouse. “This is fantabulous!”

  “That good?” Joanna teased, edging past Evelyn. “What makes it so great?”

  “Think of all the food we could grow. There’s enough room here so no one in Arcadia Valley needs to be hungry.”

  If all they wanted to eat was vegetables, maybe. Joanna could imagine how thrilled Evan and Oliver would be. “I see what you mean.” She leaned against one of the long tables. Some of the slats had been replaced since her last visit. “My question is who does the weeding and who does the managing?”

  “That’s two questions.” Maisie tilted her head at her.

  Grady chuckled. “You’re right. But they do go hand in hand.”

  “Tell us what you’re thinking, sweetie.” Evelyn rested a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Your mind is going a mile a minute, but we can’t see in.”

  Maisie offered a duh look. “That old woman downtown, she said the soup kitchen is only open four nights a week. I think we should grow food and give it to them. Maybe then they could feed people every day.”

  Joanna nodded as though she understood. It was a noble cause, for sure. “My questions still stand. Who is going to do this work?”

  “People.”

  Oh, to be ten again and have such a simplistic view. “How do we find these people? And who pays them? If the vegetables are being donated, that means the soup kitchen isn’t giving us money to grow them.”

  “They volunteer.” Maisie rolled her eyes. “Kids, too. I bet my teacher would bring our class here to help. You just have to ask people to do stuff. If you explain it good enough, they will.”

  That hadn’t been Joanna’s experience, but maybe Maisie would be a better ambassador than she’d ever been. “It sounds like we should put you in charge of lining up volunteers.” She was only half kidding.

  Maisie’s eyes lit up. “Really? I can be the boss of something?” She flicked a glance at her mother.