Orchard Hill Volume One

by Kara Lynn Russell

  “Why did you do that?” he blurted as soon as she picked up the phone.

  “Well hello to you too, Jeff.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Why did you offer to pay for Susan’s dry cleaning? She was way out of line.”

  “I was doing you a favor, Jeff. I was trying to keep you in the lady’s good graces.”

  “Well, stop it. I don’t need your help.”

  “You never listen to me when I tell you I don’t need any help.”

  “That’s different.”

  “Oh really? How?”

  “It just is.”

  “Fine. If you have nothing else to yell at me about, I have work to do.”

  “So do I.”

  “Good-bye then.”

  Jeff winced as the phone slammed in his ear. He let out a sigh and set the phone back in its cradle.

  Why had he done that? Why had he yelled at Angel? She was just trying to be nice. It was Susan who had acted inappropriately.

  But he couldn’t yell at Susan. Or could he? Right now he had a hard time remembering why he wanted to be with her. Could gaining his parents’ approval really be that important?

  He wondered if he should call Angel back and apologize.

  No, he decided. Let her think he was a jerk. It was safer that way.

  ****

  Angel impatiently brushed the tears from her eyes. She refused to cry over Jeff. No matter what she did, he ended up angry with her. She was glad she’d be leaving in a few days, even though, aside from Jeff, this had been a good trip. She’d gained several new customers and found Cherub.

  Angel smiled down at the dog curled up by her feet. She knew Jeff couldn’t understand why she’d been so insistent on keeping the dog, but it made perfect sense. She was alone. Cherub was alone. They needed each other.

  And she didn’t need Jeff.

  Angel turned back to the painting she was working on, trying to make herself forget about him. She was painting a view of the town as seen from the hilltop orchard it was named after, and hoped to have it ready in time for the art show. She knew it would be a push, but Misty had convinced her the art show was too good an opportunity to miss. According to Misty, gallery owners from the Green Bay area sometimes attended.

  Angel hadn’t really thought about marketing her art through galleries, but Misty had been so enthusiastic, and Angel figured she had nothing to lose by trying.

  The doorbell rang. Angel peeked out the window and saw Jeff standing there, hands in his pocket, head bent. He was the picture of the repentant sinner. And a handsome one at that. She looked down at herself. She was standing there in bare feet and wearing an old shirt of Tony’s over her clothes. She’d piled her hair on top of her head and stuck a pencil through it to hold it. Worse, she was sure she had paint on her nose. With a sigh, she opened the door.

  Jeff gaped at her. It must be worse than she thought. “Yes?” she said as coldly and as regally as she could manage.

  “Can I come in?”

  Angel backed up just enough to let him inside the door. This was a mistake, as they stood practically pressed together in Misty’s little entry way. Would it be worse to let him into the house or to be contained with him this way?

  Tough call.

  Angel stayed where she was.

  “I just wanted to say I’m sorry for yelling at you this morning. I know you were only trying to help.”

  “Forget about it. No permanent damage done.” Maybe he’d leave now.

  “Is Misty home? She can’t have choir practice again.”

  “Nope. Worship committee meeting tonight.”

  “Hmm. She’s not a very good hostess, is she?”

  “This is a business trip, not a social visit.”

  “Yeah. Anyway, I know Susan can be a bit overbearing sometimes, but…”

  “But what? You love her anyway?”

  “Hey, I never said I loved her.”

  “Then why are you with her?” Once she said it, Angel realized how horribly nosy that sounded. “Never mind.”

  “No, it’s okay. It’s just that…Well, it’s my parents.”

  Angel was confused. “What do your parents have to do with it?”

  “They’ve been very successful in real estate. I have to be successful, too, or I’ll let them down.”

  “Okay, but how does Susan fit in?”

  “Susan is successful. I guess, I think my parents will like her. If I’m with someone that’s successful—”

  “They’ll think you are, too. But aren’t you?”

  “Not yet. It takes time to build a business.”

  “Don’t you think your parents know that?”

  “Yes, but… .”

  Understanding dawned on Angel. “But you’re an overachiever. I bet you got straight A’s in school.”

  He shrugged.

  “You did,” cried Angel, delighted with her new discovery about him. “You were captain of something. Soccer team?”

  “I lettered in track,” he admitted.

  “So you being with Susan makes sense. You have a lot in common.”

  “I guess so,” said Jeff.

  He didn’t look very happy about it, and he was staring at her again.

  Angel touched her face self-consciously. She did have paint on her nose, didn’t she? “What are you looking at?”

  “I don’t know. You just look so—”

  “So what? Messy? These are my work clothes. I don’t paint in heels and a skirt, you know. I suppose you’ve never seen Susan looking like this.”

  He smiled. “Definitely not.”

  “So why don’t you go and bother her.”

  “Because I like your ‘work’ look.” Then he leaned down and kissed her, a gentle and brief brush of his lips against hers.

  Stunned, Angel stood there blinking. She was sure she looked like an owl caught in a flashlight beam. “What?”

  “You look adorable.”

  He pulled her to him. Her eyes drifted shut as he lowered his lips to hers again.

  She’d been kissed before, but never like this. Admittedly, taking care of an ailing parent limited your social life, so she hadn’t been kissed very often. Still she doubted many men could kiss like Jeff. Angel relaxed and leaned into him, thoroughly enjoying the feel of his lips on hers, of being wrapped in his strong arms. So when he ended the kiss and stepped away from her, she almost fell, right at his feet.

  “Sorry,” Jeff mumbled. “That was out of line. I didn’t want you to leave thinking I was a jerk, but I guess maybe I am. I’m sorry.” He turned and was gone.

  Angel stood in the doorway long after he’d gotten in his car and pulled away from the curb. Now what was she supposed to make of that? How could he kiss her like that, and then apologize and leave? She slammed the door shut. Her life had been a lot simpler before Jeff Bradley came into it.

  ****

  Jeff spent the rest of the week working overtime. He told himself it was because he’d gotten behind a bit lately, but really it was because he was avoiding Susan. And he wanted to avoid thinking about Angel. He was half successful. He managed not to see Susan, but there seemed to be no way he could stop thinking about Angel.

  It wasn’t just that she was cute. He admired her spirit. It must have taken a lot for a teenage girl to give up her own life to take care of her mother, and then to go on after her mother died. She’d had a rough time of it, but she was energetic and optimistic.

  And if that wasn’t enough, she was a good and compassionate person. She rescued a stray dog. She offered to pay for dry cleaning to spare him from Susan’s anger.

  But yet, he couldn’t imagine himself being with Angel long term. He couldn’t see his focused, organized life mixing with her carefree, haphazard style. He planned every detail of his life. She took on the responsibility of an injured pet on impulse. It was impossible. It was good that she was leaving.

  By Saturday, Jeff figured that Angel had already returned to the Twin Cities. He wondered what she’d tell T
ony about him. But it didn’t matter. He was getting back to his normal life, which included picking up Susan for this stupid art show.

  TITLE

  Chapter Seven

  Misty helped Angel load the last of her paintings into the car.

  “Angel, I can’t believe how beautiful these are. You really worked hard this week.”

  “Thanks. I’m glad you talked me into staying for the art show—and that Tony was able to ship some of my stock to me.”

  “You’re sure to be a hit. I’ll stop in at the show later. I’m sorry I haven’t been around much to visit with you, but I’m glad you came.”

  “Me, too, Misty. I appreciate you letting me stay here, and letting me keep Cherub as well.”

  “Oh, that dog is the cutest thing. Maybe I should adopt a dog from the shelter.”

  “Good idea. I’ve got to get going.”

  “You can’t go without breakfast,” Misty insisted.

  Angel hesitated. One thing she wouldn’t miss about staying with Misty was the food. She liked to eat healthy, but Misty was a bit of a fanatic. Angel wasn’t sure she’d ever get the taste of wheat grass out of her mouth. “I don’t know.”

  “I know,” said Misty. “I’ll make you a tofu smoothie. You can take it with you.”

  Angel smiled weakly. “Thanks.” Maybe she could ditch it and pick up something at The Grace Place.

  By the time Misty made the smoothie, and Angel exchanged it for a coffee and roll at Grace’s, she was running behind. She got to the community building just in time to set up her booth before the doors opened.

  The table across from her was selling hand made chocolate roses for Valentine’s Day. She’d forgotten about Valentine’s Day when she started her work marathon to get ready for the show. But it didn’t matter since she had no one to celebrate it with.

  She sighed and pulled her attention away from the booth just in time to see Jeff walk in with Susan. She let out another sigh. Talk about timing. That kiss had been spectacular, but he’d explained why he was with Susan. The kiss had meant nothing; Angel wasn’t what someone like Jeff was looking for in a girlfriend.

  So why did he have to be so nice? And why did he have to kiss her like that?

  Angel drained her cardboard cup of coffee and decided to go in search of a garbage can. Maybe they’d pass by her booth without seeing her. Just to be safe, she decided to stop by the rest room, too. She asked the lady selling the chocolate roses to keep an eye on her booth and walked away.

  When she came out, Angel didn’t see them. Maybe they’d gone into another room. Booths filled every room in the community building. But as she approached her own booth, Angel almost groaned aloud. They were standing at her table, examining her paintings.

  Susan was leaning over the one she’d done of the town. She looked excited. Jeff was hanging back a bit, looking bored.

  Well, she could hardly run back and hide in the bathroom, so she stepped behind her table and said, “Hi.”

  Jeff looked surprised to see her. Then alarmed. Was he worried she’d tell Susan about the kiss they’d shared? No way. It had been way too special to share with anyone, especially Susan.

  Susan looked up from the painting, leveled narrowed eyes at Angel, and then stepped away from the table. “Let’s move on, Jeff,” she said. “I don’t want to waste my time on the amateur stuff.”

  Amateur stuff! Now that stung. Angel wished she had a sharp comeback for that one, but she didn’t.

  Jeff’s face reddened. He said softly, “Susan, there’s no need to be insulting.”

  “I’m not insulting anyone. I’m just stating my opinion on these paintings.”

  Before Jeff could reply, a trio of older ladies stopped at Angel’s booth. “This is the artist I was telling you about,” said one. “She’s very good, isn’t she?”

  “Thank you. Is there any one in particular you’re interested in?” Angel asked.

  “No. But I’d like to commission you to do a painting of my home.”

  Susan gasped. The lady seemed to notice her for the first time. “Oh, Susan,” she said. “Are you enjoying the art show?”

  “Yes, Mrs. Radtke.”

  “Have you met my latest discovery? This young lady will go far, I think.”

  “Thank you,” said Angel again.

  One of Mrs. Radtke’s companions said, “If Mae says you’ll go far, then you will. She has a good eye for these things. She’s been on the arts committee in this town for—”

  “For too long to keep track,” interrupted Mrs. Radtke. “May I have your business card, so I can contact you about this commission?”

  “Certainly.” Angel handed her a card. “My name is Angel Marcel.”

  “Thank you. I’m Mae Radtke. I’ll be in touch.”

  The two ladies who had spoken moved on, but the third stayed behind for a moment, walking by the line of pictures Angel had displayed against the wall behind her booth. She handed a business card to Angel. “I own a gallery in Green Bay. Call me,” she said simply before moving on.

  Jeff came forward and offered Angel his hand. “Congratulations, Angel. You’re a hit.”

  Misty showed up at that very moment. “I heard, Angel. Oh, I’m so excited.”

  “Jeff,” barked Susan. “I want to see some of the exhibits in the next room. Let’s not stand around here all day.”

  “I’ll be with you in a minute,” Jeff responded.

  “Not in a minute. Now.”

  Angel had about all she was going to take from this woman today. “He said in a minute. He’s your date, not your dog. He doesn’t come to heel.”

  “Oh really. How would you know? Your dog isn’t exactly well trained.”

  “Maybe, but she’s got better manners than you.” Angel’s blood was really boiling now.

  “Jeff, are you going to let her insult me like that?”

  “You started it,” Misty shot back. “Jeff, don’t let her talk to Angel like that.”

  Jeff held up his hands. “Ladies, I think you all need to calm down. There’s no reason for—”

  “So you’re taking her side?” demanded Susan.

  “I’m not taking sides.”

  “But if he was, he wouldn’t take yours,” added Misty.

  “Misty, please be quiet,” Angel begged.

  “Why don’t you ever stand up for me against her?” Susan was trying to keep her voice low, but a shrillness crept into it.

  “Susan, you did start this.”

  “What are you saying, Jeff Bradley?”

  “He’s saying you were rude and you’d better mind your manners,” Misty said.

  If looks could kill, Angel thought Jeff would be a pile of steaming rubble right now. Susan had a lethal glare.

  “If this is the way you feel, Jeff, maybe you’d rather spend the day with her.”

  TITLE

  Chapter Eight

  All three women were staring at him. Jeff knew he could still save this situation. He could play his trump card: the night’s dinner invitation. Susan was chomping at the bit to rub elbows with people like his parents—people who would be valuable connections for her. But suddenly he realized that this had nothing to do with love and everything to do with business networking. If Susan met someone more eligible than he was, she wouldn’t hesitate to dump him. He took a deep breath.

  “Maybe I would.”

  Susan stepped back as if reeling from the shock. Angel looked stunned, too.

  “If that’s the way you feel, Jeff, then I’ll just be going.”

  “That’s the way he feels Susan,” said Misty.

  She nodded to him, glared at Angel and Misty and then turned and stalked away.

  Jeff looked at Angel.

  She was staring at him with wide eyes. “What just happened?”

  “I think I should be going,” Misty said. “Lots to see today.”

  Misty’s voice seemed to hold a triumphant tone, and Jeff thought he saw her wink at him as she walked away, but
he must have been mistaken. Why would she do that?