Joseph walked over to her. Harmony stood, brushing herself off. She hoped he wouldn’t be too mad.
“This is your doing?”
He sounded so stern, she was afraid to meet his eyes. “Yes.”
Suddenly, he scooped Harmony up into his arms and whirled her around. “You’ll have to take your punishment now,” he told her.
Then she was sailing through the air and into another pile of leaves. The melee started all over again, with Joseph joining in this time. The kids started wrestling and throwing leaves at each other.
Joseph grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the chaos. They ducked behind one of the trees, and he kissed her.
Content in Joseph’s arms, she didn’t hear the car pull up or the door opening and closing. Blake was just there, suddenly, standing in front of them. It was so unexpected Harmony had to look twice to make sure it was him.
“Harmony,” he said, with a big smile on his face, as if they had parted as friends the last time he saw her. Joseph put a protective arm around her and the children, as if sensing something was wrong, stopped their play and gathered around.
“You’re looking well,” Blake said. He offered a hand, but neither she nor Joseph made any move to take it.
Harmony shrugged Joseph’s arm away. She could handle this. “What do you want, Blake?”
“Can I speak to you privately?”
“No.” Joseph spoke in a low voice, but managed to convey plenty of menace in that single syllable.
She put her hand on his arm and smiled reassuringly at Noah and Peter, who had moved in to stand on either side of her and Joseph. They looked like they were ready for the shoot out at the OK Corral, and Harmony had to stifle a laugh. She didn’t want to hurt their feelings, and she appreciated their willingness to protect her, even though there was no real threat. “It will be all right. Blake, why don’t we talk on my porch?”
He followed her across the yard and up the steps. “Why don’t we go inside?” he suggested.
“No, thank you. Now what did you want to tell me?”
“Come on, Harmony, you’ve known me for years. Don’t treat me like this.”
Known him? Hardly. But to answer would invite argument and lengthen his stay. She settled for arching an eyebrow at him.
“All right, all right.” He pulled some papers from his pocket. “I see you’ve moved on. That didn’t take you long.”
“Is that what you came all the way out here to talk to me about?”
“Harmony, we’ve gotten an offer from a network, a bona fide offer. They want your show. You could be the next Martha Stewart.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to be the next Martha Stewart. Tell them I’m not interested.”
“You can’t mean that. Listen to what they’re offering.”
“It doesn’t matter. You must know I don’t need the money, and I don’t want to be famous.”
Blake scowled at her. “Not all of us have trust funds to live off of. Think of the jobs this would create for the rest of us.”
“You can’t guilt me into this. The only job you’re concerned about is your own.”
Emotions played across Blake’s face. He must be really upset, if he was letting his frustration show. Normally, he was cool and collected in all situations. He breathed in deeply, straining to keep himself in check, she suspected, suddenly glad Joseph was nearby.
Blake pushed the papers into her hands. “Just read the offer. I’ll come back tomorrow to ask you again.”
“I won’t be home tomorrow.” Harmony tried to give him back the papers, but he wouldn’t take them. “I’m helping with the church’s harvest celebration party.”
“Harvest party? You mean like Halloween?”
“Something like that. Now will you just go?” She glanced over at Joseph and realized that he was as close to losing it as Blake was, and Joseph wasn’t attempting to conceal it. Blake followed her gaze and must have drawn the same conclusion.
“I’ll go, but read the proposal. It’s a spectacular offer. I’ll call you.”
“Don’t bother,” Harmony said, but she didn’t know if he heard her. He was already striding across the lawn. Safe inside his car, he gave a jaunty wave to the Velasquez family, still standing there watching him.
Joseph set the kids to raking again and then joined Harmony on her porch. “What did he want?”
She handed him the papers. “A network made an offer for the show.”
Joseph took them and scanned them briefly. “Now what? Are you going to take it?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m perfectly happy where I am right now. Throw those away, and let’s get at those leaves.”
Harmony bounded down the steps, but Joseph stood there for a few moments, looking through the proposal.
By the time they were finished with the leaves, the autumn sun was setting the sky ablaze. Joseph told the kids they could order pizza, and for once Harmony agreed. She was tired and sore.
“Do you want to watch a movie or something tonight?” Joseph asked her.
“I don’t think so. I’m worn out, and tomorrow will be a long day with the party. If you don’t mind, I’m going to go home, soak in a hot tub, and then go to bed.”
He didn’t protest or invite her to eat with them. He kissed the top of her head and trekked back to his own house. Maybe he was tired, too.
****
Joseph washed up, left the kids with enough money for the pizza and went out.
He drove over to Isaac’s house. Both Isaac and Shaun happened to be home. They gathered around the kitchen table while Joseph told them about Blake’s visit and the network offer.
He smoothed the papers out on the table. “Look what they’re offering her.” He pointed to where salary and such were listed.
“Money isn’t everything,” Isaac replied.
“No, but she’d have the chance to be a star. What if this is her dream? Will she regret not following it later?”
“But what would happen to you two?” asked Shaun. “Would you break up?”
Joseph rubbed his face. “I don’t know. Probably. She’d end up living in Los Angeles or something.”
“Joseph,” said Isaac, leaning back in his chair. “You really need to talk to Harmony about this. You can spend all night speculating about it, but until you hear what she has to say, you won’t know what she thinks of it all.”
“I guess you’re right. I’ll talk to her after the harvest party tomorrow.”
“If that’s settled, why don’t we get something to eat and go shoot some hoops,” Shaun suggested.
“That sounds good,” Isaac agreed. “You haven’t been around much since you and Harmony started dating.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Joseph admitted. He hoped they wouldn’t mind, but he didn’t feel like company right now, with the possibility of losing Harmony hanging over him. “But it’s been a long day. I think I’ll just go home and see if the kids left me any pizza.”
Isaac snickered. “Talk about vain hopes.”
TITLE
Orchard Hill: volume three
Chapter 11
“Hold still. I can’t zip you up if you wiggle around like that,” Abby told Lucy. The excited little girl suddenly became as still as a statue.
Harmony was helping Belle into her dress. Dori was already standing in front of the mirror admiring herself.
“Harmony,” called Noah from downstairs. “Do you have any more boxes to go to the church?”
“No,” she called back while arranging a stray curl in Dori’s updo. “That should be everything.”
“The dresses are beautiful,” Abby said. “I can’t believe you made them.”
“I think they did turn out well.” Addressing the triplets, she added, “And you three really earned them. I’m very proud of how well you’ve behaved for the last few weeks.”
Harmony received three big smiles in answer.
“Any chance that this good behavior is going
to last?” asked Abby.
The smiles widened.
“Uh-oh. I think we may be in trouble after today, Harmony.”
“I doubt it. Not if they want me to make Christmas dresses for them, anyway.”
“Christmas dresses? Really?” asked Dori.
“Really. But only for girls that are on Santa’s good list.”
“Well, I suppose being good isn’t that hard,” Belle replied.
“And now I think it’s time to go. We don’t want to be late for the party.”
As they filed out of the room, Abby whispered to Harmony, “Can I have a Christmas dress, too? There’s a dance at school…”
Harmony put her arm around the teen. “I have a better idea. Why don’t I help you make it?”
“I don’t know how to sew anything that complicated.”
“Then I’ll just have to teach you.”
Abby hugged Harmony. “Thank you. I really didn’t want to move, but I’m glad we did, because having you as a neighbor is the best!”
She hugged Abby back. “No, having all of you as neighbors is the best.”
“I hope you and Dad stay together for a long time.”
“Me, too honey, me, too.”
****
The party was a success. There was a costume parade, followed by games and then skits put on by the youth group members. Then, the refreshments were served. Harmony was thrilled to see the children’s faces light up when they saw her creations, even though they were not all sweets. She’d managed to throw in some healthy snacks. Maybe her next cookbook could be about holiday food. Or kid friendly treats. That would be fun.
Joseph brought Harmony an empty tray. She kissed his cheek and handed him another tray, filled with goodies.
“Your treats are a hit,” he said.
And that’s when the camera crew arrived, led by Blake.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“The station is doing a story on you,” he said.
He was practically beaming. Harmony thought he looked like a rooster, all puffed up and ready to crow.
“Why do they want to do a story on me?”
“Harmony, this is Joyce Daye. She’s the reporter who’ll be interviewing you.” The perky blonde woman beside him offered Harmony her hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Joyce, but I still don’t understand why you’re here.” Joseph began to sidle away, but Harmony grabbed his hand and refused to let go. This was one time when she didn’t want to handle things alone. The crew was setting up. The children were going wild with excitement.
“Blake told me all about your network deal,” the perky young woman enthused. “We wanted to get the scoop on it. He said you’ll be making your announcement today.”
Harmony was so shocked she couldn’t speak. Blake had done a lot of things to manipulate her, but this was outlandish even for him. She narrowed her eyes and glared at his jubilant face. He thought he’d win using these tactics?
“Harmony, can I talk to you for a minute?” interrupted Joseph.
“I guess. If you’ll just excuse me, Joyce.”
“No problem. We’ll finish setting up.”
In a quiet corner, Joseph asked, “What do you want to do, Harmony?”
“I want to throw Blake out on his rear, but I suppose we can’t be too rude to the rest of them. He lured them here under false pretences.”
“No, really, what do you want to do about the network offer?”
“I’m not interested. I told you that already.”
“Are you sure?”
Harmony tilted her head and stared up at him, puzzled. “What are you saying?”
“If this is your dream, then you should follow it. I don’t want you to…to give it up because of me.”
One surprise on top of another. “It’s not my dream.”
“But it’s a good offer.”
She frowned, puzzled. “Are you trying to get rid of me, Joseph?”
“No, not at all. I don’t want you to ever leave.”
Those words went straight to her heart and embedded themselves there.
He ran a hand through his hair. “It’s just that I don’t want to hold you back, either. If this what you want to do…”
“We’re ready, Harmony,” chirped Joyce.
She stared at him until Blake came over and steered her away. Harmony tried to take it all in. For once, Joseph wasn’t trying to be the boss. He was giving her the freedom to choose. And he said he didn’t want her to leave, ever. Maybe Blake’s sneak attack hadn’t been so bad after all. He left her standing next to Joyce, a crowd of wide-eyed children in costumes behind them.
Joyce spoke to the camera. “Hi, I’m Joyce Daye, here with Harmony Solberg, star of “At Home with Harmony.” Rumor is, her show has been selected to become part of the Family Home Network’s new line-up. Harmony is this true?”
“Yes, an offer has been made.”
“Really? Congratulations! When will you be heading out for L.A.?”
Harmony looked over at Joseph. She spoke into the microphone, but she was talking to him. “I’m not. I’m not interested in continuing the show.”
From the corner of her eye, she saw Blake’s mouth drop open. Joyce didn’t seem to know what to say either.
“However, I’ve written a cookbook and that should be available sometime next fall.”
“Oh…How nice.” The newswoman recovered a bit. “What would make you turn down an offer like this?”
“Love.” Harmony felt a smile spreading across her face as she answered. She wondered if she was beaming now as much as Blake had been earlier. “I’ve fallen in love with the town and its people and the beautiful house I have here.”
“But you could live here part of the year, when you aren’t taping the show, couldn’t you?”
“That wouldn’t be enough for me. I want to spend every day with some people who have become too important to leave behind.”
“And who would that be?”
“There’s one man in particular, and his family.”
“A romance. Is it serious?”
Harmony took a deep breath. “I hope so. You see, I’ve spent my life learning how to bake a perfect soufflé and arrange furniture and sew ball gowns and clean just about anything, but until I met him and his children, I never knew what ‘home’ really meant. Now I do, and I can’t give that up.”
“I see. And is this man here today?”
Harmony nodded. “And his children as well.”
“Why don’t they join us here?”
Slowly, the Velasquez family came forward and gathered around Harmony. Joseph hesitated, and then came to stand beside her, the last to take his place.
“So you are the family that taught Harmony Solberg the meaning of ‘home?’”
“I guess so,” said Joseph.
“Do you have a response to that?”
“There’s only one thing I can say to that.” He turned and took Harmony’s hands, staring into her eyes, rather than into the camera. “Harmony, will you marry us?”
She gasped and felt tears flood her eyes and fill her throat. She had to choke them down before she could answer. “Yes. Yes, I will marry you, if it’s all right with the kids.”
The answer was affirmative from the almost grown Noah to the quiet Belle. A cheer went up from the youth group, and the children followed suit, although Harmony didn’t think half of them really understood what had been going on.
Joyce swiftly wrapped up her report, thanked them and led her camera crew out. Blake, scowling darkly, brought up the rear. And right on cue, parents began to arrive to pick up their children. They didn’t have a spare second to discuss what had happened until the last child left, holding his mother’s hand and talking a mile a minute about all the fun he’d had.
Then there was clean up. Harmony kept shooting glances at Joseph, but she didn’t know what to say to him.
Finally, the room was restored to order. The decorations were put
away and the dishes were clean. The teens from the youth group began to head out, in groups of two or three or more. Then, it was just the Velasquez family and Harmony.
For a moment, they all stood and stared at one another. No one knew what to say. Finally, Peter spoke up. “Harmony, are you really going to marry our dad?”
Orchard Hill Volume Three Page 10