Orchard Hill Volume Three

by Kara Lynn Russell

  She nodded. “Yes, if he really wants me to.”

  “Did you mean what you told the reporter about us teaching you the true meaning of ‘home?’” asked Joseph.

  Again, she nodded. “You see, I grew up in a very wealthy family. I know now we were poor in affection, though. I’ve never really experienced this kind of thing—making supper together, raking leaves, roasting marshmallows. Oh, I’m mixing it all up. What I mean is, I’ve never been so happy in my life, as I have these last couple of months since you moved in.”

  Abby spoke up. “I don’t think we’ve been this happy since before our mom got sick. We’ll always love her, but…but we love you, too, Harmony.”

  “You make our family complete,” Joseph added.

  Harmony had never experienced joyful tears before, but they welled up in her eyes now and Joseph wiped them away as he had that night on her porch. It seemed like years ago instead of only weeks.

  “So let’s make it official,” Joseph said. “Marry me.”

  Again she answered, “yes.”

  Joseph hugged her. The rest of the family surged forward, wrapping the adults in a group embrace.

  Before the moment was over, they heard the door flung open and looked up to see Hope charging in, Oliver behind her.

  “What’s going on?” she asked. “Someone said there was a news crew here?”

  Joseph’s grin stretched from ear to ear. “A network wants to pick up Harmony’s show. The news crew came so she could make a formal announcement.”

  Hope’s face fell. “So you’re leaving us?”

  “No, she decided she’d rather stay and marry me instead.”

  “What!”

  “You can see the whole thing on the news tonight, I bet,” Abby told her with an excited bounce. “We should tape it.”

  “Then we’d better get moving,” Joseph said.

  Just like that everyone was in motion, gathering their things, all talking at once. The kids were wondering which house they’d live in, and Hope was congratulating herself on gaining a new sister. Oliver offered his hand in congratulations to Joseph who, for once, took it with sincere thanks.

  “Start taking Harmony’s dishes out to the truck,” Joseph ordered above the din. Scrambling to get everything in one trip, the children marched out, followed by Oliver and Hope.

  “I still can’t believe you turned down that offer.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know. The salary alone…”

  “Joseph, I told you my family was wealthy. I don’t need the income.”

  “Then…then why work at all?”

  She shrugged. “I wanted to do something with my life, not spend it lounging by a pool somewhere.”

  “But not being a TV star either.”

  “No, I much prefer being an author. Unless…”

  “Unless what?”

  “We’ll soon have an extra house.”

  Joseph shrugged. “We can sell it.”

  “Or…”

  “I don’t know if I want to hear this.”

  “We could fix up your house like you’d planned. It would make a wonderful bed and breakfast.”

  “And you would make a wonderful innkeeper I suppose.”

  “Come on, it’s a great idea.”

  “I’ll think about it.” Joseph reached for her hand. “Let’s go home, sweetheart.”

  She put her hand in his and smiled. “I’m already there.”

  TITLE

  Epilogue

  Misty gasped, spraying tea on the newspapers spread over her coffee table. There on the six o’clock news was the proof of another triumph for Pansy Parker. She’d offered the old biddy a truce and had it thrown back in her face.

  She was certain Harmony would make the perfect wife for Pastor Isaac. She’d been looking for a match for him for years. She’d considered Hope Velasquez, who had the winning personality that a pastor’s wife needed, but she wasn’t quite right. Just when she thought she’d found the perfect match in Harmony, Pansy had ruined it.

  “Misty, are you all right?” asked her father as he was putting on his coat.

  “Yes,” she answered automatically, her eyes still on the screen.

  “I’m taking Pansy out to dinner tonight. Don’t wait up.”

  Inspiration hit. She bounced off the couch and over to where he stood. “Dad, would you please give Pansy a message for me?”

  “Of course. I’d be so happy if you and Pansy would make friends with each other.”

  “I know, Dad. I’m certainly trying.”

  “Now what’s this message?”

  “Tell her ‘congratulations on your latest project.’”

  “What project?”

  “Oh, just something for the church...Then, can you tell her that I’m working on another little project of my own.”

  “All right. I’ve got it.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” She kissed his cheek before he left.

  She had the house all to herself tonight. It was time to plan a campaign. After all, all’s fair in love and war. Especially when you were involved in both.

  Losing

  Patience

  TITLE

  Prologue

  Misty bustled about her kitchen, happily making supper for her fiancé. My fiancé; she relished those words. At fifty, she’d long ago given up hope of ever being able to say them—not because she hadn’t had opportunity when she was younger. She’d known that none of the men she’d dated could hold her heart.

  Perry had been worth the wait. He may seem like just a fifty-something, balding, divorced handyman to everyone else in Orchard Hill, but to her, he was Prince Charming.

  There was a knock at her back door, and Perry came in before she could answer it. “Hi, Misty. Am I late?”

  “No, you’re just on time,” she said as she emptied the rice from the steamer. “Give me a kiss and have a seat.”

  Perry followed both her directions, and when they were settled and had said grace, he opened their dinner conversation with, “I have some news.”

  “Really? What is it?”

  “I found a job today. A steady job with benefits, not just a handyman request.”

  Misty squealed with delight. “Why didn’t you tell me right away?”

  Perry gave her that smile that made him look like a schoolboy. “Because I knew dinner would be delayed, and it smelled too good to wait.”

  There were not a whole lot of men in Orchard Hill who embraced Misty’s health conscious style of cooking. Perry’s compliment warmed her heart. “Oh, you sweet talker.” She tried to brush the compliment aside, but she was sure he could see how much it meant to her. “Tell me about the job.”

  “I’d be a supervisor for one of the crews that’s working to put up a new subdivision.”

  “Oh, that sounds great. But what about after the subdivision is built?”

  “It’s a big company. They assured me there would always be work.”

  “Perry Parker, I’m so proud of you. I knew it was just a matter of time before you were back on your feet work-wise.”

  “Thanks, hon. Your encouragement kept me going.”

  They ate in silence for a bit before Perry laid down his fork, his plate still half full. “There’s more.”

  Misty laid down her own fork, sensing that this was important. “Go on.”

  “The job is in the Madison area. We’d have to move.”

  Misty stared at him. Move away from Orchard Hill? Could she do that? Her life was here, her business. She’d worked so hard with the church choir. There was no way she could leave.

  Perry watched her with evident concern, no doubt guessing some of what was in her mind. “I can tell them ‘no’ if you’d rather. I’ve been doing all right as a handyman.”

  And then she knew. She’d follow this man anywhere. She was getting married at fifty. Why not start a whole new life together while they were at it?

  “Of course you’re not going to turn them down. I was j
ust thinking of what I had to do to close my store.” Misty was the owner of The Green Scene, a health food store. “The name won’t fit after we’re married anyway. I’ll be Misty Parker, not Misty Green.”

  Perry reached across the table and took her hand. “I can’t wait.”

  But this did complicate things. Now she’d have a move to plan on top of making one more match before the year was over. There was no way she was going to let Pansy Parker win their matchmaking contest, even if the woman was going to be her mother-in-law. She knew exactly whom she wanted to bring together as her last match in Orchard Hill. It was time to roll up her sleeves and get to work.

  TITLE

  Orchard Hill: volume three

  Chapter 1

  “The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.”

  —Psalm 145:14 NIV

  Shaun slammed the door behind him with enough force to shake the whole apartment—no the whole building. He left the sound of Patience crying behind, climbed into his truck and backed out of the driveway.

  He should be comforting Patience, he knew. In fact, he should be apologizing because he was the one who’d made her cry in the first place—and probably for no reason; but when he’d seen her talking to their neighbor, a ladies’ man if there ever was one…

  He knew Patience wasn’t the type to be unfaithful, so he shouldn’t have yelled at her. He shouldn’t have knocked over that table.

  Then again, how did you know who was the type to stray? He hadn’t thought his mother was the type, and look how that had turned out? The memory of his mother’s betrayal made Shaun’s head pound. He couldn’t believe it when she’d told him she was leaving his father. Well, that part he could believe. His dad wasn’t exactly the ideal husband, but Shaun was sure he’d always been faithful. His mother was leaving so she could move in with her boyfriend, a man she’d admitted to seeing for years.

  Shaun’s world had shattered on that day. The woman who represented stability and home had been lying to him for a long time. He knew the anger that he struggled with was hurting him, and hurting Patience as well. He wanted to let go of it, but somehow it wouldn’t let go of him.

  He found himself pulling up in front of his folks’ home—his father’s home now, he reminded himself. The white clapboard farmhouse where he’d grown up seemed somehow older and sadder since his mother left it. The house was dark. Shaun found his father in the shed, working on one of the ancient tractors. “Hey Dad,” he called in greeting.

  Shaun was not surprised to find him out in the shed working this late at night. His father believed hard work was the answer to everything. Alcohol, drugs, gambling and even church were all crutches in his father’s eyes. The only way to overcome one’s problems was through hard work. Funny he hadn’t realized how unsuccessful that had been for solving his own problems.

  His father looked up when he came in, grabbed a rag he had in his back pocket and wiped his hands. “What are you doing here?” There was no warmth in his voice. No indication that he was glad to see his son.

  “I came to check on you, see that you’re all right.”

  “So, I can’t take care of myself these days? You think I’m helpless without her?”

  “No, but…”

  “Well, you can quit wasting your time. I don’t need anything from you.”

  The harsh words cut Shaun. He was used to criticism and negativity from his father, but not this open hostility. “All right. Can’t I just stop in to say ‘hi’?”

  “Cut the act. I know you always liked her better than me. That hasn’t changed overnight.”

  “No…but you’re still my Dad.”

  “Am I? Maybe that’s the reason you always got along better with her than with me. Maybe I’m not your real father.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying maybe this Ellis guy wasn’t her first boyfriend. How do I even know you’re my kid?”

  Shaun didn’t know what to say. How did you answer something like that?

  “So you don’t have to worry about me anymore. Chances are you aren’t mine anyway.”

  “Dad, you don’t mean that.”

  “Don’t I? Well I mean this. Get out of here, and don’t come back. You aren’t my son anymore. I don’t want you here.” He turned back to his tools and resumed work on the tractor.

  Shaun backed away and left without another word. He and his father had never been close. But to hear the man actually disown him, that was harsh, and it hurt.

  ****

  Patience took one last look around the apartment. She swiped at the tears which continued to fall, even though she’d told herself sternly to stop. She couldn’t drive if she was crying. With a sigh, she grabbed a box of tissues off the counter, picked up her suitcase and went out the door.

  She felt horrible, leaving Shaun at a time like this. She’d promised for better or for worse, and already she was breaking that promise.

  Lifting the lid on the trunk of her car, she put the suitcase inside and then slammed it shut. She carried her purse and the box of tissues into the car. Guilt overwhelmed her, and she couldn’t turn the key for a few moments. As a sob welled up in her throat, she rested her head on the steering wheel. How could she leave Shaun when she knew how much he was hurting? How could she stay when he treated her like this? She thought of all the fights, the angry accusations, the hurtful words. Why had he turned on her? She wasn’t the one who’d hurt him.

  She could hardly believe this was the same shy teen who’d won her heart in high school. That Shaun was sweet and caring. He noticed every shift in her mood, listened to her whether she was sharing secrets or just commenting on the weather and always treated her with consideration.

  Was that Shaun still around, or was he gone for good now that the angry Shaun had emerged?

  Patience stroked the gold band that he’d placed on her finger just months ago. She wished they could have had the ceremony in the church, but her parents had objected so strongly to the idea of her marrying Shaun, that in the end it had been easier to elope. Whatever their wedding had lacked in ceremony was made up for in the emotion. She’d never forget the look on his face—so tender and earnest—as he’d repeated his vows and slipped the ring onto her finger. How could all of that have changed so quickly?

  Enough. Patience straightened. She wasn’t going to waffle anymore. She had someone to consider now besides Shaun. And she wasn’t going to stay away long. She just needed to be somewhere quiet so she could think. She would come back.

  With a whispered prayer for strength and guidance, she turned the key and put the car into gear.

  ****

  Shaun returned home with his emotions more jumbled than when he’d left. But he promised himself he’d apologize to Patience anyway. It wasn’t her fault he was so on edge lately.

  They’d been married for eight months now. Shaun had fallen for her on their first meeting on the first day of his junior year of high school. She was the new girl—a year younger—and Patience asked him how to find one of her classes. She looked so lost and overwhelmed; he walked her to the room even though it meant he was late for his own class.

  When she got a job at the town’s coffee shop, The Grace Place, he started hanging out there, even though he hated coffee. But he must have drunk a hundred cups of the stuff before he worked up the courage to ask Patience out. Now, at twenty and twenty-one, they were married and planning a life together.

  He could see that all the lights were out in the apartment when he pulled up to it. She must have gone to bed. He got out of the car and trudged up the steps. Maybe apologies could wait until morning.

  But, he knew something was wrong the moment he opened their door. The place had that empty feeling. The same feeling his father’s house had now. He tore through the rooms, turning on all the lights.

  Patience was gone.

  Her clothes were gone.

  Her toiletries were gone.

  She was gone.
>
  In the kitchen Shaun found a note, stuck to the refrigerator with a “Thorsen’s Hilltop Apple Orchard” magnet. He pulled it down and read:

  Shaun,

  I’m sorry, but I have to leave for a while. I know how badly your mother hurt you, and I wish I could help, but I don’t know how. Your outbursts scare me. I need some time to think, to make a decision. I’ll be at my Aunt Elaine’s. Please don’t call me. I’ll come home soon.