Plum Upside Down (A Farm Fresh Romance Book 5)

by Valerie Comer

  Something swept across her face. “Really?” All the longing he’d seen when he played worship songs for her last week spilled out in that one word.

  “Really. There are front lines all over the world, and this is the front line right now in Galena Landing.”

  “I had no idea.”

  He barely heard those words, they were so quiet.

  A few minutes later they pulled into the church parking lot. As usual, they were among the first to arrive so Chelsea could set up the meal. Keanan didn’t mind the extra half hour. He’d take some time to study and pray. Pray for Wesley. For Diana and Rylee. For Chelsea.

  “Lord, I’ve fallen in love with her,” he murmured into the quiet fireside room. “I don’t know whether it’s Your plan or not. I know she believes, but something is holding her back. I pray Your Holy Spirit will descend on her and fill her with Your presence. Your love. Your peace.”

  Her attitude was not something he could change. Nor could he modify her history or personality.

  Keanan dropped his head into his hands. “Jesus, heal her. Lift her up.” He had no idea what to say. Was this where Jesus, at the right hand of God, could intercede for him? “She’s Yours, God. You know what I want, but underneath I want what You want. Grant me patience and peace.”

  A door opened, and he heard Pastor Ron’s voice. “Keanan? Sorry if I’m interrupting.”

  “No, please. Do come in.” There was nothing left to say to God, anyway. Either He’d answer the prayer, or He wouldn’t. More to the point, Keanan would either like the answer or prefer a different one.

  Pastor Ron lowered himself into a chair across from Keanan. “Is there anything you want to talk about?” His deep brown eyes radiated understanding.

  How could the pastor know? He couldn’t. “Sometimes it is difficult to know how to pray,” Keanan said at last, shaking his head. “Sometimes having faith is more painful than not having it.”

  “You are referring to Miss Riehl?”

  Maybe Ron did know. Keanan sighed and nodded.

  “Are you speaking of matters of the heart, or matters of faith?”

  Good question. But having admitted this much, there was no point in pretending otherwise. He met Ron’s gaze. “Both?”

  “Are the matters one and the same?”

  Keanan pondered. “Not exactly. But they are certainly related.”

  “Would you care to explain? Forgive me if I shouldn’t ask.”

  “No imposition, but I’m not sure I can clarify. I don’t understand fully myself.”

  Ron leaned back in the chair and crossed his feet. “Try me.”

  “She believes. I don’t doubt that for a moment. She was raised in a Christian home and environment. She’s trusted Jesus for her salvation.”

  The pastor nodded, his gaze not leaving Keanan’s face.

  “But it seems perhaps... superficial. It has molded who she is in much the same way living in Portland has. Or being of European ancestry. But I’m not certain what effect it has on her day-to-day living.”

  “I see.”

  “I’m sorry, Pastor Ron. I feel I’m passing judgment, and that’s not my place as a fellow-believer.” Keanan stared at his hands as he clenched one over the other. “Only God knows her heart.”

  “But then there’s the romantic interest.”

  Keanan sighed. “Yes, there is that.”

  “So the question of her faith comes into this aspect as well.”

  “Exactly. For a romantic interest to grow—” Keanan felt the flush creep up his neck “—we need to share a deep spiritual bond. Right now, that bond isn’t present.” How had he allowed this to happen? He hadn’t been seeking romance. His first instinct had been correct, but in between he’d fallen in love. There. He’d admitted it to himself. How could he go back to the way it had been before?

  “I don’t know the young lady well.” Pastor Ron watched Keanan. “How deep is her interest in you?”

  “It definitely goes both ways. But she might be more reluctant than I am to see where this might lead us.”

  Ron’s head tipped to the side as his eyebrows pulled together. “Not what I expected to hear.”

  “I’m only a man, pastor, and she’s a beautiful and charming woman.”

  The ghost of a smile creased the other man’s face. “I can’t deny that. But I was more thinking of the fact that she’s the reluctant one. Why do you suppose that is?”

  Besides the fact that Keanan was an oversized oaf with no redeeming qualities? “Maybe... maybe I’ve created something in my mind that doesn’t exist. I’m too big. Not handsome. I don’t express myself well to her but find myself tongue-tied. I don’t do grand things for her to prove my feelings. Perhaps she’s immune to me, and I read her wrong.” He caught the bemused expression on the other man’s face. “What’s so funny?”

  “Keanan, your humility is as inspiring as it is misplaced.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  The pastor chuckled. “I hardly know where to start.”

  Keanan crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows.

  “Okay. You are tall, but since when was that a flaw? It’s how God made you. You aren’t handsome? You don’t hear the women whisper around you, I suppose, but I’ve heard a comment or two around the church. Although I understand the word handsome is outdated. Cute and hot are the words I hear.”

  Hot? Only if his cheeks were any indication.

  “As for speech—” Ron shook his head “—I’ve rarely met a preacher with a more eloquent tongue. I have seen you carry supplies for Chelsea, open doors for her, and assist her with her coat.”

  “But I’d do that for any woman,” Keanan protested.

  “With that same look on your face? I don’t think so. Tracy Grindle told me she’d been rather interested in you and worried when I paired you together to lead a group, but her concern had been unfounded.”

  How was he to follow that? Keanan shook his head. “I don’t get it.”

  “She saw how you watched Chelsea, and she set aside her own preliminary interest. You know she has been seeing Tyrell Burke for the past few weeks?”

  “No, really?”

  The pastor grinned. “No reason for you to care, right?”

  “I suppose. Though I’m happy for her and wish them all the best. Isn’t Brent building a timber frame house for him?”

  “Yes, one and the same.” Ron leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “But back to Chelsea. I think we’ve established there is a mutual physical attraction.”

  That Chelsea found him in any way appealing was still difficult to believe. Pastor Ron didn’t know the half of it.

  Keanan nodded. “And yet she avoids me. I don’t know what to think.”

  Ron steepled his hands. “Your best guess?”

  He had no reply.

  “Let me offer a thought. I might be wrong, as I do not know your hearts nor your history together. But I wonder if she sees in you such a passion for Jesus that she is jealous.” Ron held up a hand. “Not jealous in that she thinks you’d love her less because you love the Lord more, but in that she sees her own lack of relationship with Him in comparison.”

  Keanan stared at Ron as gears clicked in his mind. Could he be right? “But anyone can ask Him.”

  “It’s not always that simple. Yes, confession and request are all that is needed. I’m not arguing with your theology. But I can tell you many people do not feel forgiven. Do not feel close to God. Feelings don’t alter reality, but they are very real even so.” Ron rose to his feet. “I heard the outside door. Our Alpha guests have started to arrive for dinner.”

  “Thank you, pastor.”

  Ron’s hand rested on Keanan’s shoulder. “My prayers will be with you.”

  Chapter 18

  “I guess you’re wondering why we’ve called you all together like this.” Steve Nemesek looked around the great room of the straw bale house.

  Chelsea would hazard a guess Keanan knew, but she wasn’t
looking at him. He sat in an armchair not far from Steve. Chelsea dropped onto a dining chair she’d dragged into the space.

  Zach rested his elbows on his knees and looked at his father. Jo perched on the sofa arm beside him with baby John asleep in a wrap against her chest. “Go for it, Dad. What’s up?”

  “Well, it’s been nearly five years since I contracted Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Most people who get it recover fully.” He glanced at Rosemary, who sat next to him. “I guess I’m special.”

  Rosemary squeezed his hand.

  Yeah, he was. Chelsea didn’t know him all that well, but she’d heard about how much pain he was in and knew he rarely complained. He was what, not quite sixty? And hadn’t been able to hold down his job since it hit. It couldn’t have been the way he planned to retire.

  Zach’s jaw worked as he watched his father.

  “Anyway, your mother and I have been talking and praying, and we’ve come to the decision that it’s time to sell the farm. I know you kids have worked the land for five years now, and I hope you’re interested in buying it.”

  It was like Steve and Zach were the only two people in the room. Had Zach seen this coming? Why wasn’t this talk between the two of them in private?

  “I’d always hoped to pass the farm on to you, son. Even when I wasn’t sure you wanted it. But I never expected the toll GBS would wreak on us.” Steve clenched Rosemary’s hand. “I expected to stay healthy well into retirement.”

  Rosemary took over. “What Dad is trying to say is that we need to move into town. The old house wasn’t built for someone who struggles with stairs. It’s in decent shape but will need a new roof in the next year or two. The veranda needs some repairs, too. And I suppose you could say the whole place needs some TLC.”

  Zach surged to his feet. “Why didn’t you tell me it was coming to this?”

  Chelsea’s gaze caught on Keanan’s across the room as Zach paced. Keanan had known.

  “You’re so busy, son.” Steve’s voice held no reproach. “You have a thriving veterinary practice and a beautiful family. You oversee the entire operation here.”

  She wouldn’t go so far as to say the entire operation, but Chelsea knew he was the only one in their whole crew who’d grown up on the farm. He’d been the one to teach others how to manage the equipment, how to fix the fences, and how to butcher meat for the freezers. Meanwhile, he spent less time at Green Acres than any of the rest of them. Yeah, she could see Steve’s point.

  Zach stopped in front of his father. “But I never meant to be too busy for you.”

  Rosemary reached for Zach’s hand. “You’ve always been right there when we needed you. This isn’t intended to be a guilt trip in any way. Instead of pushing us aside, you’ve built a log house right next door. You’ve allowed us to be a regular part of Maddie’s life, and now little John’s. Your father and I have always felt that we gained more sons and daughters through your friends.” She looked around the gathering, her gaze lingering on Chelsea. “You all have made our lives so full of blessing.”

  “Then why?”

  “Because it’s time,” Rosemary said simply.

  “We’ve found a little house in Galena Landing,” Steve said. “It’s fairly new and well-maintained, all on one level.” He grinned at Rosemary. “Even has a little yard your mother can dig up to plant tomatoes if she wants.”

  She leaned against him. “Or I’ll just keep coming out to Green Acres and garden with the kids.”

  Jo shifted from the sofa arm to her feet. “We’d like that.” The baby whimpered and wiggled in the wrap, and Jo’s hand rubbed circles on his back as she swayed from side to side.

  “So this is a done deal?” Zach demanded. “You’ve already bought a house?”

  Chelsea’s heart went out to him. It was probably rough accepting his dad’s medical situation had worsened. Plus, the whole doing-this-in-public thing. Only — she glanced around at the gathered team, pointedly not looking at Keanan — this wasn’t public. This was the group Zach had promised to make decisions with. So it kind of made sense.

  “The way I see it, there are a few ways we can do this.” Rosemary looked around at the group. “We’d like to offer you the farm at the same cost as the house we want to buy. The farm is valued considerably higher, but we don’t need more. If you, as a team, decide not to purchase the farm, we’d like to put it on the market early this coming year. Gary Waterman has always been interested in this part of the valley, and he’d make a good neighbor for you if that’s how it went.”

  Zach’s mouth opened and closed. “Any other options?”

  Rosemary nodded. “We’ve talked to a real estate agent about zoning, and we can subdivide the property. We can sell the farmland to you and the front five acres, including the house, to someone else.”

  “I see. Do you have numbers in mind for any or all of those options?”

  Rosemary handed a manila envelope to Zach as she rose. “Everything should be in there.” She reached for Steve’s hands and helped him stand. “We need to get home, and you kids have plenty to discuss. If you’ve got any questions, you know where to find us.”

  Steve straightened slowly. “Nothing needs to be done in haste. The house we’ve chosen isn’t going anywhere right away. It’s been on the market a while, and the owners have delisted it for the winter. Tammy, the real estate agent, knows them and has spoken of our interest. So there’s time to figure it out.”

  Chelsea considered the farmhouse next door. Was that the kind of place she’d like to live in? It had a certain amount of charm, but she couldn’t see it. Way too big for a woman alone. It must have been a great place for Rosemary and Steve to raise four kids, though.

  “How about my sisters?” Zach shook his head. “Not that I imagine any of them wanting to buy a farm. But maybe the house and yard?”

  “I don’t think so,” Rosemary said slowly. “Cindy and Tom are established in Denver, of course. Heather and Andrew in Seattle. They all seem settled.”

  Steve slid his arm around his wife’s waist. “And who knows about Liz? She’s been in Thailand a long time now. I don’t think it’s her permanent plan, but it’s hard to know when she’s in touch so rarely.”

  Chelsea knew that had been a sore spot for Zach and Jo. Liz hadn’t come to their wedding and only sent a gift — a pair of carved elephants — a year later. She’d barely acknowledged the birth of her niece and, to Chelsea’s knowledge, hadn’t yet sent congratulations for little John.

  “We’ll email Liz once you kids have had a chance to talk,” said Rosemary. “You certainly have first dibs if you want them. Of course, we’ll let Cindy and Heather know, too. But don’t let thoughts of your sisters interfere with your decision.”

  Steve swayed, and Rosemary’s arm around him tightened.

  So in tune were they with each other. Chelsea could only hope she’d find their kind of love one day. She peered at Keanan from behind lowered lashes. His gaze was fixed on her. Oh, man. Was this the beginning of a relationship like Zach’s parents had? Had they fumbled around in the beginning, not sure if they had enough in common to build a marriage? A family?

  What was she going to do about Keanan?

  * * *

  “I can’t believe I didn’t see this coming.” Zach came back from walking his parents out to their car and scrubbed his hands through his hair before fixing a sharp gaze on Keanan.

  Keanan raised his shoulders slightly and let them drop. He could see it both ways. He nearly always could. Whether that was a blessing or a curse, he’d never been certain.

  Zach opened the brown envelope and drew out several sets of papers stapled together. He glanced through them and shook his head. “A copy for everyone.” He dealt out papers around the room.

  Silence for a moment while the team members absorbed the material. Keanan had seen it all yesterday. He’d printed out the copies. He watched as Zach pulled Jo and the baby close and they scanned their papers.

  Keanan shifted restl
essly. He definitely couldn’t fault Zach. How long had it been since he’d been in touch with his own father? Or his mother? He needed to start rebuilding those relationships before leaving for Africa.

  His gaze found the top of Chelsea’s curly head. She adjusted her glasses as she read. Longing surged through him, a no longer unfamiliar emotion.

  Chelsea looked up and met his gaze. A pink flush crept up her cheeks and she turned back to the papers, creasing the corners.

  “Well, what does everyone think?” Zach asked at last.

  Claire glanced around. “For starters, can we afford to buy the farm?”

  Allison’s hand swept down and away. “Easily. With or without the house.”

  “We’d be hard put to feed this gang if we lost that land.” Noel’s fingers twined around Claire’s.

  “I hate to see it going out of the family.” Jo rubbed the baby’s back then grinned. “I consider all of us family in that regard.”

  Zach nodded. “My first instinct is to say yes to the farmland, but I don’t want to move out of the log cabin we’ve built and into my parents’ house, no matter how full of childhood memories it might be.”

  “It’s a decent place as far as older farmhouses go, I’m sure.” Allison shrugged before giving Brent a sweet smile. “But we, too, have a home.”

  Zach glanced at Keanan. “So do you.”

  Keanan nodded. The less he said, the better.

  “Claire? Noel?”

  The couple glanced at each other. “Our place is here in headquarters,” said Claire. “Unless someone thinks we’d be better off elsewhere.”