Out of the Blue

by Elizabeth Holland

  “It’s on me, just take her out and show her what we have to offer.”

  “Jacob, it isn’t that easy. She’s got a job back home, big plans and all. I don’t even know what she does.”

  “Then ask her.”

  “Why can’t you make her stay?”

  “And how would I explain that to Josie?”

  Tom sighed.

  “It’s probably not even worth it. You know, yesterday, she threw me right out of the house.”

  “What?” Jacob was laughing. “She seemed too nice for that.”

  “She’s nice to you because you’re going to get your hands dirty. It’d be different if you didn’t work for her.”

  “Here you go guys,” the barista leaned over the counter and set the cups down. “The hazelnut is on your left.”

  “Thanks,” they both said.

  Outside, there were little tables and chairs for customers. Jacob took a seat at the table under the oak tree, and Tom sat across from him and put his feet up on the third chair.

  “Look, Tom, I want to get Josie a ring and I can’t do that if I lose my job.”

  “You can work full-time for the city. They’ve offered every year.”

  “I know, but I like the orchard. I’ve been doing it since I was eighteen.”

  “Did you ever see her?” Tom picked at the coffee cup. “She said she was here a few years back.”

  “No, I don’t remember her. Might have been the year Mabel was born. I was gone a lot then. Back and forth to Pine Valley, Emma almost went into labor twice.”

  “Yeah, you told me about that. How was the drive to Pine Valley this time?”

  “Oh, it was good. Weather was better than last week. Mabel watched the birds fly over the hills. She knows a few by name now.”

  “She’s always been pretty smart.”

  “Just like her mother.”

  “When’ll she be back?”

  “Friday night. I’m keeping her all week since Emma’s got a conference out in Grand Rapids.”

  “Is she working on her doctorate still?”

  “Oh yeah, nothing’s going to stop that woman,” Jacob laughed. “Listen, would you try and talk to her, at least for me.” Tom was going to correct him again, but Jacob kept talking. “Maybe she can sit on it through the winter and think it over some more. Maybe I can run it and she can just take the profit.”

  “Jacob, I think she wants to just be rid of it.”

  “Come on, you could talk any woman into anything if you really wanted to.”

  “Maybe I don’t want to,” Tom took a sip of his coffee and then went back to picking at the cup.

  “Maybe you need to stop going home alone. You deserve better, Tom.”

  “Well, when better walks through my door, I’ll be sure to pour her a drink.”

  Chapter Five

  “Nice car!” a woman called out. With a bag of items from the thrift store across the street, the woman rushed over to Hailey. “Red’s my favorite color.”

  “Mine too,” Hailey smiled, nice but not too nice. Becoming friends with the people of Blushing Bay often garnered weekly visits and potlucks and Are you going to church on Sunday? All things Hailey didn’t want anything to do with.

  “I had a red car when I turned sixteen. One of those long, slender cars with fancy stuff on the back. My brother has it now.”

  Hailey nodded along, keeping her eye on the diner ahead. A slight breeze came along and the sweet smell of pie hit Hailey so strongly she moaned.

  “I know right! Better than, well, you know. The butterscotch crème is my favorite.”

  “I’ve never liked pie.”

  “You’re kidding?”

  “Nope.”

  “My name’s Josie, by the way,” the woman jumbled the bag around in her arms as she tried to meet Hailey near the front of the red car. Swinging her hair from her face, Josie’s blue eyes caught the sun and sparkled like the top of a lake. “I was just going to get a sandwich. Join me?”

  “Oh, I’m just getting take-out.”

  “Come on, I’ll buy.” Popping onto her toes as she waited for Hailey to respond, Josie tipped her bag sideways and a pot flipped out to the concrete. Hailey grabbed it up quick and walked with the woman to put the things into her car. “Thanks,” Josie shrugged. “I’m a mess most of the time. But it suits me. So? Lunch?”

  “Oh, I really shouldn’t.”

  “You don’t look like you’ve got somewhere to be.”

  “Well, maybe not, but I don’t usually have lunch with strangers.”

  “But we’re not strangers.” Josie’s perky smile was just waiting for Hailey to agree, but Hailey stood there without a clue as to what Josie was referring. “You don’t remember me, do you?”

  “Should I?”

  “Well, if someone almost ran me over, I would try to forget them too.”

  “You? You’re the one who almost ran me over?”

  “Yes, and I am so sorry, Hailey. And yes, I know who you are, I knew the minute Jacob mentioned you were coming,” Josie paused for a breath and Hailey started laughing. “It’s not funny.”

  “Oh yes it is!”

  “I almost hit you with my car. That red car, remember it now?”

  “Yes, I do,” Hailey was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes.

  “How is this funny?”

  “Oh, Josie, I have to thank you. My mother sent me here with this stupid old-fashioned book on manners and… I don’t even remember, really, but you ruined it. Completely ruined it.”

  “And that’s good?”

  “Yes, it’s very good. First of all, I had my headphones in and I wasn’t paying attention.”

  “But I drove by too fast, and it had just rained, and the road was slick.”

  “Josie, really. It’s fine. I jumped back and dropped that book in the mud and I just left it there. I mean, if you had actually hit me, I wouldn’t be laughing.” Josie’s brow curved in regret. “But you didn’t. And I’m fine, and I didn’t have to read that ridiculous book.”

  “I have to buy you lunch. No way out of it.”

  “I feel like I owe you.”

  “Oh, come on,” Josie took Hailey by the arm and led her up to the door. “Iris!” Josie called as soon as the door closed. A waitress with short, strawberry blond hair, tied back on the sides, came out from behind the counter with a sassy smile.

  “Josie, hey! Who’s your friend?” she asked as she waved the women over to a booth near a window. The seats were deep brown and plastic and had little tears here and there. Hailey slid into the booth and grabbed a menu from behind the ketchup and mustard bottles. She had been here before, a couple of times with Dierdre. Never for lunch, though.

  “This is Hailey,” Josie told with her chin high. She popped up on her knee and settled in with her face in her hands.

  Hailey sniffed at the air. “What is that?”

  Iris smirked, “Apple Pie.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Nope. Made with your apples no less.”

  “Do you guys—does the town all use the apples?” Hailey had never asked about the business part when she was around Dierdre. Even when Dierdre tried teaching Hailey certain things about the orchard it was always things about the trees themselves. Not like I’d ever need to know how to pay my employees or anything.

  “More like the whole state,” Josie perked.

  “Um, the whole Midwest,” was Iris’ reply.

  “There’s that many apples?”

  “No, you’re not the only grower,” Iris cleared. “But yeah. The Holloway Orchard sends apples to Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin…”

  “Jacob said he saw some in Florida a few years back,” Josie added.

  “Geesh.” The apples of the family orchard were a staple all across the Midwest. Pies were probably just one small item on the list of things people around Blushing Bay would make from the apples. Would selling the place to someone without experience in fruit growing be a wise ch
oice?

  “Well, you two want something to drink to start?” Iris pulled her notepad from her apron. The little pen in her hand had a pink fluffy top with googly eyes on it. Hailey laughed at it for a second. “Kids like it,” Iris smiled.

  “I’ll take an iced tea,” Josie sat tall.

  “Something diet?” Hailey asked.

  “Coke?” Iris checked. With a nod from Hailey, Iris left to get the drinks.

  “So, Jacob? Tall, dark?”

  “And handsome?” Josie giggled. “Yep, he’s all mine.”

  Hailey thought about how cute Josie would be standing next to Jacob. She couldn’t have been more than five feet, and a couple of inches tall, and she might have weighed a hundred and twenty soaking wet.

  Josie reached over and turned Hailey’s menu to the back and pointed at the pies. “Best in the whole county,” she hummed.

  “You know, I don’t really think I like apples all that much.”

  “Oh my gosh,” Josie laughed. “How are you doing over there anyway?”

  “Well, there’s not much to do.”

  “Yeah, the pickers are probably pretty busy lately.”

  “I haven’t paid much attention. I just mind my own business and let them work.”

  “Smart.”

  “I hear Jacob’s the best at keeping things running smooth over there.”

  “Oh yeah. He loves the place. Been working there for almost ten years.”

  “In high school?”

  “Yeah. Started out as a part-time picker during harvest. It’s three season job though. The spring is pretty laid back, but come summer, he practically lives over there.”

  “You ladies ready to order?” Iris set the drinks down and pulled out her notepad again.

  “I’d like the turkey club,” Josie said. “I’m sorry, do you need more time to look?”

  “No, I think I’ll do the same,” Hailey said. “With fries.”

  “Sure thing,” Iris scribbled down the order.

  “You guys still make the fries fresh every morning?” Hailey tucked her feet up under her on the booth just as the bell over the door rang. Iris was starting to explain how their fries were the best Hailey will ever have, when Hailey caught sight of Tom. She must have grunted, because Josie was quick to sit up and search the place.

  “Don’t stare,” Hailey urged, waving her hands and hiding her face. “He’s…he’s…”

  “Adorable,” Iris spoke.

  “Adorable?” That wasn’t exactly what she had in mind.

  Iris leaned over, her palms on the table, “Have you been to his bar?” Hailey could practically feel the excitement steaming off Iris. “He makes the best salmon I have ever had. I mean, it just melts in your mouth.”

  “Yuck,” Josie made a sour face. “I love his skillet blondie, though.”

  “How can you not like fish?” Iris shook her head.

  “It tastes like muddy water.”

  “Not Tom’s fish.”

  “All fish tastes that way.”

  “Hm, I bet if Jacob made you fish—”

  “No, it wouldn’t make my knees weak. He has made me fish. Trout actually. And it was gross.”

  Hailey listened to the women talk as her eyes kept to Tom. If he wasn’t just the town charmer. Going to each booth, saying hi to everyone like he knew them all so well.

  “Trout isn’t salmon.”

  “Still,” Josie rolled her eyes.

  “We live in a fishing town,” Iris mocked. “Half our menu is fish.”

  “We also grow apples and berries.”

  “He puts berries on his fish sometimes.”

  Josie leaned over the table and whispered, “Have you met him?”

  “Of course she has, look at her,” Iris’ eyes scanned Hailey’s face. She had no reason to be nervous or grow flush, but there she was, feeling the burn on her face. Cooling her hands on her glass of Diet Coke, Hailey pressed the coolness to her neck and shook out her hair. “Tell us everything,” Iris urged as she scooted in next to Josie. “It’s been a long time since I saw a woman try to get Tom off her mind.”

  “Oh, come on, Nikki was a fluke.”

  “She was a fool.” Iris turned and looked at Tom for a second. “Any woman who tries to get away from those hands is a fool.”

  “So, why are you trying to hide from him?”

  “I’m not trying to hide,” Hailey shrugged. “I just… don’t like him.”

  “Yeah okay,” Iris laughed.

  “Hush,” Josie nudged her with her elbow. “When did you meet?”

  “He was at the house when I came to town,” Hailey curled her lip between her teeth.

  “Did he stay long?” Iris’ eyes got big. “Did he make you dinner?” she gasped in delight.

  “Oh, no,” Hailey denied. “No, it isn’t like that. He was just there to give me the keys.”

  “Oh, yeah, we were dropping off Mabel.”

  “That’s too bad. I know I wouldn’t let him leave my house so easily.”

  “He’s really such a good guy. He and Jacob have been friends for a while.”

  “Do you see him often?” Hailey asked. She tried to keep her eyes from finding him, but she was fighting a battle she’d never win. And he wasn’t making it easy. Those damn dimples and a voice that was both rough and soft at the same time. Who was this guy?

  “Every Monday for poker night,” Iris teased before getting up. “I’ll be back with your lunch.”

  Josie, sipping her tea and playing with the straw a little, had a grin.

  “What?” Hailey wondered as she slouched in the booth to keep from Tom’s sight. At least the warmth was fading.

  “You can’t hide from him, you know,” Josie pushed her tea up to the middle of the table. Her eyes traveled around the room, landing on Tom as he stood at the counter. Hailey glanced back over her shoulder as the cook handed Tom his carryout lunch. A white bag and a foam cup. It was clear that Tom was eating alone. The bag was small, maybe a sandwich and fries, maybe chili. Or maybe Hailey needed to turn around and stop watching his every move. She couldn’t help herself though. Neckache and all, she kept turning back to take him in. Today he had on clean jeans and a blue shirt that matched his eyes. Or maybe it amplified his eyes. She wasn’t sure until he turned and planted that gaze right on her. Damn.

  Hailey slid deeper into the seat and covered her face with her hand.

  “Tom’s been alone for a while,” Josie whispered. The register popped open as Tom thanked the person. “Poor guy had his heart broke last year.”

  “That’s too bad.”

  “I know.”

  “Hey Josie,” Tom’s voice played behind Hailey. His presence sent a rush of flutters straight down Hailey’s body and she had to stretch her legs.

  “Hi Tom,” Josie smiled.

  “Hails,” he dipped his head to catch her eyes with his.

  “Hello.”

  “I’m glad you two finally met.”

  “We go way back,” Josie laughed.

  “Is that right?”

  Don’t lean on the booth. Don’t get comfortable.

  “Listen, I wanted to offer my help for the festival. I used to help your aunt—”

  “Great-aunt,” Hailey corrected.

  “Your great-aunt with the chairs for the band. All the stuff is out in the barn behind the pie shop. I can come around the day before and set things up.”

  The festival. Hailey had hoped that by not acknowledging it, it would just go away. Nevertheless, it was happening, and prince charming here couldn’t wait for the event.

  “I bet Jacob and the other workers will help.”

  “Nope, he can’t,” Josie said. “He’s got to haul the barrels out to the dock that morning.”

  “Barrels?”

  “Full of apples.”

  “Oh.” Perfect. “Well, I guess I will need your help.”

  “Alright then.” Tom set his bag down and pulled out the pen from his jean pocket. Leaning over th
e table as he lent his lake-drenched aroma to the air that Hailey now took in slow and deep, Tom grabbed a napkin from the back. Jotting down his number, Tom slid the napkin over to Hailey.

  “I’ll help out too,” Josie perked. “I’ve always wanted to, but Dierdre always said she had things covered.”

  “Alright. Yeah. I’d like the help.”

  “Great,” Josie popped in her seat.

  “Then I’ll see you ladies around,” Tom grinned. Those dimples made their third appearance and Hailey had to bite her lip. There was just something about a man being close enough to touch but not familiar enough to do so that drove Hailey wild. Tom was out of reach, but right there, scent and all.

  “Bye Tom,” Josie waved. “Isn’t he sweet?”

  “Yeah. He’s something.”

  Chapter Six

  “Hey, you want help with that?” Ash plopped onto a bar stool before Tom. Polishing the glasses he’d just washed, Tom shook his head.

  “Nope, thanks though.”

  “How was lunch?”

  “Good.”

  “You talk to her again?”

  Tom put his hands on the counter and leaned over. “What is there some gossip hotline I don’t know about?”

  Ash laughed. “No, but Iris texted me after you left. She said you were eating alone again.”

  “And?”

  “And I told you to come with me and Marcy. It was just a picnic.”

  “I don’t really want to hang out with Marcy, Ash. No offense.”

  “I’m pretty sure you’ve been clear about that. But still, you can join us anytime.”

  “Alright, I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Ash pulled her bag over her shoulder and got up from the stool. “Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Be safe.”

  “Always am.”

  The door shut hard with a gust of wind, and Tom, just turning to place a glass on the shelf, looked back as if there was someone else there.

  “Hello?”

  When no one answered, he had a quick laugh, then returned to shining the glasses. It wasn’t like being alone in the dark was anything to be worried about. Tom had no trouble keeping the night shift.

  Setting the last glass down on the shelf, Tom threw his towel in the dirty bin and then went to the window to see the lake. Such a sight to see. Full moon shining over the water, the sparkle of the waves rolling close to shore. It was this view, this peacefulness that kept him in Blushing Bay. No other shore was as beautiful, even on a stormy night.