Out of the Blue

by Elizabeth Holland

  “No. I’ve already got one.”

  “Right.”

  “How was she? Dierdre, you know. What was she really like?”

  “Oh, well, she was stubborn, wouldn’t listen to me or anyone else unless it was her idea.”

  “Sounds familiar.”

  “She had her moments, though. When she’d do something nice for someone, without them ever asking. Without wanting to be thanked.”

  “Is that what she did for you?”

  Hailey was as curious as she was smart.

  Tom nodded. “She bought The Port off of Matt so that he’d leave town.”

  “Seriously?”

  “She brought me the deed that night. The only thing she wanted in return was a bottle of blackberry wine.”

  “You make your own wine? Why haven’t you brought me some?”

  “I’ll make sure you get some.”

  Hailey tucked her hair behind her ears and smiled, and it was impossible to look away.

  “I can’t believe that was all she wanted.”

  “Well, I kept bringing her a fresh bottle every week, so, it wasn’t just one.”

  Tom and Hailey laughed, but it was short-lived. Hailey must have caught a protruding tree root there on the path, because before Tom could realize what was happening, Hailey was in his arms and he was almost on his knees.

  “Oh my gosh!” Hailey, now red-faced, pushed herself from his arms, but he couldn’t help holding on just a little longer. With her arms in his hands, Tom got Hailey to her feet and checked her over.

  “Did you hurt yourself?”

  “No, I barely fell,” she brushed herself off and went on walking.

  “Maybe if you wore regular shoes out here,” he started to scold her, but she faced him with a glare.

  “I’m just a little clumsy sometimes. It isn’t my shoes.”

  “How many times have you fallen in those heels of yours?”

  “What heels?”

  “The ones you were wearing when you got here?”

  “Those were wedges. I didn’t even bring heels with me. It’s the country, Tom, that’d be dumb.”

  She didn’t have to tell him twice. Up ahead, Jacob and Josie were laughing at something Iris had said. Tom couldn’t make out what they were saying; he and Hailey had been dragging behind for minutes now.

  “They seem happy.”

  “Jacob and Josie? Yeah, they’ve been together so long, only an ice storm in April could tear them apart.”

  “She’s been really nice to me, like a friend.”

  “Josie is a good friend.” Tom caught Hailey shivering again, but the house was in sight. “You go in and get a sweater. I’ll make sure the fire’s nice and hot.”

  “Okay.”

  “Tom, I want to thank you for everything,” Mr. Whitmore came and shook Tom’s hand. “She was a dear friend of mine, and I’m glad to see her wishes were upheld.”

  “Of course,” Tom gave a firm shake. “If you need anything, let me know.”

  “I will. You young folks have a nice evening.”

  The others waved bye to Mr. Whitmore, and as he left, Ash came walking around the side of the house.

  “Bout time you got here.”

  “I was dealing with something at the bar.”

  “What?”

  Ash rolled her eyes. “Marcy came over crying.”

  “Ah, geez, Ash.”

  “Let it go, Tom. She went home. Right back to that jerk.”

  “I’ve offered to help her.”

  “She’s never going to accept your help.”

  “Then what am I supposed to do?”

  “I don’t know, Tom,” Ash threw her hands up. “I’ll let you know when I figure it out myself.”

  “We’ve got hot dogs and slaw, and, Jacob, can you get the cooler from the truck?” Josie asked.

  “Yep.”

  “Tom, where’s the extra chairs?” Iris asked.

  “Inside the shed over there.”

  “Alright, I’ll get some.”

  “Hey, that was a nice send off,” Josie said. “I bet she’s happy, wherever she is.” Josie looked up to the sky for a second, then she had a laugh.

  “She wasn’t all mean.”

  “Maybe not to you.”

  “Yeah, she sure had something with women.”

  “I think she was jealous.”

  “Who was jealous?” Jacob came back with the cooler.

  “Your old boss. I bet she was jealous that you were mine all these years.”

  Tom poked at the fire, sparks floating up into the blue night, catching the wind and hovering like stars in the heavens. And out the corner of his eye, came Hailey. She had put on a billowy sweater that hid her little frame and made her look so comfortable Tom almost went numb. He could picture her curled up by the fireplace in winter, snuggled against his chest, drinking coffee as the snow falls. He could just smell those lilies, feel the softness of her skin on his fingertips.

  “Tom?” Ash shook his arm. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “Cause I’ve been asking if you want a beer for about fifteen seconds now.”

  Ash was laughing at him, but he didn’t mind. There was Hailey, coming closer to him, wanting to be near him. Tucking back her bangs again, smiling so tenderly.

  “Yeah. Bring over a couple, would you?”

  “Sure thing.”

  “Here,” Tom grabbed a folded chair from the grass and popped t open near the fire. Then he got a second on for himself.

  “Thanks.”

  “Of course.”

  Handing out hot dogs on skewers, Josie had set up the food and joined the others at the fire.

  “Thanks for doing all this,” Hailey said to Josie. “It’s real nice.”

  “Yeah, you’re welcome. It is a nice night.”

  “Be nicer if the Tigers had gotten in,” Jacob added.

  “Tell me about it,” Tom said.

  After the hot dogs were roasted, and everyone had a chance to fill their plates, Tom caught Hailey staring into the fire like she had something on her mind.

  “You alright?”

  “I’m just, I’m not used to this stuff, you know. I’ve spent a lot of time alone. Especially after my dad…”

  “What happened to him? All I knew was that you were the last relative.”

  “He was in a car accident.”

  “Oh.”

  “It’s been long enough that I can talk about it—about him—without getting too upset. I still miss him a lot though.”

  Tom nodded along, putting his plate aside to really listen.

  “Before, we’d get together with my mom’s family and do all sorts of things. But after I went to college, and after he passed away, I’ve just been so focused on the museum.”

  “Well, the way I see it, you’re on vacation,” Josie said. She had taken the seat next to Hailey, and it didn’t surprise Tom that she’d been listening in. “No worrying about museum work or work at all, really. Just sit back and watch the stars pass.”

  “I can’t believe you’re doing all this.”

  “That’s what friends do, Hailey.”

  “Will you still be my friend if I leave?”

  Hailey spoke softly then, and Tom could clearly see the hint of tears in her eyes. It almost broke his heart to see her sitting there so torn by such a major decision.

  “Yes, Hailey, I will. But I can’t come to Lansing every day for lunch.”

  “Right,” Hailey laughed, catching herself from dropping that impending tear.

  “I hope we’re all your friends now,” Tom added as he grabbed his plate from the grass.

  “Yeah, I’d like to think so.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  There was a pretty thick gray cloud rolling in from the bay. At nine that morning, it looked like the sun had never risen. Hailey got out of bed and took a shower, then stood at the kitchen window with a cup of coffee to warm her hands.

  The town’s h
istorical society had phoned her late last night to say they’d be unable to come and help set up for the festival like they always did. One of their members had gotten into a car accident and the remaining members—all six of them—were headed into Pine Valley to see that he was okay.

  Hailey had no idea how to set up a festival. It was meant for the entire town, so it needed to be big but somehow contained within the orchard’s front yard. Hailey could remember a couple of festivals in her youth, but they were blurs and faded memories; she hadn’t attended one since she was eight.

  According to Dierdre’s notes, the shop was open for sales, the main pathway that led to the creek was lit with lanterns, and there were several booths set up for locals to sell their handmade things. Not to mention, the band that played every year for the past ten years. They were staged on the front lawn, out past the driveway.

  The Holloway Orchard Festival was known all over the county, and it sometimes even brought in people from cities hours away. At least that was what the data showed. Dierdre was probably the most organized person Hailey had ever encountered.

  After her coffee cup emptied, Hailey went and grabbed a sweater from upstairs and found that she’d missed a call from Dr. Vorheim. She glanced over his name on her screen, and the voicemail icon, and decided to put her focus on the orchard for today. Tossing the phone back into the crumpled blankets, Hailey got her sweater and went downstairs.

  Pulling open the front door, Hailey found a puppy sitting on the porch with its ears folded down.

  “Awe, where did you come from?” She knelt and checked for a collar but there wasn’t one. “Your so little, and so muddy.” Hailey stood up and looked around, but she didn’t see a car or anyone near. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

  The puppy followed Hailey inside as it wagged its tail happily. Trotting into the kitchen, the puppy sniffed around for food.

  “Here,” Hailey grabbed one of the leftover hot dogs from last night and broke it into pieces. The puppy scarfed down the bits almost without chewing. Hailey got a bowl and gave the puppy some water, then she dampened a towel and tried to clean up the dirt on its coat. During which she discovered the puppy was a girl.

  “How long have you been out here? Are you alone or do you have a sister or a brother?” The puppy rolled to her side and let Hailey pet her belly. “Do you want to help me with the festival?”

  The puppy got up quick and went toward the door like she knew what Hailey had said.

  “You be careful, or I might just have to keep you.”

  Outside, Hailey walked around the front yard as the puppy ran around happily. Hailey eyed the perimeter as she remembered Dierdre’s notes. After she decided where everything would go, Hailey went to the shed to find the decoration items.

  The local vendors would arrive in the morning with their tents, tables, and canopies. Hailey didn’t need to worry about any of that. The historical society had already taken all the registration info earlier in the summer, and they had assigned areas for the vendors. The only thing Hailey needed to arrange was the various signs and decorations that were jumbled in the shed.

  There were basic signs, ones that read bathroom this way, concessions over here, and parking. The latter of which required Hailey to get in her car and drive out to the front lawn up near the road. People were allowed to park their cars on the grass up between sparse trees and a bit of small hills. Back at the house, Hailey continued to place the signs until they were all set.

  The puppy had been frolicking for a while, and now sat curled up on the porch again, ready to fall asleep. Hailey went inside and got the water bowl and brought it to the porch. That and another broken up hot dog and the puppy was set for a little while.

  Sitting on the steps with a second cup of coffee, Hailey daydreamed about the festival. It’d be nice to see everyone coming together, enjoying the harvest that brought the town so much wealth and so many jobs. The people coming in from the neighboring towns was enough to flood the diner alone. Blushing Bay would benefit quite a bit, and everyone was happy for it. In fact, Hailey was so busy being happy for the first time in a long time, that she hadn’t even thought about another buyer for the orchard. And she certainly hadn’t called Matt. His differences with Tom weren’t any of her concern, except, now they sort of were. Tom was a friend, a good friend, and she couldn’t just ruin everything he’d fought for. Matt tried to take his bar; he did take his fiancé. Tom didn’t deserve to be bumping into the man every time he needed bread.

  A few raindrops fell onto the porch and over Hailey’s flats. Her ankles caught a few drops as the rain came down heavier, eventually forcing her to slip back beneath the overhang. Those clouds had completely taken over the sky now, and she knew there would be no sun today. And even though it was nice to have the sun warming the place as of late, it created some humidity and heat that October wasn’t usually known for. Both of which gave way to a storm, a troublesome storm that carried along lightning and thunder, and scared Hailey enough to make her go inside.

  “Come on,” she called to the puppy. “Come inside,” she woke it up and together they went in. “I need to name you soon or this’ll get difficult.”

  Hailey got the towel and dried her ankles and arms, then wiped off the puppy. Winds had come fast, and the rain went right along with them. Hailey knew her hair was a mess, frizzed out and blown into tangles. It didn’t matter right then, though. She went to close the front door, thinking that sitting on the sofa with her new puppy would give her comfort, when down the road came Tom, racing toward her door in his truck.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Tom jumped from his truck and went right through the door without a word. The minute he got inside, a puppy jumped at him from the couch, barking in a high-pitched tone. “What’s this?” He didn’t know whether to be excited or startled when the puppy came at him like that.

  “I don’t know her name yet,” Hailey knelt to pet the puppy.

  Tom grabbed the towel from the counter and started to wipe the rain from his face and arms. Something about that old house always felt like home.

  “What are you doing here?” Hailey got up.

  “I wanted to help you set up, but I can see you did all the work already.”

  “I still have to string the lanterns down the path. You could help after the storm lifts.”

  “Speaking of, you seem to be alright.”

  “Yeah, it hasn’t really bothered me… yet.”

  “Well, I can stick around, keep you company if you want.” Tom eyed the puppy as Hailey took a seat on the sofa. The puppy trotted over to her and got up at her side. “Or, maybe you don’t need the company.”

  “Of course, you can stay. Come sit down.”

  She didn’t have to tell him twice. He had gotten up early with the intentions of helping her in whatever way she needed. He’d taken a long shower, cleaned his nails good, trimmed his growing beard back to a stubble, worn his best clothes. All for her.

  “Besides the lanterns, did you have any other plans for today?”

  “Not really. I need to give this little cutie a name though.”

  “How’d you get her?” Tom reached over and petted the puppy, and she wagged her tail in delight.

  “She was on my porch this morning. I have no idea if she belongs to someone else, or if she’s just a stray.”

  “Well, Dierdre had a couple of hounds in the past, they might have had litters out by the creek. Down past where we were last night, there’s a patch of overgrowth. I’m pretty sure there’s a couple of foxes out there too.”

  “Foxes?” Hailey lit up with the idea. “I love foxes.”

  “Yeah, maybe sometime I can take you out there.”

  “That’d be nice.”

  A crack of thunder roared overhead, and Hailey jumped. Tom scooted closer to her without a thought as to what he was doing, and he put his arm around her.

  “I didn’t even see the lightning.”

  “It’s pretty dark out there.�
��

  “You want some coffee?” she offered.

  He wanted to just sit there and hold her, but he gave a nod.

  In the kitchen, Hailey got a mug and poured him a cup. And on her way back into the living room, the buzzing of the fridge silenced.

  “That’s weird,” Hailey stopped and looked back.

  “I bet the power went out,” Tom got to his feet to check the lamp in the corner. “Yep.”

  “Doesn’t she have a generator?”

  “It didn’t work last spring; I don’t think it will now.”

  “So, what do we do?”

  “In the dining room, there’s a cabinet beneath the window. She kept candles in there. We won’t need a fire; it isn’t cold enough.”

  “Okay, I’ll get the candles just in case.”

  “I’ll give Jacob a call and see if he’s out too.”

  “Does it take the power company long to get things back on?” Hailey yelled from the other room.

  “Depends. If it’s just Blushing Bay, then no. If it’s Pine Valley too, then yes.”

  Hailey came back into the room with a handful of various candles. She spaced them around the room as Tom dialed Jacob.

  “Hey, yeah just went out. You too. Alright. Yeah, be safe.”

  “No power there either?”

  “Nope.”

  “I found a deck of cards in the kitchen the other day. Want to play something to pass the time?”

  Tom smiled. “You got any smores leftover from last night?”

  “Sure do.”

  Hailey went to the kitchen and retrieved the deck of cards, then she came back into the living room and pulled the coffee table close to the couch. Tom went and ruffled through the kitchen for the chocolate and marshmallows, but he couldn’t find the crackers.

  “I put them in the cabinet by the fridge,” Hailey told as she shuffled the cards. It was like she knew him already. She didn’t even have to look up to tell him where to find what it was he was looking for. After grabbing a bowl, Tom came into the living room with the food and sat in the chair adjacent to the coffee table. He started to break apart the chocolate and crackers, mixing it into the bowl with the marshmallows like a party mix.

  “There,” he pushed the bowl to the middle of the table. He took a sip of the fresh, hot coffee and hummed. “This is good.”