“It better be. Josie made me get it the other day. She said it was like heaven in a cup.”
“It just might be.”
“Okay, you deal,” Hailey set the cards on the table and took a handful of the mix.
Tom shuffled once more, then he laid out the cards. “You know rummy?”
“Of course. My mom and I used to play when I was little.”
“My grandmother taught me. She would take us to church on Sunday morning, then come home and make a big dinner. And we’d sit around and play cards all afternoon.”
“That’s nice.”
“Yeah, it was. Matt always cheated, but you know that,” Tom laughed. He caught Hailey glaring at him, but soon she was laughing as well.
“Was it just you two?”
“Yep. Ash came along when I was almost eighteen.”
“She lived with you guys?”
“With our grandma. Her dad wasn’t all that great to her. By then, though, I had my sights set on Florida.”
“What’s in Florida?”
“Lots of fish.”
Hailey grinned as she set out a straight on the table.
“My dad was a fisherman, I guess it’s in my blood.”
“What did your mom do?”
“Oh, she was never around. Left when I was about six. I don’t really remember her much.”
Tom played his cards, then glanced up to see the tender gaze in Hailey’s eyes. It was sad, but it was a long time ago. There was no need to linger in the past.
“My grandma’s a saint, she does everything right and she’ll tell you about too.”
“Is she your mom’s mother?”
“Yep. Honestly, I didn’t agree with her much after my mom passed. I can see now why she was so hard on us.”
Hailey played her hand and took some more of the mix. Tom reached in for a handful too, grabbing a bunch of the chocolate pieces in the process.
“Hey, you can’t have all of those,” Hailey teased, leaning over the table and plucking a couple chunks of chocolate right out of his palm. Tom let the sensation of her touch stay with him for a second before he gave her a smile.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“No ma’am. Just Hailey. Or, Hails is fine too.”
There it was, that delicate tone and soft gaze that Tom had been waiting for. He had gotten a peak of it when Hailey first met Jacob. And last night, it surfaced for a moment near the fire. But here, right now, she embodied that sweetness on a new level. Tom couldn’t help himself. He just couldn’t look away from those soft lips and her warming cheeks. He sat tall, ready to lean right over and kiss her, when the lamp flicked on and lit up the room.
“Awesome! That didn’t take long,” Hailey was up on her feet checking things out. “The sky isn’t as dark, either.”
“That’s great. Maybe we can get those lanterns up.”
“It’s still raining a little. We can play another hand.”
“Sure. Anything you want.”
Chapter Nineteen
The Cadmon sisters arrived at the orchard at six the next morning. They woke Hailey up as they rattled around in their van getting their things out for the pies and jam. According to Dierdre, they were quick workers who put out about thirty pies and forty jars of jam each festival. To sell all that in one night, that was an accomplishment. Hailey had never made a pie, let alone homemade jam.
Back in Lansing, Hailey had routinely woken up early, but it was becoming something unfamiliar. Stretching out and yawning as she curled in with the puppy, Hailey found herself loving the absence of an alarm clock. At the orchard, she could lounge around, meet friends for lunch, make coffee whenever. There were no deadlines, no openings to orchestrate, no papers to file. Well, almost. With it being Saturday, Hailey had to write out all the paychecks. And during the festival season, that meant paying out nearly thirty people.
A little while later, Hailey went downstairs to let the puppy out, and the sun came over the porch and warmed her feet.
“Nice day, huh?” a woman smiled to Hailey. She was popping up a canopy as a man put together a table.
“It is. Much better than yesterday.”
“I was worried, but Paul told me just to let the weather be the weather.”
“That’s a good idea.”
Let the weather be the weather. If only more people in the city could think like this woman. Then all the stresses of things that cannot be controlled would just pass. Life would be calmer and happier. Like it was in Blushing Bay.
“Who’s the puppy?” the man asked.
“I’m not sure yet. Trying to think of name still.”
“She’s sure pretty,” the woman added just before the canopy fell over.
“Oh, here. Let me.” Hailey went right over and helped the woman steady the canopy until the man clicked it into place.
“I’m Sarah, by the way.”
“Hailey.”
“This is Paul.”
“Hi there,” the man extended his hand and Hailey shook it.
“What do you guys sell?”
“We make soaps at our little farm on the other side of town.”
“That’s nice. I just buy the store stuff and never think about where it comes from.”
“Oh, you shouldn’t. Here,” the woman stepped back to one of many bags and pulled out a box. “Here’s a sampler. It’s made from goat’s milk and fresh lavender. This one has mint in it; I just love the scent.”
“Thanks. This is really neat.”
“Most people love it. I even make a special soap with apples, but it’s back in the truck still. Maybe I’ll get you some.”
“That’s alright. I think I’ve seen enough apples lately.”
“Understood.”
“Hey, your puppy found the barbeque tent,” Paul pointed off down the drive.
“Oh, thanks. I’ll see you guys around.” Hailey ran off to get the puppy just before she dove into an open cooler of meat.
“Cute hound you got there,” a man said.
“Is she? I mean, I don’t even know where she came from.”
“Well, she looks like a hound to me. She’s got those paws, you know. Nice honey coat.”
“What’s that?” Hailey had noticed the puppy perk up when the man said the word honey.
“She’s got a beautiful coat.”
“A honey coat?” Again, the puppy perked. “Is that your name? Honey?” The puppy started licking Hailey. That little tail beat at Hailey’s arm nonstop.
“Well, Honey, how’s about a hot dog?”
“Yeah, she loves those.”
“Hailey,” Josie’s voice caught Hailey’s attention. “Don’t let Jack here talk you into brats for breakfast. It’s no good for your heart.”
“No ma’am,” the man smiled. “I was just feeding her puppy.”
“Well, thanks Jack, is it?” The man nodded. “You guys making lunch, too? Or just dinner?”
“We’ll fire up the grills in about an hour. It helps to let the grease warm up. Besides, these people are going to be hungry after setting up.”
“I bet.”
“Hailey, I got some stuff to show you. Can we go inside?”
“Yeah. Come on, Honey!”
“I feel like there are so many people I don’t even know.”
“Even in a small town, you don’t exactly run into everyone all the time.”
“True. What did you want to show me?”
“Okay, but don’t say anything until I get it all out.”
“Okay.”
Hailey was a little leery by Josie’s enthusiasm. This level of excitement could only be brought on by one of two things: a new baby, or a new love.
“Are you pregnant?” Hailey leaned close and asked in a whisper.
“What? No!”
“Okay, what then?”
“Hang on a minute. Now, go sit down over there on the couch and let me get this set up.”
“Josie, I don’t do well with surprises.”
“Seems like it is.”
“Please, Hailey, play along.”
“Alright,” Hailey went to the sofa and sat down. She kept her eyes to the window as people passed by carrying all sorts of things.
“Okay,” Josie stepped aside to reveal a tea set on the counter. The classic pitcher, matching cups, and little saucers were in perfect condition. All bright white and detailed with little pearl shapes and lacey accent patterns around the rims and handles. “I found it at the thrift store yesterday and completely forgot to bring it over. Do you like it?”
Hailey loved it, but she couldn’t get the words out. She got up from the sofa and went straight to Josie and hugged her.
“Not such a bad surprise, right?”
Josie was beaming with happiness now. Hailey stepped back and felt the items against her fingertips. That smooth ceramic and the bumpy decorations were identical to the set her grandmother had years ago.
“I can’t believe you found this.”
“I just want you to know that, even if you aren’t here every day, I’ll be free when you do stop by. And we can have tea and whatever else you want. Any time.”
Hailey hugged Josie again. Tighter this time.
“Am I interrupting something?” Jacob’s voice came from the door.
“Nope, not at all.” Josie let out a wheeze.
“Sorry.” Hailey laughed, releasing Josie before facing the man—and the little girl at his side. “Who’s this?”
“I’m Mabel Shaller and I’m five years old.”
“You’re adorable.”
“She gets that from her mother,” Jacob added. “Why don’t you go on out and see what mommy’s doing.”
“Okay,” Mabel took off out the door.
“Tom wanted me to tell you not to forget about the lanterns.”
“Oh, crap. I did forget.”
“Why don’t I string ‘em up. You girls can hang out in here while the vendors set up.”
“Thanks babe,” Josie kissed Jacob before he left.
“So, Mabel isn’t your daughter?”
“Nope, she’s Emma’s daughter.”
“Oh, that’s right. Tom said something about Jacob dropping her off the day I got here. She doesn’t live with you guys then?”
“Emma teaches in Pine Valley. She’s been trying to get a position here in town for a year, but nothing’s come open.”
“I’m sorry, but haven’t you two been together for a while? Tom said so.”
“I started dating Jacob when I was still in high school. I had a crush on him for years before that, though.” Josie was blushing a little now. “He and Emma met when he worked for her dad one summer in Pine Valley, before he started here. He had just graduated high school, and she was planning to go to California for college. Then came Mabel, and I guess everything changed.”
“Babies can do that.”
“True. Jacob asked me to the Fireman’s Brunch that winter, and a month later Emma showed up with a sonogram picture.”
“So, you’ve helped with Mabel the whole time?”
“Yep. Sometimes it’s hard to be the third wheel, you know. But Jacob and Emma are good at being friends, and they’re trying to make it all work with Mabel and living in two cities, and jobs. It’s stressful at times, but when you love someone, you make sacrifices.”
“True again.”
“I can put this back in the box if you want. Just for now so no one accidentally breaks it.”
“Oh, let me get my phone so I can send my mother a picture.”
“She’s not coming?”
“I just figured she’d say no, so I didn’t bother to ask.”
“Yeah, my mother wasn’t always supportive of my choices either. It took some time.”
Hailey agreed, then ran up the stairs to get her phone from the bed. Glancing over the screen, she found a second call and voicemail from Dr. Vorheim. Now wasn’t the best time to be thinking about her career in Lansing. There were a lot of things happening in Blushing Bay, a lot of really good things. She didn’t want to be reminded of the plan she had so meticulously executed over the past six years. All that time and effort put toward something that might not matter any longer. The idea of giving it all up for the friendships and comfortable life of Blushing Bay was almost making her sick to her stomach. A sensation that only got worse when Dr. Vorheim started to call her again.
Just ignore it. Just ignore it.
“Hello, Dr. Vorheim.”
“Hailey, I’ve been trying to reach you for a couple of days. Is everything alright?”
“Yeah. It’s the, um, reception out here. Country life and all.”
“Well, can you hear me good right now?”
“Yeah.”
“I hope you’re sitting down, because, Hailey Holloway, I’ve chosen you as the new registrar of the Abernathy Museum of History and Natural Sciences, dear.”
She couldn’t muster a single word. Not even a sound.
“Hailey?”
“Um, yeah. I’m here.”
“Well, what do you say?”
“I, well, I…” Hailey went to the top of the stairs and looked down over Josie. Holding a teacup in her hands, Josie was checking out the details of the item with a satisfactory smile.
“Hailey, I know your father would be so proud of you. You have definitely earned this position. And I do believe it’ll be the first of many promotions.”
“Um, Dr. Vorheim, could we please discuss this on Monday.”
“Why, certainly. Has something changed your mind?”
“I’m not sure yet. I just want to get through the weekend. I’ll see you at the executive meeting on Monday morning, is that alright?”
“Of course, best of luck with your orchard.”
“Thanks.”
Hailey hung up and tossed the phone on the bed and started to pace. What was she doing? The promotion was just a small step toward becoming director, if she didn’t take it, she’d be set back another few years. The orchard, though, it just felt right. Everything around her, the house, the town, the people, Tom, they fit. Hailey was more comfortable in Blushing Bay than she’d ever been anywhere else before. If it was so good, though, then why was she shaking and pacing and trying to swallow like she hadn’t had water in days?
“Is everything okay?” Josie was at the bedroom door with a worried look in her eyes.
“Yeah, I was just talking to the director of the museum.”
“About your promotion?” Josie was a smart girl.
“Yeah.”
“And?” she came into the room twisting her hands around at her waist.
“I’m going to go back to the city tomorrow. There’s a meeting I can’t miss on Monday.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Let’s not worry about all that right now. I need your help with the festival; I have no idea what I’m doing.”
“Well, alright. For starters, we need a good bottle of wine to get through the first couple of hours.”
“I agree.”
Chapter Twenty
Tom didn’t mean to wait until the last minute to get to the orchard, it just sort of happened. He’d spent the day getting ready to see Hailey, not even thinking about the hundreds of people he’d pass while walking around the estate. Well, he didn’t need to think of them if he wasn’t going to get out of his truck.
Why now he had to find a reason to hesitate was beyond him. Hailey had just started to be friendly, and he was enjoying himself around her in ways he couldn’t believe. Ways that he hadn’t dreamed of since Caroline left. Caroline. She just had to step into his world right when things were starting to go right. She and Matt and their ridiculous idea to purchase the orchard. And for what reason?
Tom banged his palm on his steering wheel and then popped open the door and jumped out. He could smell the barbeque in the air, hear the band play an old country song from down by the house. So many voices coming to his
ears, all the faces that passed; Tom had to pause and gather himself.
If he’d just be honest with himself about how he felt, then all the anxiety about seeing Hailey again would go away. Or maybe it’d get worse. She was leaving soon; this night would be her last according to their agreement. Not that Hailey had much of a choice. Sure, she could have waited in Lansing for the orchard to finish harvesting, Jacob would have probably met her halfway to discuss numbers, and Mr. Whitmore wouldn’t require more than a signature. But she’d stayed. Maybe it meant she didn’t want to leave, or that she wasn’t going to at all.
Rubbing his palms on his jeans, Tom faked a couple of smiles on his way toward the house. Hailey could have been anywhere on the vast estate, but there she stood, right in his line of sight. And he ducked quick behind the face painting tent to avoid her.
“What are you doing?” Jacob asked.
“Oh, hey, I was just looking for you.”
Jacob’s eyes ran the length of the pathway until he started to smile.
“It’s not like that.”
“Sure it isn’t, Tom.”
“She’s pretty,” Mabel kicked her feet and it messed up the star that was being painted on her face.
“Yeah,” Tom mumbled as he crossed his arms. He couldn’t help but watch Hailey as she went around and spoke to some of the visitors. It was like she was purposely trying to meet everyone in town. But why? She had her city plans, and she was probably leaving in the morning.
“She even has a fluffy tail.”
“She what?”
“And she licked my hands and it tickled,” Mabel giggled.
Tom faced Jacob for an explanation.
“The dog.”
“Oh, right.”
“Her name is Honey.”
“Yes it is, but you can’t keep talking, May,” Jacob leaned down to his daughter. “She’s going to have to start all over if you don’t hold still.”
“Alright.”
“Hey, did she get the lanterns up?” Tom asked.
“Yeah, it looks real nice out there. You should take her for a walk.”
“Yeah,” Tom started to let his thoughts get away from him. “Well, I don’t know about that. She’s probably busy and all.”
“Go ask her.”
Out of the Blue Page 12