Eloise: Look I’m sorry about coming over. I clearly didn’t know what I was doing. We’re busy getting ready for U-Pick so I’ll talk to you later.
In the following two days, I get nothing but radio silence from Eloise. I haven’t heard from Scott’s Orchards either. Even the Parkers have been quiet, saying they would ‘think about how they wanted to move forward.’ I didn’t bother telling them that they didn’t need to think about their options before they had any—we opened the conversation with a tentative offer, and Scott’s Orchards hadn’t gotten back to us formally yet.
‘You guys think any more about Scott’s?’ I ask the Parkers as we sit on their front porch. We’re down to the last dregs of our apple cider.
Joe shakes his head.
‘We don’t know how we feel about it,’ volunteers Betsy. ‘It would be a big change for the community .?.?. Scott’s coming in here like that. Everyone would think we were sellouts.’
‘It’s better than being a land grabber,’ I said under my breath.
‘What was that, sweetie?’
‘Nothing, Mrs. P. Just that I didn’t think anyone would think you were a sellout. You’d still be here, at least if they take what we offered.’
Joe grunts. ‘It’s not the same,’ he says.
‘Because you’d have more money?’ I ask. Even though I know that’s not what he’s referring to, I can’t help but point it out.
‘Because someone else would be making the decisions.’
‘You wouldallbe making the decisions. And I’m not saying you have to say yes. We don’t even know if they’ll say yes. But part of my internship is to leave here having given you some options.’
‘We know.’ Betsy softens, fixing her gaze on me. ‘He’s not meaning to be hard on you, are you, Joe?’
Joe mumbles an affirmative.
‘Nick, I’ve been meaning to tell you,’ Betsy says, her expression is one I can’t read, one I haven’t seen before. She looks .?.?. disappointed.
‘Amie asked about you the last time I was in Hal’s.’
My face falls. ‘Oh,’ I squirm, ‘we’re just friends.’
Betsy arches an eyebrow at me. ‘You sure seem to be just friends with a lot of people these days.’
I gulp.
‘Best to get that straightened out before next week. She’ll be at the County Fair, I’m sure. And so will you. I need help presenting my applesauce. Now that I think of it .?.?.’ she pauses and looks at me ‘.?.?. I need your help prepping too. There’s an applesauce contest every year. I never win. But you could help me this time. I want to taste test something new.’
Thankful that Mrs. P. seems to have put aside harassing my relationship choices, I smile at her. ‘Sure thing, Mrs. P. I got your back.’
‘Wonderful. I’m sure you know who we’re competing against.’
I had a hunch, but now, I’m positive.
‘The Andersons,’ Betsy and I say together.
Well,I think, I may not be thrilled at helping Betsy make adult baby food, but it wouldn’t be so bad to see Eloise again. Just to check and see if she’s recovered. As a friend, of course. Even though Betsy thinks I have too many of those.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Eloise
My Favorite Fruit Trees
–Pear
–Peach
