“Hi! I’m Chuck Miller from Channel Four News, and I heard about this incredible mural you’ve painted for the orchard’s hundredth anniversary. It’s the talk of the town. I’d like to get some shots for our evening broadcast. What do you say?”
“Uh. Sure?” Emily shrugged.
“Great. So tell me, how long have you been painting?”
She leaned on the scaffolding. “All my life.”
“Are you a professional artist?” Chuck asked.
“I’d like to be.”
The man pointed toward the mural. “From what I can see here, you certainly should be. What was your inspiration for this mural?”
“Well.” Her hand flew to her mother’s rings on her necklace, and she began moving the rings back and forth. “Honestly, my love of Splendid Lake and this orchard. It’s my home.” Her words quivered, and she cleared her throat.
“That’s beautiful,” he said. “Well, thank you for your time. You can go back to painting, and we’re going to take some video. Just pretend we’re not here.”
Emily turned her focus back to the mural, and while she worked, she considered what she’d told the reporter.
Splendid Lakewasher home. She loved the orchard, the lake, and Jake more than anything in the world. She knew to the depth of her bones that she wanted to make things work with Jake. But could she trust him?
All Emily knew for sure was that she’d be shattered if she had to leave him again. She just didn’t know how to convince her heart and her head to let go of her doubts.
Jake rested his chin on his palm while he spoke to another reporter on the phone. He hadn’t been able to leave his office in more than three hours. Thanks to Emily’s mural, which had gone viral on social media after Vince had snapped a photo of it, the phone had been ringing off the hook. He’d heard from vendors who called begging to move their business to the orchard, reporterswho wanted to interview him and Emily, and folks who wanted to double-check the times for the celebration tomorrow.
The anniversary celebration was going to be a success because of Emily.
Emily.
He needed to figure out how to win her back, but he didn’t have a moment to think about it with the constant phone calls.
After answering the last round of questions, he hung up the phone and rubbed his eyes.
The phone rang again, and he growled. When was it going to end?
“Hughes Family Orchard, this is Jake,” he said into the phone.
“I’m Melissa Gomez, and I’m calling from Mayor Fairmount’s office.”
Jake sat up straight. “How can I help you?”
“The mayor heard about a mural that one of your employees is painting, and he asked me to research what’s going on there at your orchard. I checked out your website and Instagram page and saw that you’re having a hundredth anniversary celebration tomorrow.”
“That’s—that’s true.”
“Well, you may already be aware that Mayor Fairmount likes to be involved in community events, and he wants to participate in your anniversary celebration. Would that be possible?”
Jake was speechless for a moment, and then he found his words. “That would be fantastic. I’m planning a ceremony.” He pulled out the event schedule and ran through it with Melissa. “Would it work for the mayor to say a few words at the beginning?”
“Absolutely. Your orchard is important to our community, and he would love to be there to share how much it has meant to him and his family.”
Jake shook his head. He had to be dreaming. “I can’t tell you how much that means tomyfamily and me.”
“We’ll see you tomorrow,” Melissa said before she hung up.
Jake disconnected the call and stared at the phone. Jake had never imagined that the mayor of Splendid Lake would invite himself to the Hughes Family Orchard’s anniversary celebration. He had to be dreaming!
A knock sounded on the office door. “Come in,” he called.
