Emily studied her friend. “Why?”
Andi huffed at her. “Just come, okay?” she said.
Emily studied her drawing. She’d wanted to paint it, but she’d run out of time. She had to settle for a drawing, but if Jake liked it, and she hoped he did, then she’d paint another version of it later. She moved her fingers over the edges, and her pulse skippedwhile she imagined presenting it to him and telling him that she loved him. Saying those words out loud after all these years would be—
“Hey!” Andi touched her arm. “Get out of your head and come with me.”
“What’s the rush?”
“We gotta go. Jake’s looking for you.” She groaned. “Please don’t ask me any more questions, okay?”
Was Jake planning something for her just like she was planning something for him?
She looked at the drawing again. Well, she’d done all that she could. She’d have to finish it after she gave it to Jake. She set it in a box and then tied it with twine.
She thought her heart might beat out of her chest as she picked up the box. Everything needed to be perfect. “Do I look okay?”
Andi smiled. “You look beautiful.” She touched Emily’s French braid and glanced down at her colorful dress. “I love that dress—especially with the high-tops.”
“You know I love my Converse.”
Andi grabbed her hand and tugged her. “Come on.”
Emily followed Andi off the dock, down the path, and into the grove of trees. The voices of customers milling around the orchard drifted over her. When they reached the barn, she found a knot of people gathered around it, and she smiled. She was so grateful that the anniversary celebration had attracted the crowd that Jake and his parents had hoped for.
Jake stood on the stage with his parents and the mayor. Emily’s gaze roved over Jake. He had never looked more handsome. His chiseled jaw was clean-shaven, and he wore a pair of khaki trousers, a blue-and-gray-plaid shirt, and black shoes. His signature ball cap was missing, and his sandy-blond hair was wavy and perfectlystyled. His blue eyes scanned the audience, and she wondered if they were searching for her.
Mayor Fairmount, a middle-aged man with gray hair, dark eyes, and thick horn-rimmed glasses, approached the podium. “Good morning. I’m George Fairmount, the mayor of Splendid Lake, and I’m honored to be part of this special celebration. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of coming to the Hughes Family Orchard in the fall with my parents and siblings to buy apples. This orchard has been a part of our town’s history for a century now, and I’m so grateful that the Hughes family has kept this tradition alive.”
He lifted a framed document and slipped reading glasses on his nose. “In honor of the orchard’s one hundredth anniversary, I’d like to declare today Hughes Day.” He turned toward Jake and his family. “I’d like the Hughes family to come here and accept this.”
The audience clapped as the mayor handed the declaration to Leon. A few hoots and whistles sounded.
Leon and Diane made their way to the microphone, and the mayor took a seat on one of the chairs on the stage.
Leon cleared his throat. “Thank you, Mayor. It’s an honor to share this stage with you. I’m Leon Hughes. My grandfather started this orchard many, many years ago. Well... I guess it was a hundred years ago,” he said. “When I was a boy, I never imagined I’d be standing on this stage celebrating a hundred years of the orchard, but here we are.” He paused. “This orchard is more than a place; it’s my home, my heart. It’s where I grew up, where I brought my beautiful bride.” He glanced over at Diane. “And where we raised our two children.” He smiled at Jake, and Emily’s heart swelled.
Then he returned his focus to the crowd. “I’ve seen many ups and downs here. We’ve had good years and bad years with thecrop, but one thing has always been constant, and that’s my love for this orchard.” He cleared his throat. “This year, my son insisted we make some changes and modernize things. I was against it. I was focused on tradition, but my son made me realize that you can honor tradition while also changing with the times and with the community, and he was right. I’m proud of this orchard and all of the changes.” He looked at Jake again. “And I’m so proud of you, son. Thank you for loving the orchard as much as I do. I know I’m leaving it in good hands.”
Jake nodded and mouthed, “Thank you” to his father, and Emily wiped her eyes.
Leon glanced around at the audience. “Thank you all for coming today. This orchard has been my family’s legacy, and it means the world to us that you all continue to come here and allow us to share our home with you. We hope you enjoy your time here today and that you’ll come back again. It’s our honor to grow apples for our friends and neighbors. We hope we can do it for many years to come.”
The crowd clapped enthusiastically, and then Leon made a sweeping gesture toward Jake. “Now here’s my son,” he said before he and Diane sat down in the chairs lining the stage.
Jake crossed to the podium, pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, unfolded it, and smoothed it out.
“Good morning,” he said. “I’m Jake Hughes. My dad and I have managed the orchard together for years, but this year he wanted me to take over. When I said I wanted to plan a celebration, Dad wasn’t too keen on it. You know how it can be between fathers and sons.” He grinned over at his father, and a ripple of laughter spread across the audience. “I wanted to do something special, so I knew I needed someone to help me. And that’s why I called my best friend. Well, I texted her, and I begged her to come home.”
He paused and rubbed his chin. “This celebration never would’ve happened without her help, and she’s really special to me.” His eyes once again raked over the crowd, and when they found Emily, a small smile lifted the corners of his lips, and his stiff posture relaxed.
She took in his gorgeous face, and a thousand butterflies fluttered in her chest.
“I’m thankful she’s here today.” He took a deep breath. “She not only came up with the idea of turning the old barn into a market, but she also painted that incredible mural.” He pointed to the barn behind him. “She’s the reason why you’re all here today, and she’s the reason why I’m the man I am today.”
Jake’s bright blue eyes focused on her. “Emily, you came into my life like a whirlwind when we were only five years old. You showed up in my orchard, introduced yourself, and informed me that I was going to be your best friend whether I liked it or not.” A grin overtook his handsome face as more laughter drifted over the audience. “Truer words have never been spoken. Get up here, because I have something I need to say to you, and I want this crowd to be my witnesses.”
Emily hesitated and scanned the enormous crowd. Was Jake crazy? He expected her to walk up onto that stage in front of all of those people?
