Vince had left at his usual time, but Seth suggested that the four of them keep working until sundown. When they began running out of light, Jake invited everyone back to his placefor pizza. Once the pies arrived, they gathered around his small kitchen table and began to reminisce. Dusty, that lazy cat, continued to snore on her favorite chair in the den as if it were an ordinary evening.
“That’s actually not true,” Emily said. “We got together a year after graduation. Seth and Andi were home from college, and we had a pool party over at Seth’s folks’ place. I remember it clearly.” When she took a drink of sweet tea, there was something in Emily’s eyes that he couldn’t quite decipher.
Andi took another piece of pizza. “I remember that.” She tapped Seth’s arm. “You invited everyone you could track down, and we swam until midnight, when the neighbors complained we were too loud.”
“Well, the music was too loud, but we weren’t noisy,” Seth joked, and everyone laughed. “We were never rowdy.”
“Riiight.” Andi drew out the word and then giggled.
Jake recalled the party. He’d been so excited to see some of his school friends, but Claire hadn’t wanted to go. She finally conceded, but she’d been in a foul mood the entire evening, forcing him to leave early. He’d been disappointed—angry, really—that they’d had to leave because she wasn’t having a good time. Looking back on that night, he realized that things were beginning to change between them. He’d once been attracted to the way she loved to be the life of the party, the center of attention, the most interesting person in the room, but that attraction faded as he grew up, and they started growing apart.
He could think of dozens of times when Claire’s mood had ruined their time with friends. He’d always made excuses for her, but after a few years, he began to realize how controlling Claire tended to be.
“I know we’re turning the barn into a market,” Andi began, “but what do you plan to sell there?”
Emily took a breadstick from the box in the center of the table. “I was thinking we’d contact local vendors and really showcase what Splendid Lake has to offer.” She rattled off the list of vendors she planned to contact.
“We can help with that,” Seth said. “Many of our customers are folks who either own stores or sell merchandise.”
Emily beamed. “Great!” When she shared a smile with Jake, his heart thudded against his rib cage.
“When is the orchard going to open?” Seth asked.
“Well, the hundredth anniversary is the last Saturday in September, so we need to open at least a few days or so before,” Jake offered.
Emily tapped the table with her finger. “Which is why we need to start contacting vendors now.”
“I can put together a list of vendors I recommend.” Andi met Jake’s gaze. “Maybe you can sell some fall favorites, like pumpkins or cider. Have you ever considered selling a cider using apples from your orchard?”
Emily gave Jake a look. “Gee, Jake. What agreatidea. Wouldn’t it befantasticif you could sell your own cider?” Her words were measured.
He set his glass down and leveled his eyes with Emily’s.
Andi locked eyes with her husband. “Uh, babe,” she began, “I feel like we’re missing something here.”
Seth nodded. “Me too.”
Silence permeated the kitchen, and Jake was certain he could’ve heard a pin drop.
Emily rested on her elbows, her eyes challenging him. “Should we tell them?”
“Don’t...” he warned her. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Seth and Andi exchange confused expressions.
Suddenly, Emily jumped up and grabbed his hand. “Let’s go. It’s time for you to share your cider with someone other than me.”
“You make cider?” Andi asked.
“No way,” Seth exclaimed. “You need to sell it, man!”
Emily jammed her hands on her small hips. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell him.” She grabbed Jake’s arm and tugged again, but he remained cemented in place. When she bent down to him, the flowery smell of her shampoo wafted over him, and his senses began to spin. “You told me I need to believe in myself,” she said softly. “Well, now it’s time for you to do the same.Youneed to believe inyourself.”
Jake pressed his lips together while her words warmed him from the inside out. She’d always supported him, encouraged him, believed in him. And at that moment, he realized she had always been his most loyal cheerleader, no matter what.
He worked to keep his smile from coming up to the surface. “I hate it when you use my words against me.”
She grinned, and his lips defied him and lifted.
“Fine,” he said with a groan. “Let’s go.”
