“How was Dad last night?” Jake asked.
Mom frowned. “He had a hard time getting comfortable, but he finally settled down around midnight.” She glanced toward the hallway and then back at him. “Things seem off between you and Claire. Is everything okay?”
Oh no.
Jake was not in the mood to discuss his breakup or get relationship advice from his mother. She had enough to deal with right now. “I told her that I need some space, but she can’t seem to respect that.” He swiped his hand down his plaid shirt. “Let’s not waste time talking about my issues with Claire. Em and I need to work on the plans for the orchard. Are you going to be okay with Dad?”
“We’ll be fine.”
He held up his phone. “Call me if you need me. I promise I’ll answer.”
“Okay.” Mom touched his shoulder. “Don’t give up on Claire just yet.”
Jake swallowed back his response and headed to the doorway. “Have you talked to Ally?”
She shook her head. “It would be great if you could call her.”
“I’ll let her know what’s going on.”
“Don’t worry her too much. She has enough going on with her classes and internship. Tell her that we’re fine and we’ll see her at Thanksgiving.”
“I will,” he promised before returning to the kitchen, where Emily was loading the dishwasher. Grabbing a dishrag, he began wiping down the table.
“I got it. You can go outside,” she told him.
He swept the crumbs into his palm and dropped them into the trash. “Is everything okay?”
She nodded and set a dishwasher pod into the compartment before closing the door.
“You’ve been quiet.”
She started the machine and then spun to face him. “I was up late working on the flyer. I’ll print it out, and we can take it to town if you want.”
“Sure.”
Claire walked through the kitchen and shot Jake a sugary smile before disappearing into the den. He shook his head while Emily studied him. “I didn’t invite her to come today,” he said softly. “I asked her to keep her distance, but she won’t listen.”
“I know.” She moved her finger along the edge of the counter. “I’ll finish up in here and then print out the flyers.”
“I’ll get my truck.”
“See you outside.”
He touched her hand. “Thanks. Really.”
Her golden eyes met his. “You’re welcome.”
After the kitchen was clean, Emily stuck her head in the doorway leading to the den, where Leon watched an action movie involving a car chase, and Diane and Claire talked softly on the sofa.
Emily padded over to the sofa and stuck her hands in the front pocket of her hoodie. As she waited for Claire to finish bragging about how demanding her job was, Emily suddenly felt awkward, like she was back in high school and the third wheel with Jake and Claire. Even with Diane, Claire had always been the favorite, and Emily the forgotten one, even though they weren’t Diane’s biological children.
Claire finished her story and then turned to Emily. “Did you need something?”
Emily ignored Claire’s arrogant tone and focused her attention on Diane. “I finished cleaning up the kitchen. Do you need anything else?”
“No, sweetie, but thank you,” Diane told her. “Are you going to work outside?”
“Last night I designed a flyer to invite vendors to come out to the orchard. I’m going to print some out so we can take them to town.”
