“Change it how?” Leon inquired.
“Instead of charging per pound, we could charge per basket.”
“What?” Leon asked. “Why on earth would we do that?”
“Just listen, Dad,” Jake continued. “We could charge twenty-five dollars per basket, and if the customer brings the basket back, then we’d take off two dollars.”
“Why would we want to do that?” Leon demanded, his voice rising. “What’s wrong with our sacks? And where would we find the baskets? How much do the baskets cost? And where are we going to keep these silly baskets, anyway?”
Claire’s green eyes rounded, and she moved her rice around on her plate.
Diane reached over and placed her hand on her husband’s shoulder, but he shook it off. “You need to calm down, dear. If you get yourself into a snit, then you’ll risk hurting yourself even more.”
“I’m not in a snit. I’mangry!” Leon glowered. “Jake, you’re changing everything, and it’s not right. This is not how my father or grandfather did business, and I willnotstart changing it now. I refuse. I am a Hughes, and so are you, and this is Hughes Family Orchard!”
Jake slouched in his chair, his lips pressed into a harsh line.
An awkward silence expanded over the kitchen. The only sound came from their utensils scraping the plates.
Emily squeezed Jake’s arm, but he kept his focus on his glass of iced tea. “Would it be all right if I explained my idea?” she asked gently.
The older man nodded. “You can, but you’re wasting your breath. You won’t convince me to change my mind.”
Emily could feel Claire’s eyes burning a hole through her skin, but she didn’t care what Jake’s ex thought about her. She was determined to make her point. “Jake and I walked around Apple Haven today so that I could get a sense of what they’re doing. They’ve created an autumn festival, and there’s no bones about it: Their prices are competitive. They’re offering the apples at almost half the price of what we offer here.” She gestured around the kitchen. “So I was trying to think of something different we could do. Then I remembered going into Mrs. Cavanaugh’s little store where she sells her homemade knickknacks, and she had these really cute bushel baskets. That’s when it hit me: What if we”—she paused—“I mean,youdid something completely different from Apple Haven?”
She rested her hands on the table. “You can still offer your variety of heirloom apples, but the customers can fill a basket and pay a set price for them. Maybe twenty-five dollars, or even thirty? The price would be up to you and Jake. But if you let the customers fill the basket for a set price and then offered a discount if they bring the basket back, you’ll have repeat customers. I’m sure of it. Your prices will be higher, sure. But so will your volume of customers. Plus, we can remind folks that they’re patronizing a family-owned business that’s been growing fresh, delicious apples that their parents and grandparents loved. That’ll make them feel good about where they shop too.”
Leon studied her and then looked at Jake, and several tense moments ticked by. “You think this will work?”
“Yeah, I sure do.” Jake’s expression warmed, and he pinched Emily’s side under the table.
She tried to hide her startled surprise, but she was almost certain Claire had seen it.
Leon’s blue eyes were cool as he studied Jake and then Emily. “And how much will these baskets cost us?”
“I’m not sure, but Jake and I can go see Mrs. Cavanaugh tomorrow and start pricing them out.”
Leon turned to his wife. “What do you think?”
“Honestly?” Diane asked, and Leon nodded. “I think it’s brilliant.” She smiled at Emily. “Once again, you’ve come up with a magnificent idea for the orchard.”
Claire looked like she was sucking lemons as she forked some more of her enchilada.
Take that, Claire!Emily almost laughed. She turned back to Leon. “Thank you. I can ask Mrs. Cavanaugh to give us a deal since we’ll buy the baskets from her in bulk.”
“Oh!” Jake suddenly said. “You could design a sticker that we put on the baskets to advertise the orchard.”
Emily gasped. “Yes! I’m already working on a logo for the anniversary, so I can turn that into stickers.”
They traded a high five, and when Emily turned toward Claire, Jake’s ex glared at her.
Was Claire jealous of Emily?Well, haven’t the tables turned?
“What do you think?” Jake asked his father.
Leon looked at his wife beside him, who nodded. “I guess we’ll give it a try.” He pointed at Jake with his good hand. “But if it fails, then we’ll stop it immediately.”
“Deal,” Jake said before beaming at Emily.
