Page 94 of Sincerely, Mr. Braden

Seth flashes a coy smile and says, “To dispel a rumor.”

“What rumor?”

“That hope is a myth.”

Chapter Thirty

Taylor

I was a little nervous about riding in a helicopter, but the flight is like a dream. As the town gives way to forest and fields, my nerves fall away with them, replaced with the high of anticipation and wonder that I felt as a young girl when I dreamed about traveling. A hint of discomfort creeps in as I’m reminded of my mother, but this isn’t about her, and I’m not going to let her ruin this magical moment.

I gaze out the window at the Hudson River snaking gracefully through the land. Then it’s all mountain peaks, dotted with pockets of farmland, rolling hills, and countryside. The views are stunning, but none of them compare to Seth. He’s a sight to behold, supremely focused, hands steady on the controls, headset snug on his ears. The sun catches his profile, and my heart squeezes. He looks so natural, my commander in the sky. How can one man be so in control and at ease in everything he does? Above- or belowground?

That’s when it hits me. He made all his childhood dreams come true, mastered everything he could, built an empire, and still managed to stay true to himself and loyal to his family.

The helicopter banks in a turn, following a narrow valley where the trees shimmer in the afternoon light. A meadow appears, and we begin our descent, whipping the tall grasses and dried wildflowers into motion, sunlight scattering through the blades. I hold on, expecting a jolt, but he lands with a small bump, the helicopter settling on the ground.

Seth powers down the helicopter, and as the thunderous rhythm of the blades fades, we take off our headphones. He turns to me, the corners of his mouth lifting, and he reaches for my hand. “How’d you like your first helicopter ride?”

“It was incredible. You’re incredible. I can’t believe you can fly this thing.”

“Want to take lessons?” he asks coaxingly.

“Yes, but no. I’m perfectly happy being your passenger.”

“I’m happy to be at your service.” He leans in for a kiss. Then he reaches into the back of the helicopter and holds up a leather backpack. “Can’t leave my flight bag. Wouldn’t want anyone to steal my bird.”

“Afraid the field mice might take off with it?”

“You never know,” he says, and climbs out.

As he comes around to help me out, I pinch myself to make sure this isn’t a dream.

He opens the door and reaches for my hand. “Come on, beautiful. I want to show you where hope hides.”

Where hope hides? My heart squeezes. “Okay, Mr. Mysterious,” I say as I climb out.

The air is cooler here, crisper. The grass brushes our legs as he guides me away from the helicopter. His hand finds mine, a gentle anchor for my racing heart. We make our way up a slight incline, and as we near the top, I catch fragments of lights through a band of pine trees.

When we crest the hill, sunlight catches on a small cluster of trees on a hillside. Beneath their crooked, bare branches, colors flicker and dance in the light. My knees buckle, and the breath rushes from my lungs. It can’t be. It’s exactly as I envisioned it. I blink rapidly, overcome with emotion, and then I hear the faint sound of glass against glass, like a thousand tiny wind chimes singing in the wind, and my throat thickens.

“You found it” comes out full of awe and disbelief. “It’s real.”

Seth’s fingers tighten around mine. “The way you’ve kept it alive, I knew it had to be.”

I look at him then, this incredible man who heard my story once and set out to find the impossible. “How did you find it? I’ve searched for it, and I’ve never found anything online about it.”

“I hired a private detective. Reggie Steele, one of Sutton’s relatives.”

“A detective?” I laugh, but my heart is overflowing for him. “You hired a detective to find an orchard that may or may not have existed?”

“Yes, but only after I tried to find it myself and came up empty.”

“You really are crazy!” I throw my arms around him. IloveyouIloveyouIloveyou! “I can’t believe you found it. Unless…” I step back, eyeing him skeptically. “You didn’t create this for me, did you?”

“No.” His lips quirk. “But I might’ve considered it when I couldn’t find it.” He hooks an arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer. “Let’s go see it.”

“I can’t believe you found it,” I say as we cross the field.