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He shrugged. "I wanted it to be special."
She smiled as she ate her sandwich.
He took a bite of his. The soft bread was full of flavor, and the vegetables inside were crunchy and fresh. He'd made several different kinds of sandwiches since he didn't know which one she liked best.
Then, he dug out the macaroons that he had made late last night.
"These are delicious," she said after taking a bite. "How did you make these?"
He laughed. "It's a secret recipe."
Beverly nodded and raised her eyebrows as if to say, "I won't ask again."
She then glanced around at the orchard and back to him before saying in a soft voice, "This is so peaceful... It almost feels like... Heaven."
He smiled and looked down at his food before picking up an apple. He handed it to her. "Here," he said with a slight chuckle. "Eat some of Heaven's bounty."
Beverly smiled and accepted the apple, but then she paused for a moment before looking back up at him with an inquisitive look.
"What?" he asked with a smile.
"Nothing," she murmured, returning the smile. She bit her lower lip and then asked, "It's all right to joke around like that?"
"It is."
"I've dreamed about my father a few times. Have you? About your grandparents, I mean."
"I have," he said simply.
She smiled again. "Thank you for this. It's perfect."
They ate slowly, not wanting it to end so soon. It felt like they were the only two in the world—just them and their food, surrounded by nature's beauty. Soon enough, though, their plates were empty.
Before she could suggest that they get back to work, he finally worked up the nerve to ask her a question that had been on his mind since they started working together.
"Beverly, what are your dreams?" he said quietly "What do you want to do with your life?"
He could see in her eyes that she had been surprised by the juxtaposition of this question against the backdrop of their casual picnic in the orchard.
"My dream is all tied the business," she said. "I want Nails R Us to be as successful as possible. It used to be my father's and my dream. Now, it's just mine. It isn't a father and daughter company anymore, and I want to grow it over time."
"Anything else?" he asked.
A part of him was hoping she would say something about having someone special one day... someone who will be there for her no matter what...
But he wasn't surprised when she just shrugged. After his mother's father had passed away, a girl had tried towrope hints that she was interested in dating Roy. He hadn't wanted to get close to anyone then, not wanting to then lose them. It seemed too risky. As far as he knew, she had started dating someone else and was married with a kid on the way.
Beverly might very well feel the same, which was why he wasn't about to refer to this picnic as a date.
"Well, I was thinking... since we're finishing a little early... I thought maybe I could hire you for one more task."
Beverly lifted her eyebrows. "What are you considering?"
"Do you see that area to the right? I thought that maybe we could make a grotto there or something for Easter. We could change it up for Christmas time and maybe do something there in the summer... Just a thought."
"Did you talk to Colton about this?" she asked.
Roy made a face. "I wanted it to be a surprise."
