by Kat Brookes
“I rarely even do that,” she admitted with a sigh. “Truth is, I haven’t been to church since leaving Sweet Springs because Momma blamed God for all our struggles. I tried to explain to her that God hadn’t made the bad things happen to us. That through those times He’d watched over us. Without Him, we might not have even had a car to shelter in or food when true hunger set in.”
Jake hung his head, giving it a shake, and then lifted his gaze to her. “Your inner strength amazes me. All you went through and you still opened your heart to the Lord, even coming to His defense at the risk of going against your momma’s family’s beliefs.”
“I didn’t cling to my faith the way I should have,” she confessed. “I decided it was better not to bring religion into my relationship with Momma. It would only cause strife when all I wanted was to fit into our new life together. When I finally moved out into my own place, bringing Lila and Finn with me, I felt like I was too far removed from the faith I’d found here in Sweet Springs to attempt to reconcile with the Lord.”
“It’s never too late to find your way back to God,” Jake told her.
“I’m working on it,” she told him. It hadn’t been something she’d given much thought to in Atlanta. Not after so many years away from the faith she’d known only briefly. But after Mama Tully had gotten sick that past summer, she’d found herself asking God to heal her foster mother. And then she’d come back to Sweet Springs to find Jake injured, and her prayers had turned to asking for his recovery as well. “The Good Lord has probably been working overtime, given the amount of prayers I’ve sent up in the past few months.”
“You put me to shame,” he said. “What happened during my mission trip was life-changing and, beyond a doubt, faith-testing. I’m man enough to admit that I haven’t handled things the way a man of faith should have. That’s something I need to set to rights.” He looked up, meeting her gaze. “Would you consider going to church with me this coming Sunday?”
“Yes,” she said, emotion clogging her throat. This wouldn’t be easy for either of them, but it would be so much better stepping into that church together, supporting one another. “It’s long past time for me to take back what I gave up for Momma’s sake.”
The market door opened, and Addy glanced past Jake to offer a welcoming smile.
Jake glanced back over his shoulder, immediately offering a friendly grin of his own. “Reverend.”
If this wasn’t a sign from Heaven, Addy didn’t know what was. She’d met the reverend a time or two during her visits to Sweet Springs to see Mama Tully. “Hello, Reverend Hutchins. Are you looking for anything special? Jake’s momma ran over to the house, but we would be more than happy to help you find whatever it is you were looking for.”
His gaze drifted to one of the room’s side windows, the one facing Jake’s house. “I, uh, think I’ll just look around for a bit, if that’s all right.”
“Just holler if you need anything,” Addy told him.
“I will,” he replied. “Thank you.”
“He’s going to buy a pie,” Jake whispered after the reverend had walked away.
Addy leaned in, asking softly, “How do you know that?”
“Because he comes in at least once a week, every week, to buy one of Momma’s pies.”
“He does?” Addy said, her focus shifting back to the reverend.
The door swung open, and Mrs. Landers hurried into the market as if swept in by a strong gust of wind. “I’m back.”
As if sent over by that same burst of wind, Reverend Hutchins was there reaching for the stack of pie boxes. “Here, let me get those for you.”
A bright smile moved across her face. “Thank you,” she said, handing them over. “Would you mind carrying them back to the bakery?”
“Not at all. I was just perusing your assortment of jellies.”
Addy stood watching the interaction, wondering if the reverend came by each week for reasons other than purchasing a peach pie. After all, he was unmarried and had offered emotional support to Mrs. Landers after Jake’s daddy had passed away, and he’d been a part of their lives for years. Whatever the reverend’s reason for being there, it had effectively put a spring back in Mrs. Landers’s step. That did Addy’s heart good. She’d been worried about Jake’s momma, seeing her try and take care of everyone but herself. But then Addy wasn’t much different. She’d always tried to do for others rather than focusing on her own needs. This trip home had her realizing how important it was to find things that brought her joy as well. Like spending time with Jake.
* * *
“Penny for your thoughts,” Jake said as he watched Addy watching his momma with a soft smile.
She looked his way, her smile widening. “I’m not sure you want to know what I was thinking about just now.”
“Try me.”
“I think the reverend is sweet on your momma,” she said, so quietly he almost missed what she’d said.
“What?” he said with a muffled snort.
“Jake,” she warned in a hush.
Laughter erupted at the back of the store. His momma’s and the reverend’s joyous laughter. Head snapping around, Jake zeroed in on the two now gathered around the handcrafted fork chimes that hung suspended from a wire tree.
“I think she might return the sentiment.”
At that, Jake turned back to Addy. “Momma is friendly with everyone. Besides, Reverend Hutchins is a preacher.”
“Who’s also a man,” she said as if he needed reminding of that fact at this moment. Not when he was looking at his momma, who seemed to be oblivious to anyone or anything else but the happy conversation she was caught up in with Reverend Hutchins.
“She’s older than him,” he said, figuring that was a good point to make. But the moment the words were out of his mouth, Jake wanted to pull them back.
“And that makes him off-limits?”
He looked up into her questioning eyes, thinking about their own age difference. Not that a few years made much difference now that they were adults. Not as much as it had when they were teenagers. And it certainly hadn’t kept him from falling in love with her.
Love?
If he hadn’t been seated in a wheelchair, Jake would have taken a step back. There was so much going on in his head right then. An unexpected upheaval of his emotions. First, realizing that his momma’s heart could actually be needing something more. Something he felt at peace with if that really were the case. And second, realizing that his own heart needed something more—Addy.
“I could be wrong,” Addy said.
“You might not be,” he told her as his momma and Reverend Hutchins made their way to the front of the store.
“I’ll walk you out,” his momma offered.
“I need to pay for my pie first,” the reverend reminded her.
She smiled. “This one’s on the house.”
“You worked hard to make this delicious pie,” he replied. “I insist on paying you for it.”
“All right,” his momma relented and led him over to the cash register.
Jake looked to Addy, who was giving him one of those I-told-you-so kind of looks he usually received from one of his siblings.
With a ding of the cash register drawer closing, his momma stepped back around the counter to accompany Reverend Hutchins outside.
“Good seeing you both,” he said with a departing wave to Addy and Jake as they passed by.
“You’ll be seeing us both again in church this Sunday,” Addy called out after him.
Mrs. Landers stopped in the doorway with a soft gasp. “He will?” she said, her eyes alight with joy.
Jake grinned. “He will.” It was time he leaned on the faith he’d grown up with and stopped blaming God for the bad that had happened that day in the Republic of Congo. Maybe in doing so he could finally start to heal emotionally.<
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* * *
“Thanks for riding into town with me,” Addy said as she pulled into an empty parking space in front of The Flower Shack. She had begun to look forward to their outings with eager anticipation, instead of the dread she’d felt in the beginning whenever she was around Jake.
“It’s not like I had other plans,” Jake reminded her.
She offered up a sympathetic smile. “You are going to be back to your usual antics before you know it. For now, you need to accept that your body is still healing and be patient with it.”
“Easier said than done,” he grumbled.
“Has anyone ever told you how adorable you are when you’re pouting?” And when he was smiling. And when he was lost in thought.
Jake straightened in the seat as if being adorable took away from his manliness. “I’m not pouting.”
Reaching down, Addy released her seat belt and then reached for the door handle. “Whatever you say.”
“So you think I’m adorable?” he called after her as she stepped from the car.
With a shake of her head, Addy closed the door and walked around to help Jake into his wheelchair.
“I seem to have missed your reply,” he teased as he settled himself into the chair.
“That’s because I didn’t answer you,” she told him as she stepped around to push him into the flower shop. She knew if she did she might say more than he was prepared to hear. That she adored everything about him. That he made her want to feel instead of keeping her emotions guarded.
“So it’s a yes,” he persisted.
Addy burst into laughter. “Talk about needy.”
The shop door swung open just then, and Braden stepped outside. “Saw you pull up from the window,” he said as he strode in their direction. “Here, let me get that,” he offered.
Addy let go of the chair’s grips. “Violet didn’t tell me you were working today.”
“I’m not,” Braden replied. “I just stopped by to see how things were going.”
“Perfectly, I’m sure,” Jake said as his best friend pushed him inside. “Violet doesn’t do anything halfway.”
“She’s pretty independent,” Braden said.
“That’s Braden’s nice way of saying my sister is too stubborn for her own good,” Jake clarified.
“Must run in the family,” Addy replied with a grin, making Braden chuckle.
“She’s got you pegged,” he told Jake.
Jake glanced her way. “I’d say she knows me better than most.”
Addy smiled. The same went for Jake. He knew more about her than even her therapist had. At least when it came to the silly little things that made up who she was. Like how she preferred crunchy peanut butter to regular. Or how she tended to hum while baking in the kitchen. And she hadn’t forgotten how much he enjoyed identifying the different species of birds and listening to them sing. Or how much he loved entertaining children with really bad magic tricks during the town’s various festivities, which Jake would always tell her all about during their phone conversations. Funny how she’d never really given any thought to just how much they really knew about each other.
“Was there anything in particular you were looking for?” Braden asked them.
“I’m picking up a half dozen dahlias to use in the photos of the recipe I’m making this evening for the cookbook.” She glanced around. “Violet set them aside for me.”
“She’s out back overseeing the unloading of a fresh flower delivery,” Braden explained before going to get her.
Moments later, Violet hurried into the room. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“We didn’t mind,” Addy assured her.
Violet looked to her brother and smiled. “It’s good to see you getting out.”
“Addy gets all the credit for that,” he admitted. “I had planned to hang around the house and work on crossword puzzles all day.”
His sister laughed. “You did not. I’ve never seen you do a crossword puzzle in your life.”
“He was actually working on a new design for the orchard’s watering system,” Addy said.
“Tinkering was all,” he countered.
“Still, it’s good to know that you’re getting back to some of the things you love to do,” Violet said as she walked over to pull a wrapped bundle from the oversize floral cooler. “Always building something or looking for ways to improve something that already exists.” She handed the flowers Addy had ordered over to her. “I tried to pick out the most perfect ones, since I know you wanted to use them in your pictures.”
Addy looked them over. “These are beautiful. And the colors will really pop alongside the butter pecan pound cake I’m making.” She reached into her cross-body bag and pulled out her wallet. “I might need a few more for my last recipe, but I’m not sure how I want to present it yet.”
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” Violet replied. “But if you need any help, just give me a call.”
The door to the back opened and Braden stepped back into the main shop. “Delivery is all taken care of.”
Violet smiled up at him. “Thank you.”
“Anytime,” he offered with a grin.
Addy smiled. “I guess your brother and I had better get going and let you get back to work. Thanks again for picking these out special for my cookbook.”
Jake’s sister smiled. “Anytime.”
“Let me help you out,” Braden offered.
“I’ve got him,” Addy said, stepping around behind Jake’s chair.
“Okay,” he said. “Let me at least get the door for you.” He hurried across the room to open it for them.
“I can’t wait until I’m not depending on everyone to do even the simplest of things for me,” Jake muttered with a frown. “Opening doors, driving, you name it.”
“Don’t worry, Jake,” Addy told him as she pushed him from the store. “When I come home in the spring for the wedding, you can do all those things for me.”
Braden and Violet’s infectious laughter followed them to the car.
Addy couldn’t help but smile. It felt wonderful to be back around so many people she cared about. Around the laughter and the love.
“They might be laughing,” Jake said as he settled into the car, “but I intend to do just that and more.”
As she stood looking down at his handsome face, seeing the sweet determination in his eyes, the image of a perfect little rustic country house complete with a white picket fence drifted into her mind. Addy took a step back, her heart pounding. Standing on the porch had been none other than Jake Landers.
Knocked a bit off-kilter by that all too vivid image, Addy managed a nervous smile. “You don’t owe me anything for helping you. I’m doing it because I want to.” Closing the door, she rounded the car. She did so because she cared about him. More than that. She loved him. Not as Mason’s little brother, as she’d long tried to make herself believe. She loved him as the man he’d grown into. Not that she was prepared to express those feelings to Jake or anyone else. The realization was all too new And their lives were rooted in two different places. Hers in Atlanta, hopefully working for another highly rated hotel. She was still waiting to hear back on several job applications she’d submitted since coming to Sweet Springs.
Jake’s life was here in this wonderful little town where everyone knew everyone. Where he could do all those things he loved. Like work the family orchards, take rides through the woods and over the countryside on his ATV, fish in the pond at the back side of their property and work side by side with his brother to keep the orchard producing and the market updated. Even if her career didn’t hold her to a more populated area, there were so many other reasons a relationship wasn’t in the future for them. Her part in keeping Finn from his family. And despite his recent step back from his deeply ingrained beliefs, one he was setting right,
his life was faith-based, where hers had nothing more than an occasional prayer cast Heavenward. He deserved so much more than she was able to offer him.
* * *
“Addy, I’ll be doing it because I want to do it, too.” Because I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you. The declaration remained unspoken. The truth of it too newly realized. Too complicated.
She flashed him a smile before turning her focus to the road as they pulled out onto the main street of town. “I’m going to miss this place when I go back to Atlanta. When I’ve come home before, I’ve only stayed for two or three nights. Being here for weeks has made it feel more like it did when I used to live here. So comfortable. So...”
She paused, and Jake found himself waiting eagerly for her next words.
“Right,” Addy said.
One word. But it was the best word she could have spoken when describing how being back in Sweet Springs felt to her. It almost gave him hope that maybe someday she might consider moving back. Almost. Sweet Springs didn’t offer her much in the way of her career. The town was too small. Her opportunities too limited. He nodded. “I know what you mean. I’ve traveled a good bit, mostly on mission trips to other countries, but there’s no place that’s ever made me want to put down roots like this quiet little town I grew up in.”
“I only spent a few years here as a teen, but I know what you mean. I do love this wonderfully warm little town.” Addy’s cell rang, cutting into their conversation. She glanced in Jake’s direction. “Would you mind if I take this? I don’t recognize the number, so it might be in response to one of the job applications I submitted.”
“Not in the least,” he assured her. “I’ll just enjoy the passing scenery outside.” He looked away, trying to give her at least the feel of privacy when sitting side by side in a car was anything but.
“Addy Mitchell,” she answered as the call switched over to her car audio system.
“Ms. Mitchell,” a male voice on the other end replied, “this is Ed Johnson with Malamar Properties.”
