Sugar Creek

by Toni Blake

  She knew the choice between the two seemed obvious, but she’d never felt so torn. Other than the fact that they were both hardworking and knew how to run a farm, Giovanni and Eddie were as different as night and day—and both men held their own unique appeal.

  Of course, as Eddie had pointed out, Giovanni wasn’t here. Giovanni had been absent from her life now for far longer than he’d been in it to begin with. And the sad truth was, if not for a snapshot she’d taken with his camera one day last summer, she might have a hard time remembering the details of his handsome face now.

  It was in May that Edna found herself alone with Eddie again. Wally and Dell had gone to town to buy supplies now that it was time for spring planting. Edna and Eddie had stayed behind to start work on it—the cornfield had been plowed, and last season’s crop had provided the seeds.

  Edna didn’t know much about raising things like apples or grapes, but she knew about common farm crops—she’d been planting her family’s garden since she was big enough to walk. The freshly turned soil here was dark and rich, good for growing, and when she knelt down, wearing an old flowered hand-me-down dress from Mama, her knees sank into the soft, cool earth. She dug a small hole with a trowel, dropped a few yellow kernels of corn inside, then used her hands to gather the dirt back over them.

  Eddie worked in the next row, facing her, and though they stayed quiet, she sensed him watching her. More than that, she sensed him…wanting her. She began to feel too warm for early May and avoided glancing up. Yet a familiar longing clawed at her; it had nagged her for a month now, and it was familiar because she’d felt it for Giovanni, too.

  “Edna,” Eddie finally said, his voice lower than usual.

  She looked up, aware that her hair hung in her face and her cheeks were surely smudged with dirt.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said, and his eyes burned with a stark hunger she’d never before witnessed.

  Her heart fluttered nervously in her chest as she said, “Don’t be silly, Eddie—I’m a mess from plantin’.”

  “The most beautiful mess I ever seen,” he told her—and then he was crossing the garden row on his knees, lifting his hands to her face, and kissing her.

  Just like in the apple grove, Edna couldn’t resist. His kisses flowed down inside her like sweet, slow molasses, seeming to trickle through her whole body. The next thing she knew, she was pressed against Eddie from chest to thigh, and they moved together in an intoxicating rhythm that made her crazy with yearning.

  Soon his hands were gliding smoothly up her thighs, under her dress. And she felt so very close to floating away, to giving in—especially when he lay her back on the soft dirt, whispering again that he loved her. “If you had died, Edna,” he told her, “I’d have died, too.”

  Her breath came shallow when he ran his palms over her breasts, and then, again, up under her dress. She wanted him just as much as she’d ever wanted Giovanni.

  But that’s what reminded her—Giovanni! She loved him, and she’d made him a promise. “Eddie, I can’t,” she said, pushing him firmly away. “I just can’t.”

  “You want to,” he breathed, his voice raspy now. She felt his words in her gut.

  “That don’t make it right.” And she knew if she stayed there alone with Eddie for even a minute longer, right wouldn’t matter. So she pushed abruptly to her feet and ran from the garden, her toes digging into the dirt with each stride. She stopped at the edge only to snatch up her shoes from the grass

  “Well, I’ll be here for ya, Edna, whenever you want me,” Eddie called behind her, “whenever you decide it’s right. And it is right, Edna. It is right.”

  “You’re stopping?” Rachel snapped.

  Edna gave a brusque nod.

  “You are…” Rachel’s frustration ran so deep she could barely find the right word. “Incorrigible,” she finally spit out.

  “Whatever that means,” Edna said, then turned toward the stove. “All I know is I need to concentrate on fryin’ this chicken or I’ll burn myself.” Although she took the time to point a spatula at Rachel. “And you ain’t exactly settin’ any records with them cobs of corn, neither, so buckle down and get crackin’.”

  Parting is such sweet sorrow.

  William Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet

  Sixteen

  A celebratory atmosphere filled the air as everyone ate dinner outside, some crowding around the two picnic tables near the barn, others standing up with plates and forks in their hands. Everyone complimented Edna on her chicken, but it was nothing compared to the reaction when the pies came out. As Rachel and Amy cut and scooped slices onto paper plates, Rachel felt weirdly proud that Edna’s pie prowess was known far and wide. Maybe she just liked seeing her ornery grandma being appreciated, a real part of her community.

  While dessert was being gobbled down, Edna said a few words. “I can’t thank ya all enough for pitchin’ in and helpin’ us out here today. It means a whole lot to me.”

  “Edna, your pie is more than enough thanks,” Logan assured her.

  After the dinner mess was cleaned up, people started to leave and Rachel sought out her girlfriends to give them hugs of appreciation. It meant a lot to her, too, that they’d come. Living so far away, she felt she’d done so little for them over the years as a friend—and with Jenny and Sue Ann, well, she hadn’t seen them since high school. Yet here they all were.

  “How can I thank you guys?” Rachel said, walking along between Tessa and Amy, her arms hooked through theirs.

  “Believe it or not,” Tessa said, “this was actually fun, so no thanks necessary.”

  “But if you really want to thank us somehow,” Amy said hopefully, “you could…stay.”

  Rachel just sighed, her stomach clenching slightly, as Amy went on.

  “I know, I know—you have a great life in the city, blah blah blah, but…I’m just gonna miss you so much.”

  “Well, I’m gonna miss you guys, too,” Rachel admitted. “A lot.”

  After getting Tessa and Amy on their way, Rachel saw Mike talking with Adam, so she walked over to express her gratitude and say goodbye as the crowd quickly thinned.

  When Adam’s truck crossed the bridge a few minutes later, quiet returned to the orchard, the only sound that of Edna washing up dishes—the light clatter of pots and pans echoed through the open kitchen window. Dusk fell sweet and cool over Destiny as Rachel finally found herself alone with Mike.

  She barely knew what to say, but like earlier, just kept it simple as she peered up into his dark, sexy eyes. “Thank you.”

  He answered by using one bent finger to lift her chin, then giving her a kiss. As always, it moved all through her, and that one kiss turned into another, and another, a soft evening breeze washing over them as Rachel let her body relax against his.

  Was Edna right? About why Mike had helped them today? It made sense he should help Edna—he needed to prove to her he’d take care of the place, plus it just made sense to get on her good side. But the warmth of his kisses made Rachel wonder, maybe even believe, it had indeed been for her, too.

  She walked into the house tired but happy, gratified by a day spent working with friends and knowing they’d accomplished the task at hand.

  “Does he kiss good?” Edna asked.

  Rachel looked over at her grandmother, still at the sink. “You were spying on me?”

  “Wouldn’t call it spyin’. Would call it workin’ in front of a window while you stand outside it kissin’ Mike Romo.”

  Rachel just let out an acceptant, forgiving sigh. “Okay, yes, he kisses very good. Now do you need my help here or should I go take a bath?”

  “Nope, I’m almost done. Head to the tub, darlin’, but make it a shorty, ’cause I’ll be right behind ya.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Rachel was in pajamas, fresh and clean, when she noticed her neglected Blackberry on the bedside table in Edna’s guestroom. Blegh. She’d been working such long hours this week that she’d barely glanced at it—and
had even sort of forgotten it existed the last couple of days. So she grabbed it up and headed for the sofa in the parlor, figuring she’d take a glance at her e-mail while Edna was bathing and couldn’t scold her for it.

  The first thing that caught her eye was a message from Chase with the subject line: K&K. It felt like being struck by a bolt of lightning—one that gave her back her memory. She suddenly remembered she’d been waiting to hear what happened with the new pitch to Stan. And with her job, too. Her heartbeat went from normal to beating like mad in just a few seconds as she opened the message.

  Rachel,

  Incredible news! Stan LOVED the new pitch, enough that K&K signed a new contract with us for three years! All thanks to you! Stan actually said it was mostly due to the confidence you instilled in him. So you’ve definitely still got the magic.

  And I hope you’re sitting down, because when I told the big boys you were responsible for getting K&K back, they realized it would be foolish to let someone with your great track record and general advertising brilliance go to some other agency.

  We haven’t broken the news to Pamela yet—we’re waiting until you return to the office (soon, please????)—but you’ve still got your job. Not to mention a healthy raise, given that you’ll be the sole Account Director. Your stock is rising, big-time!

  And the muffins are gonna flow when you get back, baby!

  Chase

  Wow. She still had her job. And a raise! The worry that had plagued her for nearly two months now was over, with a happy ending. Just like that, with a mere click of a button.

  Strange relief poured through her. Life wasn’t going to change. She would still keep doing her fabulous job in fabulous shoes and living her fabulous life. She would travel again. And she would no longer have to worry about her family’s financial future.

  In short, things would be normal again soon.

  Very soon. God, she was leaving on Tuesday. Four short days from now.

  When had she lost track of how quickly this “vacation” from her real life was ending? And when had the idea of it ending actually started making her a little…sad inside? That was the strange part about her relief. It was laced with an unexpected melancholy.

  Yikes—what was that about?

  She let out a big breath, trying to think.

  Well, you’ve admitted to yourself you have feelings for Mike, so this is just what happens when you let yourself care. When you let yourself get all gooey over a guy.

  And maybe if she’d lost her job, well…would she have, could she have…considered staying in Destiny? Just for a while? Maybe she’d been waiting to lose her job for that thought to surface.

  But she hadn’t lost the job. And as she kept telling herself, she’d get over Mike and any other attachments she’d formed here after she left. Life would go on. It would.

  Except…well, okay, one thing would be different. Sex would never be the same—it would never be as great. It would never make her feel as good in her heart as it made her feel other places. And that was disappointing to contemplate, no two ways about it.

  “You watchin’ anything?”

  She flinched, then looked up to see Edna wrapped in an old-fashioned quilted robe that that buttoned down the front, pointing at the TV.

  “No,” Rachel said, shaken from her thoughts—which was probably a good thing.

  “Then scoot over. Rock of Love is on.”

  Friday was busy, busy, busy.

  First thing in the morning, before Edna and Rachel had even finished eating breakfast, people showed up wanting apples. Most of the locals had picked up their apples for festival events over the preceding couple of weeks, or bought them at the General Mercantile, but Rose Marie Keckley had made a late decision to enter the pie contest, and LeeAnn Turner had just been roped into making apple tartlets for the high school band boosters’ booth.

  “Good thing you ladies got here bright and early,” Edna said, still in her robe, “’cause in half an hour we’ll be long gone, settin’ up in town.”

  After dressing in what had become her usual “work uniform,” a fitted tee and jeans—since finally refusing Edna’s smocks—Rachel grabbed a hoody to guard against the chilly morning air, then met Edna in the barn. Their first job was to load several painted plywood structures into the back of Edna’s truck, along with Edna’s toolbox. Once they got to town, the pieces would fit together to make the Farris Family Apple Orchard booth.

  As they pulled into the town square, they spied Johnny Fulks and Logan standing on tall ladders, stretching a Destiny Apple Festival banner across the street. Amy stood below, directing them on whether it should be higher or lower.

  Early as it was, Rachel practically felt like they were late, given all the action taking place. Many booths were already erected on the streets circling the square—traffic would be limited to one lane today and the area would be closed to vehicles completely tomorrow. On the grassy square itself, guys in DFD T-shirts busily set up tables and chairs, “where folks’ll be able to sit and eat or watch the entertainment,” Edna explained.

  It was noon by the time Rachel and Edna—with Logan’s help—got their booth hammered sturdily together. The plywood structure was painted white and a wide board across the top bore the Farris Family Apple Orchard logo with some apples painted at each side. “Paid me an art student at the high school to do that one year,” Edna said as they sat in the booth and ate the takeout sandwiches Rachel had grabbed from Dolly’s. Tessa wandered over from the bookstore to join them.

  When Edna got caught up in talking to Grampy Hoskins from the Mercantile, Rachel took the opportunity to pull Tessa aside. She’d decided to get Mike a fun little gift as a way of saying thanks for organizing all the help yesterday, but she didn’t know where to shop. “I’m thinking of some sexy undies,” she said.

  “For you or for him?” Tessa asked.

  “For him. I have plenty.”

  Yet Tessa appeared skeptical. “Not that I know him as well as you do, but that doesn’t really sound like the right gift for Mike Romo.”

  Rachel just rolled her eyes. “It’s in the spirit of fun,” she pointed out. “And I won’t get anything too out there. Just something sexy, like I said.”

  Just then, Sue Ann passed by, hauling some crates, so Tessa called her over and told her what Rachel was looking for.

  Without a second’s pause, Sue Ann directed Rachel to a department store in Crestview. “I’ve gotten Jeff some cute stuff there,” she promised.

  With a task-accomplished nod, Tessa said, “I knew if anyone would know where to find crap like that around here, it would be Sue Ann.”

  A few minutes later, Rachel and Edna headed back to the orchard, after which Rachel set off for Crestview in her BMW, promising Edna she’d be back soon to help get the apples and baskets ready for tomorrow.

  It was a little over an hour later that she came racing over the hills, speeding back toward Destiny—only to hear a siren split the air behind her.

  Her jaw simply dropped.

  No way.

  And when she glanced in her rearview to confirm that, indeed, Mike was pulling her over again, in those silly mirrored sunglasses of his again, she couldn’t believe it!

  Her mouth still hung open when he approached her window. “You cannot be serious, Romo? Are you? Serious?”

  And—oh brother—he even looked mad, just like the Officer Romeo she’d first met. “Damn it, Farris, you know how I feel about this! If you’re gonna speed, I have to give you a ticket.”

  Rachel sucked in her breath, still not willing to accept it. They were practically a couple! And what cop gave his girlfriend a ticket? She set her jaw. “For your info, I have a good reason for speeding today. I need to get back to the orchard to help Edna finish getting ready for the festival.”

  He sounded a little less angry when he spoke again—but it didn’t change the outcome. “Well, for your info, I’m still giving you a ticket, honey. Sorry.”

  Rachel ju
st scowled. “Clearly, there are no perks for going to bed with Officer Romeo.”

  Mike lowered his chin and peered at her over those mirrored glasses. “Oh, there are plenty of perks, babe—just not this kind.” With that, he tore the ticket off his pad and shoved it into her hand—then he leaned in the window and kissed her. Without backing away, he brought his mouth to her ear and spoke low. “Listen, I’m gonna make you forget all about this ticket after the festival tomorrow night—promise.”

  “I thought you worked tomorrow night,” she said snippily, still irate.

  “I do. But I get a break, and I thought I might take it with you.”

  She crossed her arms. “Well, I hope I’m in the mood to let you. Maybe I won’t be.”

  Mike just tilted his head and gave her a get-serious look. “Come on, Farris. You can’t resist me.”

  Since she couldn’t argue the point, she only responded with another eye roll and said, “By the way, those glasses are stupid.”

  He simply flashed a grin, somehow still sexy behind them, then walked away.

  Rachel couldn’t believe the crowd at the apple festival! Nor could she believe how many baskets of apples she and Edna were selling from their booth, which stood between the General Mercantile’s, where Grampy sold homemade apple cider and apple juice for the kids, and the PTA booth, which offered brownies, Toll House cookies, and jars of homemade applesauce.

  They stayed busy almost constantly, and Rachel found it invigorating. And though when she’d first come back to Destiny she’d often found herself avoiding running into people she used to know, now she enjoyed it, and this was the perfect venue.

  “Why, Rachel Farris, I used to have you in my geometry class,” a portly older woman said, and then Rachel remembered her.

  “Mrs. Cosway?”

  “Yes, indeed. And now I have a classroom right next to your old friend Jenny Tolliver—well, Jenny Brody now.”