Orchard Hill Volume Two

by Kara Lynn Russell

  He decided to say another prayer or two. It couldn’t hurt, could it?

  “Hi Sarah, Oliver,” Hope called to them. “I’m going to get some coffee and I’ll be right over.”

  He stood there frozen until she joined them. “Hi Oliver,” she said, that million dollar smile lighting up her face.

  “Um…hi, Hope. Sorry, I can’t stay. I’m on my way…that is, I have to… I’ll see you tomorrow at the tournament,” he said, and then hurried out, leaving a very confused Hope with Sarah.

  “Okay, it’s just us,” said Sarah as Hope slid into the chair across from her. “What’s up with you two?”

  “After the way Oliver just ran out of here, I’m not sure you’ll believe me.”

  Hope tried not to worry about Oliver’s strange behavior at Grace’s, but she couldn’t help it. Had he changed his mind? Did he regret his impulsive proposal?

  She couldn’t forget the incident, and after a while, she decided to call and confront him about it. She wasn’t going to wait around until he got up the courage to tell her he’d changed his mind.

  When he picked up the phone, Hope took her cue from Joseph and charged ahead without wasting time on small talk. “I need to know if you’ve changed your mind about wanting to get married.”

  “What? Hope, is this you?”

  “Of course it’s me. How many women have you proposed to recently?”

  “Only you.”

  “Why did you run out on me this morning at the coffee shop? Have you changed your mind?”

  “No. It’s just that I…I didn’t know what to say to you. It feels weird being together when I’m still waiting for your answer, and I didn’t want to push you. But if we’re together I’m afraid I will.”

  “So you aren’t withdrawing your offer?”

  “No, of course not.” Hope felt a little thrill at the force he put into that statement.

  “I have to go to my brother’s for supper tonight. I’m sure he’s heard about what happened at the pizza place last night and wants to have a ‘talk’ with me.”

  “Do you want me to talk to him?”

  “No, it’s not necessary. He’s really a teddy bear. Even if he’s an annoying teddy bear who keeps butting into my life.”

  “You’re lucky to have Joseph. I’m an only child. I never had anyone who watched out for me like that.”

  Hope had a sudden insight into Oliver’s childhood. No siblings, parents who were wrapped up in their own problems. No wonder he’d become so attached to his uncle. No wonder marriage was such a difficult step for him to contemplate. “What made you decide to ask me to marry you?” she asked softly.

  “Well…I love you. I thought I could avoid you, and it would go away. But then I couldn’t stay away from you. Every time you were late for practice, I worried that something had happened to you.”

  “Oh no. You aren’t going to be like Joseph and spend your whole life trying to keep me safe, are you?”

  Oliver actually laughed at that. “Believe me, I don’t want to be your big brother.”

  “Well, that’s reassuring.”

  “I thought you were such a together person and your life was so perfect. Then, I found out about your sister and the triplets and…well, suddenly I felt like maybe you could use someone like me in your life. But not to take care of you. Just to be there with you. To stand with you in the tough times.”

  “What about the good times? There will be good times, won’t there?”

  “Of course. Then, I’ll enjoy your smile and…”

  “And what?”

  “And I’ll definitely enjoy kissing you.”

  Hope’s breath caught as she remembered how last night had ended. “I’ll enjoy that, too.”

  “I should hope so,” he mumbled, and Hope knew that this very personal conversation must be difficult for the usually reserved Oliver. It was an indication that he trusted her—truly trusted her with his heart, and that was an awesome gift.

  “I have to go now,” she said. “I…I have a lot to think about.”

  “I really don’t want to push you. Take whatever time you need.”

  “I’ll tell you tomorrow after the tournament,” Hope promised.

  “Really? Are you sure?”

  “Yes. I’ll be ready.”

  ****

  Supper at Joseph’s house was a very entertaining affair. The teenagers joked and kidded around as usual, and the triplets tried to get out of both helping set the table and eating their vegetables. Sarah was already well known by her family and they felt no need to put on company manners around her.

  But Joseph. Joseph glowered like a bear with a toothache all through supper. Hope could tell he couldn’t wait for the meal to be over so he could corner her and interrogate her about last night. He was going to give himself indigestion.

  Finally the meal was over, and while the kids and Sarah cleared away the supper dishes, Joseph indicated that Hope should follow him into his office.

  Once the door was closed behind them, he didn’t waste any time. “Just how long,” he asked, “do you think you and that Oliver guy are going to keep feeding material to the gossipmongers in Orchard Hill?”

  Hope felt a smile twitching at her lips. “Not too much longer.”

  “What was this last stunt all about?”

  “You remember that I lent my car to Noah? Well, I asked everyone if I could get a ride home, and Jordan Schmidt was the first to offer. Oliver said that Jordan was hinting that he…that we…well, that he was planning on more than just dropping me on my doorstep.”

  “He told Oliver this?”

  She nodded. “And I guess Oliver lost his temper and decided that he would take me home instead.”

  “He lost his temper? He didn’t do anything to hurt you, did he?”

  “No, of course not.” It was strange that Oliver dragging her out of the Big Apple seemed funny now; last night she’d been furious. A marriage proposal from the right guy sure changed your perspective. “It was just what you would have done if you’d have heard Jordan say those things about me.”

  Joseph thought for a moment. “Maybe. What happened when you got home?”

  “That is personal, dear brother.”

  His face darkened. “Hope…”

  “I promise that nothing inappropriate happened, but you can forget about any details.”

  Joseph began to pace. “Are you and this Oliver ‘together’ now?”

  “Yes, I guess we are.”

  “Then I’m going to have to get to know him better,” he muttered.

  “Don’t say it like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like you’re going to break his legs for messing with your little sister.”

  He stopped his pacing to stand in front of her. “Hmmm, that’s a thought.”

  “Joseph…”

  “But maybe we can start with Sunday dinner.”

  Hope threw her arms around him and hugged him. “Thank you, Joseph. You’re really going to like Oliver, I promise.”

  “Yeah, we’ll see.”

  ****

  On the way home, Sarah looked over from the driver’s seat and said, “I guess things went well with Joseph. You sure seem happy.”

  “Yeah. He wants Oliver to come over for Sunday dinner.”

  “You do know that an invitation to dinner and accepting Oliver as a brother-in-law are a long way apart, don’t you?”

  “I didn’t say I was accepting Oliver’s offer.”

  “You don’t have to. I can see it in your eyes. You’re in love.”

  “I was thinking that maybe, instead of giving Oliver a yes or no answer, I would simply say ‘not now.’ That will keep the option open and we won’t have to feel rushed.”

  “Do you really think that’s going to work?”

  “Why wouldn’t it?”

  “From what you’ve told me, I’m guessing that it took a lot for Oliver to ask that question once. I don’t think he’s going to do it aga
in.”

  “Not even if I explain to him that we should take more time to build the relationship?”

  Sarah shrugged. “You know him better than I do, but I doubt it.”

  Sarah might be right. Hope had a lot of praying to do.

  ****

  The Fourth of July dawned bright and clear. It was a perfect summer’s day; the sun shone in a deep blue sky with only a few white, puffy clouds gracing it. It was warm—but not too warm—and there was a hint of a breeze. A perfect day for picnics and softball.

  The tournament was being held at a county park that had three softball fields and lots of room for picnickers and fireworks later. As the teams were gathering, Oliver searched for, and found, Hope.

  She was walking by herself to the field where their first game was going to be held. He caught up with her, grabbed her hand and pulled her to the side, behind a stand of trees.

  “Oliver, you scared me!” But she looked happy to see him so he didn’t mind the complaint.

  “I just wanted a minute alone with you before everything starts.”

  “We’re alone, so what’s up?”

  “Want to meet somewhere after the tournament? We can have supper and watch the fireworks.”

  “That sounds good. How about we meet by that big oak tree in the picnic area?”

  “All right. I’ll wait for you there.”

  “OK. I guess we’d better get going then so we have time to warm up before the game.”

  “One more thing.”

  Taking her hands in his, Oliver pulled Hope close and kissed her. “I won’t be able to do this all day.”

  Hope kissed him back. “This had better hold you until tonight then.”

  Oliver wanted to say ‘forget about the tournament’ and take Hope somewhere that they could spend the day alone together. But other people were depending on them.

  ****

  The Orchard Hill Community Church team did pretty well. Oliver knew he hadn’t played his best today. His mind tended to wander to what Hope would say to him later. But they’d taken third place, and that wasn’t bad, he supposed. The important thing was that the stands had been full, and the PTA must have raised enough money to fund the summer recreation program for another year.

  He made a fast trip to his car to stow his gear. On his way to the big oak to meet Hope, Oliver ran into Joseph.

  “I think we need to have another little talk.” The look on his face was not friendly.

  Oliver didn’t want to do anything to antagonize Hope’s family. He decided to stop and talk to Joseph, even if it meant being late. Maybe he could clear the air between them. “Sure. What do you want to talk about?”

  Joseph motioned him over to a quieter spot where it was unlikely they’d be overheard. “I don’t like my sister being the object of gossip.”

  Oh no. The other night at the pizza parlor and then later, the kiss at her front porch. “I never intended for that to happen.”

  “Yes, but it did and more than once. Hope says the two of you are an item now. How do I know this kind of thing won’t happen again?

  Oliver held back a groan. This was going to be harder than he thought.

  ****

  Hope stood under the oak tree, watching for Oliver, but trying not to look like she was looking for someone. Where was he? He wouldn’t forget, would he?

  Just her luck, Jordan Schmidt found her before Oliver did. “Hey, Hope. We didn’t do too badly today, did we?”

  She forced a smile and tried not to make it look too obvious that she was watching for Oliver over Jordan’s shoulder.

  “Are you on your own now? How about getting something to eat with me? Then we can watch the fireworks together later. I know a great spot.”

  “No thanks. I’m meeting a friend.”

  “Who are you meeting? Sarah? I could find a friend for her.”

  “No, it’s not Sarah.”

  “Is it Oliver?” Jordan asked. The abrupt change in the tone of his voice startled Hope, and she tore her attention away from the crowd to look him in the eyes.

  “Jordan, I’m sorry, but you and I have nothing in common. Believe me, you’d be bored with me.”

  “I don’t think so. He convinced you of that, didn’t he?”

  “No, no. There are lots of girls out there that you’d like better than me, I’m sure.”

  “Why don’t we give it a try, and see if you’re right? Maybe we won’t get bored.”

  Jordan was starting to make her nervous. He was proving to be just as stubborn as Joseph and started pouring on his version of charm. Hope had her back to the oak tree, but Jordan was still too close for comfort. She wished Oliver would come.

  ****

  “I would never do anything on purpose to hurt Hope,” Oliver assured Joseph. “I care about her a lot.”

  “You have a funny way of showing it,” he countered. “I heard you practically dragged her out of the pizza place the other night.”

  “OK, I admit I lost my temper, but not with Hope. Someone else was…was not treating her with respect. I didn’t think she should put up with that.”

  “Did you treat her any better?”

  Oliver sighed and rubbed his face. “No, but Hope and I have resolved everything between us. It’s not an issue anymore.”

  “It is to me.”

  Oliver was torn between wanting to placate Joseph and needing to meet Hope. How long would she wait for him?

  “Joseph, if you knew me, you’d know that those incidents with Hope were not typical.”

  “But I don’t know you, do I?”

  Out of the corner of his eye, Oliver saw Sarah approaching with Abby and the triplets. Sarah knelt down and said something to Dori, Lucy and Belle. Suddenly they let out whoops of excitement and ran to Joseph, jumping up and down, giggling and chattering. As they closed in around him, Abby joined in the chaos, with a wink to Oliver. Sarah grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the melee.

  “What did you say to the Terrible Trio to make them do that,” he asked her.

  She smiled and shrugged. “It may have had something to do with you buying them ice cream if they distracted Joseph.”

  “Definitely. I owe you all.”

  “Just get going.”

  Oliver jogged away, weaving in and out through picnic tables and people. Before long, the oak tree came into sight—along with Hope and Jordan.

  He slowed as he took in what was going on. Jordan had her cornered, an arm on either side of her and the oak behind her. She looked up, over his shoulder and their eyes met.

  Hope she saw Oliver’s face and knew he was going to lose it.

  As he started toward them, she could visualize the scene. Oliver was definitely ready to punch something—or more likely, someone. Jordan could never turn down that kind of a challenge and the last thing they needed was a wave of gossip about the brawl caused by two Orchard Hill Community Church team players.

  She didn’t know what to do to stop this, but she had to think fast, because she saw Joseph coming up right behind Oliver, and he looked pretty unhappy, too. She knew it was stupid, but she couldn’t think of anything else, so she curled her hand into a fist and…

  Everything seemed to happen all at once. Her fist connected with Jordan’s jaw with a jolt of pain that she felt all the way up to her shoulder. Jordan went down like a ton of bricks. His hands, that had been resting on either side of her, caught at her and pulled her down with him. She heard people shouting and tried to get up, but her limbs were tangled with his. Then, someone was pulling her to her feet, and she was up and in Oliver’s arms.

  “What in the world did you do that for? Are you crazy?” he shouted.

  She winced at the volume he used, right next to her ear.

  Joseph was helping Jordan to sit up. “What’s going on here,” he demanded.

  “I…I don’t know.” Jordan looked dazed.

  Hope attempted to school her face into a look of innocence. “Jordan was coming on to me. I t
old him to leave me alone, and he wouldn’t.”