Berry on Top (A Farm Fresh Romance Book 6)

by Valerie Comer

  “Hey!” Liz caught Sierra’s sleeve. “Can we come over and visit for a bit?”

  Gabe and Sierra exchanged a glance then Sierra nodded. “Sure. I’ll put on a pot of tea.”

  “We’re bringing Erin with us.”

  Mason pulled back, his surprise mirrored on Sierra’s face. “We are?” Not what he’d had in mind at all.

  “Yes, we are.” Liz’s voice left no room for argument.

  Not that he ever wanted to fight with her again, but he’d already cozied up to the idea of spending a quiet evening, two on two.

  “Okay.” Sierra glanced between them then went out the door, Gabe behind her.

  “Liz? Why Erin?” Didn’t she know he wanted to spend time with her, not with his ex?

  Her eyes danced. “Trust me.”

  She was up to something, but he had no idea what. He raised his eyebrows. “Trust? That’s a high order.”

  “You can do it.” Liz glanced around the great room. “Wait here. I’m going to find Erin.”

  Mason sighed as Liz wove between the many visitors to where Erin sat alone by the window. Erin looked up, and her lips moved in response to Liz, then she nodded and followed Liz toward him.

  Curiouser and curiouser.

  He held the door as both women preceded him then took Liz’s hand. Best to make sure Erin understood where his loyalties lay.

  “I have something to tell you, Mason.”

  Liz’s fingers squeezed his at Erin’s words. How did she know he needed the reassurance?

  “What’s that?”

  “Liz is wonderful. You’re lucky to have her.”

  “I know.” He swallowed hard.

  “She’ll be good for the children. And for you.”

  Emotion clogged his throat. What those words must have cost. “Thanks.”

  Liz reached out and tapped Sierra and Gabe’s door, and it swung open. “Come on in, and let me take your coats.” Gabe’s gaze rested on Erin. “In all the crazy since you arrived, I don’t believe we’ve properly met. I’m Gabe Rubachuk, and this is my wife, Sierra.”

  “Pleased to meet you,” Erin murmured.

  Mason narrowed his eyes at the glance she exchanged with Liz. Good thing Erin had expressed her blessing outside, or he’d be in a world of panic about now.

  A few minutes later they sat around the small living room, a cup of tea beside each of them. Liz sat beside Mason and rested her hand on his thigh.

  He just wanted to kiss her. Why were they here?

  “Thanks for letting us invade your space,” Liz began. “Erin has a story she’d like to tell you.”

  Sierra and Gabe exchanged a glance. “Okay,” said Gabe.

  Mason only wished he had someone to exchange a glance with. Liz looked like the proverbial cat with a canary in her mouth. Like a mama proud of her offspring. Wait a minute. He looked at Erin then back at Liz. Hmm.

  “I don’t know how much you know about me,” began Erin, casting a glance in his direction.

  Mason closed his fingers over Liz’s. “They know about the time we spent together.”

  Erin nodded. “Okay. I left when the twins were about a year old. I didn’t want to be tied down. I was partying and drinking and sleeping around, and Mason refused to join me anymore.”

  Liz turned her hand and interlaced her fingers with his. Her arm and thigh pressed tight against his, and he gained what comfort he could from her support.

  “I was careful not to get pregnant, though. I hated being fat, and they couldn’t give me strong enough drugs to get through childbirth. But one night a few months ago—” Erin’s gaze caught on Mason’s “—it happened anyway.”

  He could see the white of Sierra’s knuckles as she crushed Gabe’s hand on the other loveseat.

  Erin looked down. “I nearly got an abortion, but a friend of mine had one and they really muddled it up. She’s a mess. I didn’t want that either. That’s when I called you, Mason.”

  Mason cleared his throat, trying to get past the lump. “I’m glad you did.” He was. Having her here had provided a good sense of closure, and maybe even more good would come of it yet. He breathed a prayer.

  “My boyfriend kicked me out when I said no to the abortion. I needed to get away from Billings. I needed to see the kids. To know that going through this again would be worthwhile, somehow. I didn’t know what to do.”

  Guarded hope shone in Gabe’s eyes. Sierra bit her lip so hard Mason was sure she’d pierce it. She stared straight at Erin.

  “I’ve made such a mess of everything. Liz told me today that God loves me. I don’t see how.” She touched her belly. “But all I know right now is this baby deserves better than I can give her. And Liz said there was no one who deserved a baby more than you.” Erin raised her eyes to Sierra. “Can you give her a home?”

  “It’s a girl?” asked Gabe in a strangled voice.

  “I don’t know.” Erin shook her head. “It’s too early to find out, I think. Anyway, I can’t afford the tests and stuff. I just think it's a girl.”

  Sierra leaned forward. “Erin, are you sure? Absolutely positively sure you want to give this baby up?”

  Erin rubbed her belly. “Yeah. Even if I got things together right now, I have nothing. No education, no job, no place to live. I can’t do this by myself.”

  “We can help with some of that,” Gabe said. “If you’re sure.”

  “A doctor,” added Sierra. “Prenatal care.”

  “Really?” Erin blinked back tears.

  Mason found his voice. “I’ll call Pastor Dan in Billings if you like, Erin. He helped me so much when I was getting clean. I know he’ll help you, too.”

  “I’m not sure I’m ready for a church guy.” Erin glanced at Liz. “Though some of what Liz said today was intriguing. Maybe I’ll give it a try.”

  Mason was so proud of Liz he felt his shirt buttons could pop any second. If he’d needed any more proof that she’d regained her faith, this was it. To offer hope and a future to someone she could have seen as a rival.

  “When is the baby due?” asked Sierra softly.

  “Late July, best as I can figure out.”

  Liz leaned closer to Mason, if that were even possible. “I think we should go,” she whispered.

  He dropped a kiss to her lips. “Good idea.” He pulled her to her feet. “Liz and I are headed out now. You guys can take it from here without us, right?”

  Moisture gleamed in all three pairs of eyes staring back. Thank you, mouthed Sierra to Liz.

  “Thank you,” Mason said out loud as the door closed behind them. “No wonder Erin thinks you’re awesome. So do I.”

  For the moment, it was quiet outside on the farm. The temperature might be dropping and the rain turning to snow, but he wouldn’t let that bother him.

  He gathered her close and kissed her.

  * * *

  “I wanted my friends from kindergarten to come to my party.” Avery crossed her arms and scowled. “Plus Miss Kass promised me a pink birthday cake with berries on top and she’s not even here.”

  Liz couldn’t help grinning. This crowd of invaders at Green Acres had affected everyone down to the youngest members. They were jammed to the corners with neighbors and friends.

  “Miss Kass is in Spokane,” Mason said patiently, glancing at Liz. “She has a new job there.”

  “But she didn’t even say goodbye.”

  “No, but your daddy showed me the surprise she left you.”

  “A surprise?” A lilt of hope caught Avery’s voice.

  “A pink surprise. Want to see?”

  At Mason’s nod, Liz took Avery’s hand and led her through the kitchen and larder to the walk-in fridge. Shelves were emptying in both sections, but two covered plates stood on a low shelf. Liz crouched and tipped one of the lids.

  “Ohhh,” breathed Avery, eyes shining. “It’s pink. But where’s the berries?”

  “What kind of berries are you looking for, child?”

  Liz turned
to see Mona Graysen standing in the cooler doorway.

  “I wanted strawberries.”

  “You know we can’t drive to Super One to buy berries with the bridge out,” Liz said. “And even if we could, they don’t have any fresh food coming in, either. I bet someone already bought the last of the strawberries.”

  Avery frowned. “But Miss Kass promised.”

  “You know, I like strawberries myself, child. I was at Super One on Wednesday afternoon and I picked up a couple of baskets of them.” Mona lowered her voice and glanced between Liz and Avery. “Shhh. Now don’t go telling these local fooders that I buy out-of-season berries.”

  “I hope they were delicious,” said Liz.

  “Were?” Mona shook her head. “They were white on the tips yet. Not even ripe enough to eat. But I did bring them along when we cleaned out the fridge when your brother came to pick us up.”

  Avery’s face brightened. “Really, Mrs. Graysen? You have strawberries right here?”

  “I do, little one.” Mona shuffled in and pointed at a high shelf with Graysen taped to the edge. “Right here.” She lifted two small baskets down and held them out to Avery.

  “Ohhh.” Avery’s gaze darted between the berries and Mona’s face. “For my birthday party?”

  “Sure, child. Maybe that’s why the good Lord had me pick them up.”

  The good Lord. The words reminded Liz of Linda in Des Moines. The good Lord had led her back home, sure enough. Given her a way to make a difference right here. For precious Avery and Christopher. For Erin, Sierra, and Gabe.

  The berries on top of the children’s birthday cakes would be just that. The crowning touch. Could she be any happier? She could. The day she married Mason. That day was coming.

  Epilogue

  The May morning dawned bright and clear and warm. Once again, Green Acres Farm swarmed with extra people — not refugees from the February storm, but guests gathered for a wedding.

  Liz stretched in her bed in the duplex for the last time. Later today she and Mason would be off on their honeymoon, and when they returned, she’d be living in the renovated farmhouse with him and the twins.

  Mason had gone to work for Brent in spring and lovingly handled every bit of Liz’s childhood home, including all the parts that hadn’t been there before, like the solar panels on the roof and the bank of storage batteries. The next power outage would see them snug in their own house.

  She’d chosen the cabinetry, the flooring, and the paint colors. Maybe someday the little bedroom under the eaves where she’d spent her childhood would be home to a baby.

  Erin had arrived yesterday and was ensconced in Sierra and Gabe’s spare room in the other half of the duplex. The baby girl — they knew for sure, now — would love the pink room when she made her appearance in two short months. Erin looked radiant. Though she hadn’t made a decision for Jesus, she’d been meeting with Pastor Dan and his wife and was taking a bookkeeping course through the local college with Gabe and Sierra’s help.

  “Hey, Liz! Aren’t you awake yet?” Cindy tapped on her bedroom door. “Time’s awastin’!”

  Both her older sisters were here with their husbands and kids. A true family reunion, and the first time Liz had met some of her nieces and nephews. “I’m awake. Just thinking.”

  “Well, come out here and have some breakfast while you think.”

  There wouldn’t be another minute of silence until she and Mason were headed for the hotel in Spokane later this evening. Suddenly she couldn’t wait to get started.

  * * *

  Mason stood at the front of the farm’s pole barn, Zach and Christopher beside him. Off to the side, Keanan nodded with the beat of his guitar as he shifted to the processional music. Brent escorted Mason’s mom down the aisle while his father trailed behind. Mom caught his eye and smiled.

  Noel brought Rosemary to her seat near the front. Then Jo, wearing a turquoise sheath and carrying a bundle of spring flowers, rounded the back of the gathering and started up the aisle, her gaze locked with Zach’s.

  Zach nudged Mason’s back. “I got me a gorgeous girl, didn’t I?”

  Mason grinned but kept his gaze fixed forward.

  Waiting.

  Avery and Maddie, wearing matching puffy dresses, sprinkled tulip petals on the gravel path. After the long winter and late spring, the roses weren’t up yet, but tulips made a great stand-in. Avery beamed up at him, and Mason bent to accept a kiss from his beautiful daughter. She joined Maddie and Jo a few feet away, leaving just enough room for Liz between them.

  His bride.

  Mason caught his breath.

  She came down the path slower than any other bride he’d ever seen, not that he’d been to a ton of weddings. Not that he was impatiently waiting. No, she paced herself for Steve, who’d been determined to walk the aisle without a cane.

  It gave Mason longer to feast his eyes. Liz’s hair had been swept into some kind of knot on her head and held in place with a wisp of lace. Her gown hugged her curves and swished as she strolled toward him.

  If he did nothing the rest of his life but gaze upon her sweet face, he’d die a happy man.

  “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”

  Steve looked straight into Mason’s eyes. Straight into his heart. “Her mother and I do.” Steve bowed his head and prayed a blessing over Liz and Mason.

  This. This was what forgiveness looked like. This was beyond acceptance. Beyond what he could ask or think.

  Steve pressed Liz’s hand into his. “I love you both,” he murmured then turned and shuffled to Rosemary’s side.

  Mason turned to face his bride. This moment, indeed, was the berry on top.

  Recipe for Berry Platz

  There are likely as many recipes for 'platz' as there are Mennonite cooks. A platz is a baked fruit dessert that consists of a base, a fruit layer, and a crumb topping. While the base may vary from sponge cake to pastry, the version I'm sharing here has a short crust, meaning it contains baking powder.

  Makes one 9x13 pan

  Bottom Crust

  1/2 cup butter

  1/2 cup sugar

  1 3/4 cup flour

  1 egg

  1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  Blend the butter and sugar thoroughly then add the remaining ingredients. Mix together to form a soft dough and pat it into the bottom of a 9x13 cake pan.

  Fruit Layer

  1 cup of fresh* or frozen** fruit, spread evenly across the bottom crust.

  Flour** or sugar*** as needed.

  Crumb Topping

  1 cup flour

  3/4 cup sugar

  1/4 cup butter

  Dash cinnamon

  Crumb the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and butter together and sprinkle over the fruit layer.

  Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, until the fruit is hot and bubbly and the crumbs are golden brown. Best served warm. Try it with a dollop of whipped cream and, of course, a berry on top!

  *Like many recipes from the Old Country, platz is infinitely adaptable to fruit in season. Try it with any of these or a combination of two or more: rhubarb, cherries, raspberries, blueberries, huckleberries, peaches, plums, etc. Our favorites are cherries, berries, or plums.

  **Frozen fruit has a lot of moisture in it and may cause the bottom crust to become soggy. You can stir the frozen fruit pieces in several tablespoons of flour to coat them before spreading them in the pan to help soak up the juices. There's no exact science, though. If the bottom crust is soggy, it will be a delicious kind of soggy.

  ***If you're using a tart fruit such as rhubarb, you may wish to sprinkle 1/4 cup of sugar over the fruit before adding the crumb topping. For pitted sweet cherries, no additional sugar is needed. For berries and other fruits that land in between on the sweetness-scale, use your own judgment.

  Thank You

  Thank you so much for reading Berry on Top! If you enjoyed it, please take a moment to leave a review at your favorite online retailer. E
ach honest review means a lot to me and helps other readers know if this is a book they might enjoy.

  I welcome contact from readers! At my website, you can contact me via email, read my blog, find me on social media. You can also sign up for my newsletter to be notified of new releases, contests, special deals, review opportunities, and more!

  http://valeriecomer.com

  ~ Valerie Comer

  Secrets of Sunbeams

  An Urban Farm Fresh Romance, Book 1

  Chapter 1

  Eden Andrusek stopped so suddenly the screen door slammed her backside. Where was Pansy? Eden shaded her eyes and glanced around the backyard. No way. She’d only been inside a minute.

  “Pansy!” she yelled, jogging down the three steps to the barren yard. “Where are you?”

  The answer seemed to be... nowhere. Eden’s gut clenched. No, no. No, no, no. This can’t be happening.

  The gate at the side of the small house was definitely closed. The backyard was completely fenced with no hiding places. Except...

  Eden’s pulse quickened at the sight of a vertical board in the side fence hanging slightly askew. She ran across the yard, nearly tripping over the metal bucket Pansy had been playing with, and pushed at the errant board. It swung aside. That was definitely enough room for the escape artist.

  She crouched and peered through the gap into the neatly mowed lawn of the Victorian next door. A side table with a glass of something clear and red sat beside an empty deck chair facing...