Orchard Hill Volume Three

by Kara Lynn Russell

  “So what do you want me to do?” asked Hope.

  “I’ve been thinking about it. Harmony is still pretty new in town. Maybe she’s lonely. See if you can make friends with her.”

  A teasing spark shone in Hope’s eyes. “Why do you care?”

  He shrugged, not wanting to think too much about that himself. “She was nice to the kids.”

  “Sure.” The smile on her face was awfully close to a smirk. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Don’t go reading anything into this,” Joseph warned.

  “Fine, but if I do this for you, you have to do something for me.”

  Great. “What might that be?”

  “I want you to go out with Oliver and me.”

  Joseph groaned. “Why should I do that?”

  “You promised you’d get to know him better.”

  “So? I let him come to Sunday dinner, don’t I?”

  “Yeah, just you, me, Oliver and six kids. Perfect for those cozy, intimate conversations.”

  He made a face at her. “Guys don’t do cozy, intimate conversations. I’m sure Oliver would agree with me.”

  “Joseph,” Hope looked up at him with a beseeching gaze and gripped his shoulder. “This is important to me. I love you both. I want you to be friends.”

  He dropped his eyes from hers. “He’s not good enough for you, Hope.”

  “You haven’t even given him a chance. If you want me to help you, I need you to do this for me.”

  Did he care about Harmony that much? He should just tell Hope to forget it. But instead he found himself saying, “All right. I’ll do it if it means that much to you.”

  The playful spark returned to her eyes. “Then I’ll make friends with Harmony…if it means that much to you.”

  “Don’t even go there,” Joseph warned.

  TITLE

  Orchard Hill: volume three

  Chapter 5

  After church on Sunday, Harmony stayed for the coffee hour, although she wasn’t sure why she did. It was always awkward, making conversation with people she didn’t know well. She liked this church a lot, but maybe she should think about attending a different one. She just hadn’t seemed to click with anyone here yet.

  Except maybe Andrew Thomas. She’d liked him immediately when she met him at the elementary school where he served as principal. They’d gone on a couple of dates, but Harmony had known from the start that there was nothing between them beyond friendship. Now Andrew was engaged to Faith and Harmony had the feeling that Faith didn’t like her. Maybe Faith was worried that she had a thing for Andrew. She didn’t know, but she wasn’t about to make trouble for Andrew, so she kept her distance.

  Harmony soon found she didn’t have to worry about not having anyone to talk to today. First Noah came by to say hello. It wasn’t long before he drifted to a group of kids his own age. But then Abby and Peter stopped to talk to her. Peter asked if they could bake something else with her. She suggested brownies and Peter suggested this afternoon. Harmony smiled and replied, “Sure.”

  Peter went happily away, but Abby stayed. She’d looked as if she were straining to hold a secret in the entire time that Peter was speaking. Now that they were alone, Harmony advised Abby to tell her what was on her mind before she exploded.

  Abby leaned in and told her in a low voice. “Dad agreed to the group date idea. Ethan and I and a whole bunch of our friends are going to a movie Friday night.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Harmony said, truly happy that she’d been able to help.

  “Actually, I like your idea, too. I won’t be as nervous as I would if Ethan and I were alone,” Abby confided.

  The triplets came up and chattered happily, telling Harmony what fun they’d had making cookies and tattling about how many the boys ate in one sitting.

  Actually, Lucy, Dori and Belle couldn’t complain about not getting their share of treats, thought Harmony as all three of their faces were smeared with frosting and chocolate from the coffee hour treats.

  Abby led her cousins away to get cleaned up, and Harmony was left alone once again. But the Velasquez family was not finished with her for the day. Hope approached her next.

  “Good morning Harmony,” she said with one of her dazzling smiles. “I see you’ve made friends with my nieces and nephews already. Didn’t anyone ever warn you about feeding strays? You’ll never get rid of them now.”

  Harmony felt herself smiling in return. “That’s all right. I like them.”

  “I’m glad to know that Joseph has such a good neighbor.”

  “Thank you.”

  “He tells me you’re writing a cookbook.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “I’m giving a little dinner party next Saturday. Do you have any ideas for a menu that I could make? I’m a fairly good cook, but I can’t do anything fancy.”

  “Fancy is overrated,” declared Harmony. “Let me think.”

  They discussed different main courses, side dishes, salads and desserts for the next few minutes, until the menu was set. Harmony promised to email the recipes to her.

  “Thank you so much for your help,” Hope said, taking Harmony’s hand and giving it a friendly squeeze. “Hey, here’s an idea. Why don’t you come to my party? I’d love to have you there.”

  “You don’t have to invite me because I gave you a little advice,” she protested.

  “Of course I don’t. I’d just like you to come.”

  Hope’s friendly sincerity was too much to resist. “Thank you. I’d love to come.”

  “Great.” Hope supplied her with the details, and then added, “Joseph’s coming, too. Maybe you too should ride together. I’ll talk to him about it.”

  ****

  “Tell me again why I’m doing this,” grumbled Joseph to Hope over the phone.

  “Because you asked me to make friends with Harmony and you promised to spend some time with me and Oliver.”

  “So your twisted little mind decided to set us up on a double date.”

  Hope laughed. “A triple date. Andrew and Faith will be there, too. I invited David and Sarah but they’re busy this weekend. He’s finally given up his Chicago apartment and they’re moving his things back here to Orchard Hill.”

  “Now, David seems like a nice guy,” Joseph commented. “Always friendly, treats Sarah with respect.”

  “Don’t start,” Hope said in a sharp tone. “Just relax and try to have fun tonight, OK?”

  “I’ll try.”

  “Try not to strain yourself,” Hope snapped before she hung up.

  ****

  Joseph was running a bit late, and he hated being late. He hated the way Hope had set him up, reading more into his concern for Harmony than was really there.

  He paused in the midst of buttoning his shirt. Was she mistaken, or was he being dishonest? Truthfully, Harmony stirred feelings in him that he’d thought were gone forever. He was attracted to her. And he liked her. She got along with his family. It sounded like a good foundation to build a relationship on.

  Joseph dropped his hands to his sides and tried to will away the knot in his stomach at the thought of opening up his heart again. Yet maybe it was time.

  He dropped onto the bed and rested his head in his hands. Maybe it was time. This was a major step for him, and he couldn’t do anything other than talk it over with God before he could take a step from his room. He asked for wisdom and discernment. When he was finished he headed downstairs, tucking in his shirt as he went. He’d made his decision and felt better despite being even later than he had been.

  He stopped briefly to remind Abby of where he’d be and where Aunt Hope’s number was. Peter and Noah were out with friends for the night but Abby was more than happy to babysit after the success of her non-date with Ethan. All day, her smile had rivaled Hope’s. Grabbing his jacket, he headed across the yard to Harmony’s door.

  “It was nice of your sister to invite me tonight,” Harmony said as they were on the way to Hope’s hous
e.

  Remembering her reasons for having the dinner party in the first place, Joseph frowned.

  “What’s the matter?” asked Harmony. “Didn’t you want me to go?”

  “No, it has nothing to do with you,” he quickly assured her. “I was just thinking about spending a whole evening with Hope’s fiancé.”

  “You don’t like him?”

  Joseph shrugged. “I don’t like the way he treated Hope at the beginning of their relationship, and I’m not convinced he’s changed. But she insists I should get to know Oliver and give him another chance.”

  Harmony opened her mouth as if to speak, hesitated, and then finally said, “That doesn’t sound unreasonable.”

  “Maybe not, but she’s my little sister. I don’t want to see her hurt again. You understand that, don’t you?”

  “I don’t have any brothers or sisters.” Joseph picked up on the slightly wistful tone of her voice. “So I guess I don’t completely understand. But if you and her fiancé don’t get along, that will hurt her, too, won’t it?”

  “I suppose it might,” Joseph conceded. “You’ll have to help me then.”

  “People make mistakes,” Harmony said. Her voice sounded strange, and he glanced at her as they pulled up to a stop sign. She was thinking of something else; her expression was distant and sad. Joseph remembered the email he’d seen. It was cruel of you to leave me like this. Was Harmony thinking of her own mistakes?

  Once they’d arrived at Hope’s house, Harmony snapped out of her reverie and greeted her hostess warmly. Hope introduced her to Oliver, the questionable fiancé, but she already knew the other guests—Andrew Thomas and Faith Fielding, soon to be Faith Thomas.

  Harmony felt distinctly uncomfortable in this crowd. She’d thought Hope was being kind by asking Joseph to give her a ride, but now it was clear she’d been set up as a date for him. He must have known this. Why had he gone along with it?

  Second, she still felt Faith disliked her. Should she try to convince Faith that she only liked Andrew as a friend or just leave it alone?

  “Would you like any help in the kitchen, Hope?” That was always a good escape.

  “No, thank you. Oliver’s giving me a hand. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.” Hope excused herself and Oliver. Oliver slipped his arm around Hope’s waist as they went into the kitchen, and Harmony watched Joseph’s expression turn dark.

  “Not off to a good start on this ‘giving Oliver a second chance’ thing,” she whispered to him. “They’re engaged. He can put his arm around her.”

  “Sorry,” he whispered back. “Thanks for keeping me in line.”

  “Joseph, Harmony, it’s good to see you,” Andrew rose from the sofa where he’d been sitting next to Faith. He shook hands with Joseph, and Harmony settled herself in an arm chair before Andrew could offer his hand to her.

  “I heard you’ve moved,” Andrew said to Joseph.

  “Yes. The house needs a lot of work, but at least we have more space.”

  “I’m sure you’ll have it fixed up in no time.”

  Joseph laughed. “I think you’re being overly optimistic.”

  “Your crew renovated that beautiful Victorian a few years ago,” Faith piped in. “It was an enormous transformation. Do you know what house I mean, Andrew?”

  “Actually that’s Harmony’s house now,” Joseph said. “And I’ve moved in next door.”

  Harmony let out a little gasp of surprise. “You renovated my house, Joseph? I didn’t know that. Why didn’t you say anything?”

  He shrugged. “I didn’t think it was important.”

  “You’re too modest,” Harmony insisted. “The house is beautiful. And I’ve seen the ‘before’ pictures, so I know what a challenge it was.”

  Hope came in and announced that dinner was ready. They gathered in the dining room, said grace, and then turned their attention to the meal, a pot roast, garlic mashed potatoes, a vegetable medley and a salad.

  When Faith gave a compliment on the food, Hope admitted the recipes had come from Harmony.

  “I think I’m going to use them in my cookbook,” Harmony said. “It’s always helpful to have someone else test them out, and these dishes turned out very well. At least, I think so. Anyone care to disagree?”

  No one did and the conversation drifted to other subjects. Harmony noticed that Faith never spoke to her, and barely even looked at her. She was sure now that Faith saw her as a rival.

  When they were finished with supper, Faith and Harmony offered to help with the dishes.

  “Thank you,” said Hope. “That will give the guys a chance to watch a little of the baseball game. I know they’re dying to, and they have been on their best behavior so far.” She flashed Oliver an affectionate smile.

  He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Thanks.”

  Beside her, Harmony felt Joseph stiffen. She laid her hand on his arm, and he relaxed. As the men left, Harmony gave him a meaningful look, to reinforce her message, “Be nice to Oliver.” He had asked for her help after all.

  The women carried everything into the kitchen. Hope put the leftovers away while Harmony and Faith rinsed dishes and filled the dishwasher.

  “Harmony, I don’t know how to thank you,” Hope said.

  “Why? What did I do besides lend you a few recipes? You helped me by testing them out.”

  “That’s not what I mean. Although I do appreciate the recipes.”

  “Then what?”

  “I’ve noticed your little reminders to Joseph to behave where Oliver’s concerned.”

  “Oh, well, he did ask me to help him with that.”

  Hope crowed, “I knew you two would be a great couple.”

  “Whoa,” Harmony protested. “Who said anything about us being a couple?”

  “Well, maybe not yet.” Mischief twinkled in Hope’s eyes.

  “I’m really not interested in a relationship right now.”

  “But you went out with Andrew,” Faith reminded her.

  “I went out with Andrew,” Harmony explained “because…well, that doesn’t matter. It was clear to me who had his heart the moment we stopped at your house.”

  “But you went out with him a second time.”

  Harmony sighed. “Because he wanted an excuse to go to the Spring Fling so he could keep an eye on you and Joseph.”

  “That wasn’t much of a date,” Faith scoffed. “Joseph only went with me because Hope asked him to.”

  So this wasn’t Hope’s first matchmaking venture for her brother. “But Andrew didn’t know that,” explained Harmony. “If I hadn’t gone with him, he’d probably have asked someone else. I figured it was better for me to go with him, than to have him raise expectations in someone else.”

  “Really?” Faith turned an anxious face to Harmony. “You were really trying to help?”

  “Of course. I liked Andrew right away. He’s a great guy, Faith, and he’s lucky to have you.”

  Tears filled the other woman’s eyes. “I’m sorry I haven’t been friendlier to you, Harmony. It’s just that….that sometimes I can’t believe he picked me. Andrew’s so charismatic, everyone loves him. And then when I compare me to you…”

  “What do you mean?” asked Harmony. She felt compelled to ask, although she dreaded the answer she guessed she’d receive.

  “Well, you’re just so perfect. You always look like you just stepped out of a salon, you’re poised, you’re an expert cook and homemaker. I bet your house is in perfect order all the time.”

  Harmony felt a familiar stab of pain in her heart. This wasn’t the first time she’d been accused of perfection. “My house is in perfect order,” she said in a low voice, her head lowered so her hair hid her face. “And I do look neat and collected most of the time, I know. But that doesn’t mean I’m perfect.”

  “Then what does it mean?”

  “It means I have no life. I have no one like your son or Hope’s nieces and nephews to mess it up. Sometimes a little mess is a bl
essing.”

  Hope and Faith were staring at her, silent with shock. Harmony knew she shouldn’t have said that. Embarrassed, she excused herself and hid in the bathroom for a few minutes. When she came back, the women had finished the dishes. She found them in the living room with the men.

  They watched the end of the baseball game, and Joseph and Oliver discovered they were both fans of the Minnesota Twins, rather than the local favorites, the Milwaukee Brewers. They managed to have a civilized conversation about their favorite team.