In the space of a year Rose Hill Farm had changed from a limping one-man operation to a major supplier of vegetables and fish. Last summer when he worked with Josiah, he had gotten a ton load of work to do and Josiah had paid him over and above what he thought a regular kid should get.
Conroy probably told Josiah to top up his summer salary out of guilt because he was his secret dad!
He looked over at the vast twelve acres to the mango trees in the distance and the several transparent greenhouses where rows and rows of greenery could be clearly seen and the surrounding mini-fish ponds, which supplied the greenhouses with water.
He could see Conroy near the ponds talking to someone and gesticulating in a rapid manner. Somebody must have gotten him roiled up; Conroy was usually placid, not given to excess emotions unless it came to Honey. When he was around her he became a different man.
Oliver dragged his mind from that train of thought and went back to admiring the land. To the left of the gate was what looked like a ranch house but it had a sign that said office. That was where Josiah and Conroy had their offices, and a mini-store where they sold seeds and farming supplies. That is where he would find Josiah now. He needed to talk to him about his summer job.
"This place is awesome!" Jorja grinned. "Really awesome and huge. I didn't expect this. Are those bell peppers in pots at the front? They plant them like flowers. Can we go into the green houses?"
"Sure, let’s go to the offices first, though." Oliver winced. Jorja's enthusiasm was irritating him. He wasn't usually like this; today was really getting to him.
Jorja was enjoying her day out, Oliver could tell. He was happy that she was so easy to keep entertained because he was not in the mood to extend himself.
He could hear Josiah on the office phone when he entered the building. His door was open and he was squeezing a stress ball.
He hung up the phone when they approached and grinned.
"Good morning, Oliver. If you are here for work you are late."
"No." Oliver put down his laptop in an empty chair, "I am here to confirm that I am going to start working next week Monday. I need a one-week break from school and work."
"‘Kay," Josiah said, "suit yourself. Last year you were a real asset to us so I can safely say that Dad will agree to those terms now." He looked over at Jorja and smiled. "Hello, Jorja Dennison. Are you looking for a job too?"
"No." Jorja shook her head. "Well, I wasn't, but if you have one..."
Josiah squeezed his stress ball. "There is always work on this farm, Cassandra our regular cashier, is off for six weeks. You could be our cashier. Oliver can teach you how to use the cash register and where everything is located."
Oliver grimaced. "That's work."
Josiah ignored him. "Unfortunately—or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, Jorja, you would have to start this Wednesday."
Jorja nodded eagerly. "Of course."
"Dress code is jeans and white tees," Josiah added. "Pay is weekly." He named a sum that had Jorja gasping. She hadn't expected so much.
"Okay then," Josiah looked at Oliver. "You look odd."
Oliver grimaced. "I am okay." He changed the topic hurriedly. "Jorja wants to see the greenhouses."
Josiah threw him a doubtful stare and then turned to Jorja.
"Sure, I can get Louis to show you around. He is our foreman." Josiah got up. "Let me introduce you to him. He'll get you up to speed on this place very quickly. You," he looked at Oliver, "stay put. I want to talk to you."
He left with Jorja and Oliver sank down in a chair. Josiah was onto him; he must look like he felt—slightly dazed and somewhat fearful of his own thoughts. He was not sure that he could tell Josiah anything just yet, even though they had an easy rapport and were good friends.
Josiah was probably one of the secret-keeping sect. He never told anyone why he came from Kingston so suddenly.
Everyone around him was full of secrets. It made him feel suddenly lonely and distrustful of everyone, including his own mother. He felt like Truman in the movie the Truman show, where everybody around Truman knew that they were in a reality television show except Truman. Maybe everybody in Primrose Hill knew that something was off about his paternity except him and if Regina hadn't said something it probably wouldn't have dawned on him.
His name was Oliver Truman. No, Oliver Coke. Or was it? He sighed heavily.
He didn't even register that Josiah had songs playing on his computer till he heard the line of Sam Cook's song, It's been a long, a long time coming, But I know a change gon' come, oh yes it will.
He sat up straighter in his chair. He wished he could turn off the song but he didn't dare touch Josiah's computer. He usually acted strange when anybody touched his stuff.
Indeed a change was going to come in Primrose Hill, even if he didn't want it. Regina was like the cat among the pigeons and he was almost sure that her presence here was going to create quite a catastrophe unless she got what she wanted.
He jumped when a hand landed on his shoulder.
When he looked up he saw that it was Nolan Ramsey, the young pastor. He didn’t look as if he was much older than Oliver. When they introduced him at church Oliver had marveled at how young he looked. He couldn't be more than twenty-one at the most.
"You were out of it, man," Nolan said pleasantly. "I was calling but you didn't hear."
"Yes, er, yes." Oliver nodded. "Sorry."
Nolan held up a large transparent bag of mixed lettuce, purple and green. "Josiah sent me in here to cash this."
"Oh yes." Oliver got up. "I'll do it."
"I was very happy to get this vegetable mix," Nolan said. "It seems as if this drought is driving a whole lot of business to this farm."
"Yes it is," Oliver said absently. "They are usually busy but the drought is actually profitable for hydroponics farmers."
"You are Nurse Allen's son?" Nolan asked, looking at him in concern.
Oliver nodded. "The one and only Oliver Allen at your service."
"Well, pleased to meet you, man. I am Nolan Ramsey."
"I know. Heard your sermon last week." Oliver weighed the lettuce on the side scale. "It was good. About casting lots in the Bible and the difference between that and palm readers, obeah or tarot cards and those sorts of things."
Nolan grimaced. "I may have stepped on some toes. I heard that a few persons up here still like to read their horoscopes and visit... erm... people who can read their future in tea leaves."
Oliver cashed the lettuce and handed Nolan his change. "There are usually a handful of those people in every country church and maybe town churches too, but I got your point. God allowed the Israelites to cast lots in order to determine His will for a given situation."
Nolan looked at him contemplatively. "You were listening."
Oliver nodded. "Don't be too impressed. I remember things exactly as they are said. I never have to take notes. It's a gift and a curse."
"It's a gift. All good things come from God." Nolan smiled. "It made my day, hearing that a young man listened and remembered my sermon, even if he has that particular gift. There is hope for this country yet with you in it."
Oliver laughed, "Thank you, but you are not much older than me…you calling me young man feels odd."
Nolan nodded, "I am twenty-two."
"And this is your first church district, I reckon?" Oliver leaned on the counter interestedly.
"Yes it is." Nolan nodded.
"What did you do to the church heads that they would send you out here in the sticks?"
Nolan laughed. "Primrose Hill is not that bad. It's great actually. Good clean air, friendly people and working with a seasoned pastor like Pastor Ruel. I hope to learn a lot from him."
Oliver remembered once more that the people that he knew, including pastor Ruel, were probably knee deep in various secrets. He looked at Nolan Ramsey with his fair skin and round babyish face; maybe he could trust him with some of what he was thinking.
&nbs
p; "You don't have any secrets, do you?" Oliver found himself asking before he could take it back.
Nolan raised his eyebrows. "Not that I know of. Wait," Nolan grimaced, "I was kicked out of college for non-payment of funds but God opened a way for me and I got back in. At the time I was so ashamed of being asked to leave and I kept it from everybody. What about you, have any secrets?"
Oliver swallowed. He wished he could say it. He wished he could just blurt it out. He wished that he had the guts but once it was out there it couldn't be taken back. Josiah came in just when he opened his mouth to take the plunge.
"Hey Oliver, sorry I took so long. A customer just came in with a big order. You can stay at the cashier desk?"
"Yes." Oliver sighed. "Sure."
"Maybe we can talk some more." Nolan was looking at him, a little concerned. "I am living two houses from Pastor Ruel. You know where that is?"
"Sure. Yes." Oliver nodded.
"Good." Nolan picked up his lettuce and walked out. Oliver knew he wouldn't approach him. The few seconds of insanity that had just gripped him had loosened its icy grip.
He would eventually get over this need to know the truth about his paternity, and he would pretend that he wasn't privy to all the other things that were swirling around in the community. He would pretend that everything was normal.
Chapter Eight
Ashley got up on Wednesday morning and contemplated not to go running. Maybe she wouldn't even leave the house today. She didn't want to meet up with Regina, who for the past three nights was coming to Bible study as calm as you please and even participating.
She was asking questions and acting as if she was some eager Bible student. Ashley had avoided going out for the past two mornings because of her but now she felt lousy. She needed to get rid of her pent-up energy.
She put on her clothes and looked over at Ruel who was as usual fast asleep. She went sleepily to the kitchen and was shocked to see Jorja dressed in jeans and white t-shirt eating cereal and watching television.
"Good morning," Ashley said politely. She reached into her cupboard for her water bottle.
"Good morning," Jorja said. her voice lacked resentment. "I am going to work today at the Rose Hill farms."
"Oh." Ashley was surprised. "I didn't know you got a job there."
"I did," Jorja said a hint of excitement in her voice. "It was a spur of the moment thing. Dad said I could take it."
"Good for you." Ashley was pleasantly surprised and slightly relieved. She wouldn't have Jorja underfoot all summer.
"I start work at seven and end at three," Jorja continued. "This evening I'll be home late. The Kincaids are throwing a birthday party for Jack."
"Oh yes." Ashley grimaced. "I was invited... really can't make it."
Jorja chuckled. "I was thinking of saying the same thing but Oliver convinced me to go. "
"Oliver Allen, huh?" Ashley grinned at Jorja. "He's a cutie."
"I know," Jorja giggled. "I really like him."
Ashley smiled to herself. Jorja was actually talking to her without the sulky resentment she had come to expect—what a miracle.
"He told me that you were nice and that I should give you a chance," Jorja admitted when Ashley spun around after rummaging in the cupboard for the bottle and finally finding it.
"God bless him," Ashley said simply. "Thank you for giving me a chance, Jorja."
Jorja put down her spoon in the bowl and then shook her head. "It was just the shock of it, you know, the changes. Mom died and then Dad married you and left..."
Ashley unscrewed her water bottle and took a sip.
"It's not even that Mom and Dad were so great together either. I guess even though they were not happy together I still wanted my family to be together."
Ashley almost choked on the water. She coughed and inhaled, trying to get her breath back.
"What do you mean not happy together?" Ashley wheezed out the last question while Jorja looked at her with concern.
"Didn't Dad tell you?" Jorja frowned. "He must have told you about him and Mom."
"He did," Ashley wheezed. "Said you guys were the perfect family. You went on missionary trips together, you had family devotions twice per day, you sang in a group called the Dennisons."
Jorja laughed. "Well...I wouldn't call us the perfect family...missionary trips were Dad’s idea, because, well, my Mom would cause trouble and Mom hated the missionary trips. I hated them too. I just wanted to be in one place, making friends, being stable.
"Family devotions were torture because both my parents took to praying against each other so that the other could hear, Dad would say, ‘Lord, please fix Rosalie's temper’ and Mom would say, ‘Lord, please allow Ruel to see that he is not a romantic husband.’ I began to realize what they were doing when I was twelve. They were crazy, I tell you."
Ashley felt as if she were rooted to the spot. "But..."
"Oh, and as for the Dennisons, it was a pain singing with my parents. Our practice sessions would always end in a cold war with both of them arguing. They argued over everything and nothing and Mom would get real angry and throw things or...well let’s just say that group was short-lived."
Jorja got up. "I guess I need to acknowledge the fact that Dad is so much happier with you. He has never been this content. I have to go brush my teeth."
"Okay," Ashley nodded, "I, er, I am going for my run."
Ashley stumbled out of the kitchen, leaving the water bottle behind on the counter. She couldn't even get her legs to run. She was concentrating on putting them one before the other as she walked through the gate. She couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that Ruel had blatantly lied to her.
He had told her some real whoppers about his former wife and life. He had listened to her lay out all her shortcomings about her previous marriage and had had the temerity to give her advice because he had come from such a loving and giving relationship. And now to find out that he hadn't been happy at all. Why lie to her though? Ruel didn't lie. He was as honest as they come.
The thought that she might not know Ruel as well as she thought did put a damper on her day. She honestly thought they were soul mates. In her mind Ruel had a Jesus attitude. She had always seen him in the light of a non-judgmental, accepting person, like Jesus was when the men brought the woman before him to be stoned.
"Ashley!"
She spun around and saw Josiah jogging toward her.
"Hey, you’re out late this morning." Ashley forced a smile. Usually when she was going out Josiah was coming in.
"Yes, rough night," Josiah said, slowing down to talk to her. "One of our filters in a major fish pond stopped working…had to stay up until the guys fixed it."
"But now it's okay?" Ashley asked. She knew how seriously Josiah took his farming.
"Yes and ready to go." Josiah slowed to a walk. "You’re feeling sluggish this morning?"
"Yes, kind of," Ashley nodded, "haven't jogged in two days."
"However did you cope?" Josiah laughed. "I have to exercise every single day or else I would go crazy. I exercise even when I am sick. When I was in Kingston I used to exercise with a premier league football team."
"That sounds grueling and fun. I used to do Pilates."
"It shows." Josiah glanced at her and then back at the road, a small grin on his mouth, "I went to one class at the gym and I didn't realize it was so challenging."
Ashley nodded. "Yes, it is challenging, I put in years of hard work--can't let it go to waste now."
"Do you miss it?" Josiah asked, inhaling the air loudly.
"It what?" Ashley stopped and stretched.
"Kingston," Josiah said, "the life there, the energy."
Ashley felt a flash of whimsy. She hadn't felt that way since she met Ruel and married him. Back then she was sure that she was doing the absolutely right thing. This morning's revelation by Jorja was working on her mind, though, because for the first time she felt a tiny lingering disquiet in her head about her husband.
"To be honest," Ashley straightened up from her long stretch, "I miss my apartment. I usually don't miss anything from my past but today you caught me feeling nostalgic. I bought it a couple years ago and I really did go all out in fixing it up. It’s in a lovely location, pretty close to where I used to live. I like the convenient locations to supermarkets and clothing stores.
"And of course I miss my kids coming over occasionally. Now I hardly see them. Haven't seen them in months. I live too far into the hills here to expect anything different. Like this summer I could have them over pretty frequently if I was in Kingston; instead, I probably won’t see them at all unless I go to Kingston. Before I go I would have to tell my husband and his wife...I mean ex-husband," she corrected herself quickly when Josiah raised his eyebrows."I have to tell him days in advance about me coming, so that I don't interrupt their schedule." She sighed. "Now you've got me going."
And she hadn't even realized how bitter she was feeling about the current arrangement. Maybe because Ruel had convinced her that she was supposed to be happy for whatever crumbs were doled out to her by Brandon and Nadine.
And she was feeling like so much of a sinner that she hadn't wanted to ask for more and Ruel had encouraged her to be content with what she had because she was the one at fault. But they were her kids. Hers!
For the first time in years Ashley felt militant and angry. What on earth was she doing for the past four years, sleeping? Allowing herself to become some kind of doormat because she had sinned?
And for the last year while married to Ruel, it was pathetic how much she tried to emulate his perfect first wife, and live the kind of life she thought he had before. And now this morning she was finding out it had all been a lie. There was no perfect life.
Talk about a wakeup call. This was hers.
"Sorry to get you going." Josiah started walking backwards so that he could better see her face. "I miss living in Kingston sometimes too."
Ashley looked at him fully; she didn't even remember what they were talking about initially. "Yes, Kingston. Why did you leave?"
Josiah stopped walking backwards and then turned around. "It's a long story."
On the Rebound 2 Page 8
