Season of Dreams

by Jenna Mindel

With a spit of gravel, Adam tore out onto the road. He slowed when they got to town. Driving through LeNaro took only minutes, and then they were on back roads heading west. She didn’t care where they went or for how long. She didn’t even care that Adam was driving much faster than he’d promised this morning.

  Only one thought ran through her brain and brought tears to her eyes all over again.

  He thinks I’m damaged goods.

  Chapter Ten

  Adam blindly drove. He’d never felt more ill equipped to help someone. He had no idea who to deal with whatever Eva had experienced. How could a guy twice her size physically hurt her? Her prickly mistrust made a whole lot of sense now. An abusive relationship could do that. His Eva had been abused. He gritted his teeth, vowing to never let that brute anywhere near Eva again. He revved the engine and sped forward.

  Somewhere along the road, he felt Eva wrap her arms around his waist to hang on. His heart tumbled. He reached down and patted Eva’s leg, hoping to convey that he’d be there for her. That he cared. That he wouldn’t push her. Wouldn’t rush things between them.

  Dear Lord, be with her. And help me not be a jerk.

  He continued to pray like he always did when riding his Harley. Something about being on the bike reminded him of God’s awesome power and redemptive love. Eva needed to come back to the knowledge that all things were possible in Christ. His impression that she’d distanced herself from God suddenly made sense, too. If she’d open her heart and realize she didn’t have to go it alone, she might heal.

  Could he show her the way back?

  He slipped his hand over Eva’s and squeezed.

  Eva laid her head against Adam’s back, thankful for his touch of encouragement. She stared at the grassy stretches of open fields and homes dotting the landscape as Adam traveled south. They buzzed through a couple small towns along route 616 until they hit the aquamarine waters of Glen Lake. Then they turned north toward the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park.

  Adam might be right about her needing professional help. Holding on to the hurt wasn’t getting her anywhere but running away from church service whenever Todd showed up. It was her church and she’d gone there since she was a child. How could she allow that lowlife to steal away her comfort there, her security?

  She tipped her head toward the sky. The gentle sway of the bike rocked her like a baby seeking comfort from cutting teeth. It hurt. Lord, how it hurt to see Todd.

  Show me how to get over this, God. Please? Can you even hear me anymore? Do you want to?

  Eva stared at Adam’s black leather-clad back. The newly trimmed edge of his dark hair just barely flipped up from under his helmet. She ran her finger against the crisp texture of that edge. Thick, his hair felt thick. Strong. She’d never expected Adam Peece would be someone she’d turn to for strength. Who knew?

  She felt Adam slow the bike and then he turned into an ice-cream stand’s parking lot. He stopped and flipped down the kickstand, then stood, balancing the motorcycle for her. “I thought we could use a break.”

  “Perfect timing because I’m thirsty.” Eva slid off his motorcycle and got in line.

  When Adam stepped next to her, she gave him a gentle poke of her elbow. “Thanks for the ride. It really helped.”

  He nodded. “No problem. Maybe we should find another church?”

  His offer to go with her warmed her heart. It wasn’t as if they were a couple, but his support flew like a schoolyard flag announcing that he truly cared. “Thanks, but I’ll figure this out.”

  “You don’t have to do it alone, you know.”

  She nodded. Whether he referred to getting help or accepting his didn’t matter. She appreciated the offer. “Don’t say anything to Ryan, okay?”

  “I won’t.” He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

  When it was their turn, Eva ordered a cone dipped in chocolate and an ice water. Adam settled on a banana split after draining one of the two bottled waters he’d fished out of an ice-filled cooler. When the clerk gave her a total, Eva pulled out her wallet from the front pouch of her windbreaker.

  “I’ve got this.” Adam offered up a ten.

  She blocked his path to the window. “You drove. I’m paying.”

  He chuckled and let her have her way.

  Once settled at a picnic table under a weeping willow tree, Eva bit into her ice cream, sending bits of the hard chocolate shell tumbling down the front of her peach-colored jacket. A river of melting soft-serve ice cream followed with a drip that landed near a smear of chocolate. Great! She licked her cone furiously.

  “Here.” Adam handed her a few napkins with a grin. “Can’t you eat ice cream without making a mess?”

  “Guess not.” She should be embarrassed, but she wasn’t. It amazed her how comfortable she felt around Adam. And now he knew what she’d been hiding for two years. It felt good that he knew. Physically safe and secure even though her heart inched that much closer to danger.

  “Tell me about your business plan.”

  Wiping her mouth, she smiled and plunged ahead. Relieved to talk about something other than what had happened to her. “Obviously you’d remain the controlling partner since I couldn’t afford much of a buy-in.”

  He winked at her. “Obviously.”

  Eva’s hopes soared. “As you know, my father grew predominately tart cherries, but I think a move toward sweet cherries with an eye on turning Marsh Orchards into a retail farm is the better bet for self-sufficiency. The B and B would only enhance what the orchard provided.”

  She waited to gauge how receptive he was, but his expression didn’t give anything away.

  “Keep talking,” he said.

  Eva lifted her eyebrows. “You’ve never said if you’re going to change the name.”

  “I haven’t thought about it.”

  “What about Peecetorini Farm?”

  His brow furrowed. “Where’d you hear that?”

  “Your sister told me it’s your family’s real name. I think it’s a beautiful name. So lush and full.”

  “My sister’s got a big mouth.” Adam dug out the cherry from his sundae and popped it in his mouth.

  “Don’t you like it?”

  “’Course I do. It’s my ancestry.”

  “But?”

  Adam shrugged.

  “Is it the legal paperwork involved in going back to it?”

  “Not at all.”

  He set down his empty sundae dish and then stuffed a couple of wadded-up napkins in it when the breeze skittered the plastic bowl across the picnic table. “I’ve walked away from the family business a couple times. Changing my name back to Peecetorini sends the final message, don’t you think? The final adios that this time, I’m really done.”

  “You’re telling me that as Adam Peecetorini, you couldn’t go back to Peece Canning?”

  “It’s a symbolic thing.”

  Peece Canning Corporation was Adam’s safety net if cherry farming didn’t work out for him. Leonard Peece might have set the net, but Adam wasn’t ready to cut all ties. All the more reason for Eva to have some sort of ownership, keeping some of the land tied to her.

  “It’s something to consider. New name for a new owner and new direction.” Eva bit into the crunchy part of her cone.

  “Down the road, maybe. For now, I like Marsh Orchards just fine.”

  Eva went on to describe a timeline for moving toward a U-pick cherry farm and market that would bring consumers to them. Ultimately they’d have more control over profits versus relying solely on commercial processors.

  “Well.” Eva finally took a breath. “What do you think?”

  “I think I’d like a look at your outline.”

  “I made an extra copy for you.” She moved to retrieve it, but he stopped her with a touch of his hand.

  “You can give it to me when I drop you off. Look, Eva, I’m sticking with my original decision. I want input. I want to hear what you have in mind. You’ve got some great ideas, but don’t g
et too excited, okay?”

  “I understand.” But she wasn’t giving up.

  He smiled then. “So, you like the Peecetorini name?”

  “I do.”

  The following week Adam and Eva applied a bee-friendly fungicide to the tart cherries. They’d moved quickly, using the truck mount sprayer attached to Eva’s pickup. The only delay was a touch-and-go weather report forecasting two days’ worth of rain that turned out to be nothing more than an afternoon cloudburst.

  He could tell that Eva’s zeal for a partnership hadn’t waned. Even though she hadn’t said a word about whether he’d looked at her outline, he knew that question lurked in her brain. He’d catch her deep in thought and knew better than to ask what she was thinking.

  Adam was impressed with her concise business plan. Her ideas for increasing profit looked sound and the timeline she referenced to put them into action made sense. She’d make a good business owner, but that didn’t mean he’d revisit her offer. His answer had to be no until this season was over. Until he knew there’d be a next season for him.

  After lunch, Adam drained his bottled water and stretched. “So, tonight we move the bees back out?”

  “Aunt Jamee is bringing over dinner. Ryan said he’d be over to help load the hives so it should go pretty quick.”

  “Good. I’m beat.”

  Eva shook her head.

  “I know, I know. Wait till harvest.” But Adam would have hired help by then. Hopefully one of them would be Eva’s father.

  He had already gone over with Bob Marsh his list of summertime workers found in the barn’s filing cabinets. Eva might not know the past couple of seasons’ workers since she’d been at pastry school. So, he ran the names by Bob to be sure. Adam didn’t care to bring back trouble.

  By the time they headed for the house, Adam spied the flatbed belonging to Eva’s aunt and uncle parked in the driveway. Once in the kitchen, Adam inhaled the rich aroma of pot roast and his stomach answered with a deprived rumble.

  “Dinner’s ready. I’ll have it on the table in a few minutes.” Jamee wore an outlandish apron depicting bees dressed in army camouflage. Embroidered along the front read Bee All You Can Bee Farm.

  “Nice apron.” Adam sidled up to the sink and grabbed the liquid soap.

  Jamee snapped him with a towel. “Take it to the bathroom, Adam. I have vegetables to drain.”

  “Oww.” He caught Eva’s look of amusement.

  “She won’t let anyone wash up while she’s in the kitchen. I’ll use the one upstairs, and you can have the powder room.” Eva made to leave.

  “It’s not sanitary to wash off your dirt near my food.” Jamee turned to him with a nod toward where Eva had just exited. “And she has a bad habit of leaving the mayonnaise out. I found it on the counter today.”

  “I heard that,” Eva yelled from the hall.

  “Her ice cream eating is pretty bad, too. I’ll have to keep my eye on her,” Adam said.

  “You do that.” Her aunt winked at him.

  Adam could imagine Eva rolling her eyes at that comment. Obviously her aunt had matchmaking on her mind. She was as bad as Beth. He had money and the family farm and Eva wanted in on the orchard. Made sense that Eva’s family would hint around them hooking up.

  He wanted to, but the timing had to be right. Things seemed to be getting more complicated with a partnership offer, Eva’s past relationship and his death knell by harvest lurking on the horizon. Adam needed to keep things simple. The next date he’d planned was the research center’s fundraiser. It’d be work and fun rolled together. And a safe place. He didn’t want Eva to feel pressured.

  When he returned from washing up, Ryan and Larry entered the kitchen while Beth finished setting the table. Adam slid into a chair facing the activity. “Does it matter where I sit?”

  “Nope.” Beth placed a bowl of salad onto the table.

  Larry sat next to him. “Perfect evening to move the hives. It’s cooling down nicely and the bees are settling back into their homes. We should be able to get to work soon after dinner.”

  Adam nodded. “It’s supposed to get cold tonight, around thirty-five to forty.”

  “Let’s hope that’s as cool as it gets.” Jamee set a basket covered with a towel on the table.

  That was what Adam prayed. Northern Michigan wasn’t out of the woods when it came to frost. He lifted the cloth to spy steaming hot rolls. What was taking so long to get everyone seated?

  Eva entered the kitchen and her aunt handed her a covered dish. She set it down and took the seat across from him.

  “Don’t even think of lifting that lid, Adam. The veggies will get cold.”

  “Leave him alone, Jamee. He’s hungry.” Larry came to his defense. “She’s one of the caterers for the research center fundraiser this year.”

  Adam smiled at the beekeeper’s wife. “Then I look forward to it even more.”

  “You’re going?” Beth took her seat.

  Adam nodded.

  Jamee finally came to the table. “It’s quite the black-tie affair.”

  “Please, don’t remind me,” Ryan groaned.

  Jamee stood behind her chair. “Eva, I wonder, do you think you could help out serving?”

  “I was hoping Eva might agree to go with me.” Adam spoke up before Eva had the chance to answer her aunt.

  A hush fell over the table, but Adam kept his focus on Eva. Would she go with him? He’d bought the tickets at the meeting he’d attended with Ryan more than a week ago. He’d had every intention of asking Eva to go, but he’d hesitated. Worried that she might say no.

  Eva looked up from fiddling with her napkin. “When is it?”

  “This weekend,” Adam said.

  Jamee smiled. “Go have fun, Eva. I won’t need you after all. The college kids are home.”

  “These things are never fun,” Ryan added.

  “That depends,” Adam said.

  “On what?” Beth asked with a grin.

  Adam looked straight at Eva. “My date.”

  That brought down the house with good-natured teasing and whistles. But Eva looked wary and she hadn’t yet agreed to go.

  “Good morning,” Eva found Adam with Ryan in the kitchen making coffee. Again, Adam had stayed at Ryan’s after moving the beehives. The hives were heavy after ten days in the orchard and that boded well for honey.

  “What’s on our list of chores today?” Adam leaned against the island with cup in hand while the coffeemaker chugged and hissed.

  “After you and Ryan set the fly traps, we can spray fungicide on the sweet cherries.”

  “How do those traps work?”

  Ryan intervened. “The insect counts help determine if an insecticide is needed. That way you’re not spraying needlessly.”

  Eva grabbed eggs and bacon from the fridge. “My father did things the way his father had shown him. But Ryan convinced him to try some new things.”

  “And what do you think?” Adam poured his coffee and then offered the pot to her brother.

  “My father showed me what to look for. You have to know what’s going on in your own orchard. Ryan’s a good researcher, but he gets crazy with monitoring and reporting. My father didn’t care if his farm was certified as environmentally friendly or not. He did what he thought best for a quality crop.”

  “At Peece Canning, the organic green beans fetched a higher price.”

  “You can’t farm cherries completely organic. There are too many pests to deal with. And the weather plays a huge part. Too much humidity and fungus becomes a bigger problem,” Eva said.

  “She’s right,” her brother backed her up.

  Eva smiled. “It’s up to you to decide which market you’re going to tap. Retail or commercial.”

  Adam nodded. “Something to think about.”

  Despite catching on to the work and his affinity with engines, Adam Peece was no grower. Not yet anyway. He needed her to help make it happen and that was what she counted on.

>   After breakfast they rode out on four-wheelers to set up the flytraps. The ground was littered with fallen blossoms, and the breeze swirled the remaining petals, making the orchard look like a shaken snowglobe. The sun filtered in between the leafy-green trees and there was no place Eva would rather be.

  Driving at a sedate pace with the supplies in her wagon, Eva watched Ryan and Adam race along the edge of the orchard. She couldn’t help but yell, “What are you, twelve?”

  “Sometimes!” Adam hollered back.

  She laughed. She hadn’t agreed to go with Adam to that fundraiser. Beth told her she had to prove that she could handle being his partner. Schmoozing was part of that, even though it’d be a daunting task considering the lack of glitz in her closet. Eva hadn’t worn a formal dress since her high-school prom.

  When she caught up with the guys, they set up the traps along the edge of the woods bordering the orchard.

  Ryan made notations while Adam and Eva took a water break in the shade.

  “Have you decided about going with me to the fundraiser?” Adam asked.

  Eva looked down at her booted feet and kicked a clump of grass. He had asked her as if it was a date, which meant it wasn’t only business. “It’d be good for me to go.”

  He stepped closer. “I’d like you to.”

  “I’m no good at mingling.”

  Adam gently grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips for the briefest kiss. “Then stick close to me. I’ll do the talking.”

  She smiled, even though her insides were fluttering like blossom petals in the wind. “Promise?”

  “I’ll pick you up at seven, Saturday night.”

  Eva glanced at her brother. He was busy charting the traps. There was no way she’d refuse. “I’ll be ready.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Saturday morning, Beth made herself comfy on Eva’s bed and scrunched up her nose with disapproval. “You can’t wear that to the fundraiser.”

  “No?” Eva held the newly purchased pantsuit against her body and surveyed her image in the mirror. It wasn’t so bad. She’d tried it on yesterday at the boutique in town after stopping at the bank. She’d been pleased by how comfortable and light it felt. It had even been on sale.