Page 39 of Harvest Moon (Riverbend 3)

Laurel wasn’t in the living room or kitchen. The patio seemed empty in the waning light. He made his way to the office. The light was on, and she stood by the desk, reading a document.

“She’s down for the night. It only took four books.” And two songs, but she’d practically been asleep for those.

“Have you seen this?” She extended the papers.

He took them and skimmed the contents. “They got a contract from a grocery chain.”

“That’s exactly what it is. Clean Eating is a chain in the Charlotte area. Mike and Mallory had been pursuing this contract for more than a year.”

He flipped to the last page where both parties had signed. “And they got it. That’s great news.”

“That must be why they were flying to Charlotte—to meet with the CEO.”

His stomach felt leaden at the realization. Why did this tragedy have to happen just when they were finally achieving their dreams?

“Have you looked at the desk calendar?” Laurel asked.

He glanced at the gridded schedule sprawling on the old desk. He hadn’t been able to bring himself to read Mallory’s scripted notes. And now that the will was in probate he needed to dig out all the ongoing bills and get them paid. “No.”

“Harvest should begin soon. I don’t know all the details, but I know there’s a good deal of work to be done. And that contract means a lot of money for the orchard.”

“I agree. But with everything up in the air...”

“We have to get those apples in. They worked too hard to make this happen to let them die on the trees. And this is Emma’s inheritance we’re talking about.”

Mike and Mallory would want Emma to have provisions for her future. “Of course. I just have no idea what an apple harvest entails. Do you?”

“I know a little, and we’ll have to figure out the rest—the mortgage bill came in the mail today along with their bank statement. And trust me on this—we’re going to need that harvest.”

Chapter16

Gavin reached the edge of the property line and turned the riding mower around. The September sun beat down on his shoulders, and sweat trickled down his chest. The scent of mown grass permeated the air as a hot breeze cut across the property. It had taken all afternoon to mow the orchard in preparation for the harvest, and he was now tackling the front yard.

His thoughts went back to the bank statement. Mike and Mallory had barely been making ends meet. His friend’s regular salary kept their household in the black, but not by much. The mortgage on this place wasn’t cheap, and last year’s crop had yielded fewer apples, thanks to a late-spring freeze.

Gavin didn’t know much about selling apples, but he remembered Mike saying that the grocery contract they’d recently secured would be a big boon for the orchard. He owed it to his friends to see this year’s harvest through, regardless of what happened with Emma. It would increase Harvest Moon’s value should Patty decide to move the child to Florida.

His stomach burned. He didn’t even want to think about that.

The sight of an approaching Jeep caught his eye. His sister pulled in to the driveway, and when Gavin reached the end of the row, he shut off the mower and removed his hearing protection.

As Avery jumped from the Jeep and headed his way, the sunlight picked up hints of red in her long brown hair. Her teal scrubs suggested she’d just come from work, and the sprinkle of freckles on her nose attested to hours spent in the summer sun. She seemed healthy and happy. He was glad she’d hired that doctor at the clinic last summer. Her boyfriend also seemed to have a relaxing effect on her—though it had taken Gavin a long time to admit it.

“You picked the hottest day of the week to mow,” she said as she neared.

“Tell me something I don’t know.” He took a long swig from his water bottle.

And when she didn’t say anything else he said, “Did you stop by just to bring me the weather report?”

“I came to apologize for yesterday, grouchy.” Her features softened. “I’m sorry we piled on. I know this is an impossible situation, and you’re just doing the best you can.”

“Okay... I appreciate that.”

She glanced toward the house, then back to him. “No offense, but I’m glad you happened to be outside. I was dreading having to face her again.”

“She’s not the Wicked Witch of the West, you know.” Why did he always feel so compelled to defend her?

“I know that. How’s it really going in there? Must be all kinds of awkward between the two of you.”

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