Page 26 of Keep My Heart (The Haydon Falls #1)

‘He didn’t have the energy. He’d go out there and end up coming in an hour later and taking a nap.’

‘That doesn’t sound like Dad.’ I glance at Lyndsay, who looks as worried as I am. My dad doesn’t take naps. He works nonstop from sunrise to sunset. He’s always been that way.

‘I’m sure planning the party took a lot out of him,’ Mom says with a strained smile. ‘He’ll be fine after he rests.’

She’s worried too, but trying to hide it. She and Dad never wanted us kids to worry so they’d never tell us when something was wrong.

‘I’ll go out to the fields and see what needs to be done,’ I say. ‘Maybe I’ll call Brody, see if he can help.’

‘Nick, don’t,’ Mom says, racing up to me. ‘I don’t want your brothers knowing your father’s not feeling well. Just do what you can and if your father still isn’t feeling well tomorrow, we’ll bring in some help. ’

‘I already told Sawyer, and he’s telling Jason and Brody. Mom, this could be serious, and we’re all adults. You don’t need to hide this stuff from us anymore.’

She nods. ‘Maybe you’re right, but I still don’t want you asking Brody. Sunday is one of his busiest days and I don’t want him cancelling on his customers. And Jason’s summer classes start tomorrow. He needs today to prepare.’

Jason teaches summer school to kids who are falling behind.

He loves teaching and didn’t want to take the summer off.

He also coaches baseball, so he’s always busy.

It’s hard to find time to see him when I’m home.

It’s the same with Brody. With his lawn business taking off, he’s working all the time.

And Sawyer just opened the brewery, so he’s working a lot too.

All of us are like are our dad, working hard to achieve our goals.

Growing up, we watched Dad work long days, seven days a week, to make the orchard a success.

But he always told us it didn’t feel like work because he loved it.

He told us to do the same; to find something we loved to do and find a way to make money doing it.

That way, we’d never dread going to work.

My brothers managed to do that, but I’m not sure I did.

I like practicing law, but I don’t love it.

Honestly, some days I hate it. Writing contracts, doing research, dealing with angry clients who demand I get them what they want.

And no matter how hard I work, the partners at my law firm always want more.

It’s never enough. It’s exhausting, and the only reward I get from it is money, which isn’t nearly as meaningful as the reward Dad gets from this orchard.

Seeing all the families here, making memories.

Tourists stopping by, bringing income to the town.

He’s even had a few couples get married here.

He’s created something that brings people joy, and made a good living doing it.

‘I’ll get out there and see how much I can get done,’ I say to Mom. I walk over to Lyndsay. ‘Let me know when you need to go. I’ll give you a ride.’

She nods, a determined look on her face, like she’s not leaving until her work here is done. I love her for helping us like this. She didn’t have to do it, but the fact that she is makes those feelings I’m having for her even stronger.

‘Where should I start?’ I hear Lyndsay ask my mom as I leave.

Going out to the orchard, I see the damage left behind from the storm.

I didn’t notice it last night because Dad cleaned up the rows closest to the barn where the party was being held.

But farther into the fields, there’s storm debris everywhere I look.

In addition to all the cleanup that has to be done, some branches on the younger trees were damaged and need to be cut.

Doing this myself, it’s going to take all day.

I won’t have time to take Lyndsay out for her graduation dinner.

I told her I would and she was so excited about it.

I really don’t want to have to cancel on her, although I know she’d understand if I did.

I call up Matt.

‘Hey, what’s up?’ he answers.

‘What have you got going on today?’

‘Besides the beer tasting? I have some people who might want to look at the house that’s for sale over on Maple Street, but they’re not sure yet. I’m waiting for them to call me back. Why?’

‘How would you feel about helping me in the orchard for a couple hours? I’d pay you for it.’

‘You’re not paying me. What do you need help with?’

‘Cutting some branches. Cleaning up the storm debris. It’s kind of a mess out here and I don’t think I can do it all myself. Dad’s not feeling well and hasn’t been able to get to it.’

‘What’s wrong with your dad?’

‘I’m not sure, but Mom wants him to rest, so I’m filling in. But I know Sunday is your busiest day so— ’

‘Today is slow. I got nothing going on other than those people wanting to see that house. I’ll call and tell them we can do it tomorrow.’

‘Are you sure? I don’t want you losing business over this.’

‘Don’t worry about it. They can wait a day. That house isn’t going anywhere. Did you tell Sawyer we won’t be at the tasting?’

‘I told him I wouldn’t, but I’ll call him back and let him know you won’t be there either.’

‘You want me to come over right now?’

‘If you could, yeah.’

‘Be there soon.’

I knew I could count on him to help. I could call most anyone in town to help out. But my dad wouldn’t want that. He wouldn’t want people knowing he needs help, but they’d be here if he asked. That’s small-town living. People help each other out.

As I go in the barn to get the equipment I need, I call up Sawyer.

‘Hey, are you at home?’ he answers.

‘Yeah, I was just out in the fields. It’s a mess out there. That storm did some damage.’

‘You want some help?’

‘I already called Matt. He’s coming over, so he won’t be at your tasting.’

‘That’s fine. Is Matt going to be enough? Because I can still close the place and help you out.’

‘I’d tell you yes, but if Dad found out, he’d be pissed. You just opened. He’d want you there, running your business, not here.’

‘So don’t tell him.’

‘Let me see what I can get done with Matt. If I need help later, I’ll give you a call.’

‘How’s Dad doing?’

‘I don’t know. He’s resting. I haven’t seen him. ’

‘Hey, Nick, thanks for doing this.’

‘What do you mean? Of course I’m doing it. Why wouldn’t I?’

‘You’re a big city guy now. You haven’t worked in those fields in years. I didn’t think you’d want to do it anymore.’

‘Actually, I kind of miss it.’ I walk out of the barn and look out at the fields. ‘It’s nice being out here, getting some fresh air. And Dad needs the help.’

‘Well, let me know if you need some extra hands.’

‘I will. Bye.’

I’m surprised Sawyer thinks I wouldn’t step in and help.

It’s true it’s been awhile since I’ve worked in the fields, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t do it.

It’s not like I forgot how. I grew up helping my dad.

I spent more time out here than any of my brothers.

I was one of those kids who liked learning stuff, so I’d come out here and ask my dad to teach me everything he knew.

I had no intention of ever running an orchard, but I still wanted to learn about it.

‘Where should I start?’ I hear Matt yell as he makes his way over to me. He’s got on an old pair of jeans, a baseball cap, and a t-shirt with the name of our high school on it.

‘That was fast.’

‘I just had to change clothes, then I headed over. What do you want me to do?’

‘You get to pick. Rake or cut branches?’

‘Cut branches.’ He smirks. ‘I’m faster at it than you.’

‘What the hell? You’re not faster than me.’

We go in the barn to get what we need.

‘Don’t you remember?’ he says. ‘I’d be done with an entire row and you’d be only halfway done with yours.’

‘Yeah, well, I was more precise. I didn’t just hack at the trees.’

‘I think it was more about you having your mind on something else.’

‘Like what?’

We take our tools and head out to the orchard.

‘Not what . Who,’ he says. ‘You couldn’t stop thinking about Lyndsay. That summer we worked together was her last summer here before she moved away with Chris.’

‘Yeah? So?’

‘You were pissed she was leaving with him and trying to find a way to get her to stay. That’s why you were so slow with those trees.’

‘I was not thinking about Lyndsay. And why would I try to get her to stay? She chose Chris. She chose to move away with him and marry him. That was her decision. I wasn’t getting in the way of that.’

He shrugs. ‘It was just a theory. I don’t know how else to explain why you were so freaking slow.’ He holds back a laugh.

‘I wasn’t slow,’ I insist.

We get down to the trees and Matt stops. ‘Holy shit, this is a mess. That storm was over a week ago. I can’t believe it still looks like this.’

‘Dad wasn’t able to do the work. Matt, I’m getting worried. You know my dad. He never takes a day off. Something like a storm happens and he’s out here until sunset every day cleaning it up.’

‘But he had the party to plan. Maybe that’s why he didn’t do it. He didn’t have time.’

‘Yeah, I thought about that, but still, it’s not like him to take a nap after breakfast. I know he’s tired from being up late last night, but he’d normally fight through it and be out here.’

‘I’m sure he’s fine. Getting that party ready probably just wore him out.’

I hope that’s it and not anything more serious than that.