Page 5 of One Hot Texas Summer (The Prentice Brothers of Sweet Ridge #1)
T ate stood to the side of the general room of the center. His father sat gazing out the large window at the garden. Tate would bet the whole proceeds from the upcoming harvest that Dad was wishing he were outside enjoying the Texas sunshine.
As if aware of the scrutiny, Dad turned toward Tate.
His face lit up when he saw him standing there.
The left side of his face still drooped a little, but it was looking much better than it had right after the stroke.
Tate banished those memories. His father was alive and on the road to recovery and that was all that mattered.
Smiling, Tate weaved his way through the mix of lounge chairs, couches, and tables.
“Tate, this is a surprise,” Dad said each word slowly and carefully, attempting to hide the way he slurred the words, but Tate could still hear it.
“Hi, Dad, you’re looking great today.”
“I’m feeling great. I have something to tell you.”
Tate sat opposite his father, leaning forward so that he could focus totally on him.
Trenton’s chest puffed out a little. “I fed myself this morning. I didn’t need any help cutting my food.”
Tate swallowed down the ball of emotion lodged in his throat and blinked rapidly a couple of times. “That’s fantastic, Dad. Before you know it you’ll be back at the farm, issuing orders.”
Trenton chuckled. “You can bet on it. Now tell me what’s happening. I heard some scut-scuttlebutt that the Founders’ Day festival is going to be held at the farm?”
Damn, Tate was hoping to keep that quiet a little longer, the last thing he wanted was any form of stress to hinder his father’s recovery.
Knowing that for three days hundreds of people were going to be walking through the orchards at the busiest time of year would be enough to worry his father if he was healthy.
Now he was ill and recovering, everything became a little more intense.
Tyler had a lot to answer for, suggesting the farm as the ideal satellite location. All because he wanted to get the word out about his upcoming release.
“Yeah, you heard right. The committee is wanting to try something a little different this year. I’m going to be liaising with Kelly Turner from This Bud’s For You about the setup, etcetera.” The less he said to his father about it, the better it would be.
“Was it your idea?” The stroke might have slowed down some of the physical aspects of Dad’s body, but his mind was still as sharp as ever. The last thing he wanted to do was put more strain on an already tense relationship with Tyler; however, no way was he going to lie to his father.
And trying to keep anything hidden from his father was a pointless exercise. Gossip was a mainstay of conversation in the rehab center.
“It was Tyler’s. He wants to showcase the vineyard as well and try to get some hype happening around his first vintage.”
Dad nodded, and Tate could tell he was turning the information over in his brain.
“Where are you”—Dad paused, gathering the right words—“planning on having it?”
“I was thinking of having most of the tents set up in front of the house. I don’t know how many exactly will be set up at the farm. If we have to, we’ll put some close to the east orchard, as that one is being harvested first. The west should be almost done by the time of the festival.”
Dad nodded. “Good plan.”
“Thanks. But I’ll know more once I meet with Kelly tomorrow. Hopefully, she’ll have met with Macy and can tell me how many vendors we’ll have out there.”
Dad leaned forward and placed his right hand on Tate’s left forearm. “I’m proud of you, son. Thank you.”
Tate wasn’t one to cry, but it had been a rough, emotional couple of months.
Having his father tell him he was proud of him was a dream every child hoped for.
From the minute he’d been old enough to walk the orchards with Dad, he’d known with everything in him that he wanted to run the farm, take it over after his father retired.
He’d always thought that, as the youngest, he wouldn’t get the opportunity.
Then Trey had shown his baseball skills and set his sights on the majors.
The day Trey had been drafted by a New York team, Dad had strutted around town telling all who would listen.
Tyler had worked the farm, but it had been a nominal effort.
His heart hadn’t been in it until he found his true passion with wine.
After the rough years where Tyler was out more nights than in, Dad had been relieved he’d finally found a focus.
When that happened, Tate believed his dream would come true and he would run the farm.
But he hadn’t wanted to take full control because his father almost died.
“You know I love the peach farm, Dad. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”
“Don’t forget to bring balance to your life, Tate. You can’t be all about work. And you’re not made to be alone.”
Why did an image of Kelly pop into his mind? Yeah, like that would ever happen. “I know, Dad.”
“One day, I hope all my boys will find a love like I shared with your mother. You’re all getting older.
Don’t let love slip you by, son. Look for the signs and when they appear grab them with both hands and don’t let go.
Life is richer when you have love in it.
If you find a person who’s important to you, never be afraid to ask them to go steady with you.
It was the best day of my life when I a-asked your mom on graduation day and she said yes.
She wore my class ring proudly. We had a wonderful life and three wonderful sons.
Wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t asked her. ”
Laughter sputtered out of Tate. “Steady? Dad, no one asks anyone to go steady these days. Heck, I didn’t even ask someone to go steady when I was in high school.”
Dad shook his head. “I know things are done differently these days, and the tradition of class rings has gone by the wayside. But if you find a woman who’s special to you, treat her with respect and love. Forever.”
It was the longest Dad had talked and his words had begun to slur. But Tate grabbed onto the advice, like he always had. Dad was his idol. Always had been. Always would be.
As for love, well, it wasn’t often Dad gave him relationship advice. But as with everything else Dad had ever said to him, he would open his eyes, heart and mind. Part of him couldn’t help wondering if he’d already been given a sign.
*
Kelly turned her SUV into Tate’s driveway late Friday afternoon. Two large cement peaches sat on either side of the entryway. A large sign overhead proclaimed she was entering Prentices’ Peach Farm.
Keeping one hand on the steering wheel, she wiped the other one down the side of her skirt.
Why was she so nervous?
It wasn’t like she hadn’t spoken to the man before.
So what if they’d gotten into each other’s personal space and she’d wondered what it might be like to kiss him?
Mom had said he’d come in for another lot of flowers yesterday, just as he’d said he would.
She didn’t know why she’d hoped he wouldn’t.
Why she hoped their encounter a few days ago had meant something.
Whatever happened the other day needed to be ignored and forgotten.
Why was she even giving it any thought? Tate wasn’t the man for her, regardless of what her body might be telling her.
There was a festival to plan, and sitting in a leather folder beneath her handbag was her tablet with various designs she hoped to be able to incorporate in the event.
The road she traversed was lined with oak trees, their foliage lush and the branches stretched across the driveway as if reaching out to touch each other.
The effect was like driving through a tunnel.
After a short distance, it opened up to the main house.
Even though she’d lived most of her life in Sweet Ridge, she hadn’t ventured on to the Prentices’ property.
She was a year older than Trey, the oldest Prentice son, so she hadn’t associated with him too much at school.
She’d been focused on getting the necessary grades to get into a good college so she could leave the stifling confines of small-town life behind.
How funny that she now loved living back in Sweet Ridge.
The Prentices’ main house was a two-story Colonial.
A large porch wrapped around the lower floor.
Even from a distance she could make out the porch swing tucked into the corner.
In her opinion, it wasn’t a house unless there was a swing on the front porch.
Sadly, her house didn’t have one, if she got married, their forever home would have a wraparound verandah so she could get her swing.
As she pulled up to the front of the property, the door swung open and Tate came out to stand against the white wooden railing.
Kelly killed the engine and closed her eyes, centering herself before gathering up her things to get out of the car.
The door opened before she could grasp the handle, and she gasped in surprise, her heart beating a little faster than it had been a few seconds ago. “Give a girl a little warning.”
Tate chuckled and the sound trickled down her spine like a raindrop sliding down a window. “Sorry, I thought you saw me.”
“Yes, I saw you as you exited your house, not actually coming up to my car,” Kelly grumbled as she stepped out, the action bringing her closer to Tate. Again the scent of sunshine, peaches, and earth mingled together and wafted around her, tempting her to lean in a little closer and inhale again.