Page 23 of Sweater Weather (Sapphire Falls Orchard #1)

TWENTY-THREE

Tilly

“ W hat’s the matter with you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Hattie says as I stomp back to the bakery where she and Lina are hanging out.

“I-I just overheard Bells say to her mother that she’s selling the place.” I can’t even believe the words I’m saying. If I didn’t hear it myself, I wouldn’t believe it.

“What?” Lina and Hattie ask in unison.

“I need a drink,” I grumble.

Lina hands me a bottle of water. “I can offer you a coffee, but that’s about the strongest thing in here.”

“What exactly did she say?” Hattie asks.

“Her and her mom were talking, and her mom was basically like, why are you still here? When are we selling the place? And she wanted the timeline of the sale moved up,” I explain.

“This doesn’t make any sense.” Lina frowns.

“I mean, we don’t know her that well. Maybe it’s true.” Hattie says.

“I just don’t get it. I asked her, I’ve said it for months. Why wouldn’t she just tell us if she was selling the place?” I say angrily.

“Can you afford to buy it?” Lina asks, eyes sparking with hope.

“No. I mean, maybe if I was given a deal and some time, but they want big money for this place and that’s something I just don’t have.” I sigh. I need something short of a miracle to have enough money for this place.

“Did you try talking to Bells?” Lina asks.

“No, I sort of overheard and then ran over here,” I admit sheepishly.

“So is it possible maybe you misunderstood?” Lina asks.

“I mean, sure. But it wasn’t exactly a hushed conversation. I don’t think I misunderstood what they were saying, I’m just not understanding why Bells has been lying to us.” I sigh.

“Lying about what?” Bells voice sneaks up behind us and my jaw drops.

“We’ll give you two a moment,” Lina says, ushering her and Hattie out of the shop.

“Lying about what?” Bells asks again.

“I overheard you and your mother.”

“Oh.” She frowns.

“Oh? That’s all you have to say.”

“Look, she comes across harsh but don’t take anything she says to heart. She’s not exactly the warm and fuzzy type.” Bells sighs.

“Are you defending her?”

“No, I’m just saying. She makes everything seem more complicated than it is. There’s no pressure on us or whatever this is. It’s not like I’m ready to get married.”

“What?!” Now I’m confused.

“What? You said you heard us.” She looks at me with furrowed brows.

“Yeah, talking about selling the orchard,” I say.

“Oh.” Her eyes widen.

“She wants you to get married? Us to get married?” I felt the urge to run. I liked Bells but I was nowhere near ready for marriage.

“No, she wants me to think about it. She doesn’t know anything about you or us. It’s just something she pushes on me, and I usually ignore her,” Bells explains.

“But you’re selling the orchard?” My voice cracks as I ask because I’m too afraid to hear if that’s true or not.

“No.” Bells takes my hands in hers, but I don’t relax. “My mother thinks I am, it’s complicated family drama which I’m sure is why Aunt Blake left the place to me. But no, I’m not selling it.”

“Really?” I feel the anxiety seeping back inside.

“When I first got here, I thought maybe I’d sell it. I didn’t know what to do or how to run anything. I took a look at the books, and this place was in danger of being foreclosed. So I’ve done everything I can to keep that from happening,” she explains.

“Wait, it wasn’t making a profit?” This confuses me. I always thought we were doing well.

“The maintenance on this place, as well as other factors, were hemorrhaging this place. I just got it out of the red and back to making money. Before I got to know this place, I thought maybe I’d fix it up to sell—to someone who would keep everyone’s jobs and keep the place as is.

But now I know I don’t want to sell it at all. ” She smiles.

“How come?” I ask.

“Because this place is like a home to me now. I love the city, and I’m sure I’ll visit, but something about this found family we have here—everyone working together, all the opportunities to try new things and use my business degree for something new—it’s really lifted my spirits and made me feel good again. ”

I can’t describe the relief I feel. My stomach goes from panicking to relaxing in a matter of minutes. Bells thinks this place feels like family? I know that’s how I feel, but I didn’t realize this place was growing on her as much as it has.

“I really like you, City Girl.” I smile.

“We’re bringing back the nicknames?! I really like you too, Mac.” She laughs. “Wait! Is that a reference to McIntosh apples?!”

“Yes.” I chuckle. “I was wondering when you might realize that.”

“You gave me a hint to who you were all along. I didn’t even realize it.” She laughs.

“I don’t want you to feel any pressure here, but if you want to talk about things with your mom, you can. It seemed pretty intense from what I heard,” I admit.

“It’s just how she is. Lately it’s getting harder and harder to defend. I’m starting to realize why Aunt Blake moved out here and never looked back. It’s a lot easier than dealing with the family all the time.” She sighs.

“I’m not telling you what to do, but is that something you ever consider? Maybe it would give you some peace, cutting ties.”

“Is that what you did? With your family?” she asks.

“It’s a little different. I told them who I was—that I like women—and they kicked me out. All ties severed for life. I don’t even know where they are or how they’ve been. I’m not saying it’s easy. But I do know it’s better than the alternative of living the rest of my life hiding who I am.”

“That makes sense. I mean, my mother ironically approves of me being with women—it’s just anything else I possibly do that’s the problem.”

“I see. I’m sorry. I know family issues aren’t easy.”

Bells takes a deep breath and then looks at me.

“I just feel like whatever I do, it won’t be enough.

And not in the typical my-parents-will-never-be-proud-of-me way, but in the sense that there’s always something they’re going to complain about.

I managed to turn this whole place around without any of their money or help, but they still treat me like I don’t know anything.

They want to take this place and probably charge twenty bucks an apple and make it more of an amusement park to bring in revenue.

I don’t want any of that. I just don’t know how to show them this place is so much more. ”

“Why do you have to show them?” I ask. “I mean, I understand why you’d want to. But what if it’s just something they won’t understand?”

“You have a point. I don’t know. I guess it’s because they’re my parents. But it’s also because they’re my parents that I know they won’t change.” She sighs.

“You’re very similar to Benny, just so you know,” I say quietly. I don’t know how she might take this.

“Really?” She perks up next to me.

“She always wanted to make peace with your family. Talked about how one day she hoped they’d come around and see this place for more than a quick buck. She had the same drive you have about this place. It’s really amazing to get to witness.”

Her face lights up. “I have to show you something!” Suddenly pulling my hand, she drags me out of the bakery.

“Where are we going?” I ask, but she doesn’t answer.

She’s holding my hand tightly and pulling us toward the houses. I assume she’s bringing me to her house for some reason, but I honestly can’t begin to guess what it is. She unlocks her front door and finally lets go of my hand.

“Wait right here.” She tells me before running upstairs.

“What?” I search for a clue of what’s going on, but she’s already gone. A few minutes later, she returns with an envelope with my name on it. The handwriting is familiar, but I just can’t place it.

“I found this a little while back, and I’m sorry for not giving it to you earlier. I needed to figure this place out before you knew the truth about the orchard being in debt. But this is from Aunt Blake.” Bells hands me the envelope, and my heart drops.

“She left you this in the will?” I ask, my eyes brimming with tears.

“No, they were among her things. There’s one for Hattie and Lina too. I didn’t know why she didn’t just give them to you, so I did read them. And I can understand if you’re upset with me for keeping them. But it was always my intention to give them to you once you knew about the orchard.”

I take the envelope from her, tracing my fingers over the black ink of my name. Carefully sliding the piece of paper out, I begin to read her note.

Dear Tilly,

I regret having to write this, and I hope things may change before I give you this.

I know I’ve promised you the orchard. I think you would do amazing things with it, and you would keep my vision alive for years and years to come.

You’d make this a safe haven for all those who need it, just like I did for you.

But at this point in time, I know I cannot leave it to you.

We’re not making a profit, and I’m afraid things are going downhill.

With my diagnosis, I fear things will only get worse instead of better.

You are destined for such amazing things, and I don’t want you tied to my failure.

This is why I’ve decided to leave the orchard to my niece, Arabella.

She has done amazing things working for non-profits and volunteering for underprivileged and queer youth.

She will know how to get us out of this hole.

And if not, she will sell the place to someone who can.

I know this is not what you want to hear.

And I’m sorry if you’re angry about it—I completely understand.

But please know this is for your best interest. I do not want you tied to such a huge loss so early on in your career.

You have made this orchard less of a job and more of a home.

I never intended to take you in, let alone Hattie and Ollie, and Lina too, but I’m so glad I did.

You four became my family in ways only you understand.

My own family has always had their own challenges, and I’ve never connected with them the way we did.

I will treasure our time together, and I hope you come to understand my reasoning.

Thank you for being true to yourself and authentic in all the ways I was never brave enough to be.

Love,

Benny

By the end, I’m crying, and Bells is offering me a tissue from the box.

All this time, I thought Benny didn’t believe in me or thought I wasn’t good enough to run this place.

But it turns out she was just trying to protect me.

She didn’t want me to have more stress about getting the orchard out of debt and it effecting the rest of my life.

I can’t begin to explain the amount of relief I feel just knowing this is the truth.

Sure, I wish I knew a little earlier, but even knowing now makes things better.