The Apple Of My Eye (3 page)

For the first time, the older woman seemed to realize Michelle was still in her robe. “Oh my dear, you shouldn’t be out here half dressed. Have you even eaten yet?” Michelle shook her head. “You go inside, have some breakfast. I will talk to Gerry and see what we can do to help.” Betsy took her hand, and patted it comfortingly. “Everything will look better after some food. You’ll see.” Giving her a warm smile, Mrs. Turner shooed her back inside. “Go on now. I will be by later on with some apple pie. I saved a few in the freezer, after last year’s harvest. They may not be as good as your Gran’s pie, but then she never would give me her recipe.”

“Thanks very much, Mrs. Turner. I will see you later then.” Michelle waved as her neighbor walked back to her own home next door, clearly on a mission. Closing the door behind her, Michelle headed to the kitchen, stopping to put the envelope and business card on the table. She made a pot of coffee. Then she began to fix herself and Kara breakfast. The comforting aroma of brewing coffee began to permeate the kitchen, and when it was ready, Michelle poured herself a cup. She sighed as she sipped and sat down to eat.

A few moments later a warm furry body jumped onto her lap. “Hey Galoshes. Have you forgiven me for moving you or have you just forgotten where I put your food bowl?” The black and white cat purred as Michelle stroked his fur with her left hand and drank the coffee with her right. The feline head peeked up from her lap above the table. Galoshes looked around for a tidbit of food to steal. Spying the paper, he reached out a white paw and attempted to drag the business card closer. “Oh no you don’t, trouble maker.  No chewing on that card, I may need that later.” She gently moved the cat off of her lap and onto the floor.

With an unhappy sigh Michele reached over and opened the envelope, unfolded the bright yellow slip and carefully read over the city violation notice.

NOTICE OF PROPERTY MAINTENANCE VIOLATION

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 158 of the City of Greenville Property Code, notice is hereby given that the property whose legal description is set forth below (and/or buildings or structures located hereon) has been determined to be in violation of Section(s) 158 of said Code. 

The owner, Violet Henderson, has been notified of said violations(s) in accordance with

Subsection 7.

Address of property:  1318 Pine Street North        

Description of violation(s):  
Hazardous Tree or Shrub.
The apple tree located on the southern property line has overgrown into the back alley. Tree limbs are blocking access to the alley, as well as neighboring property. Unpicked, fallen fruit attracts insects and vermin.                            

Pursuant to Section 102A, any person who desires to have recorded a notice rescinding the notice of violation may present evidence of compliance to the Building Official.  If the Building Official determines that the violation has been satisfactorily cured, the Building Official shall record a notice rescinding the prior notice of violation.  Detailed information may be obtained by contacting Steven G. Wizener, property code enforcement.

             
Michelle snorted indignantly and threw the notice back on the table. 

“Well, what did that paper do to you? You look ready to tear the thing into little pieces.” Kara stood leaning on the dining room door frame. Her tattered bunny slippers stared mournfully up at Michelle. 

“By all means, see for yourself.” Angrily, Michelle grabbed the notice and held it out to her friend. Yawning Kara ambled over to the table and picked up the slip. Her sleepy expression turned into a frown as she read the violation.

             
“They want to tear down your Gran’s apple tree? They can’t do that.” Kara sounded horrified.

             
“They can, and it sounds like they will if I can’t figure out what to do about it.” Grabbing her toast, Michelle headed back into the kitchen and looked out the back window at the apple tree in question.

The old McIntosh dominated the south eastern corner of the yard, the branches stretching in every direction. The family had always been careful to pick and use all of the fruit from both of the apple trees every year.  Except perhaps last autumn, when Gran had been so ill. They had all been so busy trying to see to her care, there had barely been time to manage the harvest. She always remembered the apple tree being well pruned. Her Grandfather had been religious with his tree care, always pruning in the late winter, then spraying in the spring. Michelle nibbled on the toast and studied the tree. She couldn’t deny that the big McIntosh looked wild. The limbs had definitely grown well into the alleyway. Michelle couldn’t be certain that the tree had been trimmed since Grandpa Henderson had died five years ago.

              “Well, it does look a bit overgrown.” Kara stared over her friend’s shoulder at the tree in question. “I did have to be careful not to hit some of the limbs as I drove in yesterday. Still there’s no way we can let them cut it down, right?”

Michelle frowned unhappily and turned to look at her friend. She had planned to spend the rest of her week off unpacking, painting and trying to get a list together of areas that needed repair or updating. She had even managed to put a little money away to help pay for the home improvements she knew would be needed.  Michelle had no idea how much an arborist’s services might cost. If the McIntosh in the back yard hadn’t been trimmed in five years, odds were that the Fireside tree in the side yard would need pruning as well. Michelle winced. She hoped this wouldn’t drain her small savings too heavily. She wasn’t about to give up Gran’s apple tree without a fight.

“No, I’m not going to just let them cut that tree down.”

             
Michelle returned to the table to find that Galoshes had made off with her bacon. Looking around the dining room, she saw no sign of him. She sighed and gave up the meat as a lost cause. The cat would have found a secure hiding spot in which to devour his prize by now. She turned her attention to the white business card the city inspector had given her.  “Oak Forest Arborists. Metro Tree Care Specialists since 2005”. A picture of an oak tree grove dominated the center of the card, with the business name curving over the limbs of the trees.  In the right hand corner was a name and phone number. “Hayes Marshall, ISA Certified Master Arborist”.

             
“You have some breakfast, there’s bacon in the microwave. The inspector left me the number of an arborist. I’m going to call while you eat. Keep an eye out for Galoshes. He already stole my bacon, so he doesn’t need anymore.” Michelle headed into the living room and pulled her cell phone out of her purse. She called the number listed on the card. After a few rings, a warm, sexy sounding masculine voice answered. “Good morning, Oak Forest Arborists. Hayes Marshall speaking, how can I help you?”

             
Michelle was surprised by the flush of heat that suddenly was burning her cheeks. Was there something familiar about the voice on the other end of the line? “Hi, umm… good morning.” She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Wonderful” she thought, “I’m already making an idiot out of myself”. She took a deep breath and started again. “My name is Michelle Perry. I need some help with an apple tree on my property. I was wondering how much a consultation would cost?”

             
“I’d be happy to help. Consultations are free, unless you are located more than twenty miles from Greenville, in which case we do charge a small mileage fee. Can I ask the nature of the problem and where you are located?”

             
“I’m up on Pine Street, here in Greenville.” Michelle tried unsuccessfully to keep the emotion out of her voice as she explained the situation. “I just inherited the home from my Grandmother. One of her apple trees has overgrown into the back alley. Apparently it is violating a property safety code, and now the city wants to tear it down…” Michelle had to stop and clear her throat, before continuing on. “Excuse me. I was hoping perhaps you can help me figure out a way to keep the tree from having to be torn down?”

             
“Uh… Pine Street?” The man’s voice sounded startled. He cleared his throat. “When did you receive the violation notice?”

             
“The inspector dropped it off earlier this morning. He was the one who recommended I call you.”

The voice on the line was quiet for a few seconds, although, Michelle could hear some scribbling sounds. “Ok,
Ms. Perry. It sounds like we might have a little time to work with. I have an opening late this afternoon. Would three pm work for you?”

“Oh yes, I will be here. Thanks so much for coming out right away.”

“Of course, it’s my pleasure. Can I get your address?”

Michelle gave the arborist her address information and hung up. She gave a sigh of relief. At least she wouldn’t have to pay for the consultation, and he was willing to meet with her today. There would be plenty of time to get dressed and unpack more of her boxes before the arborist arrived.

“Well, what’s the news?” Kara asked as she poked her head into the living room while nibbling on a piece of bacon.

“The arborist is going to come out this afternoon around three. That should give us plenty of time to unpack a few more rooms. I just hope…” Michelle stopped in mid sentence.

“Hey, don’t worry. I’m sure we will figure out something.” Kara hugged her friend. “I know that those apple trees mean a lot to you.”

Michelle sighed.  She had grown up around those two trees. They had been planted when she was very small. She could still remember the first autumn she had picked a McIntosh from the overhanging branches. The crisp tart taste had exploded in her mouth, still warm from the September sun. She loved to watch her grandmother making pies from the autumn harvest. “Always use apples from two different varieties, my Lovey,” Gran would tell her as she peeled the apples. “Use one tart variety and one sweet. It gives your pie a depth of flavor others can’t match.” That had proven to be true. Gran’s apple pies had become nearly legendary, winning her a stream of blue ribbons at the county and state fair.

Seeing that her friend was still rooted to the spot, Kara clapped her enthusiastically on the back. “Ok, that’s enough brooding for you. Go get cleaned up. I’m going to tackle setting up the entertainment center.”

Michelle nodded her head, thankful for her friend’s boundless energy and high spirits. “Hey, I thought Jeff was coming over last night to do that?”

Kara winced and turned towards the mess of equipment piled on the TV stand. “Yeah about that…” she said, running her hands through her hair. “We broke up two nights ago.”

“What? Why didn’t you say something Kara?” Michele was flabbergasted. How could she have missed learning of something that important?

“It’s not that big of a deal. He was a jerk.” Kara shrugged nonchalantly, but Michelle could see by her averted gaze that her friend was embarrassed.

“Not a big deal? You were living with him. Where are you going to stay?”

“Well, he’s giving me till the weekend to move my stuff. I guess I will probably move back in with mom.” Kara looked at her toes, embarrassed to have been talking about her situation.

“No. You’re coming here.  God knows I have plenty of room- there’s the spare bedroom upstairs, or you can have the study and library if you want.” Michelle gestured to the back of the house, where they had moved her grandmother after her infirmity had made it difficult to go up and down steps.

Kara turned back to look at her friend. “Shell, you really don’t have to do that. I can make do. You don’t have to bail me out of trouble.”

“It’s not bailing you out, and I want to help. Greenville is fifteen minutes closer to your office anyway. We can carpool.”

Kara gave her friend a shaky, relieved smile. “Thanks, Shell. I mean it. I’d love to move in, and yes I will take the study. There’s plenty of room back there for me.” She gave her friend a hug. “Plus when you hook up with the hottie behind us, I won’t be in the way.”

Michelle gave her friend a teasing push. “You never stop, do you? Next time, you should tell me when something like that happens. I will let you detangle the wire hell while I take a bath. When do you want to go get your stuff?”

“We can go tomorrow. Most of the furniture is his, so there isn’t a lot of heavy stuff to move. You go on, I’ve got this!” Rolling up the sleeves of her Tiger pajamas, Kara headed over to the entertainment center with a renewed aura of determination.

The afternoon found the two women out in the yard, bundled up against the cool, early March weather. Michelle wanted to take a careful look at the gardens, to figure out what besides the trees might need attention. “There, the bed lining has pulled up; we are going to have to replace that.” Kara scribbled notes as Michelle toured the various fruit and flower beds.

“Are the automatic sprinklers still working?” Kara asked, tapping a semi-buried sprinkler head with her shoe.

“I’m not sure. We probably need to test them, but that will have to wait until things warm up.” Michelle moved down the length of the house and stopped in front of a huge rose bush that rested against the outer bricks of the living room’s fireplace.
“It looks like some of the roses are going to need to be pruned; there is a lot of dead wood on them.” Gingerly, Michelle touched a thorny cane where the tiny green buds of new growth that were prominent on the rest of the cane had stopped two thirds of the way up.