Home on Apple Blossom Road (Life in Icicle Falls) (25 page)

“T-tomorrow?” Mia stuttered. How was she going to make that work? They still had clues to follow. “I don’t know if I can do that.”

“Then I don’t know if we can have you in charge of the Sprouted Bliss campaign.”

Andrea would remove her just like that? After she’d worked so hard for the company? After all those sixty-hour weeks?

“I stuck my neck out for you, Mia. Don’t let me down. Don’t let GF Markets down.”

“I won’t.”

“Good.”

Mia could hear the smile in her boss’s voice. At least someone was happy. She ended the call and started searching online for cheap flights out.

“I guess your boss doesn’t get it, huh?” Colin said.

She kept her eyes on her phone screen, not wanting to look at him. She wasn’t sure what she’d see in his eyes, but she plainly heard disappointment in his voice.

“I was supposed to be back today.”

“Things happen.”

“Try telling that to my boss.”

“That’s the downside of working for someone else.”

She did look up and saw that he was frowning. “Colin, everybody works for someone else.”

“Gramps worked for himself. No one told him what to do. He mapped out his own day, his own life.”

“We can’t all own an orchard,” she said, and that deepened his frown. What a dumb thing to say, considering how much Colin had loved the orchard. “I’m sorry. That was thoughtless of me.”

“But true,” he said.

The conversation suddenly stalled. Where to go from here?

Nowhere, she decided, and went back to her internet search. “We have to finish this hunt today. I’ve got to fly out tonight.” Oh, good. There was a flight leaving at five. Surely they were on their last clue. They could find whatever Grandma Justine had left them, figure out what to do with it and then she’d roar off to the airport, turn in the rental car, get back to Chicago and rescue her job.

And hope Colin would follow her. She booked her flight, reserving one of the last remaining seats.

“How long do we have?” Colin asked.

“Just this morning.”

“And then you leave.”

“Not for good, not forever. And you’re coming to Chicago, right?”

“Absolutely.”

It was the correct word, but she still felt as if a giant shadow had cast itself over the day.

It’s not like we won’t ever be back
, she reminded herself. That didn’t help. In the end, Chicago wasn’t Icicle Falls. And her job wasn’t as secure as she’d always thought. Success could be snatched out of her hands just like that. Reality was a cold bitch.

“We should get going if we’re going to solve this puzzle,” Colin said, opening the front door.

Mia hurried down the front walk with him, wishing that instead of money or whatever trinkets Grandma Justine had left, they’d find a magic bottle complete with the requisite genie. Then...

What would she wish for? To become instant millionaires? That wouldn’t make Dylan like her any better. To turn back the clock? How far back would she have to turn it? To some time before her mother got sick and her dad took off? To the idyllic time when what she and Colin had felt like the rock of Gibraltar? No. All you could rewind were movies you’d recorded on TV. Anyway, going back didn’t make you smarter. You probably did the same stupid things all over again.

They didn’t have to do the same things over again this time. They could work out their issues. They’d already worked out the biggest one, where to live.

So why did she not feel right about it?

She didn’t want to look for an answer, not yet. One search at a time.

February 14, 2016

Dear Mother,

I know it’s silly to be writing a letter to someone who’s no longer with me, but I miss you and this helps. Here it is, Valentine’s Day, and I must confess I’m feeling a little alone. It’s been so many years without Gerald you’d think I’d be used to being a widow by now, but I’m not. I wonder if you ever get used to it. I never thought to ask you.

I’m not sitting around moping, however. I had some ladies over today for a little Valentine’s lunch, widows like me. Muriel Sterling-Wittman and Dot Morrison. Then there was my old friend, Sarah. She found the nicest man last year, dear Peter Gabriel. So sad that he died only a few months after they were married. She barely had time to get her new name printed on her checkbook! She’s talking about finally retiring and selling the hair salon. I’ll believe it when I see it. Anyway, they all came over. Bethie picked up a salad and some cupcakes from the grocery store for me, so it wasn’t the most elaborate lunch, but it was all I had the energy for. The ladies enjoyed themselves and it made a nice diversion. Bethie wanted me to come to her house for dinner tonight, but I told her Valentine’s Day is for sweethearts. I’m glad I said no. I’m tired.

I’m tired a lot these days. I don’t think I’m going to be around much longer. While I’m ready to meet the Lord and see you and Daddy and, of course, dear Gerald, I’m also a little sad to go. I would’ve loved to see Dylan find someone, although at this point in life he probably won’t.

I’m especially sad to see Colin so unsettled. I don’t think he’s happy in work or in love, the two most important sources of a man’s contentment. I still don’t know what happened between him and Mia, but it’s a shame. The last time she came home to Icicle Falls it was plain that he’s still crazy about her. I think she loves him, too. Neither of them has found someone and I’m sure that’s because they only want each other. They simply need a little push. I wish there was something I could do to help them. I have a few affairs of my own to settle. I’m wondering if I can do it in a way that will help both Colin and Mia. I need to think about this.

Now I’m going to bed. Perhaps I’ll see you in my dreams. I miss you terribly.

Love,

Justine

Chapter Seventeen

“W
elcome back,” Pat said, letting Colin and Mia in.

“I guess this qualifies us as your best customers,” Colin joked as they entered the bookstore.

Colin had never been Pat’s best customer, but he did remember the time she’d helped him pick out a book for Mia’s birthday. He’d gotten her a copy of
The Princess Bride
. Aunt Beth had shown them the movie, and they’d both liked it, for different reasons. He’d loved the action and the funny bits. She’d been taken with how romantic it all was. No way was he ever going to run around saying, “As you wish,” and he refused to admit that getting her the book was tantamount to the same thing. But he’d been secretly pleased when she’d opened his present at her thirteenth birthday party and let out a reverent gasp at the sight of it.

She’d been to the bookstore countless times since, investing in novels like
Pride and Prejudice
,
Jane Eyre
and, of course,
Wuthering Heights
. Now, as they made their way to the nonfiction section, she was gazing avidly around as if they hadn’t been in only two days ago. He was sure she was going to get sidetracked by the display of new arrivals.

Instead, she plunked herself right back down where she’d left off on Friday and began pulling out books and leafing through them. Colin did the same.

They’d been searching for a few minutes when Muriel Sterling came in. Between having had several books published and the fact that her family owned Sweet Dreams Chocolate Company, she was the closest thing Icicle Falls had to royalty. “Thanks for stopping by,” Pat said to her. “I have a case of books for you to sign.”

Mia looked up and said hello to Muriel. “You have a new book out?”

“Just today,” Muriel confirmed.

“Oh, you didn’t tell me when we were at your house,” Mia said.

“That visit wasn’t about me. It was about you.”

No doubt about it. Muriel Sterling-Wittman was a class act.

“Yes, but I always like hearing when you’ve got a new book out,” Mia said. “I have every one.”

Muriel picked up a book from the pile Pat was stacking on a table. “Well, then, we must continue that tradition.” She scribbled something on the title page and handed the book to Mia, who thanked her as if Muriel had given her a hundred bucks.

Colin glanced at the cover—a single candle glowing in the window.
Love Never Fails
.

He hoped that was true.

“You’re welcome,” Muriel said. “I hope you find it helpful.”

“I’m sure I will,” Mia said, reverently running her hand over the cover.

Yep, Mia and books. She’d always had her nose in one. There was probably a correlation between that and the fact that she was class valedictorian in high school.

She’d been scared spitless to give her speech at graduation. Gram had counseled her to pretend she was working at the information booth, telling visitors about Icicle Falls. Uncle Mark had said to picture everyone out there in the audience in their underwear and wearing red clown noses. Aunt Beth had given her Saint-John’s-Wort. Colin had given her a kiss for courage and told her to look at him.

She had, and she’d smiled. She told him later that she couldn’t have gotten through the speech without him, especially when she pictured him with a red clown nose.

She carefully set Muriel’s gift aside and returned to searching through the ones on the shelves. The process sped up considerably in comparison to their Friday-afternoon inspection.

Colin, too, was aware of the minutes flying past. What kind of jerks made her come back even though she’d explained that there’d been a problem with the will? And why would she want to go back? Was there any place as great as Icicle Falls?

Yes, he reminded himself. Wherever Mia was, that was as great as Icicle Falls. He pulled down a thick paperback,
Stock Investing for Dummies
. And lo and behold, he found a pink envelope inside. “Got it!”

Mia scrambled to her feet. “What was it in?” she asked and he showed it to her.

Pat ambled over. “I see you finally struck gold, so to speak. Are you wondering why your clue’s in a book like that?”

It did seem kind of weird. “Yeah,” Colin admitted. “I thought it would be in something on gardening or cooking.”

“There’s a reason she hid it in a book on stock investing,” Pat explained. “Stocks were how she turned herself into the proverbial millionaire next door.”

“Millionaire?” Gram?

“Grandma Justine was a millionaire?” Mia asked. “Seriously?”

“I don’t get it,” Colin said. “She had to sell the orchard to pay for Gramps’s nursing care.”

“I know,” Pat said. “Your grandmother had such a fighting spirit, just like many of the other people who worked so hard to bring this town back to life in the early sixties.”

“But how?” Okay, how had Gram gone from a poor widow to a millionaire?

“She came into the store one day and asked me to recommend some books on personal finance and investing. Your grandfather had a small life-insurance policy that paid out, and she still had some money left from selling the orchard. She thought maybe she could find a way to do something with it. She took a gamble and invested her nest egg in the stock market, investing in companies she liked, such as Apple and Starbucks.” Pat smiled. “I don’t know how much you follow the stock market, but I remember when Apple was selling for around eight dollars a share in 2005. I wish I’d bought some then, or even when your grandmother did. It was still a bargain. It’s worth a great deal more than that now. I’ll leave it to you to imagine the profits on a thousand shares of Apple stock alone.”

Colin shook his head, hardly able to believe his ears. “She never said anything.”

“She wasn’t one to brag,” Pat said.

Yeah, but still.

“Is this the last clue?” Mia asked.

“Yes, it is,” Pat said with a smile.

The final clue, the end of the line. After this, he’d have to let Mia leave. But, he reminded himself, he’d be joining her soon. Whatever Gram had left them was bound to help them make a new start. Maybe there’d be enough money for a down payment on a house.

He handed the envelope to Mia and let her do the honors. She opened it and there was another letter from Gram, along with a hand-drawn map that looked like something out of
Treasure Island
.

Colin peered over her shoulder and read silently.

Dear Ones, if you’re reading this, then your treasure hunt is about to come to an end. This is your final clue.

By now Pat will have told you how I came to escape becoming a poor widow. Although, really, even if I’d never gotten my hands on another cent, I’d have felt rich. There have been times in my life when money was tight—when Grandpa and I were first starting out, when the children were little and we were trying to make
a go of the orchard, and of course when I had to put the dear man in that nursing home. That ate through our money in a hurry. But you know, I’ve always been blessed in the things that mattered—good family, good friends, my health, and above all, having a true and faithful love. Really, if a woman has all that, she has everything.

Still, after Grandpa died, I found myself feeling down, feeling as though I’d failed somehow. I’d lost the orchard and it had meant so much to him. To me, too, and to all of you. That’s not to say I didn’t love my little house. I did, and we made some lovely memories there. But whenever I thought of home, I thought of the house on Apple Blossom Road.

You’re both young and have many years ahead of you, plenty of time for your hearts to find that special place you call home. Perhaps what I’m leaving you will help.

So, here are your instructions. Take the map to Apple Blossom Road. It’s where my happiest times were, and it’s where you’ll find my final gift to you.

“This is it,” he said to Mia. “Looks like we’ll be done in plenty of time for you to catch your flight.”

“You’re leaving?” Muriel asked, sounding disappointed.

“I have to get back to Chicago,” Mia explained. “My job.”

The look Muriel and Pat exchanged wasn’t hard to interpret.
What are you two doing?

“I guess we should get going,” Colin said. “Thanks for the clue.”

“You’d better pick up a shovel on your way,” Pat said. “You’ll need it.”

So Gram really did have them digging for buried treasure. And in the apple orchard. Either old Garvey was a real sport to have given permission for them to go digging around there or Gram had bribed him. She’d sure gone to a lot of trouble for them. But then, that was Gram. Colin couldn’t help smiling.

The smile did a vanishing act when he remembered that soon their time together, here in Icicle Falls, would be at an end.

* * *

This was it. Within the hour, she and Colin would have their inheritance. Mia would just have time to run home and gather her things. Then she’d have to get back in her rental car and drive over the mountains to SeaTac airport. She hated having to say goodbye to Aunt Beth and Uncle Mark. Dylan not so much. As for Colin, she hated to leave him again for even a day. Although they’d worked things out, the underlying fear that he’d change his mind and not come to Chicago lurked beneath the surface of her mind like the Loch Ness monster, waiting to grab her newly found happiness and devour it.

But that was silly. Colin was right; they were meant to be together. Hopefully, whatever they inherited would smooth out any bumps in the road ahead. Maybe it would be enough for Colin to start a business or...something. Whatever it was, they could pool their resources. She’d prove Dylan wrong. She’d show him that she was worth keeping. Maybe she’d even show herself once and for all.

They stopped by Aunt Beth’s house and Mia waited in the car while Colin got a shovel. Pat must have called Aunt Beth, because she came out to the car. “This is it, huh?”

Mia nodded. “And a good thing, too. It turns out I have to fly back tonight.”

Aunt Beth lost her
let’s party
expression. “You do?”

“I’m afraid so. I can’t wait any longer.”

“But we’re going to need to sign a few things, sort out some details.”

Mia gnawed her lip. “I may have to do that from Chicago. My boss is pretty mad that I’m not already back in the office.”

Aunt Beth frowned. “I guess that’s the curse of success. Your boss doesn’t sound very understanding.”

Right now Aunt Beth wasn’t being very understanding, either. No one in Icicle Falls understood the corporate world. “She also has someone to answer to,” Mia said in Andrea’s defense.

“The advantage of being self-employed,” Aunt Beth said, “is that the only person you have to answer to is yourself. But I understand,” she added.

No, she didn’t.

Colin was back now. He put the shovel in the trunk and came around to the driver’s side.

Aunt Beth leaned down and said through Mia’s window, “Come on over here when you’re done. I’ll be waiting.”

He nodded and put the car in gear and they were off. Neither one of them spoke, and that was okay with Mia. She was too busy digesting what Aunt Beth had said. Since when was success a curse and not an accomplishment?

She was still chewing on that when they turned onto Apple Blossom Road. There was the orchard, all the trees lush and green and lovely and holding more than apples. So many memories lived among them. How appropriate that Grandma Justine would send them here for their treasure.

Following the map, Colin pulled off at the old fruit stand and onto the dirt road that paralleled the orchard on the eastern side. In the distance Mia could see the same old truck they’d seen at the farmhouse, which meant Butch Garvey, the man they’d met when they first started their hunt, was around somewhere, possibly culling the apples with blemishes from the trees. The irrigation system was going, small hoses giving the trees their early-morning drink of water. Mia got out of the car and inhaled the mountain air. Today it smelled of damp earth and growing things.

She could almost see her younger self darting in and out of the trees, playing tag with Colin. She’d taken a walk with her mother through this orchard before Mama died. It had been a slow and labored stroll, with Mia holding tightly to her mother’s hand, hoping fervently that if she just held on she wouldn’t lose her. She’d learned at an early age that just holding on didn’t work. Maybe that was why she hadn’t fought for what she and Colin had.

He took the shovel out of the trunk and came around to her side of the car. “Okay, let’s see what we can find.”

She opened the map and they studied it again.

“Starting from the northeast corner, we have to go down ten rows,” he said. He counted the rows of trees and pointed. “Three more rows to the left.”

She nodded and they fell into step. Mia realized her heart was beating faster.

They reached the designated row and consulted the map again. “Twenty trees down that way,” she said.

Mist from the sprinklers drifted on the air, landing on her face and arms. The morning was already warm, and the cool spray felt good.

A little more walking, a few more paces counted off, and they saw a fresh mound of dirt in between two trees. It looked like a small grave, and Mia swallowed down the sad memories of losses both distant and recent.

“Jeez,” Colin muttered, and she knew he was having the exact same thoughts. “Well, let’s get digging,” he said with determination.

Soon a fine sheen of sweat covered Colin’s face and arms, and his T-shirt was damp. He stopped digging and wiped his forehead with one arm. “Poor Uncle Mark if he had to dig this hole. They must’ve said shoot for China, ’cause I think we’re halfway there.”

“It can’t be much deeper,” Mia said, squatting at the edge of the hole.

“I hope not. We’re in hard pan now and this stuff is tough digging.”

“Want me to take a turn?”

“And get all dirty and gross right before you have to leave? No way.” He jammed the shovel into the ground again and brought up some more earth. A few more shovels full and he struck something hard. “This is it.”