Season of Dreams (16 page)

A
fter a couple hours of mowing, Adam couldn't take any more. He pulled into the barn, shut everything down and closed the big metal door with a rattle and snap. He had to see Eva before he left for his town house. At least talk to her.

Taking the porch steps in two strides, he knocked on the door into the kitchen.

Beth answered. “Hey.”

“Is Eva here?”

Her roommate stepped back to let him in. “She's upstairs.”

Adam adjusted his hat. “Is she okay?”

Beth looked him square in the eye. “She told me what happened. Adam, I'm so sorry. I think Eva's scared you'll give up on her. Please don't.”

He'd never walk away. Not now, not ever. “I don't know how to help her.”

Beth gave him an encouraging smile. “Just love her.”

“What if that's not enough?”

Adam paced to the kitchen sink and stared out the window that overlooked the side yard and driveway. He could see the lower orchard from here. The very spot he
and Eva had worked to save with the rented propane heaters. But their efforts hadn't been needed. God had come through that night. The temperatures had held.

Love was a big step. One he couldn't take until he'd come completely clean with Eva. When she knew the tenuous hold he had on the orchard, she might not want his pledge of forever.

“Eva's the most giving person I know, Adam.” Beth's voice interrupted his thoughts. She stood next to him, leaning against the same counter.

He turned and gave her his full attention.

“My family moved here when I was in junior high and Eva was the first person to reach out to me. When my dad died in the line of duty my freshman year, my mother lost it. Eva was there for me. She pulled me into the Marsh family and without her and her family, I don't think I would have made it through high school.” Her expression was serious, as if this wasn't something she talked about often.

Adam could easily imagine Eva's determination in helping her friend. It was no wonder they'd remained close.

“Todd stripped Eva's trusting nature away from her. It hurt to see that part of her shrivel up and die. But I prayed that God would someday send a man who could bring her back to life. And He did. He sent you, Adam. Don't ever doubt that.”

Deep down, Adam wondered if that might be true. The power of Beth's prayers blew him away. God had drawn him here before he'd even turned his life around and it humbled him.

“Thanks, Beth,” he said.

She gave him a quick hug. “I'll tell Eva you're here.”

Adam nodded and waited, but his insides churned.

With a straightening of her shoulders, Eva came downstairs. She stuffed her hands into the back pockets of her
jeans to keep them from shaking. The saying went that there was cleansing power in tears. Well, she felt as if she'd been scoured with steel wool. Raw, spent and her heart aching for Adam.

“Hey,” she said.

The worried look in Adam's eyes confirmed that he was having a hard time, too. He gestured toward the door. “Can we take a walk?”

She nodded. “I think we should.”

After such a cold night, the afternoon's warmth still came as a surprise, like a hint of the promised heat to come. This weekend, Memorial Day weekend, was the official opener of summer. And the busiest time for a cherry grower right up until the first week of August.

Silently, Eva walked with Adam around the other side of the pole barn to a picnic table situated on level ground. The view of the orchard was spectacular here, the same vantage point that Adam's sister had admired less than a couple months ago.

Adam sat on the table's top. Resting his elbows on his knees, he looked up at her. “What happened today?”

Eva twirled the end of her ponytail, wrapping it around into a makeshift bun and then stuffing the ends under the elastic holder. “I'm sorry. I…panicked. It was like I had a flashback and it freaked me out.”

“Flashback? Of Todd?”

Eva nodded.

Adam's eyes widened with shock and hurt. By the desolation of his expression, he thought the worst. He looked scared. “What did that guy do to you, Eva?”

Looking out over rows of cherry trees with their deep green leaves hiding the developing fruit, Eva swallowed hard. “We were at a party in the woods. Todd and I had walked away from everyone. He'd been drinking. I never
should have followed him—” She stopped and looked at Adam.

He reached for her hand and squeezed.

She didn't let go. “He had me pinned, Adam. On the ground. I fought him the best that I could, but he was so much stronger. He had one hand on my throat, choking me while he—” She couldn't say it. Her clothes had been ripped, her flesh bruised.

She shook off the images flashing through her mind. Tried to forget the rage in Todd's eyes when she'd refused him. “I couldn't breathe. I thought I was done for. But Beth found us before he'd gone too far. She helped me get away.”

Adam stared at her. “Did you go to the police?”

“No. I wouldn't. Ryan and Sinclair had been under investigation for the accidental death of Ryan's girlfriend a few months before. I couldn't put my folks through that. More interviews, possibly a trial. All I wanted to do was forget it.” She wanted him to understand how it was. How helpless she'd felt. Powerless. Why she reacted the way she did today.

“So you buried it.” Those blue eyes of his held understanding.

“I wore turtlenecks a month straight, but it was pretty easy to hide. No one guessed what had happened because we were all heartbroken over Sara.”

Adam reached for her other hand while images of his farm girl fighting off that brute ripped through his brain. “I'm so sorry.”

If he ever saw that guy again, he'd—

Forgive.

The word whispered through his heart, his mind, his very being. That thought hadn't belonged to him. It interrupted his anger and stopped him cold.

How, Lord? How do I do that? How can I show Eva to do that?

Adam knew Eva needed to exercise forgiveness before she'd get closure to what had happened to her. Before she'd be whole.

And he needed to tell her about the property agreement he'd made with his father. Eva deserved to know what he was up against. What they both faced over the next two months. There couldn't be any secrets between them. Not if they hoped to make it.

He felt Eva's tightened hold on his hands, as if afraid to let him go. Did she think he'd leave her? No way.

“What if…” Her eyes were big dark pools of chocolate. “What if I can't handle getting close?”

He gave her a crooked smile. She'd responded to him at first, and she would again in time with healing. Another reason he'd give her space and patience. “We'll figure it out, Eva. If we need to see a counselor, we will. Whatever it takes.”

“I need help, don't I?”

“Maybe. Or maybe you need to face this guy.”

“Are you crazy?” Fear jumped in and she let go of him, taking a step back. “I can't. I won't.”

“As much as I hate it, we've got to forgive Todd before we can move on. Before we can move forward.”

“We?”

“This affects me, too. I'll stand with you, whether it's counseling or facing Todd or both. I don't want you to face him alone. You don't have to go it alone.”

Her eyes filled and she gave him a wobbly laugh. “I didn't think I had any tears left. You'd do this with me?”

Adam got up from the table and wrapped his arms around her, feeling her wet tears against his cheek. He did nothing more than hold her. Not gently like she'd been
spun of fragile sugar ready to crack. He held her tight, with cherishing strength.

He had no intention of letting his farm girl go.

He loved her too much.

Without asking, Adam started to pray, “Dear Lord, You said that where two or more are gathered that You'd be there, too.” Adam searched for the right words.

“Go on,” Eva whispered.

“Eva and I are standing before You and we need Your help. Show us how to forgive the unforgivable. Give Eva peace and healing so she can find new life in You, Father. Amen.”

“Amen.” He felt her bury her forehead into his shoulder.

He stroked her back, wondering if maybe he should wait to tell her about the agreement with his dad, but he knew better. Her folks were flying in on Saturday. Two days away. Eva needed to hear the news from him.

“There's something I have to tell you.”

Pulling back, she searched his face. “What? What is it?”

“You've been honest with me, and I need to be the same with you.”

She looked worried. “Tell me.”

He struggled to go on, hating the possibility that he might ruin everything. “I didn't borrow against my shares in Peece Canning Corporation to buy Marsh Orchards like my sister told you.”

Eva stepped out of Adam's embrace. Now
she
looked scared. “Then how did you pay for it?”

“My father. He fronted me the money with the agreement that if I don't break even the first season, I'll forfeit the property to him for development.”

Eva's eyes widened. “Why, why didn't you tell me before?”

Before they meant something to each other? Before he'd fallen in love with her? He raked a hand through his hair. “At first I thought you wanted me to fail. I couldn't give you any more ammunition. And then, when I saw how much you loved this place, when I realized how much the orchard meant to you and your dreams, I couldn't tell you. I was afraid I'd lose you. And I couldn't afford that.”

“Oh, Adam.”

Disappointment seeped from her like a tangible thing he could touch. He felt it hit like a wave washing away his footing, bringing him down.

“There's still so much that can go wrong, preventing us from bringing in a good crop,” she whispered.

After last night's vigil, Adam was beat. “I know. That's why I'm flying your parents in this weekend. That's why I stayed in constant contact with your dad and have been ever since closing on the loan. I need all the help I can get.”

“And what happens if you break even? What then?”

He smiled at her, but he could tell that she wasn't warmed by it. “I'll cash in my shares, 401K, everything I've got to pay my father off. Then I'll be officially done with Peece Canning.”

“Which is what you want, right?”

His eyes narrowed. Considering how often he'd stepped off the path to try something new, he shouldn't be surprised by the uncertainty in her voice. “Yes, Eva. I want to be a grower. This is what I want. And
you
are what I want.”

“Then we have to break even.”

He couldn't gauge her reaction. But there was a determined glint in her eye that he knew well. Eva wasn't going to let him fail. “That's the plan.”

 

By the time Eva's parents arrived on Saturday, she was more than ready for them. While she cleaned, shopped and baked, Eva knew God wanted nothing less from her than to forgive Todd. She'd been running from it too long. No more excuses. If God had brought Adam into her life to help her do what must be done, then she'd do it. She'd face Todd and be done with it.

But the how and when remained a mystery. She had no intention of seeking him out. At least Adam would be with her if it came down to seeing him at church.

Adam…

His news about losing the orchard lay like a lead ball in her stomach. If she kept busy, she didn't think about it. But then suddenly she'd feel that risk of loss roll around her belly. There was nothing she could do but put up a good front while she worked. But it was hard.

Wiping her hands on a towel, she leaned against the island counter and checked the clock on the wall. Her parents would arrive soon. She'd been baking all morning, while Adam mowed the field.

Laughter on the porch brought Eva's head up as the door burst open. Bob and Rose Marsh crowded into the kitchen, followed by Ryan and Adam carting their luggage.

Eva glanced at Adam. He looked tired and worried. Just like a real grower this time of year. But what if this year was all they had? What then?

“Eva!” Her mom dashed forward with her arms wide.

Eva flew into her mother's warm embrace. She might as well be a kid with a skinned knee failing to be brave. The comfort of resting within those wonderful arms crumbled something deep inside Eva. She clung tighter.

“What is all this?” Her mother patted Eva's back like she did when Eva was little.

Eva retreated with a shaky smile. “I really missed you.”

“You'll be sick of us in no time. We're staying the whole summer, you know.” Her mother laughed.

“Yeah, I know.” Eva went to her father next and was scooped up into a bear hug.

“Hey, are all those cookies for us?” Her father reached for one before he'd even put her down.

“The youth group's having an interchurch function and I volunteered to make cookies. There's enough for you guys to have a couple.”

Her mom wasn't any taller than her, but she wrapped her arm around Eva's shoulders. “Put the kettle on and tell me how things are going. Your father's itching to get out in the field with Adam.”

Eva gave her mom a quick squeeze before stepping away to make tea.

“Ryan, can you put the bags in our room, please?”

“No problem.” Her brother hoisted the luggage and left the kitchen.

Eva set a full teakettle on the stove and then called out to Adam and her father's departing backs. “I'll have lunch ready in an hour or so. Beth will be home by then, too.”

Her mother patted the island chair next to her. “Are you sure you're okay having us here?”

Eva sat down. “Yes, I'm very glad.”

“But?”

“But nothing.” Eva didn't want to cause her parents unnecessary worry by telling them about Adam's agreement with Leonard Peece. It wasn't just a verbal thing, but a full-fledged notarized contract. Adam had shown her everything, including his expenses thus far.