Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 42171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 211(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 211(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
It also doesn’t escape me that the first person I want to call is Madelyn.
I let out a breath in a big whoosh. “Okay.”
Mayor Walters chuckles. “Yeah, I know. Twenty years is a long time, and it doesn’t make it any easier, but I’m glad that this is finally happening.”
I nod. “Me too.” I’m usually capable of saying more than one or two words, but I can’t seem to get it together right now.
Mayor Walters clears his throat. “Well, I wanted to be the one to tell you that the town is putting together a memorial, and it’s taking place next month.”
When he says the date, I suck in a breath. “That will be the twentieth anniversary of their death.”
He nods. “Yeah. We thought that would be appropriate. Is that okay?”
I nod. “Yeah, that’s fine.”
The mayor claps his hands together. “Well, of course we want you and your brothers to be there and take part in the festivities.”
I nod, thinking about my brothers. I need to tell them. They don’t need to hear this somewhere else. “Of course. We’ll be there.” As soon as I say it, though, I wonder if I’m going to be able to get them all there. With Justice on tour and my brother Colton just recently coming home and avoiding everyone, I’m just not sure. But I’m not going to get into all that with the mayor. “We will all be there,” I say again.
“You know…” the mayor starts. “Your parents meant a lot to this town. The fact that they wanted to donate this park to the town means a lot to everyone around here. And the fact you and your brothers have followed through to make it happen, well, I can’t begin to tell you what all of it means to us. Having this park is going to do great things for the town. I hope you know that.”
“Thank you,” I tell him, still in shock with everything.
He nods, and we talk a little more about things, and then I walk him out. I’m standing on the porch when Beau comes up. “What was that about?”
I clench my eyes together and then open them to look at my brother. “The mayor wanted to let us know that the town is planning a memorial next month.”
Beau stutters out the words. “The, uh, park?”
I nod, looking out at The Wild Peach. “Yeah, the park has been finalized and is now considered protected land. It’s the town’s property now.”
“Shit,” he says, and I don’t judge him. I know he’s not upset about it. All of us were on board with getting the park into the town’s land, but having this happen all of a sudden is sort of a shock to the system.
I pull my phone out of my pocket. “I’m going to send a text out and get all the brothers to meet up at the Peachy Keen for a drink.”
Beau is looking off into the distance. “Yeah, okay. I’ll be there.” He looks up and down the driveway. “Where’s Madelyn?”
I try to keep my voice light. “She had an interview.”
“An interview? She’s leaving?”
I shrug my shoulders and refuse to look at my brother. There’s no hiding how I feel about this from him.
With a shrug of my shoulders, I tell him, “Probably. She’s interviewing at Evers Orchards.”
“Shit.”
I can’t help it, I laugh. I guess that’s as good as a reaction as any. Obviously he knows what it means if she’s interviewing at Evers. Anyone in the farming community knows about Evers, and we all know it’s a job that couldn’t easily be turned down.
“Yeah, I agree…Shit.”
“Did you ask her to stay?” he surprises me by asking.
I shake my head. “No, I told her to go.”
We’re both quiet as we each lean against the columns of the porch. Beau cuts into my thoughts. “You know she’s different, right?”
I’ve been fighting with myself, telling me that she’s not, but I know Beau is right. Madelyn is different. And I might be losing her. “Yeah, I know.”
Beau slaps his hand against the column. “Then don’t let her go. You gave up your marriage before out of some responsibility to us. It’s time for you to do what you want.”
I look at my brother, ready to argue, but I don’t have it in me. For the first time, my first priority is not The Wild Peach, and I’m wondering if there’s a way I can make Madelyn mine without her having to sacrifice her dreams.
CHAPTER 21
MADELYN
Evers Orchards is a dream. All the equipment is top of the line. Not only is the orchard the biggest one I’ve ever seen, they’ve expanded to a retail store, winery, café, and more. I’ve met with the CEO, the CFO, the marketing director, and everyone else on their board. It feels as if they’ve rolled out the red carpet for my arrival today, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I had heart in my eyes over the whole thing.