“My one year of college,” she said. “My grades were not very good. I was a freshman and so inexperienced.”

“You’d be allowed to repeat classes.”

Susan grabbed his hand and stopped him for a moment. “Nora, this is only a suggestion, a possibility. I have two daughters—one went all the way through medical school and the other chose to be a stay-at-home mom. They are equally smart and equally driven with individual ideas about what makes a happy life. This is just something to consider. And the offer isn’t going to expire.”

I have things to work out here, came to her lips, but she didn’t let it out. Instead she thanked them both. And once they were gone she thought about what was on her plate. First, she had to find a way to make her rent right—someone owned this little house, whether an individual or bank or the county for taxes. She couldn’t steal free rent and sleep at night. And second, she had to know what was to become of Maxie.

And Tom.

Chapter Fifteen

Nora had gotten a little quiet again, but Tom was not at all surprised. She hadn’t had a day off in weeks, plus two full weekends of Apple Festival; besides being a hard worker, she had mothering responsibilities, as well. So he cornered her and asked, “Is your father coming up on Sunday again?”

“He wouldn’t miss it.”

“I want you to take the weekend off and catch up at home. Get some rest.”

She drew a sigh. “I think I’ll take you up on that.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to stay away—bring the kids to dinner,” he said.

She looked surprised. “Listen, I think I’ve imposed on Maxie enough… .”

He just laughed. “Maxie loves having you. She took most afternoons off this week and she’s getting a little bristly from boredom. And since we’re on the subject, why don’t you take Friday afternoon off, catch a nap if you can, then bring the kids back here for Maxie to babysit. You and I will do the town.”

“Do what town?”

“Okay, we’re not going to exactly do the town—no dressing up. But there’s this restaurant in Arcata. It’s great. I’d like to take you. I already asked Maxie if she’ll babysit and she likes the idea.”

Her forehead furrowed. “Why? I mean, why?”

He scraped off his cap and scratched his head. “You don’t make it easy, do you? Because you slaved for about three straight weeks, and sometimes you slaved at the orchard while carrying a baby on your back and baking with my grandmother. Come on, it’s a treat. Just say yes and thank you. And then, Saturday is the pumpkin patch out at Jilly Farms and they’ll have a lot to eat and drink and there will be rides on miniature ponies. I’ll take you so you can pick out your pumpkin. The girls will love it.”

She stared at him in shock, her mouth open. She forcibly closed her mouth and swallowed. “Um, that’s very nice of you, but I’ll have to take a pass.”

“Why? You have a sudden aversion to fun? Or is it just me?”

“Um, look, Tom—much as I enjoy your company and as grateful as I am that Maxie would be willing to babysit for me, I’m going to have to decline.”

“Why? That was a perfectly nice offer!”

“Because I don’t date?” she asked as more of a question than an answer.

“Then don’t think of it as a date—think of it as a couple of friends going to dinner. My treat, as a reward for all your hard work.”

She lifted an eyebrow and tilted her head. “How are you rewarding Jerome, Eduardo and Juan?”

“I’m only rewarding the pretty employees.”

“Well, tempting as it all sounds, I’m still going to have to decline, with thanks.”

“Are you serious? Why? I thought I was very gentlemanly.”

She thought for a moment and finally said, “There is just no polite way to say this, Tom, but I made a deal with God not to lie, so I’m going to spit it out and if you hate me, I’ll find a way to live with it. Just don’t fire me—I need the money. I have things to work out that involve money. Here it is—I’m a little uncomfortable around Darla. She’s a very nice person and all, but I feel like a peasant when I’m near her. I’m kind of Cinderella, and the glass slipper hasn’t turned up yet.”

“What?” he asked, dumbfounded.

“I feel a little rough around the edges when I’m with her. All sow’s ear. I feel like the last kid in class to get picked for the team. You know?”

“You thought Darla would be coming with us?”

“She’s been here every weekend. For weeks. I just assumed…”

“She’s not going to be able to make it this weekend. I guess she has other plans.”

“Really?”

“Now will you go out with me, Cinderella?” he asked with a grin.

“Don’t make fun of me, please. I probably feel like the poor girl because I am the poor girl. Certainly not Darla’s fault, but come on.”

“Nora, Darla isn’t coming. It’s just you and me. Well, you and me and sometimes my grandmother and your children.”

“Am I your stand-in date?” she asked. “Because I bet you could do better.”

He growled and turned away from her. “Fine,” he muttered. “I’m not going to beg you!”

“All right,” she said to his back. “All right, as long as it’s not a date!”

He whirled back to face her. “It’s dinner and a town party at the pumpkin patch. And if you relax just a little bit, it might even be fun. I’ll shower before we go and I’ll be nice the whole time unless you insist on baiting me.”

* * *

Nora went along with Tom’s plans even though she was certain this was a bad idea. It was dangerous—she had a crush on him. He was going to be her fantasy man long after he married the princess and sold the orchard. But she talked herself into it because certainly this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Not only would Darla soon be back, the harvest would be over and Nora was going to have to move on to other things.

So—she did laundry at her neighbor’s, had a wonderful blouse and vest that was a hand-me-down from Leslie down the street, dragged out a pair of boots she’d gotten from church donations and put on her best jeans—they were almost new. Everything was ironed with spray starch so she’d look crisp. No ponytail tonight—she left her hair down and curled, something she never bothered to do for work at the orchard. She added a little makeup to her lips and eyes. After baths, she dressed the girls in their pajamas, loaded a grocery bag with their night diapers, a bottle for Fay, their favorite blankets, and off she went to the orchard.

Tom might see this as a couple of friends having dinner, but for Nora it was the one date she was going to agree to this decade. But when she got to the house, she sensed a problem that hadn’t occurred to her—Maxie was far too hopeful.

Well, Nora knew she wasn’t fond of Darla. She’d heard the women talking about her—Miss Picky Pants. And Nora also knew that Maxie liked her, maybe because they had things in common, like coming from poor roots. And they liked dogs and children and laughed at the same things. But she wanted to warn Maxie not to get excited.

But of course there was no opportunity to warn her. She kissed the girls good-night and found herself in Tom’s truck, on her way to a restaurant.

“Why are you nervous?” he asked her. “It’s not like we haven’t had dinners together before. Lots of them.”

“But this is strange,” she said. “This is us going to a restaurant.”

And oh, it was such a lovely restaurant—all dark wood and candles and just full of people having a good time. His hand was at the small of her back, guiding her into the restaurant and to their table—a lovely little table just slightly apart from the crowd up against some windows out of which she could see the starlight. She was at once enchanted and terrified.

The waiter handed them menus.

“Nora, have a glass of wine,” Tom said. “You can indulge a little bit tonight. What do you like?”

“I have no idea,” she said.

Tom looked up at the waiter. “How about a nice pinot grigio?” he asked the waiter. “And bring me a Sam Adams. Also, while we look at the menu, can you start us off with stuffed grape leaves and calamari?”

“Outstanding,” the waiter said.

Nora glanced at the menu briefly. She slammed it shut suddenly and in a quiet hiss she said, “This is far too expensive!”

He closed his menu and looked at her over a small votive candle. “Here’s what we’ll do, Nora. If it’s okay, I’ll order for us. How about we split a Greek salad and have the chicken kabobs, unless you can brave the menu and find something you’ll like better.”

She just shook her head. Then she nodded and he laughed at her.

“It’s okay, Nora—it’s a business expense, I suppose. Taking an employee to dinner. Of course, when the harvest is over, I won’t be able to deduct you anymore.”

“Don’t do that,” she said. “Don’t act like this sort of thing is going to happen again.”

He closed his menu and said, “Crap. You’re afraid you’ll like me! Listen, take it easy on that, all right? You hardly talked on the way over—is that the problem? You don’t want to like me outside of work? Because I’d like to make it clear—that’s okay with me. We get along, so why not? And get this—I actually enjoy spending time with you.”

Many, many reasons to worry about this, she thought. Like being devastated, for one thing.

The wine came and he said, “Have a sip of wine. I hope you like it okay. And I hope you relax a little, otherwise you’re going to suck all the fun out of this.”

“Right,” she said, taking a sip. She glanced up at the waiter. “This is very nice. Thank you.” And then she took another sip and a deep breath. He was right; he was going to some trouble. She should be cordial.

She relaxed as much as possible, put her glass down and said, “I apologize. This is very special. I don’t want to ruin it.”

“Great. Now tell me, how’s it going with Jed?”

“Going well,” she said. “I keep trying to not be swayed by his generosity and he keeps admiring me for that. He offered to help me finish school if I’m interested. Being a professor at Stanford, I guess he can get me in and I qualify for family housing. If I wanted to do that, he could help.”

“Do you want to?”

She looked down. “Eventually,” she said. “Right now I have a few loose ends to work out. But that’s a very good destination, don’t you think? Good for my girls, too. The best thing I can do for them is set an example.”

After appetizers, a little more wine and some talk about going back to college, Tom asked about those things she had to work out. Well, she wasn’t about to tell him she’d like to be sure Maxie wasn’t retired before she was ready.

“I haven’t told anyone but Noah,” she said. “Can you keep it to yourself?”

He made a face. “If it isn’t going to cause death or injury,” he said.

“It’s about my house,” she admitted. “When Chad brought me to Virgin River, I thought he’d rented it, I thought he had plans like he said. Fay was barely two weeks old and it was winter, I wasn’t into asking a lot of questions. When he left us there and took off with the truck and most of our things, I expected to be evicted right away, but nothing happened. I just kept quiet and let the neighbors and the town help me out—bringing me supplies, sealing off the doors and windows so we wouldn’t freeze, offering me part-time work as the snow started to melt. But months passed and no one sent me bills for rent. I paid what I could on the gas and electric bills—bills addressed to some unknown tenant. After a few months I realized Chad must’ve known the house was abandoned or something. I’ve been squatting. I owe a lot of money—to the power company for sure, though I don’t exactly use much in that tiny house. And someone is due rent or something.”