A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn(52)

When the boys had wanted to give the roadside spot a try, seeing that it wouldn’t hurt anything to get people interested in the quality of their produce, Jay hadn’t been too hopeful about it being successful. Luckily he’d been wrong. Word of mouth had been strong and every few days their number of customers doubled. The Lord had been working with them for sure.

Holding up his basket practically filled to the brim, the customer continued. “Everything you’re carrying is top-notch. We’re telling everyone we know about you.”

“I am grateful for that. We’ll be adding handmade soaps and other items eventually. Maybe even fresh baked goods, too.”

“Sounds perfect. Thanks again,” the man said after handing Jay his money.

After the man walked out to his car, hands laden with two large sacks full of fruits and vegetables, Jay gave a sigh of relief. At last they could rest for a moment.

“How many customers was that for the day, Daed?” Mark called out from the back of the stand where he was wiping down shelves.

“Twenty-seven.”

Mark’s grin was a replica of how Jay himself was feeling inside. “That’s the best number yet and the day ain’t even over.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” Jay admitted. “I hate to count my chickens before they’re hatched, but things are looking up, for sure and for certain.”

“They’re getting better every day, Daed,” Mark said as he walked to his side. “That man sounded like he loves your fruit and vegetables.”

“Nee, that isn’t right.” Jay reached out and playfully tipped his middle boy’s hat down low on his forehead. “The customer loves our fruit and vegetables, son. You’ve put as much effort into this stand as I have, and any success we have is because of your hard work and Ben’s, too. I’m right proud of both of you. I could have never done all of this on my own.”

Mark beamed, reminding Jay once again about how important it was to compliment his boys on jobs well done.

“Before we know it we’ll be running the store full-time,” he said.

“Maybe so.” Jay wasn’t willing to sound any more optimistic than that, but he was beginning to feel cautiously eager about their plans.

Almost since the moment they’d moved into the house, he, Ben, and Mark had gotten up every morning before dawn and spent practically every waking hour on the business. Each day either he or Ben would return to the house at half past six and wake up William. After the four of them had a big breakfast together, one of them would take William to school, then head back to the farm to put in a full day’s work.

It had been a hard schedule. And Jay would be lying if he didn’t admit that he’d spent at least a few minutes a day fighting the guilt that ate at him for spending so much of his energy and time on the business. He hoped the boys, especially William, weren’t feeling as if he didn’t care as much about their needs.

But neither Ben nor Mark had taken nearly as much time for himself as Jay had tried to give them. Instead, they threw themselves wholeheartedly into the business. Little by little Jay had come to realize that this organic farm wasn’t just his dream; it was his sons’ dream, too.

Together, they’d decided to start small with the sales part of the business. Eventually, Jay would concentrate more on expanding the farm, but for now they had decided to take advantage of the fruit and crops that had already been planted.

“What do you think we should do? Wait another hour or celebrate by taking off an hour early?”

Mark pointed past Jay to the couple walking toward them. “Stay and hear what Ben and Tricia have to say.”

“They’re here already?” Concerned, he walked over to them. “Ben, why isn’t William with you?”

“Because Emma said she wanted to bring him home.”

“Why?” Automatically, he feared the worst. “Did something happen? Should you have left him?”

“William is fine.” Looking a bit mischievous, Ben stuffed his hands in his pockets. “What’s more, he ain’t the reason Emma wants to come over tonight.”

“What is the reason?” He held up a basket of berries. “Does she need some fruit? We can get that ready for her.”

“She isn’t coming over for fruit,” Tricia said.

Jay thought Tricia looked like she was hiding a special secret, too. “What does she want?”

Ben and Tricia exchanged small smiles, then Ben spoke. “She, ah, wants to come courting.”

He froze. “What?”

Behind him, Mark stifled a chuckle. Barely.

Jay decided to ignore his son’s amusement. “Tell me what you mean, son,” he bit out as he tried to ignore the flush of embarrassment that was surely staining his cheeks.