Sunrise Point

love apples.”
    She made a gak sound in the back of her throat. And Tom laughed.
    * * *
    The drive back to Virgin River was a revisit of the drive away—a lot of talk about vacations, bonuses, expense accounts, perks. There was a little about drug trials and prescriptions thrown in there. Tom thought about introducing the topic of national health care but frankly he was tired. So he drove.
    She asked him if he was happy living in an older home; she had purchased her home new with lots of upgrades like granite countertops, slate floors, cherrywood cabinetry. She could open her garage and turn on her hot tub from blocks away.
    He told her he loved that old house. “I’ve never seen a really proper porch on a new house.”
    Then they came to the orchard. Tom jumped out of the car, opened the gate, pulled in, jumped out and closed the gate, and as they were driving between the groves Darla said, “Tom, I want you to know how grateful I am for your friendship. If I didn’t have these little escapes to the orchard on the weekends, I don’t know what I’d do.”
    “Huh?” he said.
    “I’m lonely, so far away from my family. And with Bob gone…”
    “Oh, man,” he said. He’d been so busy falling out of like with her, he’d forgotten she was lonely and widowed and all that. “Well, I’m glad it’s relaxing for you.”
    “It’s a godsend, seriously. Like a rescue. And there’s all the other stuff—going out, which I haven’t done in so long. Home cooking. Fresh fall air. It’s all just wonderful. I look forward to it all week. I’ve been out on a few dates, but I hadn’t really expected to end up seeing a handsome, successful man with his own rather impressive business.”
    “I grow apples,” he reminded her.
    “Very popular apples,” she reminded him. “If you chose to sell that orchard to a commercial grower like Del Monte, you could really make a killing. But I hope not too soon—I love coming up here every weekend. It’s so lovely and quiet.”
    He wondered if she knew his net worth. He didn’t, but he wondered if she did.
    “Um, Darla. Next weekend might not be as relaxing. For a couple of weekends every October we open up the orchard for people to tour, visit, buy apples and other products. It might not seem like such a big deal, but the place is swarming. People come from everywhere. Typical of Virgin River—most of the town comes out. They shop, pick apples, bring their own ladders even. They bring their dogs, their kids, sometimes their grills. It’s big business.”
    “Is it lucrative?” she asked.
    He paused before he said, “It works for us. But it’s madness. And there is no home-cooked meal, no going out to dinner, no walk in the moonlight between the groves.”
    “Oh, it must be so exciting!”
    “You would hate it. It’s not fancy. It’s not prestigious. It’s a bunch of county people on ladders, picking, tasting cider and pies and throwing softballs around. It’s barking dogs, small children, shouting and laughing people, swarming all over the orchard, in the barn, in the house…”
    “In the house?” she asked.
    “They’re our friends,” he said. “They’re the town.”
    “Wonderful!” she said. “Well, if the invitation stands, I’ll see you Friday late afternoon.”
    * * *
    Tom was up and in the orchard office by five-thirty and even though it wouldn’t be light for some time yet, Nora was there by six.
    “Good morning,” she said. “I guess I thought you’d be sleeping in or enjoying one of those big country breakfasts. You do have company.”
    “I’m sure she’s having sweet dreams,” he said. “What are you doing here so early on a Sunday morning?”
    “Getting an early start. I’m planning to leave right at lunchtime if you’re sure you can spare me. Jed will be coming to the house. We were talking about a picnic, but with this weather…”
    He smiled. “Still Jed, is he?”
    “I’m working up to Dad, but it doesn’t come easy.”
    “I knew about your plans, Nora—we’re all ready to back you up. We might have an issue with the next two weekends. If you’re not going to be able to work, tell me now—we’re opening up the orchard to the public. It gets chaotic.”
    “So I’m told. I wonder—would it be all right if Jed and Susan come and bring the girls? I promise not to get too distracted.”
    “Absolutely, tell them about it. Maxie would probably love it.”
    “I’m going to get moving before I’m caught