One Day in Apple Grove (23 page)

Honey B. and Mitch renewed their pledge to one another beneath the gazebo in the town square. Wild roses, morning glories, and honeysuckle spilled out of flower pots, surrounding the couple with color and scent. While family, friends, and neighbors watched, Honey B. smiled radiantly at Mitch as if the rest of those gathered were invisible. The couple only had eyes for one another, until little Mitch escaped from his grandmother’s grasp and ran up the steps to the gazebo. His dad lifted him up and held him close.

Caitlin watched the couple and their young son, and knew that was what she wanted with Jack—the love, the family. She had never thought about having a wedding—eloping had always been her plan—but sitting beside Jack, she realized she wanted to stand before family and friends like this, wanted to celebrate the love she had for Jack, wanted everyone to know. He had become her best friend, her lover, everything.

But how could she hint that she was ready to move in that direction when they hadn’t even talked about where their relationship was headed? He’d told his parents Cait was all but living with him but hadn’t spoken about more than that.

When she shifted, Jack’s arm went around her, steadying her. “Are you all right?”

The concern in his voice eased through some of the worry in her heart. “Mmm,” she murmured.

“You may now kiss Honey B.,” Reverend Smith was saying, calling Cait’s attention back to what mattered. This day had been a long time coming.

Amidst the laughter, champagne, and electric blue cake, Cait wondered how soon she could broach the subject with Jack. He’d been through so much the day before, she knew she’d have to wait…not to push too hard, too soon. They had plenty of time. Why rush, just because she’d figured out what she wanted out of life—Jack Gannon.

While Jack was chatting with Mitch, she confided her worry to Peggy in between mingling. “How am I going to get him to ask me?”

“Why can’t you ask him?” Peggy wanted to know.

Before she could answer, Jack walked over. “Dance with me, Cait.” With Jack’s hand warm around her own, she let him lead her onto the wooden platform.

They danced to two slow songs and then a bunch of fast ones. Her head was spinning from the dancing and a bit too much champagne. “I need to sit down.”

Jack led her to a folding chair and told her to relax.

“Could you please get me a glass of water?”

“Sure thing,” he said, jogging off to find some.

“He’s head over heels in love with you, Sis.”

“How do you know, Meg?”

Her sister just smiled. “I’ve known Jack for years. Don’t worry. I have a feeling he’ll ask you soon.”

“It’s hard to be patient.” Cait sighed and Meg patted her hand. “I guess if have to, I will.”

“He’s a good man, Cait. Give him a chance to figure out that you’re the best thing that will ever happen to him and pop the question.”

“How did you know what I was thinking?”

Meg laughed. “Been there, done that. Remember that he loves you when you’re thinking you might want to push ahead when he’s really not ready.”

“Hmm,” Cait said. “I should probably take your advice.”

“For once in your life.” Meg laughed.

“Hey, Meg.” Jack handed Cait a glass of water. “Can I get you a drink?”

“No thanks,” Meg said. “Dan’s getting me one and then he’s promised to dance with me.”

“If you leave before me, Meg,” Cait said, “give Dan a kiss from me.”

Her sister smiled and walked over to where her husband was dancing with his aunt.

“They’re so happy,” Jack said.

“I wasn’t sure it would work at first, but you’re right—they are happy. It shows.”

“Marriage is a big step,” Jack was saying when his cell phone vibrated in his jacket pocket. “Excuse me.” He was looking at Caitlin when he said, “I’ll be right there.”

“What’s wrong?”

“One of the Jenkins boys fell off the ladder to the water tower.”

With a glance around, Cait made a decision that would change her life. “Let me go with you. I might be able to help.”

Jack nodded. “Come on. I’ve got my bag in my Jeep.”

Mitch must have received a call too because he was frowning down at Honey B., who stood with their little one perched on her hip. “Why can’t you just let Deputy Jones handle this without you?”

When her husband stood there looking down at her, Honey B. finally pushed him toward his big red pickup. “Go on. Little Mitch and I will be waiting for you.”

Deputy Jones was already at the water tower with Jack and Cait by the time the sheriff arrived. Jack looked up and shook his head as Mitch approached. “Seems somebody didn’t want their name on the water tower and used cooking spray on the ladder to keep this knucklehead from going up.”

Mitch shook his head and knelt down next to the youngster. “I ought to run you in for breaking the law.”

“Come on, Sheriff,” the boy said. “It’s not official. Me and my brothers checked it out over at town hall.”

“Well then,” Mitch said, “I guess we’ll have to have ourselves a town meeting, and we’ll add it to the town ordinances. No one but no one climbs that damned water tower unless they want to spend the night in jail.”

When the Jenkins boy just hung his head, Mitch added, “One of these days, you’re going to start using that brain…might be a good idea.”

Jack chuckled as he immobilized the boy’s ankle. “Help me get him to my Jeep, Mitch.”

“Let me,” Cait said. “Mitch has a reception to get back to.”

Jack’s father was waiting for them at the office to lend a hand. Cait kept Mrs. Jenkins calm while Jack took care of her son and was ready for the news that she’d have to drive to Newark for an X-ray.

When they finally left, Old Doc Gannon smiled at Cait. “You’d make the perfect doctor’s wife.”

Jack stared at her for a moment before he agreed. Remembering her sister’s advice, Cait just smiled and said, “Do you think there’s any cake left?”

***

Later, with Cait tucked safely against his heart, Jack tried to come up with a way to propose. He couldn’t use the water tower. Mitch had had one of his deputies go back and wrap the ladder with crime scene tape to keep anyone else from getting hurt.

Dan and Mitch had chased down their women and claimed them inside of Honey B.’s Hair Salon—kind of hard to replicate. Besides, he wanted to ask Cait in a way that would be just as memorable…something they would think back on years from now when they were old and gray.

Cait sighed in her sleep and murmured something about wedding bells and ribbon and that’s when an idea started to gel, but it had to be perfect. Thinking of something Miss Trudi had said about the returning GIs from the Second World War and those yellow ribbons tied in big bows around each and every maple tree lining Main Street gave him an idea.

Jack knew what he was going to do.

Slipping out of bed, he sent a text off to Dan, who had Meg send one to Peggy.

Raking a hand through his hair, he grinned. The plan was in place; all he had to do was sneak into town while his parents and Peggy kept Cait busy.

***

“You are a genius, Jack,” Meg told him, tying the first bow in the wide, white satin ribbon.

“Thanks. Are you sure she doesn’t suspect anything?”

Meg smiled. “She’s working on learning patience…I told her you needed time.”

Jack laughed. “OK,” he said, walking slowly from where Meg tied the bow on the railing leading to Jack’s office. “This is supposed to be a mega roll of ribbon.” He paused to loop it around the sugar maple on the sidewalk. While he made his way toward the bank, he looped ribbon around two more trees.

“Why the heck didn’t I remember how many damned trees lined Main Street?”

Dan and Meg were laughing when he ran out of ribbon outside the
Gazette
.

“Hang on,” Meg told him as she sent Dan to get two more rolls of ribbon. When he returned and tossed them to Jack, Jack tied a knot in it and then continued looping ribbon around trees…climbing partway up the ones on either side of Dog Hollow Road, so that anyone driving into town wouldn’t get snagged on the ribbon…all the way to Mulcahys’ front door.

“Are you sure she has no idea?”

Meg smiled. “Not a clue.”

He placed the turquoise bucket on the stoop and struggled to arrange the lilacs until Meg blew out a breath. “Let me do that.”

When she finished, he hung two huge, white crepe paper wedding bells on the door with a sign that said, “Follow the ribbon and your heart—Marry me, Cait, Love, Doc.”

Meg’s eyes filled as she stood back and looked at the bucket of lilacs, wedding bells, and the sign.

“Is it OK?”

“Perfect,” she reassured him.

He worried all the way back to his office. “Are you sure I shouldn’t go back home and then bring her into town?”

Meg frowned at him and Dan said, “This way you’ll be waiting at your office when she gets to the shop and finds your surprise.”

“OK,” Jack said, taking a deep breath. “I’m ready.”

“Peggy’s going to text me when they leave your house,” Meg told him.

Dan grinned. “We can hang out with you and help you wait.”

Jack’s smile was sheepish. “Am I that easy to read?”

“Clear as glass,” Meg told him.

When her phone buzzed a few minutes later, Jack jolted. At Meg’s nod, he knew Cait and Peggy were on their way. When Meg got the text that they were almost to town, she and Dan left, and that’s when Jack started pacing.

***

“Why don’t you tell me what’s really going on, Peggy?” Cait knew something wasn’t right.

Peggy laughed. “You and that imagination of yours.”

Peggy turned right onto Main Street, and Cait tried again, “Would you please tell me?”

Peggy parked in front of the diner. “I know nothing,” she said, getting out of the car without looking back.

“Peggy McCormack!” Cait yelled. “Tell me what’s going on!”

Peggy shook her head, smiled, and pointed toward Mulcahys. “Well, that’s helpful,” Cait grumbled, walking toward the shop—and that’s when she noticed the flowers leaning against the door.

“Oh,” she said. “He got me flowers…lilacs…I love lilacs.”

As she grabbed a hold of the railing, she noticed the wedding bells and the sign attached to a wide length of white satin ribbon.
Follow
the
ribbon
and
your
heart—Marry me Cait, Love, Doc.

Tears filled her eyes as she finally noticed the ribbon looped around every single shade tree lining the street, leading the way to Jack Gannon’s office. She didn’t realize she was crying until she’d run down Main and started pounding on his door.

“Jack, you crazy…”

His door opened, and there he was. The auburn-haired, broad-shouldered hunk of a man who’d captured her heart in the middle of Eden Church Road when he chased that fuzzy little puppy right into her arms.

“…wonderful, adorable man.”

His blue eyes deepened to sapphire as he rasped, “So, does that mean, yes?”

Joy filled her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him until they were both weak from lack of air.

“Yes!”

He was grinning as he lowered his mouth to hers.

A Taste of Home Cooking from Apple Grove

Blueberry Pandowdy

My mom used to bake this when blueberries were in season. There is nothing like the taste of blueberry pandowdy fresh out of the oven with a cup of coffee or tea for breakfast. ~ C.H.

Note: I’ve only made this recipe with fresh berries, but you can substitute frozen or canned blueberries—though I can’t guarantee that it will be as delicious as it is with fresh berries.

2 cups washed fresh (or drained, thawed frozen or canned) blueberries

1/3 cup sugar

Juice of 1/2 lemon (or about 1 tablespoon of lemon juice)

Cake batter

Cream or hard sauce

Combine berries, sugar, and juice in a saucepan and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally for about five minutes. Pour into a greased (I used margarine) baking dish (9 x 9 x 2) if you have it, or if not, I’ve used a casserole dish.

Spread with cake batter (recipe follows) and bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees F for about twenty minutes. Spoon out servings hot or cold and serve with cream (whipped if preferred).

Makes 6 servings.

Pandowdy Cake Batter

1/2 cup butter (or margarine)

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 cup sifted flour (I only used Heckers Unbleached)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup milk

Cream butter until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar. Stir in egg. Sift dry ingredients and add alternately with milk, beating until smooth. Spread over hot berries (see above).

© 2001 C.H. Admirand

When Deb asked if I would be interested in writing a small-town USA series, I jumped at the opportunity to spread my writing wings. I missed writing about the small towns in my Irish Western series and welcomed the chance to recreate a part of my past and who I am in a contemporary setting.

Growing up on Cedar Hill—a tiny corner of Wayne, New Jersey—our neighborhood was like living in a small town. There were twenty-five homes in our little hamlet of dead-end streets. Unless you lived off Circle Drive, there wasn’t any reason to go to Cedar Hill. Tucked away from the rest of the world, we lived in idyllic surroundings. We could run or ride our bikes to our friend’s house and still hear when mom rang the dinner bell, a cowbell my dad found when he was a kid living in Colorado, not to be mistaken from the ship’s bell suspended between two trees that called our neighbor home—his dad had been in the navy.

My great-aunt and uncle lived right next door and my great-aunt always kept molasses windmill-shaped cookies with the almonds on top in the cookie jar on the end of the counter, right inside the back door. It was always full. She read pirate stories and poems to us on their screened-in porch on summer nights. I remember waking up to the sound of my great-uncle whistling—he had this six-note call that I’d hear in my sleep. I’d climb out of bed and get dressed but was young enough that I couldn’t tie my red plaid sneakers, but I’d put them on, careful not to trip on the stairs, knowing that he’d be waiting to tie them for me.

My grandparents were two houses away, which made it seem like we had three homes instead of just one. My grandmother was a
cheese
and
crackers
grandma, not the typical
milk
and
cookies
kind. I’d run up to her house after my homework was done and set their dinner table, nibble on crackers and cheese, watching Merv Griffin or Mike Douglas and the four-thirty movie before it was time to go home, set our table, and help get dinner ready.

For the last thirty years, we’ve lived in a small lake community. My husband grew up in one and from the stories of his childhood, I knew that was the atmosphere we wanted for our kids. It was a mixed community with residents who’d lived there for forty years and those of us who’d just moved in. Five of us were pregnant at the same time and forged a bond that carried over to our kids. They played together, attended preschool together, and graduated from high school together.

One element of both neighborhoods was the core group of women responsible for keeping tabs on everyone and making sure to spread the word, both good and bad; it was like having a town crier.

On Cedar Hill, it was my grandmother, my great-aunt, and both Mrs. Johnsons who kept everyone abreast of the neighborhood goings-on. In Lindy’s Lake, it was Honey Baker, Marty Walsh, Ann Ahrens, and Millie Salisbury.

In the fictionalized town of Apple Grove, Ohio, it is Mrs. Winter, Miss Philo, and Honey B. Harrington who are the glue that keeps the town together and in the know.

So brew a cup of tea or grab a cup of coffee, put your feet up and relax, and spend some time getting to know the good people of Apple Grove.