“I didn’t even know you two were together. When did that happen?”
“We’ve been seeing each other on and off. For some time now,” I add. Damien had told me that Lorna didn’t know about the fallout, or at least my involvement in it. So we agreed on a story that explained both Lake and the quick marriage. “Dated a little, split up, got together again recently, and found that we still loved each other.”
Lorna looks unconvinced. She definitely thinks there’s more to the story and can smell bullshit from a mile away. So I try another tactic. “I’ve always had a crush on your son ever since Iwas a teenager. I even tried to come on to him a few times, but he flat out refused me. One day, however, I asked him out on a date. He agreed, and we dated for a while. We split up and later I found out I was pregnant. That was just after he left Hawthorne Inc. I didn’t want to burden him with a child. His career was on the rise and it felt like telling him I had a son would be shackling myself to him.”
Damien squeezes my hand. “It wouldn’t have been sweetheart.” My chest warms and I have to remind myself that it’s all a performance. I continue. “I should have said something to him back then, but I didn’t. Then we met again. And he reminded me of all the good times we had before.”
“And then we ended up getting married,” Damien added.
Lorna seems more convinced this time around. She smiles and says, “I’ve always known there was something between you two.” I feel my cheeks redden. She must be thinking about all the times I had shown my overenthusiastic affection for Damien.
Lorna turns her attention to Lake to the relief of Damien and I. She becomes instantly enamored by him and Lake by her. That age-old connection between grandparent and grandchild jumps into gear for both of them. Everything Lake does seems to charm Lorna, and Lake seems to love to perform for her. She can’t stop remarking how smart he is and how cute, to the delight of Lake. She listens to Lake as he regales him with stories of his school and friends. The topic moves to apples, and Lorna suggests they pick some from the orchard. We all got outside, Lorna & Lake in front, Damien & I in tow.
The usually scorching summer sun is cooler today, making the impromptu excursion more fun than it would have been on any other summer day. The orchard is well tended to and the trees are lined perfectly in neat rows that create a natural corridor where the branches touch and the bright red apples dangle beneath the arch. Some have fallen and are in the processof decaying. They speckle the ground with shades of green, red, yellow, and brown.
“The man you hired is not doing his job properly.” Damien sounds irritated. His face is marred with a frown as he surveys the orchard, not seeing the beauty I am seeing. Lorna seems not to be bothered as well. She picks an apple from a tree, rubs it on her jeans, and offers it to Lake. “He’s doing just fine.”
“You need to hire more people.”
Lorna picks another apple and throws it into the basket Lake is holding. “And turn a hobby into a business?” She picks another apple and turns to Lake. “And what would be fun about that?” Lake giggles.
“The least he can do is clean up the orchard,” Damien retorts. Lorna seems unperturbed and continues whatever conversation she’s having with Lake. Damien huffs and leaves.
“Where did he go?” I ask to myself. One minute he was standing next to me, the next he’s gone.
“To find a rake,” Lorna replies without turning her back. “He gets like this whenever he visits. He hates seeing things being done not as properly and professionally.” She turns to pick more apples that are closer to where I am standing. I assist her in taking a few that are ripe and throwing them in the basket. “He likes to take control of things, but I’m sure you know this about him.”
I nod. “He can be a little taxing, but his heart’s in the right place.”
“I don’t know. As much as this place is my project. I feel like it’s a project for him as well.”
“Oh, really?”
“Damien gave it to me as a birthday gift. Even though I enjoyed living and working in the city. I love living out here and growing something of my own. He knew this, of course, andbought the prettiest farmhouse that was closest to the city he could find.”
“He seems fond of you.”
Lorna smiles. “He loves me, yes. But I think he likes this place, or at least the idea of it. He’s always proposing improvements to the place and the farm.”
The thought of Damien being interested in apple farming is both fascinating and alien. “So, do you just grow them, or do you do more?” I ask.
“I sell apple juice and applesauce at the local farmer’s market. I was fine pressing the juice on my own, but guess who bought a pressing machine?” She chuckles to herself. “I am always telling him that I don’t intend on starting a second career as an apple mogul, but does he listen? I had to stop him from buying the plot next door when the neighbors put it on the market.”
“He wants what is best for you.”
“Maybe now that he has a family, he might stop fussing over me.”
Lake drops the basket and the apples scatter around. “Oh, no! Don’t worry, I’ll get them!” he screams before scurrying off after each one.
“You don’t have to,” Lorna says to him, but Lake simply answers. “But it’s my fault. Let me.”
Lorna shakes her head. “He is very well-behaved. I guess I have you to thank. After all, you did the bulk of the rearing.”
I can feel my cheeks flush. “It’s not as it seems. Damien and I…it’s complicated.” How do I tell her I didn’t intentionally hide her grandson without lying to her more than I already did?
“Are you saying that little tale of the two of you meeting again and falling in love is false?” My cheeks heat even more. Of course, she could catch the lie. Lorna raises her hands in mock surrender.
“Listen, I don’t know what’s going on between the two of you, but all I know is that whatever it is, it didn’t start now.” She stares pointedly at Lake. “I know you wouldn’t have hidden him away without having a good reason, but I am glad that you’ve finally brought him to us.
