“So, I understand that some of the fruit isn’t locally sourced.” He’d been wondering about this for a while now. Working in the cider lab was the perfect place to get answers to his numerous questions.
“That’s true,” Bailey said with a nod. “We try to use as much local produce as we can, but due to the climate there are limitations. We import from outside of Alaska.”
“And that isn’t a problem?” he asked, frowning. It seemed as if a lot of issues could crop up by importing produce into Moose Falls. “Is there a risk of the produce going bad along the way?”
“It’s possible, of course, but I don’t recall it ever happening,” Bailey said. “The ciders speak for themselves. Yukon Cider is an award-winning and top-selling brand. Hattie’s standards are exacting. If even the slightest thing is off, it doesn’t go into production.”
He wasn’t surprised to hear that tidbit in the slightest. As with all things in her life, Hattie went above and beyond in her pursuit of excellence. Since he’d been working at the company, he’d heard a lot about his grandmother’s work ethic and high standards for the hard ciders.
“How’s your palette?” Bailey asked.
Landon frowned. “Fine, I think. Honestly, it’s not something I’ve ever thought about before.”
Bailey chuckled. “That’s about to change. Pretty soon you’ll be dreaming about the different blends. Like sugarplums dancing in your head.”
“Dreaming, huh?” he asked. “That’ll be a nice change of pace.” He didn’t tell her that a lot of his dreams involved exacting payback on the folks at the laboratory who’d scapegoated him. He wasn’t sure he could move on from that injustice until his good name in the scientific community was restored. And it wasn’t something he could achieve while in Moose Falls, Alaska.
“What makes a stellar flavor?” Although he’d consumed his fair share of Yukon Cider’s products since he had been in Alaska, Landon hadn’t really been studying the flavors. He was a goal-oriented person, and he intended to make the holiday line exceptional. Hattie was counting on him, and he wasn’t going to let her down.
“It all depends. Some of the standout flavors are bold. Others are bubblier, tangier,” Bailey said. “And so much depends on individual tastes.”
“Some are light, I imagine,” Landon added. “Fruitier.”
“Those are some of my favorites,” Bailey said, “although there aren’t many I haven’t enjoyed. I’m an equal opportunity cider lover.” The smile she sent in his direction threatened hisequilibrium. She really was sensational. With his limited dating experience, Landon had never gone out with a woman like Bailey. She was outgoing and dynamic, whereas the women who had gravitated toward him had been more reserved and from the world of academia.
“When we first arrived in Moose Falls, I didn’t have much experience drinking hard cider, but it’s really grown on me,” he admitted. He, along with his brothers, had quickly become fans of the brand.
“What are some of your favorites?” Bailey asked. She was leaning toward him as if she couldn’t wait to hear his answers. Even though he was a newbie in the cider lab, Landon felt as if his opinions were valued. And not simply because he was Hattie’s grandson.
“Cranberry. Raspberry. Citrus flavors like orange,” he said. Landon could almost taste the flavors on his tongue as he mentioned them. His grandmother’s ciders were full of zest and flavor. He really hadn’t tasted any that he hadn’t enjoyed.
“I like that,” Bailey said, nodding approvingly. She began typing into her iPad fast and furiously.
“What about you?” he asked. “What do you enjoy?”
Suddenly a sheepish expression crossed her face. “To be honest, I’m a bit of a flavor junkie. I like all the odd combinations like pomegranate-ginger or cucumber-blueberry. Hattie discontinued my favorite,” she said with a frown. “Pineapple colada. It wasn’t selling well at all.” She let out a deep-throated chuckle.
Landon made a face. “Sorry, no insult intended, but it sounds awful.”
Bailey let out a hearty laugh. “No offense taken. SinceHattie liked it as much as I did, I consider myself to have been in amazing company.” She was beaming. “That woman has impeccable taste.”
He couldn’t miss the poignant look on her face—one of pure awe and admiration. All due to Hattie.
“Ginger flavors could really work for the holiday line. Maybe ginger raspberry or ginger cranberry,” Bailey suggested.
He nodded. “Reminds me of the gingerbread cakes my mom used to make us when we were kids. That would be amazing in a hard cider.” Honestly, he could almost taste it.
This was way more fun than he’d imagined. The ideas were pouring out of the right side of his brain, where creativity lived. Something told him that Hattie had known that he needed something like this in his life in order to shake things up.
“I’m thinking tangerine,” he told Bailey. “Ginger. Variations of cranberry since it’s a holiday flavor. Maybe pomegranate mixed with lime.”
“Those are awesome,” Bailey said, her voice full of encouragement. “Let’s lean in to the holiday-ish pairings that might really cause a buzz.”
He snapped his fingers. “What about cranberry orange?”
She let out a squeal. “I love that idea. It would really play into the holidays.”
He loved tossing around ideas with her. She was full of a zest for life and enthusiasm for the process. It was written all over her face, radiating like the sun. Her attitude served as a reminder that this was how he used to feel. Working as a scientist at Abbott had been the culmination of so many years of study and hard work. He had been intentional aboutworking at a lab where medical discoveries for diseases were the main agenda. He’d loved every minute of it and had devoted his life to his work—until the rug was pulled out from underneath him.
