My stomach drops. It’s the woman from last night—Mac. The woman who almost made me come. What the hell is she doing here? Did she know my aunt?
“I have a right to know who got it if it wasn’t me,” she snaps.
“Fine, but you must stay quiet.” The lawyer motions to a chair.
She sits in the back, gripping the arms of the chair so tightly I can see her knuckles whiten. I risk one glance her way, but she doesn’t seem to notice me.
“Firstly,” the lawyer reads, “Miss Blake asked that a donation be made in her name to the following local charities: Sapphire Falls Animal Shelter, Sapphire Falls Housing Authority, and the Sapphire Falls LGBTQ+ Youth Home. The amounts are to be determined by the family. Secondly, she requested that the remains of her trust fund, inheritance, and savings be split evenly among her living relatives.”
I keep sneaking glances at the blonde in the back. She doesn’t look upset—so what is she waiting for? It was stupid that we agreed not to exchange names last night. If we had, I’d know who she was with one quick Google search. Then again, maybe last night wouldn’t have happened.
A flash of heat coils low in my belly, and I’m too embarrassed to admit—even to myself—that I’m turned on just thinking about her.
“And lastly,” the lawyer continues, “I leave Sapphire Falls Apple Orchard to my niece, Arabella Kennedy. I hope she will take care of it in the ways I always thought she would.”
My jaw drops. My family all turns to stare at me. My aunt left me an orchard?
“Uh—” I’m about to speak when Mac—Matilda, whatever her name is—storms out. I guess that’s what she was waiting to hear. At least I know she’s not a long-lost relative. Aunt Blake didn’t have kids.
“We will need you to sign the following forms,” the lawyer says, sliding a stack of papers toward me. My name sits at the top, clear as day. “Once you do, the orchard will be in your name.”
“I don’t know the first thing about running an apple orchard.”
“Miss Blake was quite confident you’d figure it out. There are more details in this folder about what it entails, but you can decline the property if you’re not interested.”
“I guess… yeah.” My voice is faint.
“In the case of your declining, the orchard will be donated to the town and sold to the highest bidder.”
“What?!” my family cries in unison.
My head spins. I came here to support my mother and keep up appearances. I didn’t expect to inherit anything—let alone a whole orchard. Now I’m wondering if there’s more than just apples? Were there animals too?
“I’ll take responsibility for it—for now. I don’t want it going to the highest bidder.”
“Very well. I’ll just need to see your ID, and we can start the paperwork.”
I hand over my wallet. As the lawyer takes copies and the rest of my family signs their papers, I wonder what the hell I’m going to do with an orchard. My mother will kill me if I turn it down, but maybe she’ll buy me out. Then I can finally buy that summer house in the Hamptons.
When we finish, my mother agrees to meet me outside. Before I leave, the lawyer stops me. He’s older, with dark gray hair and a thin mustache—like a slim Santa Claus who shaved for the summer.
“There’s one more thing,” he says. “In taking this over, you’re also agreeing not to turn the orchard over to anyone else in the family. Miss Blake was very clear: if you don’t want it, it’s not to stay in the family.”
“What? Why?”
“To put it politely, Miss Blake said she grew this place from nothing and didn’t want it in the hands of those only lookingto make a profit. She created something special here, Miss Kennedy, and she wants it cared for.”
“Okay,” I say, nodding slowly.
“Here’s the key to the main house and all the information you might need. You’ll also meet the main farmhand, Matilda. She lives on the property along with several others. It’s up to you if they stay, but they must be given thirty days’ notice if you want them out.”
“Okay. And if I do decide to sell?”
“You’d need to contact me and a local realtor. I can give you some numbers.”
“Sure.”
“I know this is a lot to process,” he says. “Take the weekend, then visit the orchard. Things will look different when you see it in person.”
