Page 75 of Reclaimed Roots

I looked around the room, waiting for the other shoe to drop. But all I saw were nods of agreement and fixed, determined looks.

Elliot sat up straight, his eyes intense. "We'll figure this out. Right, Chase?"

Chase looked at me. I saw a flicker of the boy I used to know—mischievous, loyal, fiercely protective of his family. "Yeah," he said gruffly. "We've got this."

Jasper put an arm around me, and I leaned into his warmth. "See?" he whispered. "I told you they'd understand."

A lump rose in my throat. Their acceptance and support were overwhelming.

Nana Everton cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention. "Well, now that we've got all that sorted," she said, leaning a hand on Chase's shoulder and heaving herself upright, "who's up for some pie?"

Nana's mention of pie broke the tension, a few peopleeven managed a feeble chuckle. "Before we dig into that pie," I said, my voice trembling slightly, "I'd like to share some ideas I've been working on."

The room went quiet again, all eyes on me. But this time, their gaze felt different—supportive, encouraging.

"First, we need to streamline operations. I've identified several areas where we can cut costs without sacrificing quality."

As I spoke, my voice grew stronger. I outlined my ideas for modernizing the orchard's accounting systems, exploring new revenue streams, and leveraging local partnerships. With each word, I felt a spark of the old Natalie—the one who thrived on challenges and believed in her ability to overcome them.

Jasper's hand on my knee grounded me. I glanced at him and saw pride and love shining in his eyes.

"We could also consider expanding into organic products," I continued, warming to my subject. "There's a growing market for?—"

"Organic?" Chase interrupted. "Like, pesticide-free apples and stuff?"

I nodded, grateful for his interest. "Exactly. It would require some changes in growing practices, but the potential profit margins are significant."

Elliot snapped his fingers. "What about agritourism? We've talked about it before but never really pursued it."

"That's a great idea!" I said. "We could offer orchard tours, maybe even set up a small bed-and-breakfast."

As we continued to brainstorm, something shifted in theroom. The fear and tension melted away, replaced by a sense of shared purpose and more than a hint of the trademark Everton obstinacy. I should've known they wouldn't go down without a fight.

"Oh, Natalie," Emma said, her eyes glistening. "We've missed your spark around here."

Affection and gratitude washed over me. All I could do was return her smile. If I tried to speak, I would have burst into tears.

"So," Jay said, with a hint of his old mischievous grin, "when do we start?"

I excusedmyself from the family gathering, scanning the room for Elliot. I spotted him in a quiet corner, nursing a beer and observing the family's interactions with that keen gaze of his.

He looked up as I approached. "Natalie." He spoke in his usual quiet, measured tone, but a faint knowing smile animated his features. Without another word, he set down his bottle and motioned toward the back door with his head.

I followed him out to the barn, the cool night air a welcome respite from the stuffy house. Moonlight filtered through the slats, casting long shadows across the dusty floor.

Moving with purpose, Elliot reached into a tool bench, rummaging for a moment before turning back to me. In his hands was a polished wooden object.

My breath caught as recognition dawned. The preservedcarving of Jasper's and my initials from the old tree. I reached out, fingers trembling as I traced the familiar grooves, worn smooth by time.

"How...?" I whispered, unable to finish the question.

Elliot's eyes crinkled at the corners. "I salvaged it when we had to cut down that old oak a few years ago. Couldn't bear to let it go."

I clutched the carving to my chest, groping for adequate words of thanks.

"He never stopped loving you, you know," Elliot said, his voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart.

I sniffed and wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. "I never stopped loving him either. I-I was so scared of..."

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