Page 43 of Hometown Girl

She emerged from her room with time to spare, poured more coffee into a travel mug and met Molly in the driveway.

“You go ahead, Mol. There’s something I need to do this morning.”

Molly studied her, but uncharacteristically chose not to press. “Will we see you at church?”

“Maybe not,” Beth said.

She frowned. “Is everything okay? You know we have these people to thank for a successful Community Work Day yesterday.”

That was true. People would expect to see them there. Beth had built a life out of other people’s expectations. Today, she needed to do something for herself.

“And we’re partners, so you can thank them.” Beth opened her car door and smiled at Molly as she got in. A part of her felt a little rebellious. Maybe she should do whatever she wanted more often.

Acres of newly planted corn and soybean fields stretched out on either side of the highway as she drove toward Fairwind Farm. In high school, she’d never appreciated the tremendous amount of work that went into making those crops grow. She’d never seen the beauty of the earth providing everything needed to create something new. Back then, she’d had only one goal: get out of Willow Grove.

The thought niggled at the back of her mind as she pulled into the parking lot at Fairwind and parked near the main barn. She hadn’t done the one thing she’d set out to do. She’d missed the mark. She hadn’t gotten out of Willow Grove, and now she’d made a decision that would anchor her to it for years to come.

She hadn’t signed anything—she could still back out. But then, where would that leave Molly? Beth couldn’t do that to her.

“Sometimes you have to live with the mistakes you make, Beth,” Dad had told her when he’d finally found out what she’d done. “There’s no getting out of it. You just get through it.”

She could still see the look on his face. He’d been so disappointed. She could only imagine what he’d say now as she faced another potential disaster.

Was Fairwind something else she’d have to get through?

She stepped out of the car and walked around the large barn, impressed by how much better the place had already started to look. A patio at the back had been weeded and power washed and now looked like a passable place for a social gathering. Maybe not a fancy one, but something casual, like a birthday or graduation party.

Beth stopped to admire a row of lilac bushes that filled the air with their sweet fragrance. She inhaled the scent. How had she not noticed these yesterday?

She continued walking, drinking in the morning, almost forgetting the tired ache of a body that had been pushed to its limits the day before. The property they now owned seemed to stretch on forever. And she’d thought her parents’ yard was big.

Instead of wondering who would take care of it all, she chose to focus on the beauty of it. The morning sunlight streamed through the trees, illuminating the path in front of her.

Off to the right was the orchard—rows and rows of apple trees, different varieties that all looked surprisingly healthy, not that she would necessarily know if they weren’t.

Up and to the left was the Christmas-tree farm. Acres of various-sized evergreens stretched out in front of her, and she was instantly transported back to a simpler time when they’d all packed into the minivan, decked out in full winter garb. As soon as they’d pulled into the parking lot, even Beth, a moody teenager, had felt that Christmas excitement as clearly as the chill in the air.

All six of them had made their way past the barns and up toward the trees, determined to find one bigger and better than they’d had the year before. She could still hear her father’s voice as he steered them toward the one her mom wanted, knowing that Lilian would defer to the kids. He’d always been so intent on making her happy.

That may have been the last year they were all together to go pick out the tree. Things had been easier then—why had she been in such a hurry to grow up and get out?

She walked up a hill near the end of the evergreens, and as she reached the top, something stopped her. Up ahead across a clearing, a small church building nestled back into the trees, almost hidden out of sight. She’d never had much freedom when they’d visited Fairwind Farm, so she’d had no idea it even existed. She stared at it for a few long moments. Standing like a lighthouse for weary travelers, it seemed to hold some secret promise for those who stopped long enough to pay attention.

Is this why You wanted me to come here today?

Despite its chipping white paint and obvious disrepair, the forgotten church shone like a beacon. She closed her eyes, and an image of what the church could be flashed through her mind as clearly as an actual photograph.

Walking around the church, she let her dream run off by itself for a minute.

She’d start with a fresh coat of white paint and then figure out what needed to be done to restore the steeple. She wanted it to stand tall and proud through the trees, the way it must have when the church was first built. She’d put window boxes on each of the windows—two in front and three on each side. Then she’d plant a lilac bush or two around the back to match the ones on the side, just because she liked lilacs. In the spring, their fragrance would fill the small chapel if the windows were open.

She walked through the brush toward one of the windows, cupped her hands around her eyes and peeked inside. Particles of dust floated through the air, caught by the sunlight streaming through the windows.

How many prayers had been whispered inside these four walls?

She made her way back to the front and walked up the few steps, stopping at the door. She pushed it, but it didn’t budge. She pushed again, this time using her shoulder, but still couldn’t get the door open.

How long had it been since anyone had been here?

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