Page 24 of Horn of Plenty
This was it. If today was a success, her bank account would no longer report a negative balance. And while that’s what she wanted. It wasn’t everything that mattered—not anymore.
Cal set the passports on a table at the entrance, and she walked into the center of the square. The side conversations stopped, and all eyes fell on her.
But not everyone was feeling confident.
She could see the worry on their faces, then her gaze fell upon her father, standing at the Muldowney Farms booth next to Kenny and Abe. His expression remained stony, but imperceptible to anyone else, he gave her the hint of a nod—a minute movement that she’d longed for her entire life. Elias Muldowney didn’t heap on the praise. It wasn’t his way. But he did give credit when credit was due. That nod—that tiny movement was his way of cheering her on.
“Before the farmers’ market opens, I’d like to say a few words.” She looked around the square as a sense of calm settled in her chest—that feeling of knowing you’d done everything humanly possible calmed her frayed nerves. She cleared her throat. “It’s safe to say that the Eat Elverna co-op of farmers is a family. When I visited your farms, you showed me nothing but kindness. Your excitement about what you do is palpable. You treated me like family. Today, and every day after, when you interact with the people who come to your booth, I want you to see them as family, too.”
“But they don’t know us,” one of the Sperry sons called.
She pegged the man with her gaze. “Oh, but they do.” She slipped her phone from her purse and opened one of the Eat Elverna social media sites. “Eight hundred and twenty-two. That’s how many people liked the post we put up about how you make your own artisan cheeses at the Sperry Dairy.” Walking from booth to booth, she scrolled through the feed. “Five hundred forty-two. Seven hundred ninety-nine. One thousand three hundred and fifteen. Each one of these is a person who learned about you—who liked what you were doing. You might not know them yet, but they know you. They’ve connected with Eat Elverna online, and today, we show them that they are part of the Eat Elverna family.”
The Sperry brother nodded along with the others.
She glanced at Cal, and, heaven help her, he grinned at her like a kid on Christmas.
That man!
She blew out a slow breath. “Many people have RSVP’d for today’s event. It will most likely be a busy day. My advice to you is to take your time with each customer. It’s an honor to have them visit Elverna.” Thoughts of Jamie entered her mind. She remembered how he used to muse about a day like today. She swallowed past the lump in her throat and kept going, speaking the words he’d say if he were here. “There is no greater job than that of feeding a family and supplying the community with healthy, nutritious food. It’s a gift to have people trust you. It’s a privilege to have their support.” Her bottom lip trembled, thinking of how she’d lied to her followers. But she wasn’t Bella Mae anymore. No, she was Mabel Muldowney—and today, that was enough. She lifted her chin and caught Cal’s eye. “Every farmer here can go into today with a clear conscience knowing that you are what you say you are. Organic. Sustainable. Your food is grown and prepared with love. This is who Elverna is.”
The square remained still for a beat, then two, when a sound caught her attention. And not just any sound—a clap. She blinked back tears as she turned to see the source of the sound.
Elias Muldowney.
Soon, the entire square was engulfed in applause—for her.
Cal came to her side. “I don’t think anyone could have said it better—not even Jamie.”
She nodded, holding back an avalanche of emotions. “I meant it.”
“I know,” he said with so much feeling and so much adoration in his stormy blue eyes, it took her breath away. But before she could say another word, the rumble and hum of cars—lots of cars—floated in on the breeze.
“Look at that!” Kenny called, pointing down Main Street at the sea of automobiles heading into town.
She sucked in a sharp breath as Cal brushed his little finger against hers. To the unsuspecting eye, it would look like nothing—two people simply standing side by side. But it was much more.
“This could be the start of something big. Are you ready for it?” he asked, his expression awash with tenderness.
She held his gaze, and in his eyes, he offered her everything. All of him. Would she take it?
She brushed her little finger against his. “We’re about to find out.”
