stood Maxie, holding a large container of something. “Oh, Maxie, why are you here?” she asked.
“A couple of reasons,” she said. “May I come in?”
“Sure,” she said, standing back.
Maxie went straight to the kitchen, just a few steps really, and put her soup on the counter. “I wanted to check on you, of course. And I brought you soup, though I really want you to come to the house for dinner tonight if you can… And I needed to leave the orchard—Tom was on a mission to send Darla away. I didn’t even want to be in the house.” She shook her head. “That girl…”
“Oh, Maxie, she’s a beautiful girl!”
“She was pushing herself on Tom and it should have been more than clear to her that he wasn’t ready for that. She’s the most annoying person I’ve met in years, but it’s not my business. I’m counting on Tom to do the right thing there.”
“I just have to ask—what would the right thing be?” Nora asked.
“Make sure she doesn’t trick him into more visits or whatever. He doesn’t like her.”
“How can he not? She told me it was just a matter of time before they got married.”
“I pray she was hallucinating when she said that. But—this is not up to me. Tom is intelligent. I have to believe in him. Now, darling, how are you? You had quite a scare!”
“My God,” she said. “I’m still shaking. I kept my girls home from preschool and day care—I just need to be with them. When they nap later, I’m going to have a long, hot soak in the tub. I’m frazzled, I admit it. I climbed up my ladder and picked a dozen apples before one of those cubs took a swipe at me. They had been there the whole time.”
“Ah, that’s what happened—you got between the treed cubs and the mother. You know they’d been in the orchard all night? Tom was out with Junior till three in the morning trying to find them and get them out. I’m sorry, Nora—this is our fault. You should be safe in our orchard.”
“There’s only so much you can do. I’d say hunting till three in the morning is a worthy effort, wouldn’t you?” Then she let her eyes close just briefly as she remembered the sight of Tom coming through the trees, half dressed, looking a bit wild and warrior-like, holding that big gun. She hadn’t known about the tattoos on his chest and biceps. She opened her eyes. “Tom was amazing. He saved my life.”
“Possibly. Those black bears are usually passive and don’t like to be around people, but when cubs are involved…”
“What will happen to the cubs?”
“Out of our hands,” Maxie said. “Let me warm you some soup. Berry and Fay will like it—lots of soft veggies and noodles.”
“Please don’t go to any more trouble.”
“I have to kill a couple of hours. I could watch the girls while you relax in the tub or nap?”
She just laughed. “Let’s have soup together, all of us. Then I’m going to take it easy and get to bed early tonight.”
“I wish you’d come to the house and let me spoil you a little. I could make your favorite meal.”
But Nora had things to figure out, like what she was going to do without a home. And she was loath to ask for more help from anyone—so many had already given to her. “Everything you cook is my favorite,” she said. “But I’m seriously exhausted. I’m sure it was the fright. I want to be alone with my children tonight. Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Good enough,” Maxie said. “Now find me a pan so I can warm up some soup for you.”
They not only enjoyed a lunch of soup, they actually laughed together and reminisced about some of the more entertaining events of the past weeks. But when Maxie left her house a while later, Nora had come to a few conclusions. She was losing her home and there was no one among her acquaintances she could possibly ask for shelter. Noah had offered, but it was rather offhand and she wasn’t about to stuff herself into his home. She knew Adie didn’t want to lose her and would put up with anything to keep her and the girls near. Maxie and Tom would no doubt offer, but her common sense told her