Free The Orchard at the Edge of Town by Shirlee McCoy Page B

came from,” Evie said, offering up the plastic pitcher as proof.
    â€œWell, I may have to get a refill before I leave, then,” Apricot responded. “I need to talk to your dad first, though.”
    She swallowed down an entire glass of lemonade. “You know, if you girls wouldn’t mind terribly, I’d love to buy a cup of water. I’ll pay the same thing I paid for the lemonade.”
    â€œYou don’t like our lemonade?” Rori asked, her chin quivering.
    Simon knew what was coming. The kid had the sensitive nature of her mother, and she hated to disappoint anyone.
    â€œRor—” he started, but Apricot was shaking her head and pulling more money from her purse.
    â€œAre you kidding me? It’s the best I’ve had in years.” Apricot took a swig from the other cup, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “I need the water for the kittens.”
    â€œKittens?!” Evie shrieked.
    â€œNo!” Simon barked as he strode to the lemonade stand. “We don’t have time for a kitten.”
    â€œI just want to see them, Daddy,” Evie insisted with all the earnestness of an eight-year-old girl who loved every animal that existed. “And maybe pet them if the lady says I can.”
    â€œThat’s up to your dad,” Apricot responded diplomatically. “I’ve taken them to the vet. He gave them shots and a clean bill of health,” she added, smiling in his direction.
    She had a pretty smile. The kind that made her eyes glow, made her soft lips look even softer. The kind that someone might be tempted to fall for. Fortunately, Simon was past the age of being tempted by pretty, and past the point in his life when he had time to pursue anything but work and the twins.
    â€œWe can’t keep a kitten,” he told the girls before they asked. Because they would ask. They’d been asking for a kitten since Daisy had gotten a fluffy Persian five months ago.
    â€œOf course you can’t. Kittens are a lot of work,” Apricot agreed, leaning into the cab of the truck and grabbing a box covered with a blanket. “I’m not here to pawn kittens off on you. I’m here about a young man named Jet Irvin.”
    Jet. Yeah. The kid had had some tough times, but he was trying to make good with his life. “What about him?”
    â€œHe said he did some work for you?” She carried the box to the front porch, sat cross-legged with it on her lap. The girls moved in close, Evie nearly vibrating with excitement, Rori hanging just a little behind her sister.
    â€œThat’s right.”
    â€œI’m thinking of hiring him, but I wanted to get a few references first.” She pulled the blanket off the box, revealing two little black-and-white kittens and a big ugly gray one.
    â€œThey are so cute!” Evie squealed. “Aren’t they cute, Rori?!”
    Rori nodded. “Yes,” she whispered. Which was more than she usually did when strangers were present. One of her teachers had suggested she suffered from social anxiety and told Simon that the then six-year-old needed medication and therapy.
    Simon had suggested the woman get a life.
    That hadn’t gone over very well.
    â€œCan I pet them, Daddy?” Evie begged. “Please?”
    â€œWhy don’t you both go get them some water first?” he suggested.
    The girls bounced into the house, slamming the door behind them. Of course.
    â€œCute kids,” Apricot said as she nudged the gray kitten into the box. It jumped out and clawed its way up her arm, perching in the little hollow near her ear.
    â€œI think so.” He lifted one of the little black-and-white puffballs from the box and eyed it. “But I’m not going to let them talk me into one of these.”
    â€œOf course you aren’t,” she agreed. Again.
    â€œYou’re not going to win this with reverse psychology, Apricot.”
    She didn’t correct him on the