Free Out of the Wreckage by Amy Cox Page A

fruit orchard she sighs.  It has been ten years since she set foot in her childhood home, when her Momma died in a car crash, she had to get out of here and she never looked back.  Until now.  The crisp, cool Virginia air blows through her long black hair as she walks up to the house.  It is nothing like New York, after being there as a high paid head chef of one of the city's biggest restaurants 'Drea is in shock of how nothing here has changed. 
     
                  The yard, the house, the fences all the same as when she left.  Things change in New York every day, sometimes hourly.  Here, it is like time stands still, and with only about three-hundred people in this town, they all know everything about everyone and there are no secrets.  There is no fast food, no Wal-mart, and no Starbucks.  She had lost cell service in and out on the way here, so surely Wi-Fi is out of the question. 
    "People need a passport to come here; it is like a whole nother planet." She says out loud to herself.
    "Well not if you were born here, Missy.  It tends to linger in the blood."
    "Grams!" 'Drea says smiling as she walks up the old wooden porch steps and hugs her grandmother, joining her on the old swing.
    "Oh Sugar, it is so good to have you home.  I have missed having someone around here call me something other than Ms.  Ruthie.  How was your trip?"
    "Long... but it gave me time to think so it was so good.  I am having my things shipped down here.  Since New York is over for me, I thought I would stay here for a while anyway, at least until I figure out what I want to do."
    "Of course, Sugar.  This is your home, it always has been.  Come on let's get on inside, I am sure you are starved."
    "The orchard looks like it needs some TLC Grams, the store too.  When does the handy man come in?" 'Drea asks as she nibbles at her turkey sandwich.
    "Don't have one, no need." Ruthie says handing 'Drea a glass of iced tea.
    "Grams..." 'Drea says with a regretful sigh. "Neither of us can do the heavy lifting around here.  We need a man to do it, possibly a few.  I put an ad in the paper, before I left New York.  I am sure they will start calling and showing up in no time."
    Ruthie looks over her coffee mug, "If you are sure Sugar."
    "I am.  Also, I need to see the books.  I will get the bills squared away and start getting things ready for the store to open as soon as possible."
    "OK.  You're old room is ready for you Sugar, so you can get settled in."
    "Alri ght Grams, thank you." 'Drea says as she finishes her sandwich. 
     
                  The kitchen is in perfect condition.  No one in town would argue that Ms. Ruthie's pies and jams aren't the best in the county.  She keeps an immaculate kitchen and that was one thing 'Drea was counting on.  Baking and cooking have always been 'Drea's constants, they never change.  It is her safe place, her one way to relax and just be.  Oh how proud Grams would have been to have seen her in her element in New York... No!  That's over now, 'Drea reminds herself.  She needs to let it go and find her dream, open her own little shop, bake and sell her own recipes.  First, she has to save the orchard and her Grams, which is long enough for her to lick her wounds and re-calculate after Phillip. Surely he will have trashed her reputation in New York, so a new start in a new place is exactly what she needs. 
     
    "It is so good to have you home, 'Drea.  I have missed you Sugar."
    'Drea smiles, "Me too Grams, everything is going to be good now." Kissin g her Grams on the cheek, 'Drea heads out to unpack the car.  Once she is settled in her old room, she changes into a pair of jeans and a green hooded pullover.  She whisks her hair up into a pony-tail and heads out to the store to see how much she can get done. 
     
                  The old log cabin store is covered in over-grown brush and shrubs.  The dust and cobwebs look like they have been there