Page 28 of Apple of My Eye

His genuine interest intrigued me. “Well…” I filled him in on the winter pruning and oil sprays to keep the moths away. How we wrap the trunks of dwarf trees to protect them. In the spring, we’d set out more pest traps and monitor for diseases, treating if necessary. Of course, we watered in the heat of early summer, but stopped by August so the trees would form terminal buds. And finally, it ended with the harvest in the fall.

“I keep track of everything in the journals at the orchard cottage, just like Dad did. The seasons come and go, each with a flow to it, one that I count on like clockwork. I can’t really see myself ever living anywhere else,” I finished.

He started asking another question, when Maddox found us, pulling Knox into a quick hug with slap on the back before turning to me with a grin. I got pulled into his arms, too, knocking the breath out of me with his strong cologne.

“Jesus, Maddox. Let her go,” Knox commanded.

“Didn’t wear my jersey, sweetheart? I’m offended,” the player teased with full bravado. Knox growled. “Come on, just getting back at you for what you did to me in high school when you knew I liked Stacy Sheffner.”

“What did you do?” I cocked my head at Knox.

“Forget it. Doesn’t matter. And don’t you dare tell her,” Knox warned.

“One day, I’ll totally fill her in.” Maddox grinned under a beard and mustache. I could see it now why both men could easily be mistaken for each other.

“Daisy meet my brother.” Knox gestured between us.

“He forgot to add his more handsome, more talented brother. So, you’re the woman Knox has been telling us all about.”

My eyes slid to Knox immediately with a roll of them.

“Maddox,” he warned. By his red face, he might actually regret bringing me now.

“What? I’m just confirming she’s yours. Otherwise, I’ll make my move.” He seemed intent to get under Knox’s skin.

“Don’t you dare,” Knox got his back up even though they were clearly ribbing each other.

I chortled. “I’m right here, fellas. I’ll pick who’s mine, thank you very much.”

All of a sudden, two more people approached our table, older and familiar in the way they carried themselves even before Knox turned.

“Mom and Dad?” His eyes widened, brows hitting his hairline. I straightened instinctively. “What are you doing here?”

“Beatrix texted you were in town. We had to come see our boy,” his mother explained.

Knox made introductions that I was entirely unprepared for. “Daisy, this is Gerald and Brenda.”

“Call me Mom.” She brought me into her arms like she’d known me longer than five seconds. “We’re huggers in this family.” I had gathered that.

Gerald shook my hand with a curve to his lips that reminded me too much of Knox’s. “I hope you were pleased with the deal our produce manager worked out for you.”

“Yes. Thank you so much,” I quickly stated.

“Anything for our hero,” he said, slapping Knox’s back.

My eyes landed on Knox when no explanation came as to why his father would call him a hero. I caught the flicker there, though, something that momentarily took him off guard, that he tried to hide. I noted it to askhim about it later.

Beatrix suddenly joined us, too. Just one big happy family here—and me. It would be hard to be uncomfortable among this merry group. Gerald bought a round of drinks and appetizers. They all settled into an effortless conversation. Very natural. Plenty of inside jokes, teasing each other easily.

I watched them all interact: the way they cared for each other, the way they listened. Everything about them felt grounded in love, admiration, and respect. Exactly what a family was supposed to be, in my opinion.

Tightening creeped into my chest. I hadn’t experienced the feeling of true family in a long time. Yes, I had my sisters, but when we got together, we all knew who was missing, a part of us we’d never get back, empty chairs at the dining table, the holes in our hearts that would never heal.

My eyes landed on Knox, laughing with his siblings as they looked up to him, his mother’s hand on his arm like she couldn’t help but touch her son. His father gazing upon his oldest with approval.

I swallowed hard, blinking past the sting in my eyes, unsure why I’d get so emotional over this. Maybe it wasn’t entirely about what I’d lost or comparing families. But about what I’d been too afraid to want again—a whole family.

I wasn’t sure what scared me more—that I couldn’t have it, or that Knox might be the key to achieving it.