Old Grove

I throw my arms around my uncle’s neck as he pulls me in for a  big bear hug. I breathe him in and smile. He smells like sunshine and fruit orchards. I missed his strong arms around me. I haven’t seen my uncle in years because he had a falling out with dad about the orchard. He had to sell half of the trees and dad was pissed.  Now he only has 4 acres of fruit trees. He never did tell dad why he had to sell, and maybe that was why he was so mad. But now he needs help and dad couldn’t say no.

I just graduated from high school and mom and dad thought it would be nice for me to spend the summer helping Uncle Tom before I go off to college in the fall. I didn’t mind at all! I love it here!

Uncle Tom didn’t have any kids to help with the fruit trees because his wife died from cancer a year after they married and he was so heartbroken that he never remarried. And while that’s all sweet and romantic, I worry about my uncle out here in Southern California all by himself.

“Long time no see, kiddo. Welcome back to Old Grove,” Uncle Tom chuckles, pulling away and stroking the back of my head affectionately.

“Hey Uncle Tommy. How’ve you been?” I ask, with a big smile on my face. I really love my uncle.

“Well, I can’t complain. I miss you and your family, though,” he says with a sad smile. I’m sure he has been lonely, and I would be lying if I said I hadn’t mentioned it to dad more than a few times. He needs someone to look out for him, and they used to be so close!

When Grandma and Grandpa died before I was born, they left the orchards to Uncle Tom and Dad. From what I remember, they both worked well together. I know Uncle Tommy could use the help, and the company. He really needs us back here, but my dad is stubborn.

“I know, I’ll talk to Dad again!” I promise.

Suddenly, a guy rounds the corner of the house and stops short. He seems vaguely familiar. And, man he was hot! He had  sun bleached blond curls falling into his bright blue eyes focusing on my face, and there was an adorable dimple on his left side as he smiles at me. His skin was already tan from hours of working in the sun. He is wearing a dirty gray tee shirt and ripped jeans and cowboy boots.

Uncle Tom turns around to see what’s caught my attention and chuckles, shaking his head.

“I should’a known. Tammy, do you remember Robbie? He’s the youngest one of the Williams' sons. They have two other boys to help on their farm, and I hired him to help me out. I figured the three of us could handle the crops this year,” explained Uncle Tom.

Robbie approaches me with a slight blush on his cheeks and nervously scratches the back of his neck. His eyes take me in from head to toe.

“You’re all grown up,” he chuckles in a deep husky voice that makes me melt into a puddle of goo. The look in his eyes has indeed told me I have grown up, and apparently he likes what he sees.

“Yeah, you too…”  I agreed. When did my pitch go three octaves higher? I clear my throat and try again. “I haven’t seen you since I was about 8 years old. You and your brothers would pull on my ponytails,” I chuckled.

“Well, you know what they say when a little boy plays with a pretty girl's hair, right…” he smirks at me. Then he took a strand of my fire red curls and playfully tugged it. “And your hair sure is pretty!”

Now I’m pretty sure even my red hair matches my red face! I just can’t right now! He was so freakin’ hot and sweet at the same time! How am I supposed to last the summer like this?

Uncle Tom clears his throat really loudly and awkwardly to get our attention back to him, instead of each other. He smirks at the both of us. Only Uncle Tom would embarrass me like this! Even dad wouldn’t do this… He’d probably just ignore it and hope it went away.

I blush and duck my head. By now I’m sure my face full of freckles is burning redder than the apples growing from the trees. From the corner of my eye I see Robbie trying to keep a big dopey grin off his face too… It’s not working.

“Rob, I need you to go check out the plums, their leaves have turned brown, I’m gonna need your help pruning them,” Uncle Tom says.

“No problem! See ya later, Tammy,” he states as he jogs off the way he came from, giving me one last look over his shoulder.

My eyes follow him until he rounds the corner. Dang, what a view! His back is full of muscles along with his strong legs… sigh!

“Okay, Tammy, you wanna settle in to the guest room while I go out back with Robbie  and see what needs doin’?” Uncle Tommy says with a knowing smirk.

I swear nothing gets past Uncle Tommy!  I guess that comes from being the older brother. I just hope he isn’t gonna try to keep me away from Robbie this summer… That would really suck!

“Sure thing, Uncle Tommy,” I agree quickly and run to grab my bags from the trunk of my little Honda Civic, and hurry off into the house.

The guest room is just as I remember it. The walls have an off white wallpaper with little yellow flowers printed on it. There is a nice queen size bed covered in soft green and yellow flower comforter and matching pillows. There is a side table with a small lamp, also in a soft green. There is a decent size dresser, and the closet is big enough… Not that I brought a ton of clothes to be hung up. Mostly jeans shorts and tee shirts.

I sigh and get to work. I don’t have a lot with me, and most of it goes into the drawers, but I have a couple nice blouses and two skirts. I remember that Uncle Tommy likes going to church on Sundays and I would be happy to go with him.

My memory goes back all those years ago when we used to live here, and we’d all go to church together. I remember the Williams' boys. They always found a way to get into trouble. I’m not sure if they still have that tendency, or if they have settled down now.

I also remember my best friend Stacy. We used to run away from the boys together. We would play dolls and play in the orchards, hiding from the boys. Uncle Tommy would always give us ice cream if we helped him pick the peaches. I wonder if she is still around? I would love to catch up and hang out while I’m in town! I bet she’s got some good gossip.

I get startled out of my daydreaming when I hear my uncle calling me. I open up my window and look out onto the orchards. I looked at the sun and then checked my phone. I’d been in my room for over two hours! What the heck? I know they say time flies when you're having fun… I don’t think putting clothes away counts!

“Hey, Uncle Tommy, what’s up?” I call out.

Uncle Tom and Robbie were a few feet from my window. Both of them looked tired, hot and sweaty. It looked a lot better on Robbie than my uncle! They must have been working really hard while I was in here daydreaming… I felt bad! I should have been out there helping out.

“I was thinkin’ you and Robbie might like to go down to the diner and get something to eat,” he suggests with  a raised brow, and turns his head toward Robbie with a knowing look.

My face heats up all over again! Yeah, he didn’t miss a thing! Man, I don’t know how to control this blush! And maybe it would help if I could get my heart to stop trying to fly out of my chest… And if someone could give those butterflies in my tummy an eviction notice, that would be great! Thanks!

“Actually, I’m starving,” I admit. I’d been driving for hours from  Portland. I’m probably lucky I didn’t get pulled over with how fast I’ve been driving, but I didn’t make many stops so I could make it here quicker.

I try to keep my focus on Uncle Tom so my flushed face could calm down. But in the corner of my eye I see Robbie’s eyes twinkle with excitement. I wonder if he came up with the idea?

“Great! I’m gonna take a break for a bit while you two get something to eat!” He chuckles and walks off.

I can’t believe it! I’m going to the diner with Robbie! I want to squeal in excitement, but manage not to embarrass myself further.

I look up at him. He has that adorable smile on his face, then he winks at me. “I’ll meet you out front!” He calls out low and husky.

His voice does something to me. And there go those butterflies again! Man what am I gonna do with him?

I’ve never been this giddy before. I’ve had a few crushes on boys before, of course. I’m 18! Who hasn’t? But this one feels different… It almost feels like… Coming home.

I skip to the front door and find Robbie waiting for me.

He grabs my hand and pulls me out. “Ready to go?” he asks.

“Yep!” I answer. You have no idea!