The Montgomery Apple Grove

Leaves hovered the ground, twirling around Hazel Bryson and Charlie Montgomery's ankles as they raced toward the apple grove. The sweet sound of juvenile laughter filled the air as Hazel sped past her best friend. 

"You never let me win!" Charlie complained as he finally caught up. He leaned against a tree to catch his breath and smoothed his charcoal black hair.

"You're such an old man." Hazel's 17 years old, sapphire eyes gleamed as she teased the olive complexioned boy. Every time she ran, she couldn't help but get lost in all the wonders the earth held. She loved the feeling of the wind brushing against her sun-kissed face and her strawberry blonde hair flowing behind her. 

Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery, who owned the apple grove, were great friends of her parents. This caused her and her family to have access to the best apples in Willows County, the oldest town in Virginia. 

"I'm only a year older." He huffed, plucking down the biggest apple above his head and handing it to Hazel. She dropped it into her woven basket with a smile.

"How's your dad doing?" She asked.

"He's doing all right. Eating just as many apples as always." He chuckled.

When Charlie's headstrong father got ill, Hazel was quick to volunteer to help harvest the fruit. He didn't appreciate the idea of taking it easy, but his wife insisted. Like any respectable man, he obeyed.

***

"Did you get your share of apples?" Hazel's mom kissed her forehead as she bounded into the one-story brick house. "Twenty-five for a matter of fact!" For her genuine help, the Montgomerys permitted her to bring home a fourth of the gatherings. 

The twins came rushing into the kitchen to greet their big sister with a hug, almost knocking her over. "Hello to you too." She petted the 7-year-old pair of girls on the heads as they both stole a Granny Smith and ran off to their rooms.

"They've been anticipating those all day." Mom supported her large pregnant belly with one hand and with the other, pulled out a dining room chair. 

"You okay?" Hazel asked as she watched her mother sit down with a grunt.

"Don't worry about me; I've done this all before." The window's light amplified the white strands of hair peeking through her brown, choppy bob. "You settle down and tell me about that man of yours. Charlie, is it?"

"Mom..." Hazel groaned with flushed cheeks.

"I'm just saying; y'all have been friends since kindergarten. Surely, compassionate love for each other has blossomed." She winked at her daughter.

"I won't deny that he's handsome, but I'm more concerned about his dad right now. He's still quite sick."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Mom's voice saddened. "Go wash up, girly. Your Dad's almost home from the mill. You know he doesn't like to wait for supper." 

While Hazel stood up, Mom whipped her behind with a washrag and exhaled a little giggle.

***

Bright and early Saturday morning, Charlie met up with Hazel at the coffee shop, telling the waitress their order upon entering.

He hung his denim jacket on the back of his seat and indulged the delicious aroma.

"Here you go." The waitress placed the two steamy mugs in front of them. 

"Ah, you always know what I want." Hazel clasped her cold hands around the mug of Elderberry tea. She loved the vibes of the coffee shop, but couldn't stand the bitter taste of the coffee. Charlie was the complete opposite, not being able to get enough of his darling dark roast. 

"Did you hear about the new fruit stand opening up near you guys?" 

"Ugh, don't remind me. We're simply hoping our customers stay loyal." Concern was plastered on Charlie's poor face. 

"I'm sure they will. Our town will not stand for that kind of foolery."

"Unless their prices are better than ours."

"Nobody can change my mind about your fruits being the best!" Her declaration echoed throughout the building, causing her to hunker down. She rolled her eyes, trying to ignore Charlie's quiet snicker, but his laugh was too contagious. 

Before he could reply, his phone began to vibrate. "It's my mom." He said, glancing at the caller ID before he swiped the screen to answer. "What?... No... Are you sure?" 

Hazel slowly became anxious as she watched Charlie arch his thick dark eyebrows and wrinkle his forehead. He only did those things if he was sincerely worried about something.

"I'll be right there." He hung up the phone.

"What's wrong?!" Hazel shouted as he ran to the exit, forgetting his jacket. 

"He's in the hospital!" 

He? Mr. Montgomery?

She thought to herself as she took the last sip of tea. 

That can't be.

***

Hazel sprinted through the apple grove once more, knowing exactly where her friend preferred to languish.

"Is that you?" She slowed, approaching a spindly, shivering figure resting in front of a large apple tree. She and Charlie had engraved the tree with their initials in their earlier years. Its sturdy bark held many foretold secrets of Charlie and Hazel's, but most importantly, it served as the personal Montgomery family tree. It had been quenching their need for apples since before Charlie was ever born.

She draped the left behind jacket over his back to shield him from the sharp wind. "You left this." She spoke tenderly.

With bloodshot eyes and a strained voice, Charlie uttered words that he never imagined delivering. "His body is trembling and trying to fall into a coma. The doctors don't know if he'll make it." Tears of pure agony began to stream down his face for the hundredth time.

Those ghastly words made Hazel's strength diminish from her bones as she sank to the ground.

"Oh, Lord, help us."

She leaned her body against Charlie's and joined his despair.

As the hours of silence and tears passed by, she had to refuse the urge of drifting to sleep. She lifted her head from Charlie's shoulder and looked around to liven herself. Just as she went to return to her original state, something behind the tree caught her peripheral vision.

"What's this?" She reached back for it, taking a closer look. 

"Probably just something we've sprayed the apples with to ward off insects." Charlie solemnly responded.

"With liquefied acetaminophen?"

"What?" He snatched the glass spray bottle from her hand, inspecting the leftover content inside. "How do you know what it is?"

Hazel pointed to the fine print on the bottom of the bottle. "It looks handwritten." 

Right then, it looked as if a lightbulb had appeared above her head. 

"Just how many apples has your dad consumed?"

"You know my dad, he loves them. He basically eats four a day."

"Charlie, your dad doesn't have the flu... He's overdosed."

"Due to the children's discovery, we've been able to stabilize your husband. It's unquestionably an overdose." The doctor informed Mrs. Montgomery. "Do you know how many pills he ingested?"

"None! He refused to take any, no matter how hard I pushed. He kept quoting, apples are a cure-all." She folded her arms in displeasure. "That stubborn mule."

With the confirmation, Charlie left them to discuss the facts and walked out to his blue beater truck that awaited outside. As always, Hazel invited herself along. "Don't you think you should tell them about the other half of the discovery?"

"Not without evidence first." He turned the keys in the ignition and allowed the truck to idle for a moment. It was considered a beater for a reason.

***

The sound of Charlie filing through documents rang in Hazel's ears. 

"Why are we doing this?" Hazel asked, placing a military ammo box on a walnut-colored desk. 

The two occupied the apple grove office, which was also the smallest bedroom in the Montgomery house. It held every record of business, from the beginning of the orchard journey to the present day.

"Dad said that if we were ever in a bind; there's guaranteed to be an answer in here." 

Hazel sighed, hoping to release some pressure from her mind, and cracked open the rusty old box. A dust cloud formed around her as she dug within its contents. 

"Hey, come look at this." She waved around a piece of paper marked with a bold red NOTICE on it. 

Charlie held the paper in his firm grip and read it aloud:

Dear, Jerry Hutcherson,

You are receiving this notice due to you failing to abide by your legal agreement with Hugh Montgomery. You are hereby enforced by law to sign your signature on the line below and return to the sender. By doing so, you are turning over your half of the land and income of the 'Montgomery Apple Grove' to the original owner.

Signature: Jerry R. Hutcherson 

"Hugh Montgomery as in your dad?" Hazel's nose wrinkled.

"Yeah, but who's Jerry Hutcherson?"

"I believe the bigger question is why does this handwriting seem so familiar?"

The two racked their brains, pacing the floor until Hazel shouted out. "I've got it!"

***

"So?" Charlie questioned the town's detective. The detective obnoxiously smacked bubble gum and analyzed the handwriting on the recently uncovered bottle to the handwriting on the notice. Finally, he spoke up. "Welp, it seems like you've certainly stumbled across something." 

Hazel could feel her impatient nature bursting throughout her veins at an accelerating speed. "Oh, come on, is the handwriting the same or not?"

The detective cut his blue eyes at her, warning not to rush him. 

"It is. Likewise, I know where you can find this man," He continued. "But hold your horses! You can't do this task alone."

Although just as ambitious as Hazel, Charlie agreed with the detective. 

"We can't mess this up."

***

Blue lights reflected off of the newly constructed fruit stand as the law enforcement kicked in the entryway of where the man was hiding.

"Jerry Hutcherson, do not resist!" Their stern voices caused the hairs on the back of Charlie's neck to stand up. 

Finally, the so-called Jerry exited the building locked in handcuffs, pitching a fit. 

Jerry not only was the owner of the stand, but he was also the one responsible for purposely poisoning the apples, nearly getting away with the murder of Charlie's father. 

"Thank you," Charlie said, wrapping his arm around Hazel. "My dad would be in a coffin if it weren't for you."

Hazel couldn't help but admire the weight of his arm around her for a brief minute. She then fixed her gaze on him, suddenly experiencing the same feeling she felt when she ran. Only this time, she wasn't lost in the world's wonders; she was lost in the defined depth of Charlie's amber eyes. Her exquisite soul glowed as he pulled her into a sweet embrace.

"I've been thinking," Charlie's smooth, rich voice caused Hazel's heart to flutter. "Don't you think we're past being best friends?" He impatiently waited for a response.

"Way past it." Hazel beamed.

I guess you were right, mom... A heartfelt love has blossomed over the years.

Their beautiful moment was interrupted by the sound of the detective quoting Jerry his rights. 

"I want to know why you've caused such ruckus," Charlie demanded answers.

"I used to know your old man; we were great friends in high school. The orchard was my idea," He emphasized. "But soon after we started, he fired me for no reason and claimed my side of the land as his own." The man fumed, ruffling his salt and pepper hair.

Charlie and Hazel exchanged looks of skepticism. What Jerry said and what that paper said, weren't lining up. Hugh may have been self-willed, but he wasn't a jerk. He was actually quite nice. If he fired someone, there had to be a reasonable explanation.

"You almost killed him."

"I wish I would have succeeded." The corrupt man growled, flaring his nostrils and lurching toward Charlie.

Hazel, thankful that the man was now handcuffed to the interior of the car, tugged on Charlie's arm. She could sense his vast desire to plant a fist in Jerry's weather-beaten face. Although Charlie was easy-going, when somebody threatened the ones he loved, he was quick to strike. 

With her usher, he clenched his teeth and sharply exhaled, slamming the steel door. 

"Take him away." 

***

"What really happened?" Charlie sat next to his father in the dimly lit hospital room.

"Hmm," Hugh fiddled his thumbs as he was taken back to his youth. "Jerry may have envisioned the business, but I completely funded it and worked it while he attended college. Once he returned, he and I joined in a contingent agreement where he received half the profit as long as he provided 50% of the business costs. However, when I married Susan, your mother, and allowed her to take over the budget side of the business, he became enraged. For some reason, he felt threatened by her. He said that she was trying to come between our friendship and that she would do something underhanded. After assuring him that she was honest help, I thought everything was dandy, but no. He protested by not paying for several months. Out of pity, I secretly paid both ends. I cared for him as if he were my own brother; the thought of disowning him was not my intention. He had the money, yet, he kept refusing to pay his debts... I had to get rid of him before he destroyed my marriage and all I had worked towards. It broke my heart to report him to the government, but it had to be done."

He shook his head with disapproval. "Who knew that he'd come back years later and do something so devious." 

Instead of holding a grudge against him, Hugh felt sorry for Jerry for he knew that Jerry would face many consequences for his crimes.

"What are they going to do about the fruit stand? Surely, they aren't going to let it go to waste."

"I'm not sure." A suspicious grin grew across Hugh's face as he laid there, beginning to devise a plan. "Call the detective and tell him that your old folk needs to have a private meeting with him." 

When Charlie approached the lobby, Hazel met him, wanting to know what was said. Her eccentric energy bounced her up on her tiptoes.

"I'll tell you all about it after I make a quick phone call." He said, dialing a number.

While he spoke with the person on the other end of the phone, Hazel asked the receptionist if she could enter the now empty room.

"Of course, go right ahead!" The blonde headed lady at the counter pointed in the direction Hazel was to go. 

Once she got there, Hazel softly knocked and pushed open the door, cringing at the high-pitched creak. "Hello?"

"Hazel, what a surprise! I didn't know you were here."

"Yeah, they're only allowing one visitor at a time." She grabbed hold of his outreached calloused hand. "My family sends wishes of a speedy recovery." 

"Y'all always have been so kind." Hugh smiled. "Do you suppose you could keep a secret as well?" 

"Of course." She replied with a sudden spike of curiosity.

"Atta' girl!" Hugh gave Hazel's hand a quick squeeze and continued to tell her about his charming plan.

THREE WEEKS LATER

"Careful on the brakes! He may be old, but he's a jewel in disguise." Charlie frantically warned Hazel as she drove him and his beater truck to a secret destination. "He? I thought it looked more like a girl." She smirked, keeping her eyes on the road.

"Can't you just tell me where we're going?" He threw his head back in torment.

"Be patient! Your dad specifically told me not to breathe a word. Besides, shouldn't you be focusing on your career of side-seat driving?" She flipped on the left blinker and pulled into a small parking lot. "Tada!"

Charlie feasted his eyes on a swarm of cheering people. "Why is there a huge crowd in front of the fruit stand?" He rolled his window down to hear them better.

"It's not just any fruit stand, son, it's your fruit stand." Hugh appeared out of the crowd.

"What do you mean? I thought the doctor said you were to be discharged tomorrow?" Charlie climbed out of the truck and hugged his dad.

"Oh, I set that up." Hugh solidly patted his son's back and continued. "The detective agreed to sign this property and building over to me due to Jerry and I's history. He never had any kids or even got married. I guess he dedicated his life to savaging me. Because of this, I had first dibs." Hugh presented Charlie with an oversized pair of scissors. "It so happens that I need somebody that I trust to sign it all over to." He winked.

"M-m-me?" Charlie stammered, trying to process everything that had happened recently. He decided that the best thing to do at the moment was to do the thing he always longed to do... Have the honor of cutting a ribbon on the opening day of his own establishment.

"Greetings, Willow County! I thank you all for coming today." Charlie wired up the crowd like a natural. After all he and his family had been through, they deserved some spotlight. 

At the end of his speech, he motioned for the girl of his dreams to come close and clipped the ribbon in half. He then leaned into the most desirable lips in town.

"How would you feel about helping me run this place someday?" He earnestly watched the speechless girl stare at her feet. Her heart racing and her palms sweaty, she glanced at her mother who stood nearby. With a thrilling squeak of over enjoyment and a little blush in her cheeks, Hazel pulled him down into another kiss.

"Does that answer your question?"