The Simplicity of Cider

Isaac stood at the brink of the cliff. He spotted her and started to kick off his shoes. Treading water with one arm, she pointed to her right. She needed him to find the path down—she couldn’t get Bass up the face of the rocks without his help from land, but her strength was fading fast in the rough waters. She aimed for the spot where she had pointed, where the limestone had created a natural slope they could use to get out of the water. As she moved closer to the rocky shore, the riptides started to pull at her. She focused on keeping both their heads above water. Thank goodness, Isaac had found the path to the stairs and scrambled toward them. Just a few more feet and they’d be there, but the waves kept pushing her toward the wall. She turned her body so it was between the rock and Bass. The largest wave yet crashed into them, smashing her into the wall, and whooshing the breath out of her—she barely had enough time to tense her body for the impact. In the break between waves, she used the slimy wall to push her and Bass toward his waiting dad.

In an instant, Isaac pulled Bass from the water and he was safe in his father’s arms. Isaac looked at Sanna, and she waved him on to the safety of the cliff top, grateful to be rid of Bass’s weight. Another wave battered her as she clung to the ragged steps. In the next lull, she pulled herself out of the water into the cool air. Her legs and arms quivered with the effort to crawl up one more step to get away from the next crashing wave. The rain poured and thunder cracked, as lightning wrote letters across the sky. She longed to rest, as shivers trembled from her core. She needed dry clothes and hot tea.

Using the natural handholds on the jagged and cracked limestone, she hauled herself to standing and staggered to the top. As she pulled on her soaking shirt, Isaac emerged from the trees.

“I’m sorry, I had to get Bass in the truck. His leg . . .”

Sanna waved him off, but he picked up her jeans and shoes despite her wordless protests. She was grateful for that. As they walked to the truck, Sanna, barefoot, stumbled on a tree root and Isaac caught her, scooping her up in his arms, his hand grasping her bare, wet thigh.

Her body still trembled from the chill and exhaustion, and Isaac pulled her closer to him. Sanna had never been carried by a man—she had never needed or wanted to be—but she’d be lying if she said she didn’t savor the sensation. She didn’t feel unwieldy in his arms. She fit.

At last they were at the truck and Sanna was tucked into the warm interior next to Bass, who shivered on the seat next to her. She looked down at him. Scrapes and bruises covered his legs, his wet curls pressed flat to his head, and big, wet tears welled in his eyes. Carefully, she eased the blanket covering the vinyl seat from under him and curled herself next to him.

“You okay?”

He nodded.

“Nothing broken?”

“I don’t think so,” he said with chattering teeth.

Isaac opened the door and slid behind the steering wheel. She pulled Bass close and covered them both so their body heat could work together against the chill and residual fear their bodies needed to work out.

As Isaac drove back to the farm, Sanna looked down at Bass.

“For a fish, you’re an awful swimmer.”

Bass looked at her, then they both burst into laughter.

Isaac looked at them both like they had gone insane, and maybe they had.





CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR


Isaac couldn’t stop the hammering in his chest. Within minutes he thought he’d lost the two people he cared about most and now those same people were safe and laughing. Could a person have whiplash of the heart? He couldn’t even speak until they pulled into Idun’s parking lot and were greeted by rows of cars.

“What did you say on our website?” asked Sanna.

“The truth—that Idun’s has been family owned for generations and you make unique craft ciders. Clearly, there’s a market.”

“Pa. He must be overwhelmed.” Sanna reached to get out of the car to go help. Isaac grabbed her arm.

“You can’t go out like that.”

Sanna looked down at her all-but-see-through T-shirt and underwear, then blushed. “Shit.” She took the blanket and wrapped it around herself. “Tell him I’ll be right out to help.”

He didn’t avert his eyes as she covered up. Under different circumstances . . . Isaac let the thought go. He had something more important to address.

Bass slid to follow Sanna out of the truck, but Isaac held him back. Sanna was right about him, he hadn’t given Bass a real apology and that would change now.

“Bass, I’m sorry.” Bass faced him and those brown eyes tore at him. Could he make things right? “I was wrong and I never really explained to you all that happened. I thought I was protecting you, but that wasn’t fair. You had a right to say good-bye to your mom in your own way. I took that away from you. I hope you can forgive me. When you’re ready.”

Outside the approaching storm finally crashed over the orchard, turning the air into water, which thundered on the truck’s roof. Bass blinked down at his lap, his face screwed up to fight the tears. Isaac needed to remember he hadn’t had three months to mourn. To him, it was like his mom had just died.

“Did you know she was going to die?”

“I didn’t. I really thought she was getting the help she needed. But when people are addicted to drugs, sometimes that’s all they can think about. If I’d known she wasn’t going to come home, you would have seen her. I promise.”

Bass’s eyes sparkled with tears ready to fall, and he tucked his face into Isaac’s side.

“I’m mad because I didn’t know I should be sad. Before we left, I was happy I wasn’t going to see her for a while. The last time I saw her she yelled at me and threw my Legos away after she stepped on one. I should’ve told her I loved her. Maybe that would have helped her.”

Isaac wrapped his arms around Bass.

“You didn’t do anything wrong at all, but you deserved better from me.” Isaac pulled him tight, and they sat in silence as Bass’s body shook.

“We should have a funeral for her. We should say good-bye the right way.”

When did his son get so much smarter than him? He’d been so busy telling him to be young that he hadn’t seen the thoughtful young man he was becoming. Isaac couldn’t have been prouder.

“Of course. Why don’t you get into some dry clothes and come back out? It looks like Mr. Lund could use some help.”

Bass rubbed his eyes and nodded.

“I love you with all my heart, Bass. I’ll do whatever I can to be both your mom and dad from now on.” He kissed his forehead.

“Love you, too, Dad.”

They’d be okay.

Bass ran to the house, and Isaac took a deep breath before dashing through the rain to help Einars. But when he entered the farm stand, he discovered Einars had plenty of help already. Anders was there with Mrs. Dibble, Sheriff Dibble, and her grandsons. Anders worked the cash register, while Mrs. Dibble and the boys refilled bags of apples. Einars stood at a table in the back, offering cider samples to those who wanted it. A short, dark-haired couple—though everyone he saw these days seemed short compared to the Lunds—helped him with the tasting. They smiled and laughed with the customers as they filled small glasses. Einars saw him and waved him over.

“Isaac, meet Lou and Al. They’re up from Milwaukee for the weekend and found your brilliant website about Idun’s.”

They all shook hands.

“Where’s Sanna? They want to meet her.”

“I’m right here.”

Her hair was still wet, and she wore a lightweight gray sweater that went halfway to her knees over a pair of jeans. Her cheeks flushed pink when she looked at Isaac. Einars made the introductions.

“I’m in love with this cider. Actually all the ciders,” Lou said. She had wavy, dark brown hair, and the way Al watched her—it was as if the world would end if he stopped. “You have so many different types. I would love to build a menu around it.”

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