Anna jumped when she heard the front door slam. She turned to seen Jas running down the stairs after Aiden, her long bathrobe flowed around her.

"Is everything all right?"

"You just met Aiden Johnson," a grim pout lined her face.

"Oh my," Anna said, considering the implications of that statement. "Dear, you can't run out there with your robe on. It's freezing."

Jas grasped the doorknob. "Won't be but a second."

"What happened?'

"I asked him why hadn't he added his parents to the wedding invitation list."

Anna shook her head. Then she walked over to the pantry and pulled out two mugs. She'd have hot chocolate waiting for them when they got back. They'd need it.

"Get back in the house with no clothes on. You'll get sick," Aiden said firmly.

Jas walked down to the dock where he was standing. Her arms were folded in defiance. When he saw that she wasn't paying him any attention, he ran towards her. He opened his wool coat and tucked her under it. Jas's teeth were chattering.

Aiden tugged her along. "You can be the most stubborn person that I know. Come on here." Then he looked down at her feet. "Oh, hell – no shoes." He quickly stripped off his coat, wrapped her up in it, then lifted her up and plowed back to the house.

Anna had the mugs of hot chocolate waiting on the coffee table. He dumped Jas down on the sofa. "Thank you, Anna. Can you give us a moment please?"

Anna smiled then headed down into the basement. "I have some sheets to finish washing. Call if you need anything."

Aiden paced. "I'm not doing it." He scowled at Jas and narrowed his eyes. "You have no right to ask me to ask them – especially knowing how I feel."

"I have every right," Jas said between chattering teeth. "I intend for our marriage to be a peaceful one. It will never be right unless you resolve this thing with your parents."

Aiden ran his fingers through his hair. "You said I've changed. Why isn't that enough, Jas?"

Her shaky hands lifted the mug and took a long sip of the hot chocolate. Jas closed her eyes feeling the heavenly warmth fill her stomach. Soon her body began to warm. "You need to know the truth about what happened, and you need closure. The wedding can bring healing without sadness."

"Or it can ruin the day I've been waiting for all of my life. I have accepted that I am an accident. I have accepted how they treated me. I don't communicate with them and I am at peace."

Jas dropped the coat from her shoulders. She walked across the room and placed her hand on Aiden's face. She looked at the pain in his eyes and wanted to crumble. Her stomach twisted at the agony that she saw in his eyes. "That's the problem Aiden, you still see yourself as an accident." He closed his eyes and tossed his head back. "That's the part of you that needs fixing. You are not an accident."

Aiden released a heaving sigh. "They didn't want me, Jas. They didn't love me."

"You don't know that. You don't know what caused them to do what they did." Jas wrapped her arms around him and held him. The tension in his shoulders really bothered her. "If you don't handle this you're going to feel inadequate and unloved for the rest of your life. Aiden, you won't be whole. I need you whole."

"I am whole."

"No, you're not. If you were this conversation wouldn't be bothering you."

She looked up in his eyes, pained at the struggle that she saw on his face. His jaw clenched and the pulse in his temple throbbed rapidly. Jas felt awful pushing him, but she knew she had to break through to him. The intense look in his dark eyes was almost frightening. Aiden pulled away from her and stomped up the stairs. "No, Jas – hell no."

***

A few days had passed. Leaves rustled in the autumn wind that was also filled with the aroma of fried foods and country music. The large tent sat on a prime corner of the festival lot. Nanna was glad that the city decided to extend the Apple Festival.

The cinnamon apple candle that was burning drew many passers to stop by and purchase Nanna's apple pies. Nanna and Deanna kept the tables filled with boxes of pies and pie samples.

Major and Troy sat at the back of the booth in rocking chairs. For some reason, Nanna and Major were drawn to them, and though it had only been a short while, they had become good friends.

"That's a nice young lady you've got there," said Major.

"She really is. Deanna is one of the most loving and kind women in the world."

Major dipped down and picked up a bucket of buttered popcorn. He extended it to Troy. Then took a heaping for himself.

"Thank you," Troy said grabbing a handful.

"What brings you to Ellijay? Don't mean to pry but you can see from the way the two of you dress, you're not country folk."

Troy chuckled, "Actually this is where Deanna was born and raised."

"Really," Major said, arching his brow. "Never would have thought that. She's very polished. What do you do for a living?"

"I'm a surgeon."

"Ah, that explains why you always have that bag with you."

Troy looked down at his medical bag. "It's a habit. I've done so much emergency work in my days. Once I had to do a tracheotomy on an airplane. I've seen people get burned at restaurants. I used to feel helpless seeing people in need when I knew I could help them." He shoved more popcorn in his mouth. After chewing he said, "Then one day I realized that if I carried my bag I could be of service. I'm never without it."

"That's very honorable."

"What about you?" Troy said giving Major a once over. "The boots that you always wear – you some kind of cowboy?"

Major started laughing. "Yep, cowboy to the core. I own a large ranch in Dallas and we supply food to the world. In just a few months I will be installing that little lady as the new queen of the ranch. My wife Judith died a few years ago."

"That's really good. You two have been an inspiration to watch."

"Glad to know that."

"Major, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"There's a road that leads down the side of the property of the inn. Do you know who lives there? I heard that it might be a crop duster. A friend of mine that owns a small farm in Gainesville needs one." Troy winced at the lie he was weaving, but he had to know more and didn't want to ask Deanna anything.

Major sat the bucket of popcorn back down. He leaned back in the chair and began to rock. "Arabella would be best to ask that question. I know she doesn't like the man and the wife that live there – some people called them the Johnson's. But I think she mentioned something about crop dusting. Let me ask her...Arabella."

Troy tapped him on the shoulder. "No don't bother them."

Nanna turned around and Major waved her back to the table.

"I can't imagine Nanna not liking anyone," said Troy.

"Any man that puts his own son out is not much of a man. That son however, has turned out to be a fine young man. Arabella practically raised him. That poor boy was abandoned by both his parents. That's why she doesn't like him."

Troy was stunned. He could feel his mouth twitching but he knew that he had to keep a straight face. "You don't think that a mother would ever abandon a child without a good reason, do you? Perhaps the son doesn't know the whole story."

Major gave a sideways glance to Troy. He stroked his face trying to understand why the conversation shifted this direction. Major scrunched his face. "I know the crop dusting business that he owns is on the edge of town. Want me to have my driver take you by there?"

"No, I have a rent a car. I'll find the place."

"Arabella says he's pretty ornery but I guess when it comes to business I would suppose that he'll treat your friend fair enough."

"Have you met the man's son? Sounds like you're fond of him."

Now Major was really confused but he went along with the conversation. "Yes, I've met him. He loves Arabella like his own mother and he is in love with Nanna's granddaughter, Jasmine. They've known each other their whole lives. I'm crazy about him too."

"Does he ever talk about his mother?"

"No." Major paused, then looked into Troy's eyes. "Is there something that you'd really like to know, son?"

Troy glanced down at his shoes. He had to think of something to shift Major's probing. He thought of something quick. "People have abandoned babies at the hospital and finding out what happens in those cases has always intrigued me. Didn't think I'd hear a story like that in this quaint little town..."

Before Troy could finish speaking Deanna came stumbling towards him with her hand over her chest. Troy jumped out of his chair alarmed. Major called out to Nanna.

"Arabella, is everything ok?"

Nanna headed toward them. "She just suddenly panicked."

Troy sat Deanna down in the chair. He kneeled down and took her pulse. It was skyrocketing and she was deathly pale. He reached in his bag and pulled out something. "Open your mouth, darling."

Troy pulled out something that looked like an inhaler. He shot a few puffs of B-12 into her mouth. Nanna and Major looked very worried. Then Major took Nanna by the hand. "Let us give you a minute."

"Thank you." Troy checked Deanna's pulse again. It was slightly lower. "What happened, darling."

***

Jas crept down the stairs to find Aiden hunched over, his face covered by his hands. The cracking from the blaze of the fire was the only sound. She felt so sorry for him. But for his sake she was determined to be firm. The man that she intended to marry was going to have a clean slate.

She slipped besides him and wrapped her arm around his shoulder. He didn't move. "You should be in bed with me, Aiden."

"I will never go to bed with you, angry."

She kept rubbing his shoulder until he finally gave in and leaned his head on her chest. Her hand slid down his arm. At the comfort of her touch, Aiden sighed.

"So, you're angry with me, Aiden?"

"I can't do it, Jas."

"I wish that the love I have for you was enough to fix that gaping hole in your heart. It will never be enough."

"It is enough, babe."

"That six your old boy that crawled in the bed with me the night your mother left is still there."

Aiden stood up abruptly. He walked to the fireplace and leaned against the mantle. "Don't go there, Jas."

"Do you remember what you asked me?"

"Stop."

"You asked, why don't they love me?"

The sadness on Aiden's face ripped Jas heart. Her courage to take one more redeeming step was fading fast. She stood to come towards him but he held his hand up. Jas moved forward anyway. His eyes were fixed on some distant spot on the floor. She embraced him, as he stood rigid. Then she reached up and cupped his face. "Aiden, you deserve an answer to that question."

His eyes were so sad, a single tear scrolled down his face. She brushed it away with her thumb. Aiden lifted his hand and held hers. Jas removed her hand away and slipped it under his night shirt. She heard the sharp intake of his breath. Jas tipped up and kissed him passionately. Her body ignited. "Come to bed. You need me to love you," she said pushing her nightshirt from her shoulders. It sank to the floor.

***

Troy was up before the sun rose. He had slipped out of bed and put his jogging clothes on. It was better than lying in the bed all night without sleeping a solitary wink. He'd run miles just thinking about what happened to Deanna the day before. She'd seen that scoundrel, Billy Bob.

Seeing the misery in her eyes let him know that she wasn't ready to deal with the situation. Troy had wracked his brains all night trying to figure out a way to help her and how to control his own fury. When the rays of the sun began to peak over the mountain he knew he'd better get back to the inn before Deanna awoke and worried about him. She had enough on her mind.

He ran up the winding road towards the inn. When he entered Nanna's property line he heard a truck coming, but it was too far back to see it because of the curve in the road. Before he could process the thought, truck lights blinded him. He lost balance and stumbled into the road. The truck swerved. Troy could hear a man swearing as the truck came to an abrupt halt.

Troy shook himself and looked around dazed. The man huffed towards him. "What are you doing, trying to get yourself killed? Are you all right?"

He glanced up and then looked down the road from where the truck came. It had come from the direction of the side road by Nanna's property. Troy's blood froze. He tried to soften the glare coming from his eyes. It must be him. "You the crop duster?"

"It's ag pilots, these days. How do you know about me?"

"I'm staying at the inn. I asked someone there about needing a plane service and they mentioned you."

Billy Bob gave Troy a wary look. "Who might that be?" He said in a sarcastic tone, knowing that no one that knew him at that inn would have anything good to say.

"Just an older gentleman." Troy vibrated with contempt. This was the man that nearly ruined his wife's life. He gave him a long look. Billy Bob was just as Deanna described him. Even now he looked distinguished. His dark features and gray streaked hair did make him look striking. If he glanced at him a certain way, Troy could see Aiden. "I may need your services."

"I don't work for individuals, only for commercial farmers in the area or do water bombing for forest fires."

Troy's head was pounding but he knew that he had to think fast. "Listen, I'm only in town for a short time. I'm thinking of buying some property in this area and would like to get an aerial view."

Billy Bob pulled out a cigarette and lit it. He leaned back against his truck and took a long drag. He blew circles of smoke into the air. "Considering that I almost killed you, I guess I could do that. I'll charge by the hour."

"No problem."

Billy reached in his wallet and pulled out a business card. "Call me later on and we'll arrange it." He took another drag on this cigarette then got in the truck and sped down the road.

***

Michelle banged on the door to Nanna's quarters. The old woman hopped out of bed. Major was about to follow but she said no. "It's probably a staff matter with the crew that in preparing breakfast. It's happened before. No need for us both to be up."

She slipped on her robe and rushed to the door. Nanna was startled out of her wits when she saw Michelle. "Good Lord, Michelle what craziness has you banging on my door this time of morning."

"I can't take it anymore, Nanna."

Nanna stepped outside the door and closed it. She led Michelle down the hall to the solarium.

"Can't take what, silly girl."

"You cannot sell this inn."

"What? What are you talking about? I'm not selling this inn."

Michelle's eyes turned into pools of fire. Her face contorted. She lifted her finger slowly and wagged it at Nanna. "You and Bruce won't tell me what's going on. Every time I try to talk to Bruce about it he shuts me down. Ella tells me to mind my own business. But I heard your conversation with him."

"I don't know what you heard, young lady. But you've got your butt where your face ought to be."

"Look Nanna, Bruce has been upset with you ever since he came by the inn a few weeks ago. When he was on the phone talking with you the other day I heard him say – how can you be okay with selling the inn. I know what I heard Nanna."

Ah, so Bruce didn't tell her about the engagement. Good, one less thing I have to worry about becoming public. "Listen Michelle, I'm not going to argue with you. I'm telling you the truth. I'm not selling the inn. Now go home and take care of your babies."

Michelle flung the door open and screamed.