Eyes on the Prize Read online

  The door swung open, and Rose came out carrying a tray with three tall glasses and a plate of homemade rolls.

  “These are apple crescents,” she said, offering them to Jane and Cynthia. She set the tray on the small table between them and pulled up a chair.

  Cynthia took a bite of one. “Mmm. Delicious. Not too sweet.”

  “I just wrap apple slices in crescent rolls, roll them in cinnamon sugar and bake. Makes an easy breakfast treat, but I always have too many for just Sam and me. With school, the grandsons don’t come over as often. You don’t usually jog this far from town, do you, Jane?”

  “No. I heard about the Harvest charity run next month, so I thought I’d check out the route. It’s supposed to go right past the farm.”

  “Yes. Carrie, the organizer of the race, stopped by and talked to us about it. We’re going to provide a water station for the runners. We’ll set it up at the end of the driveway. She said she expects over one hundred runners and walkers. So you’re going to represent Acorn Hill?”

  “I’m sure there will be plenty of local participants. I’m thinking about running it. Would you like to sponsor me?” Jane asked, taking a swallow of iced tea. It tasted good. She hadn’t realized just how thirsty she’d become. She didn’t usually go far enough to need a drink until she got back home. Perhaps she should look up distance training and see what else she hadn’t considered.

  “Yes, we’ll sponsor you. We’ll probably have to support our grandsons too, so we’ll divide our contribution between you. How’re Louise’s pumpkins coming along? Craig told Sam they had prize potential,” Rose said. “They must be getting large.”

  “Large isn’t the word for them,” Cynthia said. “They’re huge. One is over eight hundred pounds.”

  “Really? That’s good for mid-September. She still has a couple of weeks of growing season.”

  “You always plant a big garden. Have you ever tried the giant pumpkins?” Jane asked.

  “One year I grew several that weighed in around two or three hundred pounds. That’s not large enough to compete, so I gave up.”

  “That’s pretty big. Why didn’t you try again?” Cynthia asked.

  “Well, it seemed like a waste of time to me. I can’t compete at that rate, and pumpkins that big aren’t good eating. The boys had fun carving them up for Halloween, though, I’ll have to admit.”

  Jane leaned forward. “So you couldn’t use them for baking?”

  “No. When they get that large, they’re usually waterlogged. They don’t have much flavor and they turn mushy. I like the baby pumpkins. That’s what I grow. They make wonderful pies and soups and anything that calls for pumpkin.”

  “Aha! So I don’t need to look for ways to cook Louise’s pumpkins.”

  “I wouldn’t bother. Just take lots of pictures. Unless she grows a contender and catches the bug, this may be her only crop.”

  “Catches the bug?” Cynthia asked.

  “Yes. Growing giant pumpkins is addictive. There are organizations of pumpkin growers all over the world. They hold contests and haul their huge pumpkins to designated weigh-in stations. Around here, people tow their pumpkins all the way to Baskenburg.”

  “That must be almost two hundred miles from here,” Jane said. “Louise won’t want to go there.”

  “Oh no? Just wait and see. I’d have gone there if I’d grown one large enough.”

  “What is large enough?” Cynthia asked.

  “It’d be worth going if you have a pumpkin that weighs somewhere around eight hundred to a thousand pounds,” Rose said.

  “Mom’s just might get that big.”

  “It’ll keep growing through September if it gets enough nourishment and water,” Rose said. “What is she using for fertilizer?”

  “I have no idea,” Jane said. “It’s a big secret.

  “If Craig’s advising her, she’s using a good fertilizer. Obviously, she had a good early mix with a boost of phosphorous, then increased nitrogen to set the fruit. Now she’s probably feeding it a higher concentration of potassium.”

  “I haven’t seen any fertilizer containers. Louise’s pumpkin patch is a complete mystery to me. She’s out there every day fussing over her personal patch, but she waits until I’m finished doing my gardening.”

  Cynthia laughed. “Now that’s a side of my mother I haven’t seen before. When I was growing up, if I ever acted mysteriously she would demand to know what I was up to. She never cared for surprises, even if one was for Christmas or her birthday. Now she’s the mysterious one. Very interesting. I think there’s a story in this. You’ll have to keep me informed, Aunt Jane.”

  “I could sneak around with my camera and see if I can catch her doing whatever it is she’s doing. I can see the book now—Louie and the Giant Pumpkin.”

  “Very catchy title,” Rose said. “I need to get over and see these marvels.”

  “Why don’t you and Sam come to dinner after church tomorrow. I’m sure Louise will be happy to show you her pumpkin patch.”

  “We’d love to. Do you have others coming?”

  “I imagine Aunt Ethel and Lloyd will join us.”

  “I just picked apples. I’ll bring a couple of caramel apple pies for dessert, just in case.”

  “Oh, I’m glad I don’t have to rush off right after church.” Cynthia winked.

  Chapter Five

  Louise was setting the dining-room table for dinner after church when she heard a knock at the front door. At the same time Ethel and Lloyd came through from the kitchen.

  “I’ll get that,” Ethel said. She sailed into the entryway, while Lloyd stayed in the dining room.

  “Afternoon, Louise. Can I be of assistance?” Lloyd asked.

  “Thank you, but I think everything’s under control. I imagine that’s the Bellwoods at the door. Perhaps you and Ethel could visit with them until Jane serves dinner.”

  “Delighted. I brought my camera to photograph the pumpkins. I’ll just set it on the buffet if that’s all right.”

  “That’s fine, Lloyd,” Louise said.

  Sam Bellwood’s rich voice could be heard in the hallway, as Sam talked with Ethel. Lloyd went out to join them.

  “Need any help?” Rose asked from the hallway door. She was carrying a pie basket.

  “Thanks, but we’re finished here,” Louise said.

  “Dinner will be ready as soon as everyone is seated,” Alice said, poking her head through the doorway from the kitchen. “Hi, Rose. Those must be the pies Jane told me about. I’ll put them in the kitchen,” she said, relieving Rose of her burden.

  “I’ll help serve while you call people to the table, Mother.” Cynthia disappeared into the kitchen behind Alice.

  Fifteen minutes later, Lloyd asked a blessing on their meal and their time together. When he said “Amen,” Sam Bellwood followed with, “Amen, and please pass the biscuits.”

  The platter of baked chicken was nearly empty by the time it got back around to Louise. She put a piece on her plate, then went into the kitchen for a refill. She pushed open the swinging door, returning to the dining room, and almost ran into Alice, who was holding an empty coleslaw bowl.

  “Excuse me,” she said. “I put some salad on your plate. I hope there’s more in the refrigerator.”

  Jane came up behind Alice. “The sweet potato fries are almost gone too. Have you tasted them? I like them better than French fries.”

  “Looks like everyone else likes them too,” Louise commented, scooting through the doorway. She set the platter on the table and returned to her seat.

  As talk and laughter filled the room, Cynthia leaned over to her mother and said, “I’m so glad I could stay today. It’s easy to see why you love it here so much. I have friends in Boston who get together and go out after church, but everyone is so busy, we rush through a meal and off to other obligations.”

  Louise looked around at the friends and family gathered in their dining room. In a few short years, they’d shared many joys
and shed a few tears together. She’d lived away from Acorn Hill most of her adult life, until her dear Eliot passed away. When her father died four years later, she was ready to move back to the small town and join her sisters in starting a bed-and-breakfast in the old Howard home. She’d never regretted it. “We’re particularly blessed here,” Louise said. “We’d be happy to make room for you.”

  Cynthia gave her a quick hug. “I know. And I’d love it for a while, but I’d miss Boston and all the energy and activity in the city. Maybe someday, when I’m ready to settle down.”

  Louise patted Cynthia’s hand and gave her a knowing smile. She’d felt the same way thirty years before. “Yes. When I’m old and grayer and shuffling around with a walker. Then you can move home and take care of your ancient mother.”

  Cynthia laughed. “That picture does not compute. You won’t ever be an old lady. You’re too independent for that.”

  I wish, Louise thought. But she hoped she would never become a burden to her daughter.

  “When are we going to visit your pumpkin, Louise?” Lloyd asked.

  His plate was clean. Looking around, she realized everyone was finished except for Jane and her. “I don’t know why you’re all so eager to see a pumpkin patch when there’s still a couple of pieces of chicken left, but give me a minute to finish, then I’ll take you out. We’ll save dessert for later. The Leys, the Humberts and Craig Tracy are coming over in a few minutes to take pictures and measure the pumpkin.”

  Most unusual. For the life of her, Louise couldn’t understand their fascination with her pumpkin.

  “Stand there to the left and hold the hoe as if you’re weeding,” Patsy instructed Louise. She’d set up her camera on a tripod in the garden, while the covering over the pumpkin was removed.

  “I don’t want to be in the picture,” Louise objected. “Jane, you come hold the hoe.”

  “No way. I’m not the gardener here. That’s your plant. You need to be in the picture.”

  “Go on, Mother. I want a picture of you with your remarkable pumpkin, for posterity’s sake.”

  “Oh, all right.” Louise picked up the hoe and went to the side of the big pumpkin.

  “Careful,” Craig said. “You don’t want to break it off or stress the plant.” He stepped forward to help. The large leaf was drying out, turning brown in big splotches. It crinkled when they moved it. Together, they tucked a leaf out of the way to fully expose the pumpkin. Then Craig moved out of the way and Louise posed for Patsy.

  The gathering reminded Jane of an old-fashioned garden party. The guests meandered around the garden. Rose and Sam stood in back with Ethel and Henry Ley, watching. Alice and Cynthia stood to one side with Vera, talking softly. The umbrella shading the pumpkin completed the festive scene.

  Trying to envision Patsy’s finished photograph of Louise and the pumpkin, Jane held her hands out in front of her, forming the bottom of a square with her fingers. Patsy took flora and fauna pictures as a hobby. Her framed photographs had won several blue ribbons and rosettes and best of show in the county fair.

  The scene didn’t work for Jane. Louise’s navy blue skirt and royal blue sweater set didn’t fit with the hoe. It would be fun to do her own picture for Louise, though. She’d use pastels to sketch Louise on her knees, pruning or perhaps watering.

  Craig and Fred stood off to the side, watching the photo shoot. Craig had a tape measure in hand, ready to check the current size. Jane thought that the pumpkin looked larger, but big was big and it was huge. She’d heard about giant pumpkins and squash, but she’d never watched one grow before. She’d even stood and talked to the amazing plant when no one was around to hear her. This was Louise’s project. Although she had teased her sisters for their brown thumbs, she was thrilled with Louise’s success and didn’t want to interfere in any way.

  While Patsy gave Louise directions, Lloyd was up close, taking shots of the giant pumpkin. Jane had to admit it was impressive. The patio umbrella was very large and it shaded the entire pumpkin, but they would need more coverage if the pumpkin continued to grow at the rate it had been.

  “Smile.”

  Louise tilted her head just slightly and gave Patsy a forced smile.

  “Say ‘whistle,’” Jane told her sister.

  “Whistle,” Louise repeated. One camera clicked.

  “My camera didn’t take. Do it again,” Lloyd said.

  Louise glowered at him. Jane knew how much Louise hated having her picture taken.

  “Just one more, please,” Patsy said.

  “All right, but this is it. Are you ready, Lloyd?”

  Lloyd held his camera up and looked through the viewer. “Ready.”

  Louise smiled and said, “Whistle.”

  This time, two cameras clicked.

  “Okay, that’s it.” Louise walked to the shed and put the hoe away.

  Craig bent over the pumpkin and took out his tape measure.

  “Let me help you with that.” Sam started to step over a leafy runner.

  “Be careful,” Rose said.

  “I will.” He practically tiptoed across the vines to the center, where the giant pumpkin lay.

  “Sam can do anything around the farm except help in my garden,” Rose said. “He’s so big, he has trouble in tight areas.”

  Watching him, Jane was amazed that he managed to miss the vines. He’d been described as a gentle giant and he fit the nickname well. His feet were like small boats.

  Sam took the end of the tape from Craig and they stretched it around the girth of the pumpkin.

  Craig bent lower to read the tape. “I’ve got almost one hundred sixty-three inches.” He looked up at Louise. “Growth has slowed down, but it’s nearly three inches larger than last week. That’s still good.” He took a folded piece of paper out of his pocket. “According to the weight table, it weighs approximately nine hundred and fifty-three pounds.”

  “Wow!” Cynthia said. “Mother, that’s unbelievable.”

  “But it’s true,” Craig said. “In two weeks, it’s gained a hundred and twenty-four pounds.” He checked the stem and the vine where the pumpkin connected to the main plant. “There’s some stress, but it looks good. Whatever you’re doing, keep it up.”

  “You mean you don’t know what she’s feeding the pumpkins?” Jane asked. She’d been certain Louise was following Craig’s advice. Plants were his business and his passion. His greenhouse business had grown so quickly, he kept very busy managing both the nursery and his florist shop.

  “I’ve advised Louise on compost and garden pests and recommended which pumpkins to nurture, but she’s been mum on her fertilizer supplement. I extracted a promise from her that she’ll share her secret if it’s successful. I can’t wait to hear what she’s using.”

  “Me too,” Fred said. “Whatever it is, I’ll be sure to stock it at the hardware store next spring.”

  Louise stood watching them all, a sly smile on her lips and a twinkle in her eyes. Jane was baffled. What miracle product was her sister using that she wouldn’t share—not even with her advisor, their resident plant expert? Whatever it was, it didn’t come from Jane’s ready supply of plant and garden products. Nothing was missing.

  Chapter Six

  After a leisurely breakfast with Cynthia, then a warm farewell for their dear daughter and niece, the sisters tackled their Monday routine, cleaning the guest rooms.

  Louise bent low and peered under the bed in the Sunset Room. She’d learned from experience to look before she vacuumed beneath furniture. Sure enough, a tan sock stuck out from behind a bedpost, where it was caught. She went around and retrieved it. The sock was fine wool and looked new. She dropped it in the laundry basket with the used towels and linens. She would wash it, then tuck it into an envelope and mail it to the guests who’d stayed in the room.

  The sisters couldn’t always match items with guests, but this was obvious and cost very little in time or postage. Most hotels kept left-behind articles in a lost-and-found bi
n for a short while, in case the guest called looking for the item. The sisters went the extra mile as often as they could.

  Turning on the vacuum, Louise bent down and cleaned beneath the bed, then stood and turned to get around the bedside table. A movement caught her attention. She shut off the vacuum. Alice stood framed in the doorway.

  “You had a phone call from Carlene Moss,” Alice said. “She saw Lloyd’s picture of the pumpkin, and she wants to come take a picture and interview you for the Nutshell.”

  “Oh dear. I had no idea my pumpkin patch would gain so much attention.” Louise unconsciously reached up and smoothed her short, silver hair. “What did you tell her?”

  “I said we’re cleaning today, but we should be finished by this afternoon. She said she’ll come by at one o’clock, unless we call to make other arrangements. She wants to get it in this week’s edition of the paper.”

  “Carlene isn’t pushy, but she won’t give up if she’s after a story. I might as well talk to her and get it over with.” Louise looked down. Her cleaning clothes consisted of a pair of slightly worn slacks and a knit shirt. She’d want to change before Carlene came over. “I’m almost finished here. I still need to vacuum the Garden Room and the hall.”

  “I’ll take the laundry,” Alice said, picking up the basket. “I’ll bring clean linens in a moment. Jane’s finishing up in the Garden Room. Then she plans to go running.”

  “It’s supposed to warm up today. She’d better get going before it gets too hot.”

  Alice left with the laundry. Louise turned on the vacuum and resumed her task.

  Jane topped the long grade coming down Hill Street to town. It was the last leg of the 10K Harvest Run course that started and ended in the parking lot behind City Hall. The air felt cool against the damp sweatband around her forehead, but her feet and her lungs felt as if they were on fire.

  Ahead of her, two women were walking down the hill. One was tall and thin, with short blonde hair. The other was a little shorter and large. Although her momentum was good, Jane slowed as she came upon them. They turned as she approached.