Coffee, My Love by Alicia Crofton

Author:Alicia Crofton [Alicia Crofton]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Crofton
Published: 2019-10-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Emery gazed at the landscape as Luca led her out of the farmhouse. The sun beamed high in the sky, only partially covered by big fluffy clouds. The air was warm and scented by the neighboring flowers.

Luca reached over and took Emery’s hand to lead her into the rows of coffee trees. Warmth spread through her body at his touch. She watched him while he inspected the leaves and the coffee cherries.

“These look good enough to eat,” Emery said, taking one between her fingers.

“They are actually quite sweet. You should try one.”

“Really?”

Luca reached around her and pulled a ripe red cherry off the tree. He inspected it first before rubbing it on his shirt.

“Here,” he said, handing it to her.

Emery placed the cherry in her mouth. The tart sensation made her mouth water.

“These are fine trees. Some of the best coffee in the world comes from this region. My cousin is very lucky to have inherited this farm.”

Emery spat the coffee bean out into her hand and inspected it with a close eye. “It’s amazing that this tiny little bean can be made into coffee.”

“Sí. Only about seventy-nine more of those little beans and you can make one cup. All hand-picked for your pleasure,” Luca said playfully.

“It’s cute how proud you are of your work,” Emery said.

“Well, many of us are proud of what we do. The coffee plants are like our children. We care for them. We want them to grow and prosper.”

Emery smiled at the sparkle in Luca’s eyes.

“Providing anything less than the best coffee is an insult to generations of coffee growers before us.”

“Is it not the best now?”

“No,” Luca said curtly.

“How do you mean?”

“Well, for one, we could be getting a better harvest if we were able to pay our pickers more. The wages we can afford don’t allow us to retain good pickers. We end up with a bunch of unripened green cherries, which alters the taste.”

“I had no idea.” Emery frowned.

“And there are other things going on, corporate mandates and restrictions that Coffee Benz has imposed on us that add to our costs. We’re all struggling to make a profit.”

Emery scowled, feeling in over her head. How was she not aware this was going on?

“Conejita,” Luca whispered. He embraced her in his arms, and she melted into him. She let the weight of her burden be shared with a man she hardly knew.

He clutched her to his chest before lifting her chin to his.

“You can change it. You can help us.” His oceanic blue eyes were swimming with hope.

Emery wanted to believe him, but doubt ate at her soul.

“If you are the strong, independent woman that I’m getting to know, then I’m confident you can make things right.”

With Luca’s words, the seed of determination was planted in Emery’s heart.

They continued to walk through the trees and down the sloping hills in silence as Emery tried to untangle the mess of their situation in her head. She held on to Luca’s encouragement as if it were pulling her out of quicksand.

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