The smell of fresh dew lingered in the air as Ellah walked down the dirt path leading to the village square. She had spent a restless night formulating a plan to prove herself to Xavier and Zachary. Words alone wouldn't win their trust—she needed action, something tangible to show she could change their lives for the better.
Her opportunity came in the form of a bustling but chaotic village market. Merchants peddled their goods from shabby wooden stalls, their voices raised in desperation to attract customers. Among them was Mr. Harvey, a gray-haired merchant whose fruit stand was in disarray.
Ellah recognized him from the novel's faint recollection of side characters. His orchard, once prosperous, was failing due to poor harvests and outdated practices. In the story, his bankruptcy would indirectly lead to the twins' further hardships. Not this time, Ellah thought.
As she approached the stall, she saw Xavier and Zachary lingering nearby, watching her every move. They hadn't followed her out of trust but out of curiosity and suspicion. She ignored their piercing stares and turned her attention to Mr. Harvey, whose tired eyes lit up with cautious hope at the sight of a potential customer.
"Good morning," she greeted, her tone warm but purposeful.
"Good morning, miss," he replied. "Looking for something fresh? These apples just came in this morning."
Ellah inspected the fruit and frowned slightly. The apples were bruised, and their arrangement on the stall was haphazard. "How's business?" she asked gently.
Mr. Harvey sighed. "It's tough. The harvest wasn't great this year, and competition from city traders has been fierce. Folks around here can't afford much, and I can barely make ends meet."
Ellah nodded thoughtfully. "What if I told you I could help you increase your sales and save your orchard?"
Mr. Harvey blinked in surprise. "What's the catch?"
"No catch," Ellah said with a small smile. "But I'll need your trust—and a little effort on your part."
Ellah quickly set to work. She borrowed a notebook and pencil from the merchant's stall and began sketching ideas. Drawing on her modern-day knowledge, she advised him to rearrange his produce into neat, eye-catching displays, using vibrant colors to attract attention.
"People shop with their eyes first," she explained, stacking the reddest apples at the front.
Next, she suggested bundling the bruised apples together at a discount. "You can't sell them individually at full price, but someone might buy them in bulk for cooking or preserves."
She also proposed a loyalty program. "Give customers a small incentive to return—something as simple as a free apple after a certain number of purchases. It's about building relationships."
Mr. Harvey hesitated but agreed to try. Within an hour, the stall looked more inviting, and customers began to trickle in.
From a distance, Xavier and Zachary watched the scene unfold.
"What is she doing?" Xavier muttered, crossing his arms.
"Helping," Zachary replied, his tone skeptical but intrigued.
Xavier snorted. "She's wasting her time. No one cares about some old guy's fruit stand."
But as the hours passed and the merchant's stall grew busier, even Xavier couldn't deny the results. Customers were drawn in by the vibrant displays and stayed for the bargains. Mr. Harvey's grateful smile was proof enough that Ellah's ideas were working.
By the end of the day, Mr. Harvey's stall was nearly empty, his produce sold out. He clasped Ellah's hands in gratitude.
"Thank you, miss. I don't know how to repay you."
"You don't have to," Ellah replied, smiling. "But if you want to keep this going, I'll help you create a more sustainable plan. You have the potential to turn this around."
As she walked away, Ellah caught sight of her sons. Their expressions were carefully neutral, but she could see the flicker of something new in their eyes—respect, maybe even admiration.
"You didn't have to do that," Xavier said as she approached.
"I did," Ellah replied simply. "This village is part of your life, and I won't stand by and let it fall apart. I'll do whatever it takes to make things better—for you and everyone here."
For the first time, Zachary spoke up, his voice softer than usual. "You're different from what we thought."
Ellah met his gaze, her eyes firm. "I'll keep proving it to you. Just watch."
As they returned home, the twins were quieter than usual, their walls beginning to crack. Ellah knew this was just the start, but it was enough to give her hope.