Three siblings reunite for the first time in years during their grandfather’s ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐, only to discover that he bequeathed them the family farmโwith one important condition. As they deal with the past, they must determine if they are prepared to give up their current lives to maintain their childhood house.
Ted, Jim, and Rosa were returning home from their grandfather’s ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐. The air was thick with unspoken words, each sibling buried in their own thoughts.
Ted looked at his brother and sister, noting how much they had changed. Jim’s face was more worn, most likely from years of hard business negotiations, and Rosa’s eyes, which were always so bright, were now shadowed with grief.
It felt surreal to be together after so many years apart. The farm had always been Ted’s world, but for Jim and Rosa, it was only a memory. As they approached the front door, Ted paused briefly, his hand hanging over the doorknob.
Taking a big breath, he pulled it open, and they inside. The lawyer’s sober presence in the living room reminded them of why they were there.
โWhereโs Ryan?โ Ted asked, scanning the room for his nephew.
โHeโs outside with the cows,โ Rosa replied. She was a single mother and raised Ryan on her own. โI didnโt want him at the funeral. Heโs too young to see that.โ
Ted nodded. โItโs probably better for him to stay outside. He doesnโt need to remember today like this.โ
They all sat down on the couch, and the room felt strangely empty despite their presence. The lawyer, clad in a dark suit, opened his briefcase and removed the will.
โAs you know, your grandfather, Colin, wasnโt a man of many words,โ the lawyer began. โSo, the will is brief.โ
Jim, already checking his watch, spoke up. โThe farm stays with Ted, right? Rosa and I might get some money, Letโs get this done quickly. I have a plane to catch.โ
The lawyer looked at him calmly. โItโs not exactly like that,โ he said. โColin left the farm to all three of you.โ
Rosa frowned. โAll three of us? Tedโs the one who stayed here. Canโt we just give our shares to him?โ
โIโm afraid itโs not that simple,โ the lawyer explained. โThe farm goes to the three of you, entirely and immediately. But on one condition: all three of you must take care of it.โ
Jim leaned forward. โI donโt get it. What do you mean?โ
โIโll clarify,โ the lawyer continued. โThe farm will be yours if you all move back here and live on it.โ
Rosa looked sh0cked. โWhat kind of condition is that? We canโt just move back.โ
Jim shook his head. โIโm not giving up everything for a farm. Tedโs worked here his whole life; itโs his.โ
The lawyer placed the will on the table. โIf even one of you doesnโt move back, the farm will be turned over to the state.โ
โThatโs ridiculous! This farm has been in our family for generations,โ Rosa protested.
โThis is what your grandfather wanted,โ the lawyer said before leaving the room.
โSo, when are you moving in?โ Ted asked, his voice hopeful.
โWhat do you mean?โ Rosa replied, frowning.
โWeโre not moving here,โ Jim added firmly.
โBut the farmโฆ it needs us,โ Ted said, his voice trailing off.
Rosa reached out to take Ted’s hand. โTed, I know this farm means a lot to you. It means a lot to all of us. But weโve built lives away from here. Jim has his business to run. I have my job, and Ryan is settled in his school. He has friends, activitiesโฆ it wouldnโt be fair to uproot him now.โ
Ted stared at them both with a heavy heart. โAre you really going to give up the farm? The place where we grew up? Itโs not just land; itโs our childhood, our memories.โ
Jim shook his head. โTheyโre just memories, Ted. We have to move on.โ
Without saying anything further, Jim and Rosa left to find Ryan. But Ted remained behind, trying to change their minds and retain the farm in the family.
When Jim, Rosa, and Ryan arrived home, they discovered Ted sitting on the porch with a guitar in his hands.
โWhat are you up to, Ted?โ Rosa asked, curious.
Ted played the strings softly. โJust thought Iโd remember the old days,โ he said, looking up at them.
Jim found another guitar lying nearby. He grabbed it up and smiled. โGuess youโre lucky my flight got delayed until tomorrow,โ he said, tuning the guitar.
They began playing as if nothing had happened, their fingers quickly finding the familiar notes. Rosa’s voice filled the air, sweet and warm, bringing the old songs they used to sing together.
Little Ryan couldn’t stop himself from dancing to the beat, his wee feet tapping in time. Ted watched his nephew, a smile forming on his lips. The music seemed to bring the house back to life, infusing it with the warmth of their shared memories.
Ted played, hoping that these moments of joy and nostalgia would persuade Jim and Rosa to stay and keep the farm running.
โThat was fun, but you do realize this wonโt convince us to stay, right?โ Rosa said, her smile fading after their impromptu concert.
Tedโs face fell. โBut why not? We could be just as happy as we were back then. This place has everything we need.โ
Rosa shook her head gently. โIโve already told you, Ted. Ryan has school, his friendsโฆ his whole life is back there.โ
Ted couldnโt hide his frustration. โRyan didnโt even know what a sheep looks like! This farm could teach him so much. What are you even talking about?โ
Before Rosa could respond, Jimโs phone rang. โSorry, I need to take this,โ he said, stepping aside.
Rosa sighed, placing a hand on Tedโs shoulder. โThanks for trying, Ted. But you need to accept that weโre going to lose this place.โ
She turned and entered the home, leaving Ted standing alone. Jim returned, appearing worried.
โIs everything okay?โ Ted asked, concern in his voice.
Jim forced a smile. โYeah, donโt worry about it,โ he said before heading inside.
Ted exhaled deeply, feeling the weight of everything as he walked to the barn to milk the goats. The usual pattern gave a slight consolation. As he began, he heard footsteps and turned to find Ryan waiting at the entryway.
โIs that a dog?โ Ryan asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.
Ted chuckled softly. โWhat? A dog? No, this is a goat,โ he said, gesturing to the animal.
Ryan walked closer and examined the goat. โIt has strange eyes,โ he said, tilting his head.
โYeah, they do look a bit funny,โ Ted agreed. โBut theyโre harmless. Want to try milking her?โ
Ryan’s eyes brightened, and he nodded happily. Ted explained him how to do it while guiding his small hands. Ryan was finally able to fill a small cup after several attempts. Ted handed it to him. “Go ahead, taste it.”
Ryan took a sip, and his face lit up with delight. “I thought milk came from the store,” he exclaimed, genuinely surprised.
Ted shook his head, smiling. โWhat do they even teach you in those schools?โ
Ryan pondered for a bit before asking, โCan you teach me how to play baseball?โ
Ted looked at him, surprised. โDonโt you have anyone to play with?โ
Ryan’s voice became quieter. โAll the kids are taught by their dads, but I donโt have a dad.โ
Ted felt a pang of sadness for the boy. โAlright, Iโll teach you to play tomorrow,โ he said, determined to help.
โYes!โ Ryan yelled, his face beaming with joy.
As Ted looked up, he saw a man standing outside the barn. Rosa was watching them with a smile.
The next morning, as the sun began to rise, Ted and Ryan went out to the wide field behind the barn. Ted held an old baseball glove and a bat, while Ryan skipped gleefully alongside him.
Ted demonstrated Ryan how to grasp the bat, situating his small hands properly. โKeep your eyes on the ball, Ryan. Thatโs the most important part,โ Ted instructed, tossing the ball gently toward him.
Ryan swung with all his strengthย but missed. He frowned, but Ted gave him an encouraging smile. โItโs okay, try again. Youโll get it.โ
They trained for a while, and Ryan steadily improved his swings, becomingย more confident. Jim joined them after his morning run, his shirt soaked from sweat. Seeing Ted and Ryan, he couldn’t help but join in. โMind if I take a swing?โ he inquired, grinning.
Ted handed him the bat, and Jim took a few practice swings before taking his position. Ted threw the ball, and Jim hit it hard, sending it far away.
Ryan yelled and dashed after the ball as quickly as his legs could take him. The three of them spent the morning playing, laughing, and temporarily forgetting about their troubles.
After breakfast, however, the tone changed. Rosa and Jim packed their belongings and prepared to go. Ted remained behind, sitting on the porch, his heart heavy.
He watched them drive away, feeling the loss of something he couldn’t quite grasp. As he sat there, lost in meditation, a lawyer approached him with a stack of papers.
โDidnโt manage to get them to stay?โ the lawyer asked, noticing the sadness in Tedโs eyes.
โNo,โ Ted replied, his voice heavy with disappointment. โIt looks like Iโll really have to say goodbye to this place.โ
The lawyer sighed and handed Ted the documentation for the transfer of ownership. โIโm really sorry, Ted.โ
โYeah, me too,โ Ted murmured, feeling the weight of the papers in his grip. He looked at the familiar fields, barn, and house, which held so many memories. He couldn’t believe it was going away.
Suddenly, the sound of a motor engine pierced the calm. Ted looked up and saw Jim’s automobile enter the yard. He watched in confusion as Rosa leaped out of the car, her expression filled with eagerness.
“Wait!” Rosa yelled, raising her arms as she rushed towards them.
Ted stood up with his heart hammering. “What’s going on?” he inquired, puzzled.
Jim got out of the car with a determined expression on his face. “We’re staying!” he announced, his voice firm.
Ted’s eyes expanded with amazement. “What? “Are you serious?”
Rosa nodded, breathless. โOn the way to the airport, all Ryan could talk about was the farm. He kept saying how much he wished he could live here and play baseball with his uncles. It made me thinkโฆ there are schools here too. Why not make my child happy? He really needs a male role model in his life.โ
Jim stepped closer. โYesterday, my partners called. They wanted to buy this land for development. I almost said yes, but after spending the morning here, seeing the animals, the crops, playing baseball with you guysโฆ I realized I canโt do it. This place is too important.โ
Ryan rushed up, his face beaming with enthusiasm. “So, you’re coming back to the farm?”
“We’re coming back to the farm!” Jim and Rosa shouted together, their voices full of joy.
Ted couldn’t contain his emotions. He leaped up, and the three of them hugged fiercely, feeling like the little kids who used to run around these fields, full of affection for the land that had brought them back together.