Three siblings reunite for the first time in years during their grandfather’s ???????, only to discover that he bequeathed them the family farm—with 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 ???????. 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.
“Where’s Ryan?” Ted asked, scanning the room for his nephew.
“He’s outside with the cows,” Rosa replied. She was a single mother and raised Ryan on her own. “I didn’t want him at the funeral. He’s too young to see that.”
Ted nodded. “It’s probably better for him to stay outside. He doesn’t need to remember today like this.”
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.
“As you know, your grandfather, Colin, wasn’t a man of many words,” the lawyer began. “So, the will is brief.”
Jim, already checking his watch, spoke up. “The farm stays with Ted, right? Rosa and I might get some money, Let’s get this done quickly. I have a plane to catch.”
The lawyer looked at him calmly. “It’s not exactly like that,” he said. “Colin left the farm to all three of you.”
Rosa frowned. “All three of us? Ted’s the one who stayed here. Can’t we just give our shares to him?”
“I’m afraid it’s not that simple,” the lawyer explained. “The farm goes to the three of you, entirely and immediately. But on one condition: all three of you must take care of it.”
Jim leaned forward. “I don’t get it. What do you mean?”
“I’ll clarify,” the lawyer continued. “The farm will be yours if you all move back here and live on it.”
Rosa looked sh0cked. “What kind of condition is that? We can’t just move back.”
Jim shook his head. “I’m not giving up everything for a farm. Ted’s worked here his whole life; it’s his.”
The lawyer placed the will on the table. “If even one of you doesn’t move back, the farm will be turned over to the state.”
“That’s ridiculous! This farm has been in our family for generations,” Rosa protested.
“This is what your grandfather wanted,” the lawyer said before leaving the room.
“So, when are you moving in?” Ted asked, his voice hopeful.
“What do you mean?” Rosa replied, frowning.
“We’re not moving here,” Jim added firmly.
“But the farm… it needs us,” Ted said, his voice trailing off.
Rosa reached out to take Ted’s hand. “Ted, I know this farm means a lot to you. It means a lot to all of us. But we’ve 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, activities… it wouldn’t be fair to uproot him now.”
Ted stared at them both with a heavy heart. “Are you really going to give up the farm? The place where we grew up? It’s not just land; it’s our childhood, our memories.”
Jim shook his head. “They’re just memories, Ted. We have to move on.”
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.
“What are you up to, Ted?” Rosa asked, curious.
Ted played the strings softly. “Just thought I’d remember the old days,” he said, looking up at them.
Jim found another guitar lying nearby. He grabbed it up and smiled. “Guess you’re lucky my flight got delayed until tomorrow,” 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.
“That was fun, but you do realize this won’t convince us to stay, right?” Rosa said, her smile fading after their impromptu concert.
Ted’s face fell. “But why not? We could be just as happy as we were back then. This place has everything we need.”
Rosa shook her head gently. “I’ve already told you, Ted. Ryan has school, his friends… his whole life is back there.”
Ted couldn’t hide his frustration. “Ryan didn’t even know what a sheep looks like! This farm could teach him so much. What are you even talking about?”
Before Rosa could respond, Jim’s phone rang. “Sorry, I need to take this,” he said, stepping aside.
Rosa sighed, placing a hand on Ted’s shoulder. “Thanks for trying, Ted. But you need to accept that we’re going to lose this place.”
She turned and entered the home, leaving Ted standing alone. Jim returned, appearing worried.
“Is everything okay?” Ted asked, concern in his voice.
Jim forced a smile. “Yeah, don’t worry about it,” 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.
“Is that a dog?” Ryan asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.
Ted chuckled softly. “What? A dog? No, this is a goat,” he said, gesturing to the animal.
Ryan walked closer and examined the goat. “It has strange eyes,” he said, tilting his head.
“Yeah, they do look a bit funny,” Ted agreed. “But they’re harmless. Want to try milking her?”
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. “What do they even teach you in those schools?”
Ryan pondered for a bit before asking, “Can you teach me how to play baseball?”
Ted looked at him, surprised. “Don’t you have anyone to play with?”
Ryan’s voice became quieter. “All the kids are taught by their dads, but I don’t have a dad.”
Ted felt a pang of sadness for the boy. “Alright, I’ll teach you to play tomorrow,” he said, determined to help.
“Yes!” 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. “Keep your eyes on the ball, Ryan. That’s the most important part,” Ted instructed, tossing the ball gently toward him.
Ryan swung with all his strength but missed. He frowned, but Ted gave him an encouraging smile. “It’s okay, try again. You’ll get it.”
They trained for a while, and Ryan steadily improved his swings, becoming 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. “Mind if I take a swing?” 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.
“Didn’t manage to get them to stay?” the lawyer asked, noticing the sadness in Ted’s eyes.
“No,” Ted replied, his voice heavy with disappointment. “It looks like I’ll really have to say goodbye to this place.”
The lawyer sighed and handed Ted the documentation for the transfer of ownership. “I’m really sorry, Ted.”
“Yeah, me too,” 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. “On 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 think… there are schools here too. Why not make my child happy? He really needs a male role model in his life.”
Jim stepped closer. “Yesterday, 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 guys… I realized I can’t do it. This place is too important.”
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.
