Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
I drive out of town, which in the grand scheme of things is less than ten miles in any which direction, and head to an appointment with Benny Holcomb. He has accepted my apology, even though I continue to tell him repeatedly how sorry I am. He doesn’t have to forgive me, but he has. But I also thank him for being there for my dad.
With my turn signal on, I wait for a gap in the line of traffic heading toward Deer Ridge, and turn, pulling into the first parking spot, which is next to Benny’s truck. Inside the diner, I tell the gentleman at the host stand that I’m meeting someone and walk toward the windows facing the highway where Benny sits.
“Zane,” he says with a nod as I sit down. I set a folder on the table and order a soda from the waitress after she hands me the menu.
“Thanks for meeting me.”
“Your request sounded ominous. I figured if you were asking for Evangeline’s hand in marriage, you would’ve done it at the house.”
The thought of marrying Evangeline brings pure joy to my heart, but also pain and longing. We’ve lost so much time, and we are nowhere near where we need to be when it comes to marriage. For all I know, she doesn’t want to get married. To me or anyone. You better believe I’d marry her tomorrow without reservation, but it’s not up to me.
“I think if I were to ask Eve, she’d kick me off the roof of the firehouse.”
Benny laughs. “She would.”
“With good measure,” I add. “I have a lot to prove, but I’ll do it.”
“That’s good to hear. So, now tell me. Why are we here and not in town?”
I clear my throat and pick the folder up. “Evangeline mentioned you are thinking about retiring.”
“We are.” Benny laughs lightly. “We’re tired.”
“I get it. Even working in the season, I’m exhausted.” I hold my hand up to let him know I’m not done. “But as exhausting as it is, Evangeline loves the farm. For as long as I’ve known her, it’s been her happiest times, even after Robert died.” I pause when Benny looks down at the table.
Robert, four years older than Evangeline, died during his senior year of high school when the ATV he was riding crashed into a tree. He hadn’t been wearing his helmet. His death devastated the town, and then a month later, my mom passed away from a heart attack. Eve and I bonded over our losses and never left each other’s sides.
“I know words can sound hollow or seem meaningless, especially coming from me right now. Please trust me when I say I love Evangeline. I never stopped when I lost my way. Deep down, I think I knew I’d always come back to her and hate that it’s taken me so long.
“With that said, I’d like to buy the farm,” I tell him as his eyes widen. “It will be a gift to Evangeline. From me. I can promise you we’d preserve the essence of what you’ve built for Reindeer Ridge. You and Clara can stay in the house, free of charge.”
“How would you afford it?”
“I have a healthy savings and I’m using it to do things that’ll make me, Eve, and my dad happy. If you sell the farm, I know she’ll be heartbroken. She loves how it’s tied to our community. It’s important to her. It’s important to me. I saw what the trees you gave my dad did for the store. He needs that. And if you sell, there’s no way to know if the farm will stay or if the potential new owners would want to be involved.
“The farm is prime land. Someone could come from the city and turn the space into a subdivision. I don’t want to see that happen.”
“Where will you live?”
This time I’m grinning. “Honestly, sir. I’m hoping to live with Evangeline at the firehouse. I love her apartment. I’ve asked her for a job, so we’ll see if she’s going to hire me. If not, I’ll take a job in Albany or something. But ideally, Eve asks me to move in and we stay until we outgrow the space.”
“It is a very nice space.”
“The view, especially right now when it snows, is too good to pass up.”
Benny points to the folder. “What’s in there?”
I hand it to him but don’t let go. “This is my offer.”
Benny takes the folder, opens the flap, and reads. I don’t move my eyes from him, watching him study the one line of numbers. He closes the folder just as the waitress returns to take our order.
He orders a steak and egg combo and to make things easy, I do the same. When she’s gone, I look at the man who I hope will one day be my father-in-law.