Tapping my foot impatiently, I watch as bags roll by, looking for mine. I only checked one, plus I have my carry-on. I shipped the rest here. I only kept what I needed to get me by the last couple of days. Lisa and I shared an apartment. She’s an Alabama girl, and just like me, more than ready to go home. I’m going to miss her like crazy, but after being roommates and best friends for the past four years, I know we’ve formed an incredible bond and will stay in touch. It was hard to say goodbye, but then it always is.
Finally, I spot my bag and heave it off the conveyor. That’s when I hear my name being yelled from behind me. Turning to search for the source, I see him. Aaron is running toward me with a big-ass grin on his face. Knowing he’s about to tackle me, I release the handle of my suitcase and let my carry-on and purse drop to the floor just in time for Aaron to wrap his hulking arms around me.
“I missed you, little sister,” he says as he hugs me tight.
I can’t breathe, so forming words isn’t possible. I wait until he releases me to respond. “I missed you too. Took you long enough.” I elbow him lightly.
“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbles good-naturedly.
I love teasing him; it’s just too easy.
“Let’s get out of here.” Aaron reaches for my carry-on, hands me my purse, and then grabs my large suitcase. I don’t bother to protest, as I know it won’t do any good. Mom and Dad raised him right. He’s going to make one hell of a husband one day, for multiple reasons. First of all, it’s the truth; second, I just like to wind him up. Aaron is a thinker. He processes everything, including who he dates. He doesn’t see the point in dating someone who he cannot see himself spending the rest of his life with. If he’s not feeling it, he ends it. Only problem is, how is he ever going to get to know someone? Mom and I both have tried to explain this, but he’s too damn stubborn. When he does fall, it’s going to be hard and I’m going to enjoy every single second of watching him flounder around in uncharted seas.
I follow along behind him, expecting him to lead me to his old beat up ford. Instead, we’re standing in front of a brand-new, shiny Ford F-350 four-door beast. I’m sure there is a more technical name for it, but it’s freaking huge, so beast it is. “This thing is huge!”
“I know, right?” He grins at me. “Just picked it up last week. I decided to retire the other one.”
“It’s about time. You’ve been driving that same old beat-up truck since you were sixteen.”
“Yeah, and with me taking over the farm, I can’t depend on borrowing Dad’s all the time.” He shrugs. “It was time to man up and get my own. One that could actually pull the horse trailer up the hills and not take six days to do it.” We both laugh at that. My brother is frugal to a fault. He’s not one to need shiny new toys. He can afford it, as he’s a partner in the farm with my parents, but you would never know it. He’s modest and so much like our father.
“How’s that going?” I ask.
“Good. Papers are drawn up. I’ve asked them both a million times if they’re sure they are ready to pass it on, and they both agree it’s time. Dad says he wants to relax and watch me sweat,” he laughs.
“It’s hard work, Aaron. I know you love the farm, but you’ve seen the long hours Dad had to put in. You sure this is what you want? No one would judge you if you didn’t.” I ask the question, even though I already know the answer. A resounding yes. Our family farm is in his blood, and it’s always been his dream to take it over. His best friend’s family owns the farm that runs parallel to ours. He and Evan have been friends for as long as I can remember and have always talked about taking over and working together.
“Yes!” he says emphatically and I grin. I know my brother.
“So, what about Evan? How is he? How’s his dad?”
“He’s good. Adjusting. His parents moved to Alabama. There is an oncologist there who specializes in his type of cancer. The warmer climate also helps. He’s always freezing.” Aaron loads my bags into the truck as I climb up into the passenger seat. I actually have to climb because this thing is so big. Thank goodness for running boards.
“I can’t imagine how hard that is for him. I’m sure he always pictured his dad and granddad being there when he took over,” I say softly.
“Yeah, he’s…okay, I guess. He doesn’t say much. Evan just jumps in head first and gets it done, you know what I mean?”
I nod. Evan is the exact opposite of Aaron. He makes decisions on a whim and rolls with it. Senior prom is a great example. Aaron agonized over who to ask. He didn’t want his date to think it was more than that, just a date. Evan on the other hand, had accepted the first invitation he received. That’s another way they differ—Aaron thought it was the man’s job to ask the girl. Evan just rolled with life. That particular trait alone intensified the already massive crush I had on him. The girl who asked him to the prom, she wasn’t popular, she wasn’t the most beautiful, but she asked and he agreed. He didn’t do it out of pity or to play games with her. Evan treated her like he would a beauty queen. He’s just an all around good guy and my teenage heart couldn’t help but fall for him.
“Speak of the devil.” Aaron holds his phone up so I can see Evan’s name lighting up the screen. “Hey, man, what’s up?” he asks in greeting. I block out their conversation and stare out the window, enjoying the open land flying by. It’s so good to be home.
“Earth to Kinley.” Aaron waves his hand in front of my face, snapping me back to the present. “There you are.”
“Sorry, just got lost in the landscape. It’s so good to be back. I can’t wait to ride the land and take some shots.” I majored in photography and I want to start my own business. The open pastures of Kentucky have my mind racing with photo possibilities.
“I see. Listen, that was Evan, as you know. He says he needs to talk to me. Do you mind if we stop by his place? He sounded a little…I don’t know, off.”
“Sure, does he know I’m going to be with you? Maybe I should drop you off and come back to get you later,” I offer. Evan may not feel comfortable talking in front of me.
“Nah, I told him I just picked you up from the airport.”
“Well, all right then. It’s been forever since I’ve seen him. When I was home for Christmas, he was in Alabama with his parents.”
Aaron laughs. “That’s pretty funny actually.” He grins. “The path of life.”
“Yes. So, tell me what’s been going on.” Aaron spends the next twenty minutes catching me up on the ins and outs of him taking over the farm and our parents bragging about slowing down. I laugh when he tells me both Mom and Dad keep dropping hints about wanting to be grandparents.
“You are the oldest after all,” I chide him.
“Yeah, yeah. Needs to be a game changer, little sister,” he replies.
This is not new information to me. I just wish he would lighten up a little. I fear he’ll never give himself the opportunity to open up and know someone, really know them and fall in love. Of course, that’s the romantic in me.
As we pull into the long drive that leads to Evan’s, we veer to the right instead of driving toward the main house. “Where are we going?”