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“It’s been so much fun catching up. Thanks for letting me stay. It’s not like Willowbrook has any five-star hotels,” Melody laughs, slamming the town that raised her again. One for the road, I guess.
“You know, Melody, I really am happy here.”
She runs her hand down my upper arm. “I know you are. But you must?—”
“No.” I shake my head. “I’m really happy here. I’ve found myself, and sure, what I wanted in high school seemed so big and amazing, but I’m not sure it was ever for me. I know my life seems small to you, but it’s not. I have Jude, who adores me. I’m close to my mom. I have friends who are always there for me. And I’m going to have a great chicken farm.”
“I never meant to?—”
“I’m sure you didn’t. But the little digs that somehow my life isn’t what I want is hurtful. To not only me, but Jude. I made my choice a long time ago. I’m not that eighteen-year-old anymore. It’s great that you’re happy in Los Angeles, and you’re living the life that we dreamed of, but my dreams changed. And that’s okay.”
Melody nods, frowning. “I just remember us saying how we were gonna have it all. A career and a family and money, and we’d go out for drinks and fancy dinners.”
She literally lives the life we said we wanted, but hearing her talk about her life is exhausting. It sounds kind of empty. I like sitting on the porch and watching the ducks with Jude, talking about nothing and everything. I like Friday night football games in the fall where I know everyone and the corn maze every Halloween, pig roasts on the Fourth of July here on the ranch. The endless parades. I even enjoy walking down the sidewalk downtown and running into people I’ve known my entire life, even if I resent their interest in my personal affairs sometimes.
“And I’m happy you got it. But it’s not for me.”
She’s quiet for a moment. “I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean any harm. I just… this small town living isn’t my thing.”
I smile. “I know, and that’s okay.”
She opens her arms. “Hug it out?”
“Of course.”
We wrap our arms around each other, and I squeeze her tightly because I have a feeling this could be the last time I see her. This short visit confirmed that we’re different people now.
“Maybe when you have that chicken farm going, I’ll bring the kids for a visit.”
She won’t.
“You’re always welcome.”
Just don’t ask Jude.
We step away from one another and share a smile.
“Have a safe trip home,” I say.
“Thank Jude for me?”
“I will.”
I open the screen door, and she walks out and down the stairs to her Uber ride. I watch her leave. She doesn’t give me one last wave through the back window, and that’s okay. She was okay leaving Willowbrook in her rearview mirror, but it’s her loss.
I want to have a little alone time with Jude after our visitor, so I go inside, put together a lunch, and hop in the UTV, driving out to the corn field.
He’s beside the tractor, looking at his papers, when he hears me. The smile that splits his lips is the exact reason I came out here.
“What are you doing here?” he asks, deserting his papers and hugging me, kissing my temple.
“I wanted to see you.” I lift the cooler I packed. “And I brought you lunch.”
“You could be my lunch.” He backs me up against the tractor, caging me in.
“That sounds good too. Should we go home?”
“I’ve got a better plan.” He grabs the papers and climbs up on the tractor. His GPS screen hangs from the front. “Ride with me.”
