Page 92 of Stay for Me
Sean sighs and then looks back. “I can’t help but wonder what Mom would think of all this. Three of us having kids, settling down, and living on the farm.”
“Did you and Sydney talk before this?”
“What?” The confusion on his face lets me know they didn’t.
“Nothing. Forget I said anything.”
“Okay, I usually do that anyway.”
I shove him, and he chuckles. “I’m just saying that I came out here to tell her, and then... I don’t know. I can’t help but think about her.”
“I know what you mean. Syd said some stuff about how Mom would want me to keep my land.”
His brows raise. “Really. And?”
“And what?”
“Are you thinking of keeping it?”
The thing is, until she said it, I had no intention of it. I don’t want to live here, but suddenly, I see myself doing just that. I know actors who have multiple homes and get to live a life away from the hustle of Hollywood, but I don’t know if I’m there yet.
I’m still learning and growing my career. There are more roles, different ones, that I want to take. If I can’t get to auditions, I’m not sure how that would work.
I huff and look toward the gravesite. “No. If I need to feel close to her, I can come visit you fuckers.”
He nods. “Yeah, but it’s not yours. Don’t you want a piece of it? It’s not like you need the money from the sale.”
That’s not why I want to get rid of it. It’s because I don’t need a connection to this place. Sugarloaf holds no future for me.
“I don’t need the headache.”
“I’m prepared to buy you out, Jacob.”
I figured that was going to be how this went. Sean owns the house, and the last portion of land makes sense for him to buy. Connor took a great piece in the back that has the tree house he built, and Declan bought the land that butts up to Sydney’s, which made it huge. When Declan’s friend Milo was out here, he did some research and found out my portion would perk, meaning they can build on it, making it more valuable.
However, I’m not taking money from my brothers. “I don’t want that.”
“You’d rather sell it to someone who would build a house?”
I shake my head. “No, I’d rather split my portion and gift it to you all. You’re right, I don’t need the money.”
“Do me a favor, don’t mention this to anyone else. Give it time, see where the rest of your six-month stint leaves you.”
“It’s going to leave with me getting on a plane,” I tell him.
“Okay, and if that’s the case, then we’ll discuss buying you out or you signing it over. Whatever you want.”
I release a heavy sigh. “I figure it’s the least I can do for my nieces and nephews. I went from having no chance of being an uncle to being one to many.”
Sean laughs. “Yeah, I didn’t see this being our lives.”
“Maybe not, but I’m happy for everyone, especially you. You and Devney are going to be great parents.”
“You would be a great dad too, Jacob.”
I don’t want to think about that. “I left that behind me a long time ago.”
“We all thought that.” My brother smiles and jerks his head. “Thanks. Go talk to Mom. I’m going to go tell Connor and Declan before the barbeque tonight.”
