Page 8 of Keep My Heart
‘I won’t be having kids in my fifties. I’m not even sure I’ll have kids.’
‘Really?’ he says, sounding surprised. ‘I thought you wanted kids.’
‘I did, but lately I’ve been thinking about it and thinking it might be better if I didn’t. I wouldn’t want my kids growing up in the city. Kids need to be able to run around outside and play, like we did. You can’t really do that in Manhattan.’
‘So move back.’
‘Yeah, that’s not happening. My life’s in New York.’
‘Doesn’t mean you can’t move back. We don’t have everythingNew York has, but we have fresh air, beautiful scenery, and this really great apple orchard that has this awesome fall festival every year.’
‘My parents got you doing their public relations now?’ I kid.
‘No, but I could. I love that place. Everyone does.’ He pauses. ‘You really never considered taking it over someday?’
‘Hell no.’ I laugh. ‘I got enough of that place growing up there. I couldn’t wait to leave.’
‘What about your brothers? Any of them talk about taking over when your dad retires?’
‘No. Sawyer just opened the brewery, so he’s committed to that. Jason isn’t giving up teaching and being a coach. And Brody’s lawn care and snow removal business is really taking off. I guess out of the four of us, I could see Brody doing it since he likes being outdoors, but he hasn’t said he wants it.’
‘So your dad will just have to sell it?’
‘Probably, but it won’t be anytime soon. He just turned 60. He’s not retiring for a long time. I could see him working into his eighties.’
‘It’s too bad it can’t stay in the family.’
‘My dad never planned on us taking it over. The orchard was whathewanted. He didn’t expect us to want the same thing.’
‘Well, when he’s ready to sell, I know a real estate guy who could handle the sale,’ Matt jokes, referring to himself.
‘You know he’ll give you the business. You became like a son to him that summer you worked there.’
‘What’s your mom think about selling the orchard?’
‘She’s more sentimental than Dad. To her, the orchard is full of memories of the four of us growing up. She’ll be sad to see it go.’
I feel a pang of guilt as I say that. There’s a part of me that feels like I’m the reason my parents will have to sell the orchard someday. As the oldest son, I feel like I’m setting an example formy brothers, and by choosing a different career over the family business, I gave them permission to do the same. Maybe I’m giving myself more credit than I should, but I know my brothers look up to me and I know at least one of them would’ve considered working at the orchard if I’d gone down that path. It’s just not what I wanted to do. But I don’t like thinking about it being sold. I don’t even let my mind go there. My parents don’t either. They’ve never once brought up selling the place.
‘So changing topics,’ Matt says. ‘Any chance you’d reconsider going to the reunion?’
‘I won’t be here. I’m leaving on Monday.’
‘You could stick around. You haven’t had a vacation in what .?.?. five years?’
‘It hasn’t been that long. And going to our high school reunion would not be a vacation.’
‘Maybe not, but at least you’d get some time off. You could hang out with your family, your best friend.’ He smiles at me.
‘You’ll be working next week.’
‘I could find some time to hang out. I only have a few showings next week and a couple of closings.’
‘You’re selling two houses next week?’ I ask, impressed because in a town this size, two is a lot.
‘One’s about 20 miles from here. I’ve expanded my area to get more business.’
‘That’s great.’
