Page 15 of If You Give a Grump a Christmas Tree Farm
“I’d have to check.”
A few moments later, she returns with the envelope and digs through until she pulls out a small ornate brass key. “Got it.”
We roll the top up, and it looks like it’s frozen in time from when my grandfather was here last. His watch sits on top of a notepad, the second hand still ticking. I pick it up and brush my thumb across the gold-colored faceplate. Then, slide the brown leather strap around my wrist, latching it in place.
Underneath is a calendar still flipped to last month.
“What are these?” Rebecca pulls two business envelopes out of a drawer. She hands one to me, and I see my name scrawled across the front. I glance at the one in her hands, and it too has her name written on it.
We both flip them over and tear the flaps open. My eyes fly across the letter.
Dear James,
If you’re reading this, then I’ve gone home to Trudy.
It’s been too long since I’ve seen you. When you left, I
thought time would heal the wounds between you
and your parents and brother, but I think all it did
was let it fester. I should have gone after you. I
should have told your parents what was what, and I’m
sorry for that.
I know you are more than capable of running my
farm and a better person than your parents
believe. Prove them wrong. Show them just what
kind of man you are and what you can do.
Love you, little Jim.
Grandpa
P.S. Rebecca is a good girl. Don’t let your opinions
of your brother dictate your thoughts on her.
I fold my note and clear my throat, a lump suddenly forming within it. “What’d his letter to you say?”
Rebecca begins to read hers aloud,
“Dear Rebecca,
“I’ve seen the way you look at this farm. It’s the same way my Trudy did. There’s a light in your eyes I recognize. She always had a new idea to improve the old farm, and people would just flock to it. I see it in you, too.
“You’ll do this place the justice it deserves—the justice I failed to provide the last couple of years. You see, people always thought I was the backbone of this farm, but that’s a bald-faced lie. Trudy was the glue of this place. She was the engineer behind all the running parts. I was just her grunt worker. Without her, everything fell apart.
“I know you can get it up to her high standards again. You can turn this place around, and just maybe it will turn your life around, too. I think you may need this place as much as it needs you. Even though I was just the muscle, I know I’ll need to be replaced with someone you can trust to be that muscle for you. Someone who cares for this place even if everything they say and do tells you different.
“Give James a chance to prove to you he’s the right business partner and don’t believe everything you’ve heard about that boy. He was always my favorite, and we all know I’m a great judge of character. After all, I like you.
“Do me and Trudy andyourselfproud.
