“That’s really sweet.” Christina and Taylor shared a look.
Taylor could barely concentrate on the road after. Her heart felt so very
full. Thanksgiving was a good holiday. It reminded people to look at what
they had with a new source of gratitude. She didn’t need any reminders
about that. Things had been hard at first, after she moved, but since then,
things she never even dreamed of had happened. Her business was close to
opening. She was going to see her parents again. Chloe was happy, even if
she missed the farm. On top of all that, Christina was choosing to share in
their lives.
The drive went fast, even after they turned off the paved freeway onto
the gravel. Christina looked a little worried at the change, but Taylor had
been driving grids all her life and she handled the roads with confidence.
She’d never been away from the farm so long and as she closed in on the
last miles, she felt her chest getting tight and heavy as that homesickness
that she’d been fighting back hit her hard.
Everything was familiar, from the neighbor’s silos to the Johnson’s
ancient red barn with the crumbling roof. Soon the neighboring yards gave
way to her parents’ land. Taylor found herself battling back happy tears.
She glanced in the rear-view mirror and found that Chloe had a big grin.
She might just be six years old, but she recognized the familiar landmarks
as well.
Soon brown, and brown and white cows dotted the horizon. The land
stretched on, rolling in gentle undulations. Taylor turned down the long
driveway and Chloe gave a little yelp of excitement.
“There’s the house!” she yelled.
Taylor winced at the volume level but didn’t bother with telling Chloe
to dial it down. She understood full well that her daughter was excited. She
could barely contain the wild bubbles of excitement in her own chest.
The second they pulled up Taylor’s parents were spilling out of the
house. The faded yellow door cracked open on the big old white farmhouse,