“It’s a sweet offer, but what I really need is manpower, Thomas.”
For the second time this morning, the Christmas wreath falls off the door as another visitor steps inside the office.
And my morning just keeps getting more complicated.
“I thought I’d find you here,” says the tall woman in designer boots not meant to withstand the snowy conditions on the farm. I swear both of my siblings inherited everything from my mom—her hair, her height, her taste in clothes. Me, I got everything from my dad. I’m short, stocky, and I can’t put together an elegant outfit to save my life.
“This is where I always am, May,” I say with a tight smile to my older sister, stuffing down the resentment that her combined outfit costs more than I paid on the interest on my student loans this year.
The 34-year-old brushes her long, dark hair away from her face. “So you love to remind me.”
I don’t miss that dig, and neither does Thomas, who glances from May to me.
“Where are the twins?” I ask.
“With Mom, up at the house.”
“Mom is pretty worn out these days,” I remind her.
May sighs. “It’s freezing outside, and she asked me to leave them with her while I came to see you.”
Okay. I’m being a jerk.
“Fine,” I say. “I’m willing to put old arguments aside for now, because I’m really grateful you two are here. We could use the help.”
Thomas and May exchange a look, and that’s when it hits me that there’s something they’re not telling me.
“You two are staying through Christmas, right?”
May clears her throat, and it’s obvious she’s trying to get Thomas to say something.
“Well…” Thomas starts.
May quickly grows impatient with Thomas. “Thomas and I want to talk to Dad about selling the farm and moving Mom closer to the hospital where she gets her treatments,” she says quickly.
My jaw drops, and I look at my brother. “You two have been talking about this?”
Thomas’s face is sheepish.
May continues, unburdened by whatever guilt Thomas is experiencing. “It’s very simple. We have an accessible condo picked out for Mom and Dad, and my realtor friend is holding it for us. I’ve put some money in escrow, and we’ll move forward as soon as Dad and Mom say yes.”
I think my insides have turned upside down. “I’m sorry. This is a lot of information to take all at once.”
May smiles like the best part is yet to come. “And as soon as that happens, we can put the farm on the market, and take everyone to Hawaii for a two-week Christmas vacation while the movers handle everything.”
I sit back down in my chair. If May or Thomas say anything further, I don’t hear it because my ears are ringing.
I mull things over, fighting the urge to yell at my siblings.
“Wait a minute,” I say, as something occurs to me. “It’s not like the farm is going to sell instantly. We can’t just pick up and leave, even if Mom and Dad say yes.”
May says, “We already have an offer. It’ll be basically a turnkey situation.”
And I’m supposed to move where? At Christmastime? I’m sure no one has given that any thought.
“So,” I say, glaring at Thomas after another long moment of dissociating, “You knew you were coming to talk to me about this when you were asking about covering medical bills?”
May pinches the bridge of her nose. “You know Thomas isn’t good about talking about important things.”
