She hits me on the shoulder, and I laugh, but then she becomes serious.
"Skyler, I don't want you to put your life on hold anymore. I want you to follow your dreams with Judson. It's not fair to ask you to pause your business, especially when it's growing so well. Whatever happens with this TV show, I think you could still open your restaurant with Jud. You've been talking about it since you were little boys."
I give her a resigned smile. "Ma, it's not that simple. When Dad's friend comes to collect, we’ll need to have the money, and at the moment, we don't. The mortgage on my land is paid, so if I go to the bank, I'll get a loan, and all we need to do—"
"No, Skyler. I would rather lose the farm than have you risk your business. But it won't happen anyway because I found a solution."
"What do you mean?"
"I called Miles yesterday after you left. I know you take the burden of the farm on your shoulders, but he is the legal owner, and now that his finals are over, even if he's not here yet, he needs to be part of the decision-making process. We talked it through, and he suggested selling part of the land to the next-door neighbor."
"But you never wanted to sell it. You said it was part of our heritage."
"That was before. Miles always wanted to have enough land to split with you if you wanted to live there, but then you bought the forest and the cabin."
I almost can't believe what my mom is saying, and yet, it makes perfect sense.
All of these years, I wanted to preserve the farm for my brother and got used to making decisions for everyone. I don't even think I realized how much of a burden that was until now.
I let out a breath of relief and almost want to cry.
My mom hugs me tight.
"You've been the best son and big brother this family could have ever wished for, but it’s time for you to look after yourself. Maybe even let someone else step in every once in a while.”
I nod in her embrace.
“Dad is going to see his therapist next week. He knows he’s on a very short leash with me. God knows how much I love that man, so I’m not letting his addiction steal him from us.”
“Mom, I did something really stupid. I pushed Jud away last night. I said some awful things.”
She puts her hands on my face.
“Yesterday was a difficult day for all of us. We’re allowed to make mistakes and even say the wrong things. Why don’t you go talk to him and make nice?”
“Can I do it now?”
“Of course you can, baby.”
I hug her and run out of the house.
I try to call Jud, but he's not answering his phone, and when I get to his parents' place, there's no one home either. My anxiety spikes, and my fear that he's gone to the airport becomes real.
"Okay, calm down, Sky," I say to myself.
My computer is at the cabin, so I drive there, mentally checking if I have enough money in my account to buy a ticket to Paris. I don't even know how much a ticket to Paris is. Is my passport still in date? Fuck.
Jud's car is parked in front of the cabin when I get there. I run inside, not even bothering to close the door to my truck.
"Jud," I call out while I search for him.
I find him in the bedroom by the chest of drawers with a pile of folded clothes in his hand.
He puts them in the drawer and shuts it. Were those his clothes?
My heart does a little happy jolt.
"Jud—"
