"Just make the call," Bailey says. "It's an exciting story, but I only want to tell it once."
I do as requested. Joyce and Charlie are on their way home already. They'd been out grocery shopping. I go inside and make a couple glasses of sweet tea and we wait for them on the porch. Charlie is wearing a similar, very confused expression on his face that I had. Still have, really.
We make our way inside and sit at the dining room table. Finnigan lays all the papers out as Bailey starts explaining what they did. He's eccentric about it, way too excited and using too many details to get to the point. After a minute, Finnigan lays on a hand on his shoulder to stop him.
"We'll be here all day if he tells this story. Basically, I read over the contract. It didn't read right from one page to the next, like there was a section missing." He points to the third page of the contract and then the fourth. "It's not a common thing to add into contracts, but as someone who knows the differences in what is usually found in what type of contract, this felt off. At first, I reached out to the company to request a physical copy of the original one. They pretty much blocked me immediately. Red flags went up. So, I got a bit more creative. I found out who the contract was written by and reached out to them as a potential land developer for another farm around here."
"That's where I come in!" Bailey says. It's almost comical how excited he seems about this. "I pretended to be the kid that didn't want to inherit the farm and wanted it sold."
"And you played your part perfectly," Finnigan says. The smile he gives Bailey is a bit too soft and I wonder what's going on between them. Finnigan turns back to Charlie and myself. "Anyway, I finally made contact and the guy was all too eager to tell me how they did it. The original contract was for just that plot of land in the back, but when they realized you left without requesting a copy of your own, they had someone go in and adjust things here and there to reflect something different. I could go into details, but it's a bunch of jargon."
"So, we're not selling the farm?" Charlie asks. Finnigan smiles.
"You're not selling the farm. Not even the original plot of land." He flips several pages and points to a section. "I made them write this in myself. If you sign here, you own everything again, plus they're paying you back a lot more than what you were selling to them for."
Joyce comes up behind Charlie and hugs him. I can see tears in her eyes. She reaches a hand over and squeezes my arm as well.
"And this is legit? This isn't something that is going to screw us over again?"
"I promise," Finnigan says. "Besides, my brother would murder me if I screwed over his boyfriend."
I stay silent, not sure how I feel about this. I'm happy, of course. It means the farm stays in the family. Dad will be happy too. Hopefully, after we explain that they scammed us, he'll forgive Charlie. I don't know what it means for me, though. I finished the class, I'm getting the certification. I'm supposed to be training for the job starting next week. I love the farm and always thought that I would live and die working on it, but this summer taught me that I have more to offer than just this. I've grown to like the idea of doing something else.
"I think we need to celebrate," Charlie says. For the first time in a while, I see him smile. A genuine smile. He turns that smile on me and I do my best to not show my thoughts. "You can keep the house, Nel."
I nod along and smile, but my eyes catch Finnigan's stare and I can tell he sees right through me. He doesn't say anything, which I'm grateful for. I watch as Charlie signs the documents where Finnigan tells him to. It only takes a couple of minutes before he sits back, stacking the papers back together.
"I'll make extra copies of this original contract and give each of you one, plus keep a copy for myself. I'll take care of sending this and filing everything."
"I don't know how to thank you," Charlie says. "You have to stay and have dinner with us, at least."
"I appreciate it," Finnigan says. "But I promised this one I'd drop him off at work and then I have to fly back to Chicago tonight. I still have a job there waiting for me. It felt good to be on this side of a contract for once, though. That's payment enough."
Charlie stands and shakes Finnigan's hand. I do the same before walking outside with them. I want to ask what's going on with them, but I'll see Bailey at work later. I'll interrogate him then, when he's obligated to talk to me. I nod toward both of them as they head to the car. I turn around when the screen door opens. Joyce steps out.
"Your brother is calling your parents to tell them the news," she says simply. I nod. I'll have to talk to Bennett tonight about all of this. It's a lot to process. "You have a tough decision to make, don't you?"
"You always were able to read my mind," I say and roll my eyes. She gives me a side eye glance and laughs. "I'll make the decision soon. I just feel like I have to talk to Bennett first."
"Have you heard on the house yet?"
"No. They're supposed to make the decision by tomorrow, so I guess it'll depend on that, too."
"You know you always have a place here if you want it," Joyce says. She says it like I've already made up my mind. "You better come around for Sunday dinners, though. I don't care what you have going on or what Bennett says. Sunday evenings are for family; I'm making that a new rule."
"Yes, ma'am." I turn and give her a hug.
"Now go on and get back to your place," she says. "We have time enough to talk about this."
I give her one more hug before heading to my truck. I can't believe that we're keeping the farm. I'm grateful for it and have a whole new appreciation as I drive to my house. I decide to wait outside for Bennett. He shouldn't be too much longer coming home.
Home.
I know it's only been a few weeks with him, but I was serious that night up at the overlook. I don't need two years to decide if I want to spend the rest of my life with him. I don't have a ring, but I know that if I asked he'd say yes. I close my eyes and rock back and forth gently in the chair. I love my rocking chair on this porch. It was my Mama's growing up and it'll definitely be coming with me if I do decide to move off the farm after all.
I picture our life together a few years from now from both sides. Me, managing a team during the week and working the farm on the weekends. Bennett being a full time college professor. Maybe a dog and a kid running around. I smile at the thought of a future with Bennett. I'm so lost in my daydream that I don't hear his car pulling up, or him walking up on the porch.
I startle when he kisses my cheek. His smile and soft laugh calm me down immediately. "You looked either deep in thought or just asleep."
