“We are,” their dad said. “We’re heading south. Maybe somewhere with fewer blizzards and a little more sand. Last winter was really rough on your mom, and her doctors said she might struggle less in a more temperate climate.”
Jules’s mouth gaped, then closed, the words they wanted to say tangled in a mess of emotions. They nodded slowly, like that might help the idea settle in their brain. “Wow. Okay. That’s…big.” Their voice felt small, lost in the vastness of the change looming over them.
They weren’t sure what else to say. It was selfish to ask what this meant for Jules when they knew how hard the winters had become for their mom as she got older. She’d always suffered from fibromyalgia, but over the past few years, she’d begun struggling with day-to-day living. Even now, as the weather got warmer, they could tell she was constantly battling fatigue and aching joints, which was why Jules tried waking up early most mornings to handle the chores so their mom wouldn’t have to.
Jules ignored the little voice in their head scolding them for sleeping in. If they didn’t work the closing shift, maybe they could wake up every morning, and then their parents wouldn’t feel like they had to move.
“We’d love for you to come with us,” their mom added, like that might soften the blow. “You could set up your studio there, start fresh.”
But fresh didn’t sound like freedom. It sounded like starting over with training wheels still on. And as much as their mom would thrive in the warmer climate, it sounded like hell to Jules.
“Yes,” their dad agreed, placing what Jules figured was supposed to be a comforting hand on their shoulder. The touch felt heavy, unwelcome. “We know this is a shock to you, but I can’t watch her in pain from the moment she wakes up until she goes to sleep. If we move now, we can find a more manageable place where she can still have her garden and some chickens.”
Jules resisted the urge to shake off their dad’s hand. They didn’t want to be comforted right now, especially not by the person they knew was behind this decision. No way in the world would their mom have suggested moving away from Maple Hill. This land had been in her family for three generations. Jules had foolishly dreamed that it would be theirs one day.
Jules forced a smile, the muscles in their face aching with the effort. “Actually, I’ve been thinking about moving into town anyway. As much as I appreciate you letting me live here as long as I wanted, it’s time for me to step out on my own. No one else my age still lives with their parents. I’ve been looking around and have a couple of good leads.”
A bold-faced lie, but one they committed to on the spot. Staying felt impossible. Leaving with their parents? Even more so. They needed space—room to figure things out without the quiet pressure of being someone else’s idea of settled.
“We’ll miss you, but that’s great to hear, honey.” Their mom seemed disappointed that Jules wasn’t eager to trail along to wherever they wound up. But this was for the best. They’d done an amazing job raising Jules, and they deserved the rest. “If you change your mind, you’ll always have a home with us, no matter where we wind up.”
She crossed the porch, opening her arms. Jules stood, stepping into her embrace. They closed their eyes and inhaled, hugging her just a little longer than they normally would.
Jules stayed on the porch long after their parents had retreated inside, lost to the swirl of thoughts and emotions this morning’s bombshell had stirred up. The farm, with its familiar sounds and smells, seemed to pulse with memories of every childhood adventure, every quiet moment spent sketching under the old oak tree, every thread of life woven into the fabric of who they were. They wanted to soak in as many memories as possible before being unceremoniously kicked out of the proverbial nest.
But what now? The idea of leaving Maple Hill felt like cutting away a piece of themselves. The thought of following their parents to some far-off, sun-soaked place was equally unsettling. A place where they’d have to start from scratch, where they couldn’t just slip into Shelf Care Central to talk with their friend Ollie about the latest fantasy reads, where the community didn’t know their name or their art. At almost thirty, they finally felt like they were growing roots here, and they didn’t want to be ripped out of the ground like a sapling in a tornado.
Jules rubbed their hands over their face, trying to push away the panic that threatened to creep in. The air was thick with the scent of grass and woodsmoke, grounding them even as their thoughts threatened to spiral. They needed a plan—a real one. Not just the lie they’d fed their parents about having leads onhousing. The truth was, Jules had been coasting on the comfort of home, on the safety net their parents provided, but now that net was being pulled out from under them.
Their mind drifted to Brew & Barrel, the place that had become a second home of sorts. It was a small comfort, knowing they’d be heading there soon. Sam would be there, with her endless patience and knack for seeing through Jules’s bullshit. If there was anyone who could help them untangle this mess, it was her.
With a deep breath, Jules pushed themselves off the porch railing. As they made their way inside to get ready for work, a flicker of determination began to take root. They would figure this out. They had to.
Later,as they drove the familiar roads into town, Jules tried to focus on the possibilities rather than the uncertainties. Maybe this was the push they needed to find their own place, to carve out their own corner of Maple Hill. The thought was both exhilarating and terrifying, like the first brushstroke on a blank canvas.
As the bar came into view, Jules felt a small sense of relief. The evening shift awaited, a chance to lose themselves in the rhythm of dinner service, to find a moment’s peace amid the chaos in their head.
Jules hung their patchwork messenger bag on a hook in the hallway before grabbing a clean apron. Their shift started in just a few minutes, and now more than ever, they needed to give the best service possible so their tips didn’t suffer.
The silver lining was that they were working with Sam tonight. She always managed to find a balance between making Jules laugh and telling them when they needed to get their head out of their backside. Tonight, she’d have her work cut out for her with the latter because Jules simply couldn’t focus.
“You’ve got that face,” Sam said as she motioned for them to hand her another lemon. She worked on slicing it while Jules started filling the cherries and olives.
“What face?” Jules forced a smile.
Sam rolled her eyes, obviously not buying it. “The ‘my life just did a backflip and didn’t land it’ face.”
Jules gave her a tired smile. Maybe talking about it would help them get through the night without obsessing. “My parents told me this morning that they’re selling the farm so they can move somewhere warmer. I know it’s for the best because my mom’s miserable during the winter, but…”
Sam didn’t flinch. Just handed them a cup of clear soda and set a hand over theirs. “You okay?”
“Not even a little.” Jules sighed. “I need to find a place. Like, now.”
“You’re not going with them?” Sam seemed surprised by this.
Jules shook their head. “They said I could, but how long am I going to let them take care of me? Maybe this is a sign from the universe that it’s time for me to grow up and get a place of my own.”
“Good luck with that.” There was only a hint of sarcasm in Sam’s tone. “Not sure if you realize it, but it’s nearly impossible to finda rental in town. Whenever something’s listed, it’s scooped up in less than a day.”
