“I know,” I whispered. “But what would you do if Bridge and I moved to New York? How would you manage the farm? I don’t want to crush your dream anymore than I want to destroy Flynn’s, and I know yours is this farm.”
“Ali.” Sam tilted my chin up so I had to look him in the eye. “You remember Mom and Dad, right?”
“Of course I do.”
“They were crazy in love. If someone had told them they had to give up one another in exchange for the keeping the farm, what would they’ve done?”
I closed my eyes. “They’d have given up the farm.”
“Yep. Nine years ago, you sacrificed your own happiness for me. For this farm and the vision I have for it. Never think I don’t appreciate that, Ali. I’d have told you not to do it, but from the perspective of it being a done deal, I’m grateful. But now, I’m telling you, it’s your time. It’s your turn to grab your own chance at happiness. It doesn’t come around very often. You’re so lucky that you’re getting a second chance.” He squeezed my hand. “Don’t fuck it up.”
I blinked back more tears. “I’m scared, Sam. What if I take a chance and it’s not the right thing to do?”
“Trust your heart, Ali. And trust that boy. I think he’s a keeper. Take a chance.” He stood up, stretching. “Now I’m going to bed before Meghan wakes up and thinks I’ve fallen asleep down here. Good night.”
“Good night, Sam. I love you.”
“Love you, too, little sister.”
“HEY, YOU COMING DOWNSTAIRS for pancakes?” My sister stuck her head in the door of my bedroom. “Mom made your favorites. Ricotta with lemon peel.”
“Yeah, I’ll be right down.” I waited for Reenie’s footsteps to echo down the stairs before I got up, pulled on shorts and followed her down.
“Good morning, sunshine.” Mom set a mug of coffee at my place. “Was I imagining things, or did you go out late last night? I could’ve sworn I heard the truck.”
“You weren’t imagining anything. I went out to the farm to see Ali.”
I didn’t miss the look my mother and my sister exchanged. “Everything all right?”
“Yeah. No. I don’t know.” I leaned on my hand. “I got a job offer yesterday. For World Wide News, in New York. It’s a full-time, permanent position, and we’d have to move up there.”
There was silence at the table. “Well, Flynn, congratulations.” My mother’s smile was forced. “What did Ali say about it?”
“Ali . . . freaked out. I had a few ideas about how we could make it work, but she wasn’t willing to listen to them.”
Mom nodded. “It would be hard for her leave Burton permanently. What did you decide?”
“I told her I wouldn’t take it. I said she and Bridge are more important than any job.”
“Okay. And is that how you really feel?” My mother had a knack for getting to the root of the matter.
“Of course it is. Was I a little disappointed she wouldn’t even consider it? Well, yeah, sure. But I’ll get over it. We’ll figure it out. It was just a great opportunity for me. For us.”
Mom leaned back in her chair. “Flynn, do you remember what your father used to say about the cornerstone of a good marriage?”
Maureen and I grinned at each other. “Compromise!” We shouted the word together.
“Exactly. And do you know why he knew that so well? Because he lived it. Did you know that your father wanted to be a writer when I met him?”
“Dad?” Maureen frowned. “I didn’t know that. I thought he always wanted to teach.”
“Yes. Writing was his passion. But then we met in college, and we fell in love, and I couldn’t live with the uncertainty of that kind of life. I wanted stability, someone who would support me so I could raise our kids. And so your father changed his major, and he became a teacher instead.” A sheen of tears covered her eyes. “Twice your dad gave up his dream. Once in Ireland, when his father forced him into masonry, and then again when I forced him into teaching.”
“How come we never knew that?” My dad had been the happiest man I knew. I never would’ve guessed that he wasn’t doing exactly what he wanted.
“Because he chose to be happy. He could’ve been bitter or resented us. But he never was. Not once did your father ever accuse me of ruining his dream. He always told me he’d chosen the better part: his family. He compromised, Flynn.” She smiled at me. “You need to decide how your life can work with Ali’s. You’re both strong people. You’re passionate about what you do, and that’s wonderful, son. But try to remember that Ali’s sense of responsibility is one of the things you love about her. She wouldn’t be who she is if she didn’t care.”
“But isn’t it my turn to be her first choice? Her priority?” I hadn’t been aware how much that stung. “Last time she chose Sam. And the farm. When’s it going to be my turn?”
