“What are you going to do?” His father frowned, looking concerned. “Is it the bees?”
Mason laughed. “It’s not a hobby. It’s not a passing interest. Yes, I love the farm and the nursery, but I really think I can do something here. And, maybe like you, I have this new drive to build up something with my own hands and not just be handed a legacy but create my own. I’ve talked to Charlie and he’s going to let me keep the hive here and give me some manager shifts, but I’ve decided to go back to school, take some courses in business and agriculture. I can also use the money I make from selling honey to start expanding the hive. I don’t know how it’s all going to work out but now that I have this idea in my head, I have to pursue it. This is what I want to focus on.”
Daniel nodded, pulling him into a half hug with a few rough pats on his shoulder. “Okay. You’ll figure it out. I’m proud of you. I will always be proud of you.”
Mason hadn’t done anything of any significance, so he wasn’t sure what his dad had to be proud of yet, but a new determination lit inside of him and this was at least something. He was about to leave but changed his mind, turning to his dad again. As long as they were having honest conversations, he might as well go all the way.
“Can I ask you something? Do you and Mom still love each other?”
“What the hell kind of question is that?”
“I don’t know. I…just noticed you guys don’t really show a lot of affection.”
The older man set his hands on his hips, looking toward the farmhouse in the distance. “You know your mom wasn’t set on doing this nursery thing or living here in Apple Hill. She liked the area fine—it is pretty after all. She’s just always been more of a city girl, liked having lots to do, always feeling restless like you. She did it for me.”
“Do you think she has regrets? Nat—Somebody told me love fades. Is it true?”
“I haven’t always been one hundred percent sure about your mother’s feelings toward me all the time. There are moments when she looks like she wants to smother me with a pillow. But do I love her? Hell yeah. Does love fade? Probably for some it does. But, in my experience, love is like the seasons. Sometimes it’s a little drier or a little colder. And other times it’ll be so warm you want to bask in it. It’s an ebb and flow, something that needs to be cultivated and taken care of just like a plant. It’s not something you can race toward, grab it, and then that’s it—you’re done. If you’re lucky enough to find someone, you’ll never be done, and if you want to thrive in it, you’ll find your love in the little things, the things no one notices but you two, rather than big showy displays. Your mother came here for me. She started this nursery business for me. It’s because she loves me. And because I love her, I always want to do whatever I can to make her happy. This is why we’re moving to Tucson. Does that answer your question?”
“Oh, uh, yeah.” It answered more than he’d expected. Perhaps Mason had seen being in love as some sort of end game, some kind of achievement he could latch on to and that would be it: he would be set for life.
He was walking back to his truck when his phone vibrated with a message and, seeing Natalie’s name, his heart leaped inside his chest. Mason stopped in his tracks. He never expected to see her name on his phone ever again. He opened her message.
It consisted of a graphic of an invitation to a New Year’s party at the coffee shop. The only words she had included to him was,Hope you can come.
He stood there and stared at it, wondering if it was sent by mistake, wondering if he should respond and if he did respond, what would he say? Mason concluded it was indeed a mistake because why would she invite him to a party after everything? He almost put his phone away, to ignore it, because his heart still hurt.
Except, the organ was a lot more stubborn than he originally thought. There was a faint beat of optimism. Maybe it wasn’t a mistake. Maybe Gemma was correct and Natalie was telling him something else. Was she ready? The more time that passed, the stronger this optimism got.
Only, he didn’t want to make a mistake.
Because when it came to her, it was either forever or nothing.
