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“You are to bring at least fifty poster boards and enough markers for everyone at the meeting this Saturday. We don’t have enough in stock and another shipment doesn’t arrive in time.”
“Ahh, clever. OK, I can do that.”
“Excellent. Oh, and Mike met with some members of our zoning board the other day. You need to get your girl, Solia, to obtain a copy of her plat map from the town clerk. I don’t want to tip off these bigwigs that we are up to something. Have her grab a copy and bring it to the meeting on Saturday. Mike thinks her family’s cabin abuts acres of conservation land, and there’s no way in hell Green Breeze will fight the state for the rights to that. Every bit helps. We want to get all our ducks in a row before we reveal our hand.”
“I can manage that. But are you sure you don’t want to tell her yourself? Seeing that you seem to know what’s going on with her, anyway.” I smile knowingly at Gerry.
“Nah, I’ll let you handle that, pretty boy. Oh, and by the way. You hear your brother-in-law got picked up again last night?”
“Richard?” My nails dig into my skin in my tightly rolled fists.
“Drunk again, causing a scene. Luckily, Nate was parked in the middle school parking lot when Madison called him from Caitlyn’s. That guy needs to get himself straightened out quick before he ends up behind bars.” And with that, Gerry turns and shuffles back into the store.
As if we don’t have enough to deal with right now. Fucking Richard.
Before pulling out of the parking lot, I notice an incoming text from my father.
DAD
All good there?
JACKSON
Yeah. I’m working with Gerry to figure out this wind farm mess.
Good. It’s a bunch of bullshit. Hey, I need you here for a few days to check some things out before you move. This won’t be a problem, will it?
His message gives me pause. Asking me to leave Meriden early is a reality check. I have so much to do here—the meeting on Saturday, then the town council meeting, and I want to meet up with the guys again. I haven’t honestly admitted to myself how great it was to hang out, just like old times. And Greg has become a trusted friend—not seeing him every day will be strange. I’ve been meaning to get out with him for a beer too.
I’m being split down the middle.
Traveling to New York for a few days won’t be plausible. I have way too much going on here. I need to wrap things up so I can start fresh in New York.
Sorry, Dad, too many loose ends to fit in a trip. I’ll be there soon enough.
. . .
No other reply. My father can be a hothead; I don’t want this plan going sideways before I even get there. However, it isn’t lost on me that I said no to turning the first page of my new chapter in New York for the unfinished chapter I’m writing here in Meriden.
* * *
Istruggle to fall asleep. The air is comfortable and quiet, but all I can hear are the conflicting arguments bouncing around in my head. After listening to Shannon and Gerry today, my brain is foggier than ever. I’m a hundred percent certain they want what’s best for me, but I’ve thoroughly considered the decision to leave.
Haven’t I?
Pushing those thoughts out of my mind is next to impossible, so I start adding more to exhaust myself. Finally, when enough wind turbines have rotated in my head, my tired eyes grow heavy and sleep is upon me.
* * *
The farm is busy throughout the week. My grandparents stay inside more than usual because of the sweltering heat. I make it a point to check on them each day after I’ve completed the farm work. Filling them in on the real estate lawyer and the meeting with the property owners is a little uninspiring. As always, they listen intently, and they seem enthusiastic at the prospect of property owners maintaining the right to their land, but their reaction didn’t convince me I was swaying them in the direction I need.
As Thursday comes to a close, I run into Lucas as I pull the tractor into the barn. “Hey, how’s the corn looking?” Corn is a new addition to our fields this year. We planted a small plot to see how it would work out.
“The sweet corn is looking good. I’m keeping an eye out for insect infestation, but so far, so good. I’m not sure we’ll want to go much bigger next year, but we’ll see what happens. Assuming we’re still here next year.”
Hearing these words from Lucas, someone who’s been with us for years and relies on us for his livelihood, is a crushing blow. “Listen, I don’t know what’s going to happen. I know I’m leaving, but I don’t want to see this place left to wind developers, that’s for sure. I’m working real hard to fight this. I won’t sit by on the sidelines.”
“I wasn’t expecting anything different, Jackson, but Earl’s been dropping hints here and there. So, I’m keeping it real.”
