When Grandma passed away, I thought the farm would be mine. But instead, it went to my cousin, Felicity. All she saw were dollar signs, not the memories that tied us to this place. What I got was a strange letter and a temporary right to stay. But something felt off, and I wasn’t going to let it go. I was going to uncover the truth.
The lawyer’s voice faded as he finished reading Grandma’s will. I felt a cold, heavy grip on my chest. The farm, which had been the heart of our family, was now Felicity’s.
My cousin, Felicity, barely even spent time here. She treated the farm like a backdrop for her perfect Instagram photos, while I spent years working the land and learning the real value of it.
How many mornings did I get up before dawn to help Grandma with the animals or tend to the garden? How many days did I spend in the blazing sun, working the fields, while Felicity saw the farm as nothing more than a glamorous photo opportunity?
“Are you okay, Diana?” the lawyer asked gently, breaking my thoughts.
I nodded numbly, but my hands shook as I opened the letter Grandma had left for me.
Grandma’s handwriting filled the page, comforting and familiar:
“My dearest Diana,
If you are reading this, the time has come for a choice. I know you love this farm, and it has been a part of you as much as it was a part of me. But I needed to be sure that its true caretaker would emerge. I have left the farm to Felicity, but I have also granted you the right to live here for as long as you wish.
As long as you remain on the farm, it cannot be sold. Please be patient, my dear. The second part of my will shall be revealed in three months.
Love, Grandma”
I stared at the words, trying to make sense of them. Why didn’t she leave the farm to me outright? Didn’t she trust me?
I glanced at Felicity, who was already whispering with her husband, Jack. I couldn’t hear everything, but snippets floated to me. “Sell it… quick profit… developers…” They didn’t even care. To them, the farm was just a business opportunity.
Later, Felicity offered me money, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. “Take the money, Diana. You could buy a nice place in the city. Start over.”
“This isn’t about money, Felicity,” I replied, my voice firm. “It’s about family. This farm was Grandma’s life. It’s my life.”
Felicity shrugged, uninterested. To her, the farm was a burden. To me, it was home.
That night, I lay awake, memories of the farm flooding my mind. I knew what I had to do. By morning, I had requested a leave of absence from my city job. I had to be here, to feel the earth beneath my feet again. This farm had always been a part of me.
Felicity handed me the keys with a smirk, clearly eager to leave behind the responsibilities.
The first days on the farm were a blur of chores. I dragged myself out of bed before dawn, my body aching at the thought of the day ahead. Feeding the cows, cleaning the stalls, gathering the eggs. As I worked, I couldn’t help but think, How did Grandma do this every day?
“Morning, Daisy,” I said to the cow nearest to me, giving her a scratch behind her ears. “Ready for breakfast?”
She nudged me gently, and I smiled. “You’re the only one who listens to me,” I whispered, feeling the weight of the tasks ahead.
As I worked on fixing the fence, I heard Mr. Harris’s familiar voice.
“Need help again?” he asked, his smile warm.
“Mr. Harris, you’re a lifesaver,” I said, wiping my brow. “I swear this fence has it out for me.”
He chuckled. “Nah, it just needs a firm hand. You gotta show it who’s boss.” He worked alongside me, showing me how to reinforce the posts.
“Your grandma used to say, ‘A good fence makes a happy farm,'” he said with a grin.
“I didn’t know it would make me lose my mind,” I muttered.
He laughed again. “She didn’t want to scare you off. But you’re doing good, Diana. You care, and that’s half the battle.”
“Half the battle? What’s the other half?” I asked.
“Sticking it out when things get tough,” he said, his voice serious now. “This farm isn’t just land, Diana. It’s got a soul.”
I swallowed, feeling a lump in my throat. “I just hope I’m doing it justice.”
“You are,” Mr. Harris said, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
Later that evening, I stood outside, watching the sky turn orange as the sun set. Then I smelled something—a strange, acrid scent.
Smoke?
I turned toward the farmhouse and froze. Flames were already licking the roof, climbing higher with every second.
“No! No!” I screamed, dropping everything and running toward the house. “Fire! Someone, help!”
Neighbors rushed to help, but the fire spread too quickly. Mr. Harris grabbed my arm, pulling me back.
“Diana, it’s too dangerous!” he shouted.
“But the animals…” I gasped, trying to break free.
“They’re safe,” he reassured me. “Focus on that. You’ve done your part. The animals are safe.”
I stood there helplessly, watching as the farmhouse burned to the ground. “It’s all gone,” I whispered, my heart heavy with grief.
The next morning, Felicity showed up. She glanced at the wreckage, her face emotionless.
“Well, this changes things, doesn’t it?” she said, her voice laced with indifference.
I looked at her, trying to steady my shaking hands. “The house is gone, Felicity, but the farm… it’s still here.”
She crossed her arms and smirked. “And that’s exactly why it’s time to sell. Look around, Diana. This place is a disaster. It’s not worth the trouble.”
I shook my head, my hands clenched into fists. “You don’t understand. This isn’t just land. This is home.”
“To you, maybe,” she said coldly. “But to the rest of us, it’s just a money pit. So when are you planning to leave?”
“I’m not leaving,” I shot back, my voice firm. “This is my home.”
Felicity rolled her eyes. “Be reasonable. You’ve lost your job. You’re living in a barn, Diana. A barn.”
“I’ll figure it out,” I replied, my jaw set.
She gave me a pitying look. “You’re being stubborn. There’s nothing left here. Accept it and move on.”
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving me standing in the dust, furious and determined. I pulled out my phone, dialing my boss. The line rang for what felt like forever before he picked up.
“Diana, you’re late on your return,” he said, his voice flat. “I need you back by Monday.”
“Monday?” I choked out. “I can’t be back by then.”
“Then I’m afraid we can’t hold your position any longer.”
“But… please…” I begged, but the line went dead.
Mr. Harris approached quietly, his footsteps gentle. “You alright?”
“No,” I whispered, tears threatening to spill. “But I’ll be fine. Somehow.”
He nodded, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “You’re stronger than you think, Diana. And this farm? It’s stronger too. Don’t give up just yet.”
I looked at the barn, the animals, the smoldering ruins of the farmhouse. Felicity wanted me gone, but this place was part of me. It was my family, my memories, my life.
“I’m not leaving,” I repeated, my voice stronger this time.
“You can’t stay here like this,” Mr. Harris said softly. “I’ve got a spare room at my place. You can stay there until you figure things out.”
His kindness nearly broke me. “Thank you, Jack.”
The weeks that followed were the hardest of my life. Every morning, I rose with the sun, my body aching from the work. The farm had become a battlefield, and I was its soldier. But with every repair, every field I planted, I felt Grandma’s spirit there, guiding me.
Mr. Harris was always there too, teaching me more about the land, about life, and about patience. One evening, as we sat on the porch, watching the sunset, he said with a smile, “You’ve done good, Diana. Your grandma would be proud.”
I smiled back, feeling the truth of his words. “I finally get it. Why she did what she did.”
“She knew this place needed someone who would love it as much as she did,” Jack said, his voice full of respect. “And that someone was always you.”
The farm became my home in a way it never had before. It was my past, my present, and, thanks to Jack, maybe even my future.
Finally, the day arrived. The lawyer was ready to read the second part of Grandma’s will. I walked into the office, my heart racing. Felicity was already there, her face tight with impatience. Jack stood beside me, his presence steadying.
The lawyer opened the sealed envelope and began to read.
“My dear Felicity and Diana,
If you are hearing this, then the time has come for the farm to find its true guardian. Felicity, I know this may come as a surprise, but I always intended for the farm to belong to the one who truly cares for it…” The lawyer paused, glancing at Felicity. “As far as I know, Diana has taken responsibility for managing the farm. So if no one objects…”
Felicity’s face drained of color, her eyes wide with disbelief. She stood up, her voice shrill.
“This is ridiculous!” she screamed. “She burned down the house! She’s a failure!”
But Jack stood up too, his voice steady. “I think it’s time we tell the truth,” he said, handing the lawyer a receipt.
“I saw Felicity near the farm the day of the fire,” he said. “She was seen purchasing gasoline from the local store that afternoon.”
The lawyer’s eyes widened. “This evidence suggests otherwise, Ms. Felicity.”
Felicity froze. Then, in a voice that barely carried, she admitted, “Fine! That was me! Somebody had to help my sister move out.”
The truth was out. Felicity had tried to burn the house down to get rid of me and sell the farm. But it didn’t work.
“Diana,” the lawyer said, his voice steady, “The farm is now officially yours.”
I felt a wave of relief and joy rush through me. I had done it. The farm was mine, just as Grandma had known it would be.
As I settled into my role as the farm’s guardian, I felt Grandma’s presence in every field, every barn, and every breeze. The farm was my past, my present, and now, thanks to Jack, maybe it would be my future too.
Jack turned to me one evening, his eyes twinkling. “How about that dinner I promised you?”
I smiled for the first time in months. “You know what, Jack? I think I finally have the time.”
For the first time in a long while, I felt excitement and hope. The farm was mine, and so much more. And maybe, just maybe, my future would have a little more happiness in it.
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