What’s worth keeping. As if an entire life could be sorted like that.
Later that night, after everyone had left, I was alone at the farm.
Grandpa’s chair sat empty by the window, his reading glasses still folded on the armrest. I couldn’t bring myself to move them.
I walked through the rooms, touching things—the worn kitchen counter, the toolbox he kept in the shed.
That’s when I noticed something.
An envelope was taped under the lid of the toolbox. My name was on it.
I tore it open. Inside was a single sheet of paper.
“My dear Nolan, dig beneath the willow tree in the yard. There’s something I’ve been hiding from you for 22 years. It’s time you learned the truth.”
The willow tree stood at the back of the yard.
I grabbed Grandpa’s old shovel from the shed.
I started digging under the tree. After five minutes, the shovel hit something solid.
I dropped to my knees, brushing dirt away with my hands. A small, rusted metal safe was buried beneath the roots.
Then a car door slammed behind me.
I turned. Marla stood there, her coat open, eyes locked on the safe.
“What did he leave? I forgot my purse… came back to get it. Then I heard you digging.”
She stepped closer.
I didn’t answer. My fingers fumbled with the latch. It wasn’t locked.
Inside, I found a stack of cash, a folded letter, and a second sealed envelope labeled: “Open only if you choose to stay. If you choose the money in this box, leave this envelope unopened.”
This wasn’t what I expected.
I unfolded the first letter.
“Nolan, if you’re reading this, Marla has already shown up. I know her. She’ll pressure you. She’ll tell you to sell the house, move on, take the easy path. Will you give up? Or will you stand firm?”
I looked up slowly. Marla was watching me.
“What does it say?” she asked.
“It’s private.”
“So what’s your decision? Sell the farm?”
“I need time to think.”
“Time?” she laughed. “Time doesn’t fix a sinking ship.”
I didn’t respond. I just walked back to the house, the safe under my arm.
Marla followed, relentless.
She sat at the kitchen table, tapping her nails. “You’ve always struggled, Nolan. This is your chance to settle down. To finally have something stable.”
Memories came back—Marla after her parents split, how everything became a competition after her mother died.
