Way Back To You

Chapter 1 -Farmhouse

Emma drove around town slowly to look for the public attorney's office. She met Nana's old lawyer, Philip, as she grew up seeing him permanently at the farm. When her parents died, her Grandmother Lily took her in. Nana Lily was her mother's mom. She is closer to her than her Grandmother Beth, her father's mother.

Her Nana also has a son, Robert. Robert had always been jealous of the young Emma because his mother, Lily, doted on her more than his children, Johny and Martha. Robert lived not far away from the farm but had always asked his mother to let them live at the farm and help her.

But old Lily knew why her son wanted to live with her. She understood her son very well and learned he liked owning the farm. She knew that Robert was addicted to gambling and would sell the farm after getting his hand on it. Emma knew all about her Uncle's gambling habits, too.

She always caught him stealing money from Nana's purse, but he would threaten her, so she kept quiet. Eventually, Emma's Grandmother found out, so she cast him out of the house and told him not to return. But when Robert married and had a family, Nana Lily's heart softened, and she made peace with Robert.

Robert was one of the reasons why Emma wanted to leave Yellow Springs.

Emma was shocked when she received the letter from Attorney Philip and read its contents. She never thought nor wished for her Nana to leave the whole estate to her. Robert wanted her gone because he knew his mother favored Emma more than he and his children.

Now she's back in this old town she left behind. She dreaded seeing her Uncle and visiting the one man she had tried to forget. She finally arrived at the public attorney's office and parked the car in front. She got out of her car and stretched for a minute.

She had been driving for hours from New York. She just stopped for a few hours to sleep and move again. She's tired, she's hungry, and she's not in a good mood. She opened the glass door and saw the receptionist talking on the phone. When the old lady saw her, her eyes widened and quickly cut her call.

" Emma, is that you?!" The old lady exclaimed and stood up. She went straight to Emma and opened her arms for a hug.

" Hi, Susan. How are you?" Emma smiled and snuggled in the older woman's arms. Susan was her Grandmother's best friend. Emma loved hanging out with her Nana and Susan when she was younger.

" I am doing well, baby girl. God! How lovely you've grown, Emma. How long ago was it when you left Yellow Springs?" Susan scrutinized Emma from head to toe and was pleased with what she saw.

" Ten years, Susan. I haven't been home for ten years. I didn't even know Nana was sick and dead. I was shocked and heartbroken when I received Philip's letter. Why was I not notified, Susan?" Emma asked brokenheartedly.

" Come, child, let's sit for a while. Philip is with another client and won't be finished for thirty minutes." Susan led her to the couch and sat with her, clutching her hand tightly.

" When Lily got sick, she made us promise not to tell you. She doesn't want to worry you or bother you in New York. She was rooting for your success, you know. She always bragged that her granddaughter would someday become a famous country singer. We were rooting for you too." Susan tapped her hand and smiled.

" Susan, I would have come home and taken care of Nana if I had been notified. I feel so guilty and heartbroken that she got sick and I was not there for her. You know how much I loved my Nana, Susan. It was so unfair that I was not here when she died." Emma said tearfully.

" I am sorry, dear. I made a promise to Lily not to tell you. But when she died, it was Robert's decision not to tell you. He warned us and told us to stay out of his business," Susan said apologetically.

" I can't believe Uncle Robert still holds a grudge against me. I thought that my moving away would make him happy. Does he know Nana left me the farm?" Emma asked.

" Oh yes, he does, dear. When Philip read to him your Nana's last will, he was furious and shouted at poor Philip. He threatened to sue Philip for sabotage. That man has no shame at all. Your Grandmother knew her farm would be in good hands if she left it with you." Susan brushed Emma's hair affectionately.

" I don't know if I want to accept, Susan. I don't want my Uncle Robert to hate me for the rest of his life. Should I hand it over to him? Besides, he is Nana's son and was with her before she died." Emma sighed. She knew her Uncle would not leave her alone now that she was back.

" Oh, no, no, dear. You have all the right to have that farm. It is rightfully yours, as stated in the documents. Do not worry about Robert. We will keep an eye on him. Philip told him to leave the farmhouse a few days after Lily's funeral. Lily left him a decent amount of money to buy a house. Your cousins also received money from your Grandmother, so they shouldn't complain or bother you." Susan narrated.

" But Uncle Robert wants the farm. I bet he was furious when he found out I got the farm." Emma answered.

" That he is, dear. Don't worry about it. There is nothing he can do to change Lily's decision. Unless he wants to follow her and argue with her in the afterlife." Susan joked and giggled.

" You're right, Susan. I hope he will let it all go so we can live peacefully." Emma laughed with Susan. Then, the door to the attorney's office opened. Philip and his client went out and shook hands. Philip turned to Emma and smiled kindly.

" Finally, the prodigal daughter returned," Philip said and opened his arms to Emma.

" How are you, my dear? It has been so long since I last saw you," Philip asked Emma after they hugged.

" I'm doing well, Phil. How are you?" Emma answered and smiled at the older man.

" Good, good, dear. Let's go inside and discuss your Nana Lily's will. I am so happy to see you here, Emma. I know your Nana is so pleased now that you are back," Philip announced while opening the door to his office and letting Emma in.

" I'm not sure if I'm staying, Phil. I built a life in New York and don't know anything about farming." Emma told Philip and sat down.

" Emma, dear. Your Grandmother made me promise to hand over the farm to you and help you run it. Until my very last breath, I will uphold that promise. Besides, you will have a lot of help on the farm, especially from your Nana's new Vet." The older man reassured her.

" What happened to the other Vet? I forgot his name." Emma asked in surprise.

"He was getting old and wanted to retire, so he asked your Nana to replace him. Don't worry. This new guy is young and able. Everyone loves him." Philp reassured Emma.

" Well, we'll see about that. Besides, I have not decided yet if I want to stay. I do have a career in New York, and I'm loving my life there." Emma answered.

" Well, we'll talk about that some other time. In the meantime, let's get to business. Let me read you your Nana's last will and what you inherited from her. Alright, let's start.

"To my dear Emma, I am leaving you the farm I know you love. Along with it are the horses and vineyard. I understand you will decline, but I insist. No one deserves to run the farm and continue its legacy more than you.

Do not worry about your Uncle Robert. I left them the mini grocery in town and a substantial amount of money. He might fight with you about the farm, but my decision is final.

I also left you a small amount in the bank, enough to help you run the farm for a few months, then you're on your own. You can ask the kind Doctor Cassingham to assist you in running the farm along with good old Phil. I love you, my sweet Emma, and I will always be here watching you. Nana." Emma was full-blown crying after old Phil finished reading the will. Susan handed her a tissue for her tears and was also teary-eyed.

" She also left you a letter and asked me to hand it to you after she's gone. I know, dear that it's hard going back to the farmhouse without your Nana, but you have to face reality and honor her wishes." Philip looked at the young, heartbroken woman in front of him.

He watched this girl grow up, and he knows how much she loved her Grandmother. But the old Lily knew she had to let go of her granddaughter and let her live her life and follow her dreams even though it breaks her heart to be apart from her. He saw how the older woman longed for her granddaughter to return but prayed for her success.

" Let's get you settled at the farm, dear. I've asked Susan to hire people to fix the house and prepare your room. We didn't change anything and left it as your Grandma wanted, but you can transform anything. It belongs to you now. Susan will drop you off at the farm and call me if you need anything or if there's a problem, okay?

" Okay, Phil, and thank you." Emma stood up and hugged the older man. Soon, Susan and her were on their way to the farm. Emma looked out the window and noticed nothing had changed since she left. They passed the old buildings and soon took the rough road towards her Nanas' farm.

" I know these all seem too much, dear, but I know you can do it. The farm may not be as profitable as before your Nana died, but I know you could bring back the life to the old farm." Susan squeezed her hand and smiled reassuringly.

" I hope so, Susan. I hope Uncle Robert will not take this hard and plot my demise." She answered and added a joke. Soon, they reached the entrance to the farm, and just above the hill stood the old yet majestic farmhouse.

" Welcome home, dear," Susan exclaimed. Emma stared at the house with teary eyes. She had not realized how much she had missed the farm until now. She went down the vehicle and stood there mesmerized by the majestic view. All the memories of the past came flooding in from the moment she arrived here after her parents died until the day she left it all behind.

" Home," was all she murmured. She took her luggage out of Susan's car's trunk and strolled towards the house. Susan watched the young woman walk towards the house with eyes filled with compassion.

She saw this young woman grow and saw how her friend Lily doted on the girl. Emma was a sweet and shy girl when she first came to the farm. It took Lilly a while to make the confused little girl come out of her shell and find happiness again, even if it meant to let her go and follow her dreams.

" Well, Lily, we got your girl back here. Now, do something to keep her here and take care of your farm." Susan murmured and looked up to the heavens. She knows that this is what her dear friend Lily wants. She went back to her car and slowly backed away from the farm, leaving a solemn prayer for Emma.