Author's Note: Many thanks to LSD for his careful reading and thoughtful critique of several story drafts.
*****
"This drought's probably going to hit us pretty hard, Kelly. Water prices are going up again, maybe 10%."
"We should have sold the damn place before all this started. Now we won't get shit for it."
"Kelly, you know how important this farm has been for my family."
"Well a lot of good it's going to do if you can't grow anything on it."
Ryan knew better than argue with his wife about the farm.
*-*-*
Ryan grew up on the family farm, but he wanted something else after high school. He left home to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering at Cal Poly, a well-known state university in Central California. His years on the farm taught him how to innovate and solve problems which helped him immensely with his studies, and propelled him to the top of his class. While still a senior he was recruited by a large engineering firm in Los Angeles. He accepted, though he had almost no experience with city life. At times, the pace and crowding overwhelmed him, but it was new and exciting. He never fully adapted, but learned to enjoy many of the benefits of a large, thriving city.
*-*-*
He met Kelly through a coworker. She had been raised in a nearby suburb. The proximity allowed her to enjoyed many of the benefits of a large city, but her home life was more sheltered and privileged in the suburbs. Kelly majored in art. After graduation, she continued on to get her high school teaching credential. She'd been modestly successful at selling some of her sculptures through galleries, but the demands of her high school teaching job made it difficult to find quiet time to do more.
When they met, Kelly was surprised to learn Ryan grew up as a farm boy. He was charmingly awkward at cultural events or fancy restaurants in the city, but far from being a "hick". They bonded quickly. Together they learned the social graces and rhythms of city life.
Within a year, they were married, and settled in suburbia. They bought a small condo in a trendy neighborhood, hoping to build equity for a larger home. She continued her job teaching high school art. He commuted to his cubicle in the city. Both enjoyed their jobs. Kelly ensured they had an active social life with friends and neighbors. They had even talked of starting a family.
*-*-*
The call that would change their lives came late one evening. His parents had gone for dinner in their 1946 Dodge pickup, restored to the same condition it was in when Ryan's grandfather bought it new. Ryan's dad had installed lap belts, but without all the other safety features in modern vehicles, they didn't survive a head-on collision with a drunk in a 4x4 pickup. It had happened on a dark rural road not far from their avocado farm. They were dead at the scene of the accident.
Ryan and Kelly drove to the hospital to identify the bodies for the coroner. It was a gruesome formality that left them both too shaken to drive home. They spent some time in the hospital cafeteria to calm down and collect their wits.
"I guess we're going to have to sell," said Ryan.
"Yes, but we don't have to worry about that tonight. I doubt farms sell all that quickly. We have time."
"I was talking about our condo. We can't sell the farm, Kelly. I grew up on that farm. It's been in our family for over 100 years. How can I sell it?"
"Jesus, Ryan. We can't just uproot our lives, leave our friends and give up our careers to go play farmer. What the hell do I know about farming?"
"Come on, Kelly. We're talking about starting a family. What better place to raise kids than on a farm?"
"Ryan, you've lost your mind. We're both exhausted. Let's go home. We'll talk about this in the morning."
Ryan agreed. He walked out of the hospital like a zombie. Kelly took the wheel. He would have never made it.
*-*-*
The days after the accident were spent sorting out finances with attorneys and accountants to settle his parents' estate. The only real asset at stake was the farm and equipment. Ryan had been added to the deed several years before. He had no siblings to complicate probate, so everything was expected to go smoothly.
Ryan and Kelly discussed their future, but most discussions dissolved into an argument and Kelly dissolved into tears.
"I have to meet the accountant at the farm. We're checking everything against the asset inventory. Come with me."
"Is this a ploy?"
"No, Kelly. You know I don't do anything important without you."
They arrived at the farm a couple hours before they were to meet with the accountant and his farm appraiser. Ryan intentionally got off the highway an exit early so he could drive through the quaint little town on the way to the farm. Kelly had been to the farm for family functions many times, but had never been to the town.
The town center was old, but well-kept with many of the buildings restored to their original splendor. The town was along a well-traveled highway that terminated on the coast. This attracted beachgoers and vacationers who helped a number of boutiques and interesting restaurants to prosper.
Kelly pointed out a restaurant they could try on the way home when they were done with the accountant.
Sorry, Kelly...this detour was a ploy,
he thought, smiling to himself.
The long driveway from the county road to the farmhouse was lined with citrus orchards in full bloom. Ryan parked in front of the garage. He led Kelly up to the single story Victorian house with its inviting covered porch around three sides. Ryan's mom had insisted on painting it bright yellow with orange and green gingerbread trim representing the orchards that made it all possible.
A crow, perched on the eaves, cawed at them loudly at their arrival. Kelly was intimidated by the noise, and the bird's aggressive stance.
"What a disagreeable little pest." She hurried up the steps to the porch.
Ryan laughed, "I raised a crow from a chick when I was a teen. It's just wary of strangers. I wonder if it's a descendant?"
"You raised a crow?"
"Yea. I was a farm boy, remember. Still am, I guess."
*-*-*
Ryan opened the front door for Kelly, resisting the temptation to carry her over the threshold. They still hadn't come to an agreement. He didn't want to push it. She already knew the house so she didn't need a tour. They separated to explore on their own. Ryan busied himself with poking through family possessions that would have to be disposed of in some way. Kelly seemed to be deep in thought as she went room to room. Ryan thought she was appraising the house like a prospective buyer might. He left her alone.
A breezeway connected the house to a three car garage. The farthest bay was full of mementos from the earliest days of the farm before WWII. That bay was where the '46 Dodge Pickup had been lovingly parked all these years. Now the garage was just an empty reminder of their loss.
The house was surrounded by a small mandarin orange orchard. It was too small to be commercially viable. Ryan's dad maintained it as a hobby.
The main working acreage was about a mile farther up a rocky dirt road at the top of a 300 foot hill. It included almost 200 acres of some of the most productive avocado trees in the area. His grandparents had pioneered avocados in the area. His dad spent his whole life on the farm. Ryan did as well before going off to college. He knew as much as anyone how to run it.
*-*-*
On the way home, they stopped at the restaurant Kelly had pointed out. They talked about the town and the farm house. Kelly was full of ideas about how the house could be remodeled, that is, when someone buys it. Ryan let her talk.
"Kelly, we could do great things out there. What do you think?"
"I don't know, Ryan. It's just such a big change for me. For both of us."
"Big house instead of a cramped condo. Plenty of room for kids. Room for an art studio. You could reestablish your art career." She sometimes complained about life being too hectic to think about sculpting.
By the time they got home, they were exhausted. They stripped, showered and flopped on the bed in their small condo. They tried to sleep through the booming bass from the next door neighbor's stereo.
For weeks, Ryan and Kelly talked about the possibilities for both of them living on the farm. Reluctantly, Kelly agreed to the move. It would have to wait a couple months until the end of the current school term. She would stay in the condo until then or until it sold. Ryan had just wrapped up a major project at work, so he gave notice. He planned to use the time getting the farmhouse ready for Kelly.
By the end of the school term, their centrally-located condo had sold and Kelly moved to the farm.
*-*-*
Kelly tried to immerse herself in the farm and the surrounding community, but with neighbors so far apart, she was alone much of the time. The community was small and not friendly to newcomers. People in town only spoke to her because they had known her late in-laws so well.
She also faced an unfriendly resident of the farm. She'd pissed off the noisy crow who liked to perch on the eaves of the house. She'd gone outside and beat the side of the house with a broom to chase it away. It got to the point where the crow, seeing her come out, would fly high up into a eucalyptus tree, raucously berating her. Other crows picked up the habit. At times all of them would be scolding her in chorus.
Kelly asked Ryan what could be done. "They'll just have to get used to you, Kelly."
"Why don't you just shoot the damn thing? Your dad sure left enough guns."
"Are you nuts, Kelly? Shoot it for doing what crows do? That's ridiculous."
Ryan thought he might appease the crow with a little peace offering. Every morning when he left the house, he'd place a few nuts or dried fruit on a fence post. The crow watched him intently, but wouldn't swoop down on the treat until he drove off. He'd watch the crow in his rear view mirror taking the offering back up into the trees.
After a few weeks, he found a button on the post. A few days later a worn piece of blue glass. He smiled knowing they had come from the crow. That night he explained it to Kelly. She took over hoping to finally make peace with the crow. The crow took her offerings, but continued to berate her.
*-*-*
Ryan usually left the house around 7 am. Fortunately, they had no animals to feed or care for. Trees were more patient about such things so no need to be up at 4 am.
"More coffee?"
"No, I'm good, Kelly. I'll be down for lunch later. You going to be around?"
"Where else would I be?"
"I didn't mean anything by it, Kelly. It would be great to have lunch with you is all."
"Sorry, Ryan. I didn't mean it like that."
Ryan kissed her, then left for the orchard.
She sat there wondering why she snapped at Ryan. The phone rang.
"Hi, Marla. Aren't you supposed to be at work?" Marla and Kelly had been room-mates in college and best friends since.
"Took today off for a doctor's appointment. Hey, if Ryan's busy this weekend, what about coming into the city? We can do some retail therapy or something."
"Really? God, I could use a break. But could I take a raincheck?"
"Sure. What's up?"
