Easter that year was at Luke’s sister Karen’s house in Gibbon.
Fourteen of us. Two card tables pushed up against the end of the dining room table. Ham and scalloped potatoes. And the green Jell-O salad that nobody eats and everybody expects.
Karen had set out the glass deviled egg plate shaped like a hen. It had been June’s.
For a minute, nobody could look at it.
Then everybody did. And Cody asked if he could have the egg in the middle.
Walt sat at the head of the table, because Karen put him there. He looked smaller than he had at Christmas. His good gray church coat hung over the back of his chair.
Before Karen’s husband, Jeff, could start the prayer, I stood up.
Luke looked up at me. I hadn’t told him I was going to do this.
“Walt,” I said. “I want to thank you for something.”
The room went quiet. The way a room does when everybody in it has heard the same story.
“Thank you for giving Luke that farm to grow up on,” I said. “For teaching him to drive a tractor before he could see over the dash. For the barn, and the creek, and every Sunday dinner at that table.”
I kept my voice even.
“Whatever happens to that place, Luke had it. Our kids had it. Nobody can sell that part.”
Walt looked down at his plate.
His jaw worked once. Then again.
He nodded. One time. He didn’t say anything.
Jeff said the prayer. And we passed the ham.
In the car on the way home, with both kids asleep in the back seat, Luke asked me why I did it.
“Because I’m going to buy it back,” I said. “And I didn’t want to do it angry.”
He drove a full mile without a word.
Then he reached over and put his hand on my knee. And he left it there all the way into Kearney.
Sophia Rivers is an experienced News Content Editor with a sharp eye for detail and a passion for delivering accurate and engaging news stories. At TheArchivists, she specializes in curating, editing, and presenting news content that informs and resonates with a global audience.
Sophia holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Toronto, where she developed her skills in news reporting, media ethics, and digital journalism. Her expertise lies in identifying key stories, crafting compelling narratives, and ensuring journalistic integrity in every piece she edits.
Known for her precision and dedication to the truth, Sophia thrives in the fast-paced world of news editing. At TheArchivists, she focuses on producing high-quality news content that keeps readers informed while maintaining a balanced and insightful perspective.
With a commitment to delivering impactful journalism, Sophia is passionate about bringing clarity to complex issues and amplifying voices that matter. Her work reflects her belief in the power of news to shape conversations and inspire change.