“Six?”
I nod. “I’ll graduate with my Doctorate in Pharmacology.”
“Impressive.” He nods.
I laugh. “Says the guy standing on stage before screaming fans, slaying it on the guitar.”
“Not my norm.” He smirks. “Just filled in for a buddy tonight.”
“Dana, my traitorous guide, mentioned an American songwriter. That’s you?”
He nods.
“Impressive, Ben Sawyer. Your parents must be proud.”
“They really don’t know yet.”
“Huh?”
“Just happened. Pretty cool, but Dad wants me to take over back in Tully, and I keep trying to get him to retire, sell the place, and live, you know?”
“I do know.”
“Raised by the same kind of people,” he acknowledges.
“I’m grateful for the way I was raised, but when I travel, there’s a piece of me that feels sorry for my parents for never getting to experience it all.”
“I know exactly how you feel.”
“Then I feel guilty that I’m able to.”
He sighs. “Same damn feeling I have.”
“But we’re both doing it.” I force a smile.
“Why the sad smile?” he asks.
I look up and see such deep sincerity in his eyes. Sincerity I felt before … a very long time ago.
When I don’t reply, he cocks his head again, waiting.
“Although my parents encourage me to follow my dreams, it’s, well, you know,” I shrug
“Your brother Alex took over the farm, correct?”
I nod. “He converted one of the old barns into a veterinary clinic.”
He laughs.
“What?”
“Must be your folks told my parents about that. My moms talked about converting the big red barn into a rustic wedding and reception venue. She has a hairbrained idea that Dad, her, and I could run the business part, and I could continue my ‘music hobby’ by playing at them.”
My father, John, and Ben’s father went to college together. They were fraternity brothers and have remained friends. They still even hunt together.
“Do they know how well you’re doing with your ‘hobby’?”
His eyes light up. His smile, too. “They have no clue.”