Chapter 10 - The Harvest
Another six months passed, bringing the total time of their separation to a full year.
Logan had just finished a grueling overtime shift at the shipping warehouse.
He walked up the creaky stairs to his apartment, carrying a small paper bag of groceries.
The modest, quiet life he led had slowly become his new, comfortable normal.
He unlocked his door and stepped inside, placing the groceries on the small kitchen counter.
A sudden, sharp knock echoed from the wooden door behind him.
Logan frowned, wondering if his landlord was stopping by to check the radiator.
He turned the deadbolt and pulled the door open.
The breath caught instantly in his throat.
Arthur stood in the narrow, dimly lit hallway, wearing a simple wool coat.
He looked a bit older, but he appeared incredibly healthy and deeply at peace.
"Hello, Logan," Arthur said quietly.
Logan stood entirely frozen in the doorway, his eyes welling up with sudden, unexpected tears.
"Dad," Logan whispered, his voice cracking with heavy, overwhelming emotion.
"What are you doing here?"
Arthur glanced past his son, taking in the sight of the small, cramped apartment.
He saw the scuffed, worn work boots by the door and the cheap canvas jacket hanging on a chair.
He did not see failure or poverty in those simple items.
He saw the hard-earned evidence of an arrogant boy finally becoming a grounded man.
"I received your letters," Arthur replied softly.
Logan had sent three more letters over the past six months, never once asking for a reply.
"I was in the city picking up some specialized soil for my garden," Arthur continued.
"I thought I would stop by and see if you wanted to get a cup of coffee."
Logan quickly wiped his eyes with the back of his rough, calloused hand.
The profound relief washing over him was infinitely better than any bank transfer he had ever received.
"I would love that, Dad," Logan said, his voice finally steadying.
"Let me just grab my coat."
He pulled his heavy jacket off the plastic hook and carefully locked the apartment door behind them.
They walked down the creaky wooden stairs together in a comfortable, healing silence.
The extravagant mansion, the empty luxury cars, and the millions of dollars no longer mattered to either of them.
May you like
Through the painful loss of everything superficial, they had finally found something entirely priceless.
They had found each other again.
