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He accepted the video call, thinking it was good to have his dad calling. It was usually Ford who initiated contact with his family. It wasn’t like they didn’t think of him, but after years in the army where he’d been out of contact a lot, it was the usual pattern for him to call.

Most of their contact was through a family chat, where they all chimed in. He also had individual chats with each of his siblings. They were all in contact, but it didn’t need to be face-to-face. In fact, he spoke more with his family in the chat than he had when he’d been working in the family company for those long months.

“Hey, Dad. How are you doing?”

His dad smiled. “I’m great. Not calling too early, am I?”

Ford laughed, knowing his dad was joking. Being in construction meant they were all early risers. Life in the army hadn’t changed that at all. Now, he was learning farmers were also at work early. “Not a chance. I’m out in the barn that I’m claiming as my workspace.”

His dad’s eyes lit up. “Nice. I’ve always loved the idea of having a big workspace. A barn should give you tons of room.”

He laughed while Jolie did the same beside him. “Sounds like that should be the case, but this barn is pretty crowded. I’ll show you around in a minute. First, I’d like you to meet Jolie Malssum.”

He held out the phone and Jolie leaned in so they were both on screen. “Hi, Mr. Evans. It’s so nice to meet you.”

Ford’s dad smiled. “None of that Mr. Evans nonsense. I’m Jim. You must be Knox’s sister. You’re a far sight prettier than your brother.”

Ford rolled his eyes while Jolie laughed. “Thanks, Jim. You’ve got a great son here. You must be a proud dad.”

Ford watched as his dad’s eyes misted at Jolie’s words. “You’re damn right. He’s a great son and I’m so happy to see him finding his own way in the world.”

Ford swallowed hard. When he’d told his dad he was heading north to help a buddy with an apple farm, the older man had studied him for a long moment before he’d nodded. “I wish you nothing but the best. I’m sorry this isn’t what you want or need.”

When Ford had spluttered, his dad had pulled him in for an awkward hug. They’d never been huggers in his family. He wondered if it would have been different if cancer hadn’t taken his mom.

“I get it, son. My old man wanted me to follow in his footsteps and sell real estate.”

That made Ford laugh. “You’d rather build it than sell it.”

“Damn right. And you’d rather restore old buildings and build unique structures than focus on commercial buildings. Follow your heart, Ford. Just know I’m proud of you and that if things don’t work, you’ve always got a place here.”

Even the memory from the previous month had Ford choking up. He was glad when Jolie slipped her arm around him to show her support and to ground him in the present.

On screen, his dad held up the chipped Best Dad mug Ford had given him one Christmas and took a drink of what he knew would be strong black coffee. Then he spoke. “I’m sorry to be interrupting your work.”

Ford shook his head. “You’re not. It’s pouring here this week. We’re about to start figuring out how to build a couple of projects.”

His dad leaned closer. “What kind of projects?”

Ford exchanged a smile with Jolie before he turned back to his dad. “Duck coops.”

Jim blinked. “Duck coops?”

Ford nodded and waited, knowing his dad’s brain would already be working on it.

Jim nodded. “I assume the ducks help the farm. Why do you need more than one coop? Do you have that many ducks?”

Ford laughed. “None yet, but we’re working on it.”

Then he angled the phone to Jolie so she could talk. “The ducks will help improve the biodiversity of the farm, and they’ll help control the snail population.”

“They eat snails?”

She nodded. “Voraciously.”

Like everyone else who heard it, his dad shuddered. “Well, that’s a great image. Glad I already had breakfast. Tell me about the coops.”

For the next fifteen minutes, they batted around ideas for the two coops and he walked his dad around the barn to show him the crowded space.