Chapter 60: Family Ties and First Impressions, Part One

Friday, September 30th, 2005

Josh had spent the week following his usual routine—work, lessons, and late-night phone calls with Katie. In between, he had spoken with several realtors and found a few properties that seemed promising. Now, he was on his way to pick Katie up from school. The football team had an away game, so she didn’t have to perform with the band. He had taken the day off to make sure he could pick her up and spend the weekend with her. They had planned a busy few days—touring potential properties and, most importantly, finally introducing Katie to his brothers.

Pulling into the school parking lot, Josh parked in a spot near the front. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the pavement, and the distant hum of students chatting and cars starting up filled the air. He leaned back in his seat, letting his iPod Classic shuffle through songs. As Jack Johnson’s “Better Together” began playing, he closed his eyes, allowing the smooth melody and heartfelt lyrics to wash over him. It’s always better when we’re together ... The song felt fitting. It made him think about how much better his life felt with Katie in it, how different things were this time around.

The song changed to Waiting For My Real Life To Begin by Colin Hay—he opened his eyes and looked toward the school just in time to see movement at the exit doors. Band members were trickling out, and among them, he spotted Katie.

Josh immediately got out of his car and moved to the passenger side, anticipation buzzing through him. Seeing Katie again after a long week always brought a sense of warmth to his chest. He couldn’t help but smile as he watched her scan the parking lot, her face lighting up when she spotted him.

The moment Katie saw him, her face lit up, and she jogged toward him. Without hesitation, she leaped into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. He caught her easily, holding her close as she pressed a kiss against his lips.

Setting her down gently, Josh smirked and opened the car door for her. “Your chariot awaits, my lady.”

Katie giggled, sliding into the seat. “Such a gentleman.”

He shut the door before walking around to the driver’s side, climbing in, and making sure she had her seatbelt on before pulling out of the parking lot.

As they drove toward Katie’s house to pick up her bags, they caught up on their week. Katie talked about school, band practice, and how Noel and Kyle had been pestering her about when they’d get to hang out with Josh again. Josh told her about work and his conversations with realtors.

When they arrived at Katie’s house, Josh followed her inside. Judith was in the living room watching TV, and they greeted her as they walked in.

Judith looked up from the screen with a curious tilt of her head, her expression somewhere between mild interest and knowing amusement. “So, what are you two getting up to this weekend?”

Josh leaned against the back of the couch. “We’re going to check out a few properties I found—ones I think will work for us to build on. And I’m finally introducing Katie to my brothers.”

Judith raised a brow, looking mildly surprised. “You already found properties? That was fast.”

Josh shrugged. “I know the area really well, and I know how the town is going to develop. I don’t want to pick somewhere that’ll get swallowed up by developers in ten years. I found a few spots that are out in the county, places that’ll stay quiet and private. We’re looking at ten to twenty acres minimum. The biggest challenge is the property I really want—the owner won’t sell just a portion of it. He wants to sell the whole farm as one piece.”

Judith nodded, absorbing the information. “And if you get it, what are you going to do with all that extra land?”

Josh glanced at Katie, then back at Judith. “If Katie really wants it, I’ll buy it. We can figure out what to do with the extra land later—sell it, lease it, or just let it sit.”

Judith smiled knowingly. “Well, have fun and be careful.”

Katie grinned. “Love you, Mom. I’ll see you Sunday night.”

Josh gave Judith a polite nod. “See you later.”

Grabbing Katie’s bags from the entryway, Josh carried them out to the Supra and set them carefully in the back. He walked to the passenger side, opening the door for Katie. She leaned in, kissing him before sliding into her seat.

Once she was settled, Josh shut the door and made his way around to the driver’s side. He started the Supra, the familiar hum of the engine filling the air, and pulled out onto the road.

As they drove, Josh handed Katie the list of properties, letting her look over them as they visited each one. After checking out five locations, Katie found herself unimpressed with most of them—except one.

Josh, however, had saved the best for last.

As he turned onto a familiar dirt road, Katie frowned at the road signs and landmarks. Recognition flickered in her eyes, and she turned to him with a suspicious look. “You’re not serious, are you?”

Josh just smiled. “You’ll see.”

A few minutes later, they pulled up to the very same lakefront property they had spent last Sunday at.

Katie’s jaw dropped. “Wait ... this property is for sale?”

Josh nodded. “Kind of. The farmer doesn’t want to sell just this part—he’s selling the whole farm as one piece. He’s looking to get out. If we want this land, we have to take all of it.”

Katie bit her lip, clearly torn. “That’s ... a lot of land we wouldn’t use. And maintaining it would be a lot of work. I mean, it’s beautiful, but are we really ready to take on that kind of responsibility?”

Josh watched her, seeing the longing in her expression. “If you really want it, I’ll make it happen. We can figure out what to do with the extra land later.”

She hesitated for only a second before giving him a sheepish smile, the answer clear in her eyes.

Josh smirked. “Alright, I’ll call on Monday and get the process started. Just wanted to make sure you were sure before I pulled the trigger on this. I’ll have to cash in a lottery ticket and deal with Colleen to make sure it goes through the trust.”

Katie shook her head, smiling. “It still amazes me that you can do that.”

Josh chuckled. “Perks of having the death wish,”

As they sat there, looking out over the land that could soon be theirs, the possibilities stretched out before them, limitless and promising.

Saturday, October 1st, 2005:

Josh awoke on Saturday morning, snuggled up against Katie. Her soft, even breathing told him she was still deep in sleep. Smiling to himself, he carefully slipped out of bed, doing his best not to disturb her. After pulling on a pair of workout shorts, he made his way outside to the backyard, taking in the crisp morning air as the first light of dawn stretched across the sky.

Deciding to make the most of the quiet, he started with his usual workout—push-ups, sit-ups, and squats—before moving into his Aikido forms. The familiar movements helped clear his mind, allowing him to focus and center himself. Time slipped away as he flowed through each motion with precision and control.

Three hours later, Katie found him drenched in sweat, his breathing steady but deep as he finished his last form. She had woken up around 8 a.m., only to find the bed empty. It wasn’t until she looked out the window that she spotted him in the backyard, moving with effortless grace.

Stretching her arms above her head, she stepped outside, squinting at the morning sunlight. “How long have you been up?”

Josh wiped his forehead with his forearm and smirked. “Got up at five. Watched the sunrise while doing my morning routine.”

Katie gave him an incredulous look. “You don’t get enough of a workout last night?”

A mischievous glint appeared in Josh’s eyes as he grinned. “Oh, I can always go for another round. If you’re up for it.”

Katie rolled her eyes, crossing her arms as she smirked. “I’d love to, but I’m a little sore. If you know what I mean.”

Josh immediately put on an exaggerated pout, his expression resembling that of a hurt puppy. “So tragic,” he sighed dramatically. Then, without warning, his face broke into a devilish grin, and he lunged at her, sweeping her up into his arms.

Katie let out a squeal, dissolving into giggles as he carried her inside. “Josh! Put me down!”

“Nope. I need a shower, and you need to wash my back,” he declared, carrying her straight toward the bathroom, her laughter echoing through the house.

After a long, playful shower—where more water ended up on the floor than either of them anticipated—they dried off and got dressed. Josh led the way to the kitchen, where he opened the fridge. “Eggs and toast sound good?”