Teresa Palmer as Emery Summer

"Emery, sweetheart. You've been milking these cows for over an hour. How about you go inside and eat your lunch, " Daddy says as he puts his hands on his hips worryingly. He then bends over and picks up a tall, clear container filled to the brim with milk. I smile as I wipe the beads of sweat from my face, careful not to move the hairnet covering my blonde hair.

"I'm almost done with Big Peach, Dad."

Looking over at him, I continue milking the cow. I am exhausted. I've been working nonstop since four this morning. "Once I finish here, I have to package all the eggs. The truck is coming for the milk also. You know Mondays are our busiest day of the week. I can't slow down now."

Daddy bends over, kissing me on the back of my head.

I look up at my father with admiring eyes. It breaks my heart that the years of stress haven't been kind to him at all. He looks a little older than he is. His dark, brown hair with gray peeking through now covers his eyes. He loves a clean look, so he didn't have a beard or mustache.

Working on the farm is Daddy's workout. He always says as long as you are moving, you are working out. His little belly says otherwise, but I never have the heart to tell him otherwise, especially now that he doesn't have to work like before.

Turning carefully, Daddy begins limping away. "You work so hard, Em! I feel so bad that you stopped your studies because of me."

I roll my eyes. Not this again, I think to myself.

Pausing from milking Big Peach, I look around our barn. We just recently had it rebuilt. Brand new wood covers the entire place. 24x50. It was initially supposed to be a horse barn, but we have two older cows that need more care than the other, so we house them with our six horses.

Especially since this barn is right next to our house, anyone in the home can hear the slightest of commotions.

Breaking me from my thoughts, my father goes on another small rant again about me not living life. I am about to open my mouth in annoyance when my aunt Alice walks into the barn.

"Oh, Simon! Leave your daughter alone. Every week you bring up the fact that she didn't go to college. Leave her be! She is eighteen years old! She will continue her studies when she can."

Aunty has a plate of sandwiches, which she puts on a wooden table behind me.

"I feel bad! She's been taking care of my limping behind and this entire farm. Her mother's dream was for her to get out of Ackley. I want her to be free from here, from Utah, and me."

Daddy turns around and grabs a sandwich. He takes a bite, a piece of tuna fish falling to the ground. My aunt shakes her head, bends down, and holds it, turning to the trash can.

I exhale, annoyed, as I finish milking the cow. I then stand from the old, creaky stool and look at my aunt and dad. "It was my decision. It's fine!" I shrug half-heartedly. "Now that we have two major companies buying our products, we are finally hiring the help we need. Once the summer is over, I will figure out my future," I say with a smile as I give my dad a reassuring look. I nudge him as I walk to the sink and wash my hands.

Daddy smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. He turns and limps out of the barn, taking another bite from his sandwich.

Auntie passes me a cream-colored hand towel that she has tucked into her red apron. "My brother gives himself unnecessary grief. It's not good for his heart! I wish he learn how to relax."

Giving me an empathetic smile, Auntie leans on the table as she crosses her arms. We can still see daddy as he makes his way toward the house.

"I know," I say as I dry my hands. "It's not only that. The anniversary of their deaths was last week. Daddy's stress levels go through the roof around this time."

My aunt shakes her head as she stands tall, smoothing out her dress. My mom and my two brothers died about twelve years ago.

We were coming home from celebrating my dad's birthday.

A tornado touched down that night—no news reports or warning. The truck we were in was lifted off of the ground, about thirty feet. It was then thrown and sank into a lake—a passerby rescued Daddy and me. Sadly, my mom and my two older brothers weren't able to be reached in time. Officials did an autopsy, and it concluded my family was dead before water could even get into their lungs.

I wasn't breathing when I removed the water. My dad told me I was dead for about six minutes. I don't remember the day at all, nor the birthday dinner at his favorite restaurant.

I've gotten better as the years went on. My father hasn't. Accepting that I would never see them again was hard at first until my aunt told me I would see them again. The three of them would be waiting for me when it was my time to leave this earth.

Counting the years until I see them again works better than relying upon the years since the accident. Maybe daddy doesn't believe in the afterlife like Auntie, and I do. I sigh as I look over at Alice.

My aunt Alice never married or had any kids, so she moved in after the accident. It was supposed to be temporary, to help with the farm.

She never left.

Daddy had gotten a permanent hip injury due to the accident and couldn't work on the farm. Poor Alice had to do it all and, of course, I helped.

I was grateful to have another woman living with me. I was still young when my aunt came to live with us. She taught me about nail polish and wearing appropriate dresses since I was blossoming in all the right places.

She also taught me about boys and bras. They were things I wish my mom had taught me.

I'm sure my mom would've been proud of the woman I am today.

Thanks to Alice.

Aunt Alice and I look like mother and daughter. We both have blonde hair and tan skin. Her eyes are gray, whereas mine are blue. If you don't know us, you will think we are sisters.

She's only ten years older than me, and she's Daddy's younger sister. All they have is each other and me.

The tractor-trailers for the milk and eggs arrive a little over an hour later. I always help the farmworkers load all the wooden plates, full of eggs, onto the truck. Billy, who drives the milk truck, has to test the tank where we house the milk.

It has to be a certified milk grader, and he will not pick up milk that doesn't meet the companies high standards.

Once Billy gives the milk the thumbs up, he secures a hose to a tank and pumps it into the truck.

"I see you're getting new neighbors. Up the road, " Billy says as he points with his mouth towards the main dirt road. He is busy filling out paperwork on a clipboard. I turn and look at him as he rakes his curly black hair.

"The abandoned property. There are tons of moving trucks on the road. It's a completely different property now," Billy says nonchalantly. I glance at him in confusion as I follow him to the front of the truck.

I didn't know anyone had purchased the old Miller property since it had been vacant for years. It's more of a wasteland and the closest home to our farm. I also haven't left the farm in a week. So that's probably why this is news to me.

"Oh, I didn't know! I'm surprised Alice hasn't said anything," I say, scratching my forehead and looking towards my house.

My aunt knows all the town gossip. If there's any drama, she will know.

However, to the townspeople, she always makes it seem like she doesn't care for the gossip. I guess that's what makes them want to tell her even more.

"Alrighty, Miss Summer! Just sign, and I'll be on my way," Billy says as he climbs into the truck, passing the clipboard to me.

I sign and give it back to him. "Thanks, Billy!"

Once the trucks pull out, I walk to the house.

I walk in and breathe out. It has been such a scorching, hot day. The coolness from inside the house is more than welcoming. I take a moment and stand completely still in front of the closest vent, enjoying the central air.

After a minute or so, I begin to smell a blueberry pie. One that Alice had promised to make me a couple of days ago.

It's slowly reaching the foyer.

I walk toward the old wooden bench and sit, removing my dirt-covered boots. I glance over and touch a photo of my mom, Kyle, and Ray wearing matching outfits; white shorts and blue t-shirts.

They were at a picnic, smiling. I remember that day vividly.

Daddy and I had the flu.

The tie-dye picture frame is sitting on a small table. An unlit, white candle stands next to it. My eyes begin to water as I remember their infectious laughs. The three of them shared the same, high-pitched laugh.

Closing my eyes, I try to regain composure.

I'm so grateful for the work! It keeps me preoccupied, and I have gone years without getting emotional.

Maybe I'm not as strong as I think. I look around the foyer and smile. This place has always been my home. Knowing that I may leave it after the summer is heartbreaking.

I have signed up for community college in the city, but I'm unsure if I'll attend. Alice and daddy don't even know about it. I don't want to get their hopes up high if I decline to go.

Sighing, I stand. The manor, which I always call home, is beautiful. Clean and vibrant. We have left it the same way Mom did.

She was borderline OCD, so the house was always immaculate. Alice makes sure to keep it that way. It's her way of honoring my mom.

The molding and floors in the manor are wood. White, yellow, and orange everywhere. Sunflowers sit on every table. Daddy's wood carvings sit proudly above the fireplace. Some of the animals, some of the odd shapes. Tons of pictures of the family on the walls. I am surprised Dad left them all up.

Every morning, before he heads into the kitchen, Daddy takes a moment and stares at every single picture in the foyer and living room. He talks to them from time to time.

It was something I discovered a couple of years ago. I was careful not to let Daddy know I was there when I heard him talking to Mom's photo. I didn't want to embarrass him.

"Emery, honey!?"

I hear Dad call from the kitchen. I follow the smell of pie towards the back. As I have already expected, Alice is bent over in front of the oven.

She stands and turns to me, a pie in her gloved hands. She then places it on the island—a huge grin on her face.

Daddy stands from his chair and meets me as we walk toward the pie, practically drooling. We both bend over and inhale the refreshing scent when Alice smacks us over the head with a hand towel. We look up, surprised.

"No! Absolutely not! This pie isn't for you!" Alice snaps at us. She puts her hands on her hips and glares at us.

"You promised me a pie, Auntie!" I give her the saddest face possible. She sucks her teeth in annoyance. When I see the puppy's face isn't working, I look over at Daddy. A look of hunger is written all over his face.

"I know that! But I only had enough ingredients for one pie. This one, here, is for the new neighbors." She points to it proudly.

Daddy reaches to stick his finger into the pie when Alice smacks his hand. He yelps as he quickly rubs his aching hand, mumbling something under his breath in agitation.

"Now you listen, Simon! You better not be sneaking pastries in the middle of the night. I know it's you! Remember what the doctor said about your diabetes!"

I laugh as my aunt goes off on Daddy, grabbing a green apple from the island and sitting down.

"And what are you laughing about?" She walks around the island and comes towards me. I look around, surprised. "He's not supposed to be eating, and you haven't been eating well! You're going to make yourself sick, Em!"

I look at Daddy, and he mocks my aunt. He hates the word NO! He lives for Alice's muffins and pies.

"Yes, ma'am." I look down in defeat and take a bite out of my apple.

Alice sighs sadly. I can tell she feels bad for snapping at me. She wipes her hands on her apron pulls a chair out next to me. "Now hurry up and eat that, then go freshen up so we can meet these new neighbors. We also need to stop by the market. I need to get the ingredients for your pie."

I smile as I take a bite of the apple. Finally! I've been craving her homemade blueberry pie for some time now. I stand and hug my aunt.