My Neighbor Wanted Me to Remove My Apple Tree — Then Something Unexpected Happened in My Yard – Page 3

But I couldn’t do it.

Cutting down that tree felt like losing Dean all over again.

So I kept caring for it.

Then, during the third spring, something changed.

One morning, I stepped outside with my coffee and stopped.

The tree was covered in tiny white blossoms.

I stood there staring at it.

For the first time in years, I felt that familiar warmth in my chest.

“Dean,” I whispered, smiling through my tears.

By the end of that summer, twelve beautiful apples hung from its branches.

Only twelve.

But to me, they were priceless.

I carefully picked them and placed them on the kitchen table.

I remember touching one and laughing softly.

“You were right,” I said.

The tree had surprised me.

And it was only getting started.