My neighbor insisted I remove my apple tree—then one morning, I woke up to my entire yard buried in apples.

tree grew stronger. Before long, it produced enough fruit for pies, cider, applesauce, neighbours, and children who came to the door asking if they could pick one.

I always said yes.

The tree became part of the neighbourhood, but to me it remained one of the last living things Dean had touched.

Then Ryan moved into the house next door.

Within weeks, he continue reading …