Page 36 of Miles. Alton & The 9:04
“Do you still want it to be a part of your life, knowing someone is waiting in the wings and the CFO will move you to another department,” Thom asked.
“Thom, this weekend has been an eye-opening experience,” she confessed.“We had meals with your family and great conversations.I learned about them, Katherine is making me excited to be an aunt, although I have nieces and nephews I don't enjoy being around.Your sister is awesome, Aunt Sue is a delight, and I can see a different life for myself.”
“The question is Mary; do you want that life and do you want it with me?”
“Well, yeah!”she said, laughing.“I spent the better part of yesterday thinking about that patch you earmarked in the backyard for the garden.I want the herbs in the kitchen, like I have in my apartment, and tomatoes on the back porch in planters.Hanging berries on the deck, rosemary in decorative clay pots, and lots of veggies.”
“Mae, you’re thinking about our home and future.I love it,” he stated, smiling at her.“When we get to the house, wanna make out?”
“I think I might want to do more than make out after seeing you on that tractor being all manly, planting seeds and tilling the earth,” she told him.
Thom laughed as he entered the Alton city limits, anxious to get to the house, where he would hopefully get in a little tilling in before Mae had to catch her train at 3:30.He arrived home to find Jiminy and Megan in his backyard.Sighing deeply, he didn't want to know why there was a trail of carrots in the ground leading to his chewed-up Adirondack chair.
Mae asked what he was thinking, “What in the hell?”
Jiminy waved as he pulled in and parked.“Hey!”
“Hey, why are you at my house when I'm not home?”Thom asked.
“We're looking for Petr,” he said.“He's run off again, and hey, we figured after the drive from Kansas, it would be easier to bring some lunch over to have with you guys before the train lady got on her train.I grabbed some chow from The Brown Bag Bistro and got a couple of sandwiches and soups.I even got the lady a to-go bag for her train ride.”
Mae was touched.“That is very thoughtful of you,” she said, not remembering his name.
“Jiminy, you forgot my name, didn't you?”he asked, holding up the food.“Hey, it's okay.No one seems to want to love me, but I'm ok with being me.”
Megan shook her head.“Would you stop with the pity party?We've been out all-day hunting for Petr and I'm starving.Can we eat?”
Thom didn't feel like arguing; although the unwanted visitors would cut into his alone time with Mae, he was more interested in the developing dynamic with his wayward mail-order bride and his co-worker.Jiminy had thought of everything, including bottles of water and one extra for Mae's lunch bag on the train ride home.
Thom blessed the meal, his eyes going to Megan.“Are you transitioning okay over at Jiminy's?”
“Yes, but the past week has been nothing but a Petr hunt,” she said.“Jiminy leaving carrots all over the dang gone place, and I can't help but get tickled.Like Petr is being held hostage by a roving gang of Porcupi Quill Club.They are holding him hostage for his lunch money of carrots.”
Mae tried not to laugh, but the moment only got weirder.Megan popped to her feet.She began doing some form of martial arts on the floor, transitioning to a bad scene fromWestside Story, clicking her acrylic nails together.A chant about carrot collecting started, and to their utter shock, Jiminy jumped up to join her.He turned his back to Megan, placing his hands on his hips and spreading his back like a body building showcasing his rear lateral spread.
“What is happening here?”Mae asked.
Thom simply shook his head, continuing to eat his sandwich as if he saw none of the fracas.Jiminy, in his new pose, made noises as if he were throwing quills at Megan, hissing, clicking his tongue, and snapping his fingers.He attempted a ninja move only to end up in an odd position, stuck on the floor with his butt in the air and gas escaping from the brown hole.
“Oh, dear Lord,” Mae said, rising to grab her lunch bag.She shoved the sandwich inside, along with the water, chips, and an apple.“We haven't unloaded the car.I am out of time and have to get back.”
“I can help,” Megan volunteered, running outside and opening the hatch back.“Oh gosh golly, these are gorgeous!!!I have pot envy.I have pot envy.”
Mae looked to Thom, who only shrugged as the items came inside, including his bag and Mae's clothing.He suggested she leave the items and he'd do the laundry, making her frown at the thought of him washing her soiled undies.He waved at her.
“They are all in the same color pallet.I'm dropping them in, adding detergent, and when done, throwing them in the dryer,” he said.“You have other things to worry about.”
Megan, in the kitchen, set the new pots and pans on the counter.Mae thanked her.“You know, Megan, I'm going to put these away for now, and when I come back, I will remove the labels, wash those, and find where I want them permanently to be placed,” she said, feeling a bit of discomfort at the awkwardness of the moment.
“Mae, I hope when you do, you'll invite me over,” Megan said.“I make the most wonderful natural teas, and I even brought you some.This is my peach and lavender herbal tea.I'm starting a little herb garden to replenish my stores, but brought some of my best sellers with me.Take this one.I think you'll like it.”
Mae reached for the woman and gave her a hug.“I will.I have to go, but I will be back soon.We'll talk.”
“Hopefully, you will have me and Jiminy over for dinner.That man has been spending entirely too much time alone,” Megan said.
Mae arched a brow, “You two seem to be hitting it off.”
“I'm on my own in a new place and kind of scared, he's weird, and we're sort of stuck together, so it works.He's nice and kind, and it helps to have someone to talk to, even if the majority of a conversation is about porcupines, but who knew a spiky pig could be so interesting,” she said with her eyes wide.
