Page 31 of Back in the Country
I want her to know I am serious.
Crossing the county line served two purposes. One, I didn’t want to have an audience tonight—or, at least, I hoped for less of an audience. Two, I am finally going to tell her why I keep sneaking off after work on Wednesdays. I’m not sure why I am so nervous when I know she’ll be supportive.
I’d never wanted to go to college. School just wasn’t for me, and while I did well-ish, it didn’t come easy. I liked working with my hands—building and fixing things—and that just didn’t match up with standardized testing.
I clear my throat. “How’s work going?”
“It’s good,” she says around a bite of pulled pork taco. “I’m leaving to go to Louisville in a few weeks. My company wants me there to pitch our project to the client and then we’ll fly back to Nashville. It’s a big deal.”
Well shit.
Hearing her confirm that she’s leaving again is like a bucket of cold water on all my hopes and dreams—sheisthe dream. It’s something that I’ve actively pushed to the back of my mind, but sitting across from her and hearing her say the words is something else entirely.
“That’s great,” I say with faux enthusiasm.
“It should be. Robin is really interested to see what this acquisition will do for us.” She shrugs. “She thinks it’s going to bring us to the next level.”
“You’re going to be amazing.”
I mean it. She’s incredible, and I’m happy that her boss recognizes that. Taking a deep breath, I try and sort through my bullshit. People have successful long-distance relationships all the time. She’s working remotely now—maybe that’s something they can work out long term, and then she can just travel when it’s absolutely necessary.
Is that something she would consider?
“You seem nervous.” Marlee’s smile is soft as she reaches across the table to squeeze my hand that is playing with my unused butter knife.
“I’m taking college classes,” I blurt out. The exclamation has her fork freezing midair and her mouth in a perfect O. This time, I let myself picture those lips wrapped around me as she makes me beg for release.
Replacing her fork, she gives me her full attention.
“Do you want to tell me about it?”
“No one really knows. I uh…” Taking a swig of my beer, I take a minute to gather myself. “I want to expand my woodworking into an actual business, and I found a program for people like me who need a more hands-on approach. I’m doing it through Blackstone University.”
“Go Lions,” she says, but her smile is so big and bright that most of my anxiety melts away.
I laugh.
“Sure, let’s go with that.”
“Do you already have a name for your company?” The condensation on the glass coats my fingers as I drag the droplets toward the table.
“It’s JT & Co Woodworking.”
Her eyes light up, and I exhale a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
“Just like your granddaddy? Waylon…” Her voice trails off, but her eyes glisten with unshed tears.
“Yeah. I wanted to pay tribute to him, you know? The name just feltright.”
My middle name is a namesake for my granddad, Jacob Thayer. He was a giant of a man with sure hands and a kind smile. You could always find him tooling around in the barn whittling away at one piece or another.
Just like my dad, Granddad had worked as a welder his whole life. For him, it was a living, and he always said the barn was the only place his mind would ever quiet enough to think.
I feel that deep in my bones. It doesn’t matter what I am doing, the barn will always be the place that quiets all the bullshit. I feel connected to him as I use the tools that he’d accumulated over a lifetime, and having our initials on the sign that would one day adorn the barn makes my dream a reality.
“Honestly, Waylon, I think that’s amazing. You’ve always had a passion for it.” Now it’s her turn to pause. “If you want…I could set up your website and logo if you don’t already have it—whatever you need. Butonlyif you want my help.”
“I’d love your help,” I say, and I mean it.
