Page 8 of Fall Favor
Manny
It’s only a little after five in the afternoon, but the relief I feel when I pull in my driveway and park alongside Leah’s truck is a balm to what turned into a hellishly long day. All the day’s stresses, mostly because Jorie can’t mind her own damned business, disappear like mists on the mountain. I know it’ll all still be there waiting, but the workplace drama is somehow much less important than it was a few minutes ago.
“Hey, Mama, something smells good.”
The tension in my shoulders and spine melts away at finding Leah in the kitchen. Things have been going great since shemoved in. I feel like the life I always wanted is finally within reach. Coming home to someone instead of a dark and empty house has been a dream come true. Coming home to her? Indescribable.
“Mm, thanks. Just some pulled beef and gravy from last night’s roast and some homemade buns. Why don’t you clean up, and then we can eat?” She glances at the clock on the stove and then back at me.
It’s a little early for supper, but I nod. There’s something on her mind, but I can’t tell if she’s in what she calls ‘creative mode’ and is designing a new quilt in her head or if something is bothering her. Either way, she’ll tell me when she’s ready, or I’ll get the gist of it while she’s talking to herself.
Fifteen minutes later, I’m freshly showered and dressed in a t-shirt and a ratty pair of gray sweatpants. I grin when she mutters something about unicorns and real-life romance novel expectations. I shrug and pull out a stool at the breakfast nook. A quilted pair of colorful fall placemats have taken up residence on the countertop, and there’s a matching quilt thrown over the back of the sofa. The house I’ve been renovating for years is magically becoming a home, and I couldn’t be happier.
My mouth waters as Leah slides a plate filled with a couple of sandwiches, some potato chips, and a dill pickle spear in front of me. Before I can thank her, she sets a bottle of my favorite beer in front of me, too. Beer I’m pretty sure I drank the last of last night, so she must have gone shopping.
“Eat up,” she orders, but I shake my head.
“Nuh-uh, I’ll wait until you join me.”
The pleased little smile gracing her lips as she grabs her own plate and settles next to me says it all. We eat in companionable silence, and when I pop the last chip into my mouth, she turns to me.
“I have good news and maybe not-so-good news,” she announces.
Fuck. Here it comes. The old ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ schtick again. She’s leaving, I just know it, and there’s nothing I can do to stop her. Even with her sleeping in the guest bedroom, I’ve been living on cloud nine. Hell, we haven’t done anything but hugs and snuggles on the sofa, and a few tame kisses goodnight at the end of each day.
“Alright, give it to me straight.”
She gives me a concerned glance. “Hmm, the good news is I found a place in Great Falls that can repair the camper.”
“Okay?”
“The not-so-good news is there’s a winter storm advisory forecast for Sunday, so I should probably drive there tonight or, at the latest, in the morning, so I’m back before the storm.”
I sag in relief. “That’s almost a four-hour drive. They’ll be closed by the time we get there if we go tonight.”
“You’re coming with me?”
There’s that pleased little smile again. The simplest things make my lady happy. It’s like no one has ever done anything for her, yet she’s constantly doing nice things for everyone else.
“Why not? I’m off until Monday. Why don’t we leave early in the morning? That way, we can grab lunch and do some of that shopping in the big city you girls seem to love.” I bounce my eyebrows, tossing her a cheesy grin.
Great Falls isn’t really that large, but compared to Wintervale, it’s a metropolis. Hell, they even have an Applebee’s.
“Really? I’m not much of a shopper unless it involves a fabric or bookstore, but I’m game if you are.”
“Alright, let me change into some jeans, and you go put on your coat. We’ll go get the camper hooked up to your truck and ready so we can roll out bright and early.”
“You know, Emanuel, if you keep being this sweet to me, I’m never going to leave, don’t you?”
I smile as she blushes. I don’t think she meant that to sound as provocative as it did. I lean over, giving her a peck on the tip of her pert little nose before sliding off my stool. I can’t believeshe doesn’t realize she’s the sweet one, and I’m just following her example. She’s so easy to please, I can’t help but want to do more.
“That’s the plan, Mama.”
“Well, Mama, are you ready for our first date?” I ask as I fiddle with syncing my Bluetooth to the radio in her truck as she drives. Leah had gotten up at the crack of dawn, with me following shortly behind her when the smell of bacon and cinnamon rolls coaxed me away from the warmth of my blankets.
We’re forty-five minutes into our road trip and already in the middle of a heated but fun debate about songs and their remakes. Leah’s musical choices run more toward classic rock, while mine tend to be the modern versions of those classics. We’ve come up with a list of songs we’re going to listen to back-to-back and play the game of ‘who did it better.’
“Why do you call me that? Not that I don’t like it, but is it because I’m older than you?”
