Page 21 of All I Want Is Love
He should be off limits for me. I don’t know any details about him; I just know that he went through something traumatic recently, which further led to a complete breakdown. Aspen always described his little brother as a bit serious, yet easy-going and confident, with a tendency to perfectionism. I don’t know what happened, but I do know that the easy-going and confident part of him was completely beaten out of him. And I want to hurt whoever did that to him.
He needs to heal and find his confidence again, not have his brother’s best friend chase him.
“Well,” I sigh, patting Doodle’s head. “What should I do?” Doodle is an older cow, staying at Mr. Martin’s retirement farm. He is a wealthy man who saves animals of all sorts from being disposed of once they lose their purpose to their owners. I love his farm and highly appreciate the kindhearted man who owns it.
Doodle chews on her hay, not paying me any attention.
“You still talking to the animals, Doc?” Mr. Martin chuckles.
“An old habit,” I say. “I want them to hear my voice and hear that they are safe. Well, technically, I don’t need to hold a whole conversation with them.”
Mr. Martin just shakes his head in amusement. “Sometimes I do the same. So, what’s your verdict? How is Doodle doing?”
“She is weak,” I tell him. “And will need extra attention with her food to add some weight to her, but she should be fine.”
“I am glad to hear that.” He gently pets her, smiling at me. “Now tell me what you have been pondering over.”
“Why do you believe I was pondering over something?”
“For one, you have been mumbling something to Doodle the whole time you were treating her, and second, you just asked her what to do.”
He looks at me expectantly, and I have no reason to shoot him down. “Hypothetically,” I say. “I might be interested in someone.”
“Well, isn’t that good news!”
“The person in question is my best friend’s brother.”
“Good, it means you won’t stay best friends but instead become family.”
I snort. “He has only been here for a week.”
“And?”
“Isn’t that too short of a time to fall for somebody?”
“I don’t know about others, but I fell in love with my missus after talking to her for five minutes. I just knew it right away.”
I am at a loss for words. I didn’t know he was that romantic. “He is… he was hurt and came here to heal.”
“I don’t see the problem.”
“Wouldn’t it be additional stress for him to have someone pursue him?”
Mr. Martin blinks. “Why don’t you ask him out and see for yourself? He can tell you how he feels about this. No good thing has ever happened by not communicating.” He chuckles. “You are too old to act like that, Soren. Just spend time with your beau, ask him out and see if he reciprocates.”
I don’t tell him that sometimes things aren’t that simple, but when he waves me goodbye and walks back to his house, I see his wife coming back from her walk.
There is this precious brief moment in which he takes her hand and smiles at her. It’s so heartwarming to see two elderly people together, still so much in love.
Maybe sometimes itisthat simple.
“Maybe, Doodles, I could invite him for a hike?” I say. “Granted, I don’t know if he even likes hiking.”
A pause.
“I mean, I could take Mr. Martin by his word and believe Leo will tell me if he hates hiking.”
I watch Doodles continue to chew on her hay. She peeks outside of her box, frowning at the snow before turning around and returning to the warmth of the stables. All of a sudden, I am feeling like an idiot. What am I even doing here? Mr. Martin is right, I am not in high school anymore. My last relationship might have hurt my confidence a little, but if I don‘t put myself out there, I will never move on.
