Throughout the workweek, Michael learns what it means to wake up with the roosters and crash with the call of the crickets. Matthew has him busting his ass like he's never experienced in this sheltered life from Anaheim. Everything from scooping manure to packing up grain and helping deliver it to family ranches along the valley.
"Doing good kid, you're learnin' what it means to earn an honest living," Matthew says when he checks on him.
"Means the world to me, sir. I'll admit I want to quit several times a day already. This kind of work is killing me in pain, and I have blisters on top of my blisters!"
That comment gives Matthew a full hearty laugh.
"Excellent! It'll make calluses and make a real man out of you."
"It isn't easy, but it's a kick in the ass. One I've needed, it may sound corny, but I understand that sense of pride thing my mom was trying to teach me last year. Speaking of my mom, what do you have planned?"
That brings out Matthew's other side. He stands in the doorway with a blank stare on his face.
"Plans are in place, and it will be something memorable. Tell your mom I said that, and that'll be the only say I'll say about it."
"Uh, okay..."
By the time Michael turns around to address that, he is curious without his mother putting him up to it, but Matthew is out of sight. He shrugs it off and goes back to stocking shelves and keeping the store maintained until it closes shop for the night.
Once again, he hitches a ride with Matthew back to Lucinda's. Something is different, though, when they pull up and park in the driveway. There's a paint-faded Nissan Hardbody pickup truck parked beside his mother's SUV.
"Looks like they have company," Matthew states, parking behind the Nissan truck.
"Guess so. More than welcome to come in and say hi." Michael offers, reaching for the door handle.
With a simple head nod indicating no, Matthew uses his foot to shove the clutch back down to the floor and places the shifter into Reverse.
"See you tomorrow Mike. You did a great job today. It takes time to rebuild a broken life and replace a broken home. I know you want to quit and go back to old habits, but you're resisting those temptations. That's the difference between remaining a boy and becoming a man."
Those few kind words make a whirlwind of transformation. Michael hasn't ever been told by any male authority figure that they've been proud of him. He's used to having his father give up on him; to hear that Matthew addresses him as Mike, a maturing young adult, and not Mikey, or even M.J., sends a message that it is possible to do good deeds.
"I'll see you tomorrow, boss," Mike says, exiting the truck.
Waiting inside the house, Ellie and Lucinda have their spots in the living room. Relaxed in their chairs, they each lean back far into their seat with their hands interlocked over a knee.
"Uh oh, I'm in family court!" Mike announces with a panicked look on his face.
"Take a seat. We have to talk." That's all Elizabeth says.
As he takes a seat and tries to settle in comfortably, Mike folds his hands in his lap, trying to remain calm.
"You know I can't run you everywhere. I dropped Katie off for her day at training for barrel racing. Then I'm off to my new job, and now I'm getting things set up with the schools. On the subject of school, you and your sister are now enrolled. That's beside the point, but I can't rely on Matt to haul you everywhere, which means you need to get a vehicle." Elizabeth explains without moving an inch in her seat.
YOU ARE READING
Cherry Skies
RomanceLife isn't always easy, especially for Elizabeth Reed. Elizabeth recalls refusing to marry the man she thought was her dream. Her father cast her out and pushed her away. Growing up believing that it would always be fun in the California sun is what...
