Dolly (Part three-Max Mitchell series)

FIFTEEN

"Seems a shame, to live in a crowded place like New York...knowing there's places out there, like this."
Tom said. He and I were over an hour outside of town, at a scenic lookout where the flat plains begin to give way to the Rocky Mountains, the next state over. We'd spread out a blanket, and were laying in the late morning sun.
"Sure. But it gets old really quick."
"How could it? You get all set up with the people you love, then you don't need anything else."
"Such a lovely idea, Mister Hiddleston. I've thought about it already, though. You just don't seem the farming type."
"I'm probably not, but you definitely didn't strike me as a barroom brawling, tough, farm lass when I met you."
"Looks can be deceiving, can't they?"
"Did my looks deceive you?"
"No. Your looks are just a bonus."
"Wait. Back it up a bit...what did you think about already?"
Crap. He caught that.
"I had a daydream about us living together on our own piece of farmland, and wondered what it would be like."
He sat up and rolled to his side, propping himself on his elbow.
"You did?" His eyes were wide with wonder.
"Yeah...so?"
"You've just never said anything about us past this."
"This? Like, what do you mean?"
"Like, this as in our current relationship. What do we want from eachother in the future?"

I guess I hadn't given it much thought.

"Well, Thomas...why don't you start? What do you want from me?"
He pondered the thought for a moment, as he twisted a strand of my hair in between his fingers.
"I want to make you happy. I want you and I to be successful, as we already are, but to be two parts of a whole."
"A whole?"
"I've been thinking about putting in my notice on my flat."
"What? Then what are you going to do?"
"Well, that depends on this conversation. I'm tired of always having to worry about leaving. When I can, I want to be in New York with you."
"You're not scared?"
"Why should I be? You are home to me."
"So...you put in your notice, and then what?"
"Then, that's up to you. If you'd like me to rent a flat in New York, I will. If you'll take me in, I'd be over the moon."
"But Tom, we've only been together a few months."
"I know. It sounds crazy when you say it, but it doesn't feel crazy, does it?"
"No. It doesn't."
I couldn't believe we were actually talking about moving in together, for real. It didn't seem so crazy when I'd had my little daydream earlier that day, but actually talking about it? That put me on a whole different mental plane. Tom must have seen the figurative wheels turning, so he spoke up.
"Max. I didn't mean to catch you off guard, it's just something to ponder. You know as well as I do that we've both got a mountain of work ahead of us when we get back. Let's get back into the swing of things and we'll go from there."
I nodded.
"We should probably get back, yeah?" He stood up, and helped me to my feet. I handed him the keys to my car, so he could drive. I needed some time to get stuck inside of my head for a bit.

***

Before I knew it, Monday morning came. All weekend I'd been thinking about Brittany. I found myself unable to get the image of her tear streaked face out of my head. She still hadn't called me, not that I really expected her to. If I really thought we were going to resolve anything, I'd have to go find her. First things first, I needed to get my lawyer on the phone.

I excused myself from the group at the breakfast table, and went to my Dad's office to call my lawyer.
"Whitney and Reynolds. Laura speaking."
"Hey Laura, it's Max Mitchell. Is Glenn in?"
"Sure thing, Max. Hold please."

"Max! How are you doing?"
"I'm doing well, Glenn. I've run into a little...situation."
"Uh oh. You're not in jail, are you?"
"Worse. I'm in Nebraska."
"Why on God's green earth are you in Nebraska?"
"Well...it's about Paul. You know, the one that shot me?"
"Mm hmm."
"His lawyer summoned me here to finalize his will, since I was appointed as the sole beneficiary."
"Wow. Didn't see that coming."
"Tell me about it. As of now, I'm the owner of over one hundred acres of land, and one farmhouse in the middle of it."
"And?"
"And I don't want it. My dad wants to purchase the land, and I think I'm going to give the house to Paul's sister."
"Well, that seems easy enough. I don't suppose you're going to fly them all here to complete the paperwork?"
"Maybe I could just fly you here?"
"Deal."
"When's the soonest you can come?"
"Book me on the first flight out tomorrow."

***

"What did your lawyer say?" Tom asked.
"He's coming here in the morning with the paperwork for the sale of the land."
"And what about the house?"
We were laying in bed. His head was resting low on my belly, his fingertips tracing an outline around the scar on my stomach.
"Maybe I'm crazy, but I think I'm going to let Brittany have it."
"You already let her have it on Friday." Eheheheh.
"Oh my god, aren't you the funny man?" I pinched his nose.
"So, you're going to sell it to her?"
"No, I'm going to give it to her and take the tax write off as a donation of property."
"Even after all of that on Friday?"
"Can you imagine how she must feel?"
"I guess I can't."
"Her parents have been gone for a long time. And now her brother is too. She's crushed, I'm sure. That farm is probably the only thing she's got to hang on to."
"Your kind heart, never ceases to amaze me."
"It's what's right, isn't it?"
"Yes. It is. Have you even set foot inside that house?"
"No, and I don't plan to."
"Well, that settles that." He sat up and gave me a kiss. "Now, about that ravaging I missed out on the other night..."

***

"Tab, where am I supposed to find Brittany?"
"Maybe. I'll go call Eric."
Eric is her boyfriend, the one who gave Brittany my phone number in the first place.
I was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, for Tom to get his skinny hiney ready and out of the house. My lawyer was slated to arrive within the hour, and I needed to get a move on.
"She works at the daycare center by the high school. Eric said she's probably there now."
"Great. I'll see you later." I opened the door to leave and called up the stairs. "Thomas! I'm leaving!"
"Wait! I'm ready!" He shouted and bounded down the stairs. I half expected him to slide down the banister.

We waited at the airport for only five minutes before I spotted my lawyer, emerging front the sliding doors. It's not like it's hard to get in and out of the place, it's probably the smallest airport around, with its measly two gates and one bag claim.

"Wow, Max. This is quite a place, isn't it?"
"Quite. Glenn, this is my boyfriend Tom. Tom, this is Glenn."
The men shook hands and Tom offered up the front seat to Glenn and he folded himself into the back seat of the truck. I didn't think the Jag would have been the best choice for three passengers.

"I've got all of the paperwork here, ready to be signed, where are we heading first?"
"We're going to meet my dad at his office, and I'm not quite sure about Brittany yet."
"What do you mean you're not sure?"
"I mean, I have to find her."