Dolly (Part three-Max Mitchell series)

SIXTEEN

"Hello, may I speak to Brittany Hess?" I asked. The attendant at the desk of the Early Childhood Center nodded, and picked up a walkie talkie.
"Brit. You've got a visitor."

I waited for a few minutes, before she appeared from around the corner. She stopped dead in her tracks, and turned white as a ghost.
"Max?"
"Hey, Brittany. Can we talk?"
"Uhhh. Sure. Come with me." she spun on her heel and led me to one of the empty classrooms, closing the door behind us.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you. I just wanted to talk to you about something."
"It's ok, the kids are all having snack. I've got a little bit of time. Listen--"
I held up my hands to stop her.
"Before you go any further, I want you to know I understand."
"What do you mean?"
"I understand why you're so upset. I wasn't super fond of getting punched in the face, but I get why you did."
"Yeah...I'm really sorry about that." She said sheepishly. "I was kind of drunk that night. I saw you leaving the bar, and I just lost it. Since everything happened...since Paul died, I've been such a mess." she started bawling.
I nodded, but didn't say anything.
"I knew he was using again.....He was acting so strange--and then he disappeared...I never thought he'd track you down...and do...what he did." Her words were chopped up, broken sentences between sobs.
"I didn't think he'd ever take it to that level either, but it happened, and--"
She cut me off by grabbing me and pulled me into a tight hug, and a particular quote from Sin City came to mind.

"That's the thing with dames, sometimes all they gotta do is let it out and a few buckets later there's no way you'd know."

"Max. Forgive me?"
"Of course I will. Now, about the reason I'm here...give me one sec." I held up a finger, and went to fetch Glenn from the truck. When we returned, Brittany looked quite confused.
"This is my lawyer, Glenn Whitney."
"Hello Miss Hess. If you're accepting of it, Max has asked me to prepare the necessary paperwork to transfer the Hess farm property from her name, to yours."
She started bawling even harder than before, and hung her head, covering her face with her hands. I sat down in the chair next to her, and rubbed my hand across her shoulders.
"Does that work for you, Brit?"
"You don't have to do this Max."
"Of course I do. Here's a pen."

***

"I wish you could just stay here forever." My mom said, watery eyed, as we stood together in the entryway of my childhood home.
"Mom. You know I have to get back to work, Tom does too."
"We'll come again, don't worry. Maybe for the holidays, so I can see what a proper Midwestern winter looks like." Tom promised.
"Please do. We would love that."
"Come on kids, time to go." my dad hollered from the waiting truck.

Any time I had to leave my parents, or they left me, it was bittersweet. I felt sad about putting that distance between us, yet happy because their presence made me feel fulfilled...like they'd recharged my batteries. Wendy, Tom and I boarded our plane, bound for New York and I felt a new sense of determination for what was to come.

One morning, we sat together in my kitchen over coffee and our breakfast. At least Tom waited until we'd gotten settled for a few days before he went into planning mode.
"We need to talk about the next few months of time, and what's coming up for us."
"I have so many backed up recording appointments, it's ridiculous. That's my main priority, getting my contracts fulfilled. I can write and make tracks anywhere, really, but the recording is what's suffered lately. What about you, Mister Movie star?"
"Luke has scheduled me a ton of interviews, so I've got to get on top of that. I'm a lot lighter, now that The Avengers is in post production. That's the reason I started thinking about moving from the UK. It's a good time for me. Have you thought more about our conversation?"

Deep breath.
Take the leap, Max.

"I have."
"And?"
"And I think if the way you've done up my bedroom is an indication of your style, you'll do well here."

He jumped off of his chair and scooped me up as if I were light as a feather. He spun around once and then gently put me back on my feet. I couldn't even get any words out, because he kissed me immediately, and urgently. He got me all riled up, every time he kissed me like that. I'd have had him take me, right then and there if I didn't have a day full of recording scheduled.

"Mister. I have to go up to the studio, remember? My appointment will be here in ten minutes."
"Cancel it." he said, kept on kissing me, and let his wandering hands creep up the front of my shirt.
"Oh yes, that's a great idea. I'll just tell Sia I'll push her recording session back even further."
"I'm sure she'll understand. Just tell her you've got an urgent matter to tend to."
"That urgent matter will have to wait til I'm all done working. Besides, you've got some relocation planning to do."
"Fine." He said "I'll go find Luke today and get to it."

***

I got lost in the day's worth of recording, feeling refreshed and inspired, never ceasing to be floored by the talented people I'm blessed to work with. Sia is a breath of fresh air, with her quirky musical style and creative nature. She was heading back to Australia, and practically begged me to come visit at my earliest opportunity. I told her I'd never been, but wanted to as soon as I could take another break.

I must have lost track of time, which is not super unusual. Once I put on my headphones, I get whisked away by the strains of music I create. I was full on focused on the computer screen, putting together a track for Sia, when a little tap tap tap on my headphones snapped me back to reality.

"Does the producer of the year want to eat at any point today?" Tom asked, taking a seat next to me.
"What time is it?"
"It's getting on nine p.m. I was wondering if you'd fallen asleep up here."
"Nine? Last I remember it was eleven and Sia was just getting here."
"You've been working hard enough for the day. Come downstairs and have some dinner. Also, I've got an urgent matter to discuss with you."
"Something tells me there won't be much discussion."
"You're right about that, love."