Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
It had been a solid two weeks since Mike had last stepped foot into his home, the home he shared with Stanley. He missed his curly-headed husband. He wanted more than anything but to go home and cradle him but he couldn't, not yet. Not until Stanley wanted to talk.
Mike hated the extra long drive it took to get to work so he took a small vacation and just decided to help on the farm instead. He didn't necessarily have a choice and besides, his mother shouldn't be doing this all alone. Sure she had a few farmhands to help but if Mike knew anything about his mother, she didn't like people getting paid for something she could do herself- or get Mike to do since he was here.
"Micheal, get out of my house with those muddy shoes. I invite you in and this is the thanks I get." The shorter woman was scrambling around the kitchen to make breakfast, french toast and eggs.
"I needed a glass of water- and Ma, I'm still vegan."
The woman looked down at her pan of eggs then looked up at Mike, "then don't eat them, just eat the french toast."
"There's milk in-"
"You want me to make you some oatmeal instead?" She sighed softly, wiping her hands on her apron.
Mike pretended to think before nodding, "thanks mama."
Mike wore a pair of overalls, the straps unhooked and laying at his waist. He paired that with a long sleeve white top that he had rolled up to his elbows. Sweat was already forming on his forehead and the base of his neck, not to mention he was covered in grass and mud.
"You're starting to look like my son again." His mother teased, walking over and handing him that glass of water he wanted.
Mike would admit that he missed Stan, but he wouldn't be afraid to say that coming home was a good idea. He felt so relaxed and the extra work was the best distraction there was. When the day would end and Mike would have to get into bed with his arms and legs burning with pain, he'd go to sleep straight away. He had no time to think about the bad things and when he woke up, it was time to start all over again.
On the Hanlon farm there was always something to do, when he did catch a break though he would go out to the Sunflower field and take a well needed nap, or he would just sit. He had hung that picture of Stan he took with him in one of the barn lofts. He'd go look at it from time to time and be tempted to call his husband and make everything right, but he never did.
Mike had promised himself, if Stan didn't call first..that was that. He wouldn't keep trying to work out every problem, some things have to fix themselves. Although, it was also true that not all problems can be fixed.
