The Thunder Rolls

Chapter 5

Thursday went by completely uneventful. My afternoon was very boring with no couch or tv. We explored the land around the house and found a barn with stables in the woods a few yards from the house. Stella kept asking for a horse so I promised her a dog.

Friday morning finally came. I woke up did my hair and make up, woke up Stella, then heard a knock at my door and my face lit up. I opened the door and Dean stood there with a cup of coffee in his hand again.

"Morning girls"

"DEANY"

Stella screamed and we all laughed.

" morning Dean."

" how was your day yesterday? " He asked striding through the door

" very boring. How was Alexandria?

" Comical and Borning. I'll tell you all about it when you come home. Now get out so I can get to work."

" what are you doing today?"

" you'll find out when you come home. I have a lot planned for today so I won't be in the shack today. Text me before you come home. Now go! Have a great day at daycare Stella"

He smiled his wonderful smile and pushed me out the door hugging Stella good bye. This man was going to turn my heart into mush.

Breakfast went by terribly slow. I was dying to know what was happening in the house today. Eleven o'clock came and Elle came in ordering her crawfish and tea.

" hello darling "

"Hello Elle."

" how's your floors lookin and those new beds?"

" wonderful. Your grandsons are great at their jobs. They are being very helpful to me and Stella." I told her with a giant smile

" good darling."

" once I get set up with all furniture I wanna have you over for dinner. You've been so helpful to me and I can't begin to thank you enough."

" I'd be happy to join you and your baby for dinner darlin, anytime."

Shortly after Elle May left I ate my lunch out back watching the wind blowing through the bayou. I was finally happy, I couldn't believe it. My life had been such a roller coaster and I was just hoping that there was no more downward spirals.

A few hours before I was supposed to leave Dean texted me and asked me if I could come home at 500. I told Ron what was going on and he said as long as I pick up my baby at 420 and bring her back to the shack to show her to everyone, I could work late, I agreed. So I worked a bit longer makin some extra tips.

I left at 400 and picked up Stella. And went back to the shack with her. She was a complete hit with everyone in her guns and roses sweet child of mine tee shirt, denim shorts and bow. She sat at a table and munched on some fries and made friends with everyone. At 445 we left and headed home. I was so anxious.

We pulled up and once again Dean was standing on the porch this time grinning like a child. He jogged to the car before I could even get out. He opened Stella's door and got her out.

"Come on girls. I think you're gonna like it." He picked up Stella and grabbed my hand, dragging me to the door.

"I can't cover your eyes this time so promise me you'll close them. Nah. I don't trust you with this big of a surprise."

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and put his hand over my eyes. I was so close to him and he smelled so good even after working all day. He kicked the door open once again and we stood right inside the doorway.

" are you ready?" He whispered in my ear. His breath on my skin felt amazing

"Yes" I whispered back.

He removed his hand from my face but kept his arm around my shoulder, for a moment I couldn't think about any surprise. This man was standing in my house holding my daughter and holding me giving me surprises, doing things just to make me happy. Then I actually saw the surprise. I had new kitchen cabinets, countertops, fixtures and knobs. It was so beautiful I was awe struck and started to cry again. He sat Stella down and she ran off to her room.

" ok before you get all emotional about it lemme tell you about my day in Alexandria yesterday first. I have this client and they are completely rich, Way to rich. The wife is crazy, and ordered the cabinets first. They sat in the kitchen for weeks until she found matching countertops. She was so happy. Then one day last week she found new floors, thank god I didn't cut the countertops yet cus the floors she 'just had to have' didn't match the countertops, which in turn didn't match the cabinets. So ' Bernie I just have to change the counters and the cabinets cus the floors are to die for'"

He said in the most French creole voice possible causing me to bust out laughing

"This was completely free because they had already paid for it all."

" Dean your joking me. This is very expensive looking stuff!"

" thank the Thibodaux. Now turn around, one more surprise"

He grabbed my hip and spun me around, making my mind spin once again. There was a beautiful table in the dining room a table set for 6.

" what, where did this come from?"

" Elle May. she said something about a dinner that was promised her when there was furniture so she said that a table was going to be her house warming present. But if there is a dinner for everyone I better be invited! "

"Everyone?! Who do you think I know Dean?"

"You know me. So do you love it this time? "

" I love it so much Dean. Thank you again so much."

" you're welcome. Now can we eat something or do I need to go home?"

"No please stay," I grabbed some chicken tenders out of the freezer and threw them in the oven

" I was so bored yesterday, oh speaking of which, I found a barn in the woods a few yards away. I was just wandering around cus I was so bored."

"You're that bored without me around here?" He smirked

" ok Dean lets be honest, I only talk to a 2 year old. And have only talked to a 2 year old for the past 4 months. So yea. I'm bored without you here since you're the first real person interaction I've had in a long time. Don't get a big head buddy"

" I'll try not to. It's pretty big already though" he joked

" yea it its" I joked back

" so when we found the barn, Stella kept asking for a horse. I promised her we could get a dog, I mean cus why not. You know anyone who is selling puppies, that would be a big dog?"

" possibly I'll ask around. So what do you think about two doors right here that open up into the living room. Like glass doors or maybe barn doors? Would you like that? I think I'm going to replace all the doors next. Even the external doors."

" that sounds cool."

" I know your not made of money so I'm just kinda using stuff from around the shop. We have doors everywhere. It helps that we save all of the stuff we replace from jobs we do. And all the jobs we do are from rich people."

" well thanks, the double white doors sound cool I like that. I think since the floors are dark I wanna keep everything else pretty light and airy."

" that's cool. Think about paint colors for rooms cus we'll be doing those over the next week or two."

" slow down! Your gonna finish the house then who am I gonna spend time with?"

" come on, I'll still hang out with you. It's a small town, once you make a friend you're kinda stuck with that friend"

That made me smile. I didn't want him to be finished with the house and then just go back to being strangers. I enjoyed his company, I enjoyed having a friend. He was fun to talk to and fun to have around. even when he wasn't fixing things, he was kind of fixing me. Not that I wanted that in a boyfriend, not that I was thinking of him as a boyfriend. My mind was going everywhere. Of course I was attracted to him, but I just wanted to be his friend for now. I think. I know.