Page 21 of Miles. Alton & The 9:04 (Modern Mail Order Brides #19)

M ae sat quietly in the passenger seat for the return ride to Alton.

There were so many thoughts running through her head, and in three days, she’d learned, for the most part, who the man whom she would marry truly was as a person.

He was a kind man who knew how to work with his hands and take care of those he loved.

“Penny for your thoughts,” Thom said.

“Aunt Sue loves you a lot,” she replied.

“She is the only motherly love I know,” he said.

“My Dad was kind of a single parent for a while there when we lived in Colorado, which was a nice place. Then he got sent to Kansas, which was not. After a series of unfortunate events, so to speak, Lebeau and I ended up in the system and were sent to live with Aunt Sue.”

“Unfortunate events,” she said, arching her eyebrow.

“Drunken bar fight on a Friday night, and his disorderly conduct on Monday was ungraded to involuntary manslaughter,” he explained.

“We visited him twice per month, on schedule, shared report cards, life milestones, and more. Still do. However, when we arrived at Aunt Sue's, so much had gone wrong for us that my brother and I—he’s about 18 months older—we were sad cases.”

“I'm sorry,” she said, touching his arm.

“Don't be. Aunt Sue embraced us at her front door and welcomed us into her home,” he said.

“We started school that Monday, and she drove me and Lebeau to school and walked us to our classroom, and at the end of the day, she was at the classroom door to take us home. She did it every day for a week. The second week, we rode the bus with the other kids. Gael took watch on the bus, he always sat with Kimbrae, and we were close by so no one could mess with us.”

“Your own little gang,” Mae commented.

“Our own protective pod,” Thom corrected.

“We learned then to take care of each other, as we still do. The original seven, we formed a bond of family that has nothing to do with blood. Aunt Sue passed out hugs, love, and discipline while teaching us life values, which we still honor. As I said, she is the one who taught me how to give love freely, expecting nothing in return.”

“She is an amazing woman,” Mae added. “And the other kids?”

“Not really my story to tell; therefore, I shall not,” he said, offering a smile. “What about your family?”

Mae shrugged. “My parents have been married since high school. My father is a retired train conductor, which he wanted my brother to do, but he didn't. Jae married a woman in medical school who is an ear nose and throat doctor, and he is a stay-at-home dad.”

“Didn't expect that,” Thom said.

“Yeah, he's a traditionalist who limits screen time and encourages reading, and the kids can carry on conversations with adults with thoughtful responses,” she said.

“My sister is a train conductor who is married to a city bus driver who is the crankiest, most disengaged person you will ever meet. Their kids are cyber junkies, always a device in their hands, no social skills, and rude for the most part.”

“There is a contrast for you. How do your parents feel about it?” he inquired.

“Most of the time, I sit at the dinner table on Sunday wanting to be anywhere else,” she said.

“I have the job in the tower; therefore, I have made it. All I truly wanted was to be the person driving the train. I know how. I just never really got a chance to do it. So, in my spare time, or whenever I get a moment, I take out my baby and ride the lines.”

“How did you get into corporate giving?”

“My master’s is in Nonprofit Management and Leadership.

My undergrad is in marketing, and they needed a grant written for a land lease, so it fell on my desk,” she said.

“I wrote the grant, got more than requested, and was pushed towards the Philanthropy Department.

The woman in charge didn't want to work with me, so the CFO said fine, put her in another department, and gave me her job.

I didn't have any room for failure, so for five years, it became my life.”

“Do you still want it to be a part of your life, knowing someone is waiting in the wings and the CFO will move you to another department,” Thom asked.

“Thom, this weekend has been an eye-opening experience,” she confessed.

“We had meals with your family and great conversations.

I learned about them, Katherine is making me excited to be an aunt, although I have nieces and nephews I don't enjoy being around. Your sister is awesome, Aunt Sue is a delight, and I can see a different life for myself.”

“The question is Mary; do you want that life and do you want it with me?”

“Well, yeah!” she said, laughing. “I spent the better part of yesterday thinking about that patch you earmarked in the backyard for the garden. I want the herbs in the kitchen, like I have in my apartment, and tomatoes on the back porch in planters. Hanging berries on the deck, rosemary in decorative clay pots, and lots of veggies.”

“Mae, you’re thinking about our home and future. I love it,” he stated, smiling at her. “When we get to the house, wanna make out?”

“I think I might want to do more than make out after seeing you on that tractor being all manly, planting seeds and tilling the earth,” she told him.

Thom laughed as he entered the Alton city limits, anxious to get to the house, where he would hopefully get in a little tilling in before Mae had to catch her train at 3:30.

He arrived home to find Jiminy and Megan in his backyard.

Sighing deeply, he didn't want to know why there was a trail of carrots in the ground leading to his chewed-up Adirondack chair.

Mae asked what he was thinking, “What in the hell?”

Jiminy waved as he pulled in and parked. “Hey!”

“Hey, why are you at my house when I'm not home?” Thom asked.

“We're looking for Petr,” he said. “He's run off again, and hey, we figured after the drive from Kansas, it would be easier to bring some lunch over to have with you guys before the train lady got on her train. I grabbed some chow from The Brown Bag Bistro and got a couple of sandwiches and soups. I even got the lady a to-go bag for her train ride.”

Mae was touched. “That is very thoughtful of you,” she said, not remembering his name.

“Jiminy, you forgot my name, didn't you?” he asked, holding up the food. “Hey, it's okay. No one seems to want to love me, but I'm ok with being me.”

Megan shook her head. “Would you stop with the pity party? We've been out all-day hunting for Petr and I'm starving. Can we eat?”

Thom didn't feel like arguing; although the unwanted visitors would cut into his alone time with Mae, he was more interested in the developing dynamic with his wayward mail-order bride and his co-worker.

Jiminy had thought of everything, including bottles of water and one extra for Mae's lunch bag on the train ride home.

Thom blessed the meal, his eyes going to Megan. “Are you transitioning okay over at Jiminy's?”

“Yes, but the past week has been nothing but a Petr hunt,” she said. “Jiminy leaving carrots all over the dang gone place, and I can't help but get tickled. Like Petr is being held hostage by a roving gang of Porcupi Quill Club. They are holding him hostage for his lunch money of carrots.”

Mae tried not to laugh, but the moment only got weirder.

Megan popped to her feet. She began doing some form of martial arts on the floor, transitioning to a bad scene from Westside Story , clicking her acrylic nails together.

A chant about carrot collecting started, and to their utter shock, Jiminy jumped up to join her.

He turned his back to Megan, placing his hands on his hips and spreading his back like a body building showcasing his rear lateral spread.

“What is happening here?” Mae asked.

Thom simply shook his head, continuing to eat his sandwich as if he saw none of the fracas.

Jiminy, in his new pose, made noises as if he were throwing quills at Megan, hissing, clicking his tongue, and snapping his fingers.

He attempted a ninja move only to end up in an odd position, stuck on the floor with his butt in the air and gas escaping from the brown hole.

“Oh, dear Lord,” Mae said, rising to grab her lunch bag. She shoved the sandwich inside, along with the water, chips, and an apple. “We haven't unloaded the car. I am out of time and have to get back.”

“I can help,” Megan volunteered, running outside and opening the hatch back. “Oh gosh golly, these are gorgeous!!! I have pot envy. I have pot envy.”

Mae looked to Thom, who only shrugged as the items came inside, including his bag and Mae's clothing. He suggested she leave the items and he'd do the laundry, making her frown at the thought of him washing her soiled undies. He waved at her.

“They are all in the same color pallet. I'm dropping them in, adding detergent, and when done, throwing them in the dryer,” he said. “You have other things to worry about.”

Megan, in the kitchen, set the new pots and pans on the counter.

Mae thanked her. “You know, Megan, I'm going to put these away for now, and when I come back, I will remove the labels, wash those, and find where I want them permanently to be placed,” she said, feeling a bit of discomfort at the awkwardness of the moment.

“Mae, I hope when you do, you'll invite me over,” Megan said.

“I make the most wonderful natural teas, and I even brought you some.

This is my peach and lavender herbal tea.

I'm starting a little herb garden to replenish my stores, but brought some of my best sellers with me. Take this one. I think you'll like it.”

Mae reached for the woman and gave her a hug. “I will. I have to go, but I will be back soon. We'll talk.”

“Hopefully, you will have me and Jiminy over for dinner. That man has been spending entirely too much time alone,” Megan said.

Mae arched a brow, “You two seem to be hitting it off.”