Page 26 of Miles. Alton & The 9:04 (Modern Mail Order Brides #19)

“Okay, kill the tea idea, and I’ll treat you to lunch,” Mae said. “Also, I need to get socks and panties, too. Maybe there's a sale and we both can luck out.”

Megan's eyes began to tear up. “A real friend. You'd do that for me? I mean, I can buy my own lunch, but really? You'd do that? For me?”

“You are my only friend here and friends take care of each other,” she said. “It also helps when friends have things they work on together. The gardening thing may be too much, but if you want any of the veggies when they are harvested, you're going to have to help.”

“I'm good to help,” she said, noticing the white dress. “Nice dress. Any special occasion?”

“Thom and I got married today. He went to work, and I get to spend the day with my maid of honor,” she said. “I know. I know. But hey, things work out funny like that. Let me go change into some jeans and we can roll.”

****

I T DIDN'T TAKE LONG for the ladies to grab a couple pair of gardening boots, hand tools, and hats for working in the yard. A quick stop by the shopping center and catching a sale at a ladies’ lingerie shop was a fifty well spent.

Instead of staying out to dine for the mid-day meal, Mae remembered Thom mentioning coming home for lunch.

She ordered Thom a turkey and cheese with a bit of pasta salad.

She purchased two chicken salad platters for her and Megan.

“I remembered Thom saying he was coming home for lunch today. I hope you don’t mind me cutting this short and we have lunch at the house?”

“Heck, no; as a matter of fact, let me grab one of those sandwiches for Jiminy when he wakes up and gets ready for work,” Megan said, placing an order as well.

They were laughing and talking when Thom came through the back door to find a sandwich with pasta salad on the table with a cold glass of lemonade.

He smiled at Megan as he removed his hat.

He offered a wave as he disappeared in the back of the home to wash up.

It made him feel good knowing Mae had someone to spend time with as well as Megan.

It truly was an odd turn of events, but again it felt right.

Heavy footsteps announced his arrival into the kitchen where his lunch awaited him.

He listened as the women chatted about herbs and fruits to make teas.

They spoke of vegetables to grow in the garden and when to harvest based on an Almanac his wife had purchased at the store.

Thom said nothing as he ate his sandwich, listening for the surveyor’s arrival.

“Thom, are you okay in there? Do you need anything?” Mae called out.

“No, I'm good,” he said, rising. “Going out to meet Dan.”

“Okay, let me know if you need something,” she called back. “Hey, who is Dan?”

“Dan, Dan, the Survey Man,” Thom replied, walking out the door.

Mae, curious, stood up to follow Thom to the back door. She didn't go outside, but quietly watched as Thom pointed to two different locations. The men walked around the property, talking quietly, and finally, Thom appeared satisfied and shook the man's hand.

His back remained rigid as he looked out over the land, seeing a different vision for the new life he would live with Mae. The surveyor would take measurements for the barn for the engine as well as the barndominuim.

“Yeah, need a new budget,” he said softly.

Turning slowly, he looked at the home he now shared with his wife.

He observed Megan leaving, giving him a wave, which he returned.

His feet, feeling heavy with unmatched steps, went to the porch and climbed the few stairs to be greeted by Mae's waiting arms. She provided a kiss and asked no questions but rubbed his back with a soft reassurance that whatever he was planning; he had her support.

“You're not going to ask?”

“No, when the time comes, you will share,” she replied. In the other room, her cell phone rang. “And so, it begins.”

“Are you expecting calls for job offers or your replacement wanting to know where the bodies are buried?”

“Neither. Those are more than likely the gossipmongers and theorists,” she said. “I'll call my assistant back later. What I am curious about is this wedding night.”

“By the time this day is over, you might be lucky to get a lick and a tickle. The dossers are wrecking my station,” he said. “I'm really trying to review policies to see what can be done. Honestly, it is trying my soul.”

“Go take care of the issues at the station and come home to a warm bowl of soup, crusty cheesy bread, and possibly 15 brochures on honeymoon options,' she said.

“Nope. Keep it simple. Pick the place you've always wanted to go that we can do with a week's turnaround,” he said. “Any overnight or twelve-hour flights will need to be scheduled a little better with time to recover from jetlag.”

“I'm okay with four or five days in the Dominican Republic, massages, and little umbrellas in my drink,” she told him. “You good with that?”

“Don't know,” he said. “Is it some place you've been before?”

“I have, several times,” she said, pausing squinting at him.

“Then pick somewhere else, so we can create fresh memories discovering hidden waterfalls together,” he told, “sampling local cuisine, and dancing to late night rhythms of the night. Fresh memories, Mary.”

“Fresh memories we create together,” she repeated.

Thom reached for her. He pulled his wife into his arms, encircling her closely in his embrace. Mae rested her face against his chest, listening to the steady drum of his heart.

“Mary, a great deal has transpired in a short time frame; you quit your job, moved to a different city, got married, and made a new best friend,” he said softly. “We have time. Let's take it where we can.”

In the other room, her phone rang. She'd intentionally avoided taking any calls for the past twenty-four hours since she wanted the mental break.

She waved goodbye to her husband and spotted Dan the Survey Man in the backyard.

She locked the back door and went to find her phone.

A quick stop by the guest bedroom and she saw the room was blah.

It needed a bit of pizzazz with some color.

The room would be next on her list of making the house feel homier.

Phone in hand, she made her way to the living room, thinking she needed a reading chair by the window and a small table for holding her teacup and snacks of cheese and fruit.

She looked at the phone: three missed calls from unknown numbers and two from her former assistant Rosemary.

One missed call yesterday, and one this morning. She hit the button to return the call.

“Rosemary, good afternoon; you're trying to reach me?” Mae said casually in the line when the woman answered.

“Yes,” Rosemary replied with a deep sigh. “Initially, I thought it was a bargaining tactic to clean house and get a fresh team. You didn't come back this morning, so this is real.”

“Very real. I am not returning,” Mae stated.

“I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't do more to fight for you,” she said. “I didn't understand what was happening and how everything was turning so quickly. I still don't know what happened. Suddenly, everyone in the office was mad at you, but no one could tell me about what. It was so weird.”

Mae held the phone. She had no comments on any of it or the sickness which had befallen her team. All she knew was that she no longer wanted to be a part of the problem and had removed herself from the equation.

Rosemary commented, “They are really ticked off at you now. Clyde moved them all down to the accounting pool. This morning, when they came to work, they could no longer ride the elevator to the 11th Floor. They are big mad at you.”

Mae still had no comment. She wasn't sure what Rosemary wanted her to say or if she was being recorded. Therefore, her lips were sealed.

“Clyde also requested footage of the car park. He saw the person scratching your car, but they were wearing hoodies, and we couldn't see their faces,” Rosemary said. “Clients, partners, and others are calling. A lot of people want to know where you are. Ms. Weston, are you okay?”

“Actually, I'm great,” Mae said. “I slept better last night than I have in a long time.”

“Ms. Weston, do you have another job, and if so, do you need an assistant?” Rosemary asked.

Mae knew she was fishing. Deep in her soul, she wanted to leave the woman hanging, but the opportunity was simply too good to pass up. She inhaled slowly, allowing the breath she'd sucked in to ease out of her mouth.

“Only if you're interested in helping me plant this garden,” Mae said, laughing. “I know my husband has a tractor in that barn, and the Lord knows I'm tempted to give it a go, but I think I'll wait for him to get me started.”

Rosemary sputtered in the line. “Did you say husband?”

“Rosemary, I have a life, and I'm living it to the fullest. You take care of yourself,” Mae said, ending the call. “I hate to giggle like an evil Bond villain, but damn, that felt good.”

Thom was right. In twenty-four hours, she had quit her job, moved to another city and gotten married. She’d gained a new best friend whom she spent the morning with buying panties at Victoria's Secret and was now sitting on a very long couch with her feet up, planning to decorate a guest room.

“Damn, this feels absolutely amazing,” she said, crossing her legs.