18. Mae - Rethinking Law?

Mae - Rethinking Law?

Chapter eighteen

We thought that the weather was clearing up a little, so Mina and I got our bags of cookies all packed up in a basket, and we were just about to head out when we heard the loud crack of thunder.

"Well, I guess that is going to have to wait."

"Ugh. This is like the never-ending storm!" Mina exclaims.

"I know. It's frustrating. But there isn't anything we can do about it." I take a random piece of her hair and brush it behind her ear.

Soon after that, there are several knocks on the front door.

My daughter and I look at each other, confused. But I actually recognize the woman on the porch.

"Coral?" It's Dean's assistant.

"Hi, I'm so sorry to bother you—"

"Not at all. Please, come in from the rain."

"Thank you."

"Is everyone okay over there?" I gesture to the house next door.

"Oh, yeah. Well, Dean is in some kind of mood. I think he's going through a form of cabin fever after being cooped up while we all wait for this storm to finally pass."

"I get that."

"I actually came over here because Dean mentioned that you have a landline."

"We do. Grandpa insisted on it."

"Would you mind if I use it to get ahold of my husband? Something must have happened to the cell tower around here."

"Sure. It's right in the kitchen."

I take my phone out of my pocket and see that it also doesn't have service. "Do you want a cup of coffee or anything?" I offer.

"I don't want to make you go to any trouble." She starts dialing.

"It's no trouble. It's already made."

So, I get a mug and pour her one.

"Thank you," she mouths, while I can still hear the line ringing. "Hey, Seamus. Just checking in. I don't think I'm going to get out of here anytime soon. How are the kids?"

I leave the room to give her some privacy to speak with her spouse, but I come back after hearing her stop talking.

"Everything okay with your family?"

"Yeah, everyone is good."

"Glad to hear it. How many children do you have?"

"Five."

"Wow. That must be a handful!"

"It definitely is some days."

"I can't even imagine. I only have the one, and I feel like I'm going crazy half of the time."

"Yeah, but you have to do it alone. Just like Dean. Now that, I can't fathom. I am so in awe of single parents. You're like superheroes."

"That's kind of you. But I do have help from my grandfather."

"That's part of why I worry about Dean. He doesn't have anyone to share the burden of raising his son with."

"Do you know where Dylan's mother is now? I know about her leaving and all of that."

"I honestly have no idea, and I don't think either of them do either."

"I just can't imagine not having anything to do with my child."

"Me either. And poor Dyl took her leaving so hard."

"You were working with him all the way back then?"

"Oh, yeah. I've been with him for what feels like a lifetime."

"I didn't realize that. He must be a good boss."

"He is. He pays me well and is beyond fair with vacation days or days when I just need to take off for the kids."

"My last job was the complete opposite of that."

"Really? What did you do?"

"I'm a lawyer."

"No kidding? Huh. You don't seem like a lawyer to me."

I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean.

"I mean, you're just so friendly," she clarifies.

"Oh! Well, thanks. As it turns out, I don't think the legal field was ever the right place for me. Too stuffy and ruthless. My old firm was just filled with a bunch of old dudes who didn't really care about having a work-life balance. They expected us to come in and work the days after major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas."

"And what kind of law did you practice?"

"Corporate."

"Oh, so none of your clients were even around in their offices then."

"Exactly! We would come in and have absolutely nothing to do some days."

"That's ridiculous."

"Yeah, I'm glad to be out of there." I look at my watch and realize that I've been talking to her for quite some time. "I'm so sorry if I've taken you hostage here. I don't often get the opportunity to talk to other grown women out here."

"Please, all I hear about back at Dean's is about his next money venture. After Anna left, that's all he seems to care about—money, money, money. Well, and Dylan."

"Of course. Speaking of which, what do you know about his plans to buy our land?"

Her face immediately goes a little flush, and she shifts in her seat.

"I apologize if that makes you uncomfortable to talk about."

"It's just that I don't have all of the information, and I don't want to speak out of turn."

"I understand. I'm sorry I asked. I'm just so confused."

"Well, I can tell you that if I get my way, there won't be any issue."

Before I can ask her more about that, she excuses herself and says she should get back to Dean's before he starts worrying about her.

But after I follow her out near the back door, she turns and asks, "Do you like him?"

I'm caught off guard. "Who?"

"Dean, silly."

"Oh, uh—"

"It's okay. You don't have to admit it. I already know the answer. Please don't let his corporate focus sully your opinion of him. He really is a great guy."

A great guy who sounds like he's going to try to steal my property from me.

Then, it's almost as if he hears her because he comes out of the house and throws something in the garbage.

And he's wearing an all-white shirt, so the rain makes it so that I can see every ripple of muscle in his abs, chest, arms, and back.

But my goodness, is he fine. I bite my lower lip and continue watching the show.

"Hmmm, just as I thought," Coral comments, before sauntering over to the neighboring house.

After she leaves, my cheeks feel hot, and I bring my hands up to them. I'm sure they're red, and I assume that is the evidence Coral just noticed as my obvious attraction to him.

"I thought I heard voices out here. Who were you with?" Grandpa asks, after getting up from a morning nap.

"Coral. The woman who works with Dean."

"Oh." He's busy wiping sleep out of his eyes.

"She came over to borrow the landline. The cell towers are down."

"Ah-ha! See, what did I tell you? I knew that thing would come in handy." He returns his oversized glasses to his face.

"Yeah, yeah."

"The rain picked back up?"

"It did, but don't worry. I've been changing all of the buckets and bowls."

"Good girl." He pats me on the shoulder. "I take it that means you and Mina didn't get to go around the neighborhood and give out your little treats?"

"No. And I feel bad, I can tell she was disappointed."

"Well, this storm has got to end sometime."

"It sure is taking its sweet time."

"At least it's good for the grass."

I sit down with Grandpa at the dining table after getting him a cup of coffee.

"You know, Coral said something that was super interesting."

"What's that, dear?"

"She said something to the effect of if she has her way, Dean won't need to go down the road of trying to buy us out."

"Huh. That is a bit cryptic."

"I know. It's driving me a little crazy. And then she straight out asked me if I have feelings for the guy."

"Don't you?"

"What?"

"Have a little crush on the neighbor fella."

My grandpa and I rarely talk about my love life, so it makes me a little uneasy to be talking with him like he's my best friend in high school.

"Of course not. He's threatening to take our house."

"Yeah, but that's all just about money. It's nothing personal, honey."

I cross my arms across my chest. "Well, it feels mighty personal to me."

He nods. "Be that as it may, I wonder if you could take Dean out on a date and convince him to leave us alone."

"I'm sorry? What are you asking me to do?"

"What will one simple night out hurt?" He leans over and grasps my hand. "I know this is a tricky situation. But ever since your miserable ex-boyfriend left those many years ago, you've been all about work, me, and Mina. Do something that's just for you. You deserve it."

"But…"

"Again, I know we're in a unique position with the talk about the building of the condos, and blah, blah, blah. But maybe you can dissuade him from doing that."

My head is spinning. "So, is it a real date? Or am I just asking him out for ulterior motives?"

Grandpa sits back in his chair. "That, my dear, is completely up to you. But either way, I think it will be good for you to have some time away from your family."

"Well, nobody is going anywhere until this storm finally dies down." Then, instead of praying for it to stop, I'm pleading with the universe to keep it going forever.

He and I continue talking until it's time for lunch.

"What do you feel like?" I ask before opening my pantry and seeing that it is almost empty. "Shoot. I'll have to go by the store."

"In this weather?"

"Hey, I've been doing all of the work around the farm in it. A simple walk down the street can't hurt. It's safer than trying to drive in this downpour since the roads are basically flooded."

"Well, okay. But make sure you take the big umbrella."

"I will."

After that, I put my rain jacket on and secure the hood tightly around my brown hair. Thankfully, it isn't as long as Mina's because I don't think all of hers would have fit.

"Be careful, Mae."

"I'll be back before you know it, Grandpa!"

He stops me and shoves some cash in my hand.

I go to thank him, but his finger is at my lips before I can.

So, I head out into the dreary and damp world.

"Wait, Mom!" I soon hear Mina calling. When I turn around, I see that she has Boris on a leash.

"What are you doing out here?"

"Boris was getting restless. I figured he could use a walk. And it hasn't thundered in a bit, so…"

"Ugh. He's going to be absolutely caked in mud when we get back."

"I'll hose him off before we go back into the house. Promise."

"Well, all right. But get on this side of me. I don't want you anywhere near the road."