21. Dean: The Men Talk

Dean – The Men Talk

Chapter twenty-one

I really thought for a second that she was going to admit that she liked me. And I was even prepared to say the same—but only after she did first.

The conflicting emotions I felt within the last few minutes make my head spin, and I have to stabilize myself against my truck as I walk back home.

"Wow, you look horrible," Coral says, after I get inside.

"I feel pretty horrible, too."

"What? I thought you were just delivering some dry wood. What could have possibly happened between then and now?"

"Well, for starters, I told Mae about the plan. After I found them in the mud and offered to drive them home. She asked me point blank, and I admitted to everything."

"If you're as adamant about following through with it as you say you are, then I think that's great. You should've told all of them right away."

"I know. But I just…I wanted the chance to get to know her better. Without the impending threat that I was going to rip their home away from them."

"Yeah, I get that."

"And then, I overheard her and Bob talking, and she actually said that she had feelings for me."

"I knew it! I knew it! See Mr. Corporate, I told you!"

"But when I asked her if she was telling the truth, she backpedaled on all of it. I don't know. I'm just really confused."

We're interrupted by the radio alerting us to the possibility of more flooding near the area.

Around that same time, I see Bob struggling to carry sandbags near the barn.

"Oh, poor thing," Coral says after seeing him have to pause for a breather.

"Dylan! Come here!" I yell.

"What?"

"We're going to go help Mr. Dale."

"But it's raining."

"This is what men do. Come on. Get your jacket."

He scoffs, but does as I say.

"Hiya, Bob. What are you doing with that?"

"Didn't you hear? There's a flood warning. I don't want the animals getting soaked."

"Can we help you?"

"That would be wonderful. Thank you."

"Of course."

As we head back with him, I can see Coral's frame in the window. I laugh and think about how she should be the one out here—Miss animal rights—protecting the barn.

"Did I ever tell you that Coral spent a night in jail?" I yell through the storm at my son in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"No way! That's so cool."

"I don't know if I'd say breaking the law is cool, but…"

"What did she do?"

"I guess she was protesting at her college back in the day. Something about animal testing."

"You can get arrested for protesting?"

"Yeah, if you're on private property or told to leave by police."

"Huh. I didn't realize that."

"Yep."

"Thanks so much for helping me out with this," Bob says.

"Of course."

"I know Mae would do it, but she's taking a nap. She's had a hard day…as you know."

I do. It hasn't been a particularly easy one for me, either.

After that, we work in silence and continue to walk back and forth from the house and stack the bags. I'd pull my truck over to make one load, but the ground is so soaked now I think I'd be in over the hubcaps.

When we have multiple layers stacked, Bob takes a step back to inspect them. Then, he wipes his hands together and says, "Well, I think that will do it. Thank you, fellas, so much, for the help. That would've taken me ages."

"Happy to help, Bob."

"Let's get inside. Could I tempt you with some hot cocoa?" Bob offers.

"Thank you for the offer, but Coral is still at my place, so I'd better get back."

"Understood."

As we retreat back to our respective houses, I suggest that Dylan change into dry clothes.

"I don't want you catching a cold."

"That's just an old wives' tale," he protests.

"It is not. Being out in the cold and rain lowers your immune system. Now, get."

He rolls his eyes but eventually goes into his room. I go into my own and also change.

"Why don't you boys give me your wet clothes? I'll do a load of laundry," Coral offers.

"You really don't need to be doing chores for us."

"It's no bother. Plus, I know you both only have so many clothes here."

She's right there. We never anticipated having to stay here for multiple days.

"I honestly wouldn't mind washing my own…" she admits.

"Uh…I have a sweatshirt and pants you can wear in the meantime." The last thing I want to do is make her uncomfortable in my house. I don't want that for her, and I'd also feel like I was disrespecting Seamus in the process. In contrast, I look up to the old Irish guy. He's the only man I've ever met who can drink me under the table.

"That would be great. Thanks."

I go into the room I've been sleeping in and get them out of my duffel.

"Here you go." She walks into the bathroom to change.

"It was really nice of you to help Mr. Dale like that," she says, after reemerging in my ratty sweats.

"It's truly the least we can do—you know, since we're trying to buy his land and all of that."

"I suppose."

"Wow. This is the first time you haven't tried to talk me out of it."

She shrugs. "I'm honestly just tired of fighting you, Dean."

"Talk about words I never thought I'd hear."

"Well, there it is."

"Are you actually going to help me with the deal, Coral?"

"As your assistant, I think I kind of have to."

I can hardly believe my ears. She's never given in to me like that—or backed down from a fight in general. I reason that this time away from her husband and children must really be eating at her.

Coral and I continue chit-chatting as she loads the clothes into the washer, and it isn't long before I spot Mae outside. She is clutching the hood of her raincoat close to her chin, and she's carrying food over to the barn.

"Are you going to go help her, too?" Coral asks.

"Trust me. She doesn't want me around right now."

"You are both just being so stubborn."

"I thought you were sick of being involved?"

"I meant that I was tired of fighting with you over Cornel Condominiums."

"Well, how do you foresee us moving forward with a relationship if I quite literally take their home from under them?"

"I don't know. But I'm still rooting for the two of you."

"…you know…"

"Oh, no. I hate when you get that devious look on your face."

"Mae did just break down in my truck about the money issues she's having," I explain to Coral.

"What kind of money issues?"

"The kind where she doesn't have any—money, I mean."

"Wasn't she an attorney?"

"Yes, but she said she blew through the savings she had to help her grandpa establish the house and everything."

"So, what are you suggesting?"

"I think I need to place a call to one of the investors and see if he'd be willing to add a few zeroes to his offer. That way, there's no way she can say no."

She looks at me with suspicion. "I don't like the sound of this."

"Why not? Everyone will be getting what they want. I'll get the land, and she'll have a full bank account again."

"But what about Bob? Surely, he'll be upset to lose the place."

"I'll talk to him and see what his thoughts are. I know he's already aware of the situation."

"And he didn't seem hostile or anything toward you?"

"No, not at all. I'm going to run over there and chat with him now. If you see Mae headed back from the barn, please call me."

"I'll try. But as you know, the cell coverage has been spotty." I know that is an empty agreement because Coral will simply watch through the window and hope that Mae and I bump into each other again.

"Well, please just try."

"You got it."

I go to check on Dylan to make sure he's entertaining himself in his room, and then I brave the rain yet again.

"Oh, Dean. I wasn't expecting to see you again today," Bob says, after answering the door.

"I know. And I hope you aren't too busy…"

"Not at all. Please come in."

We sit down at their dining room table.

"So—"

"You want to buy our house," he cut in, to finish my sentence for me.

"Well, yes."

"I already knew that."

"I know."

"Right. But I just realized that we've never really talked about it as two respecting men."

"No, no, we haven't."

"And I apologize for that. I've just been so wrapped up in the secrecy and trying to sneak around."

"That I do not have any respect for."

"Understandable. There have just been some unanticipated roadblocks."

"Like your feelings for my granddaughter?"

Jeez. Can this guy read my mind?

"Truth be told, yes. Her sudden presence has thrown quite a wrench in the situation."

"Well, as you heard, the feelings are mutual."

I shake my head. "No, remember? She said she didn't mean that."

"I may not condone all of the decisions you've made over the last few days, but if there's one thing I do know, it's that you aren't as stupid as you look."

Wait a minute? I look stupid? What does that mean?

But he continues. "Like you, Mae has been burned in the love department. She's reluctant to admit to her feelings and interests. Then, there's this whole business about you wanting to trick and cheat to get our property from us. You have to understand how that would add extra hesitation on her end."

"I do. And I'm sorry I ever tried to pull the wool down in front of your eyes. I should've just been up front with you in the first place."

"Yes, you should have."

"I know that. But I'm trying to right those wrongs now."

"Okay, how do you anticipate having me help you with that, son?"

I take a deep breath in and out. "I'm not really sure. I just felt compelled to come over here and talk with you."

"Do you want my consent to buy this place?"

"That would be nice—"

"Well, I'm sorry. But that won't happen. It's not because I don't like you. I actually do. However, this place is my dream, and being here is how I want to ride out the rest of my golden years. That being said, if you find a way to force us out, I won't stop you. I'm far too old to participate in any of that drama. If anything, it will probably send me to an early grave."

"I would never want that."

"I know. And I'm just laying everything out for you, so you know my feelings."

"I appreciate that."

"So, there you have it. What's the next step?"

"Well, I'm hoping to add some extra money to the offer. I know Mae is struggling with money…"

"Please, going forward, just keep her out of this," Bob asks.

"But if I can help—"

"She doesn't need it. She may think she does, but she doesn't. I've saved plenty for her, and I know how much she's put into helping me fix this place up. What she doesn't know is that I have a pretty sizable trust for her that I've talked to my attorney about finally releasing to her."

"Why have you waited this long?"

"Because she was never in a position to accept it before. She was a high-powered attorney who was making more than she could ever need. But things have changed."

"Okay. Well, if money isn't going to be the motivating factor here…I'll have to go the rezoning route."

Bob sighs and pouts his lips a little. "Fine."

"And you won't fight that?"

"No. At first, Mae and I were going to go before any board we could to reject it. But no. Not anymore."

"What changed?"

"I told you. I realized I'm just too old. And…do you promise you won't speak another word about this if I confide something?"

"Of course."

"I went to the doctor after experiencing some heart palpitations, and she told me that I'm in the early stages of heart failure."

"Oh, Bob. I'm so sorry."

He holds his hand up close to my face. "Please, I don't want sympathy. I'm just telling you what's going on."

"Well, shouldn't you be in some kind of facility? Like an assisted living or something?"

"Oh, no. I don't need a bunch of nurses poking and prodding at me all day."

"But they could help delay the failure."

"I don't want that. What I want is to die peacefully here."

"Okay, but why not tell Mae about all of this?"

"Because she will do anything in her power—and that she already doesn't have the money for—to get me help. I fought in several wars and made it home to tell the tale to my family. I didn't do that just to end up dying attached to a bunch of tubes and drooling on myself."

"I didn't know that. Thank you for your service. What branch?"

"United States Army."

"My father was in the Army."

"Was he? Did you ever consider enlisting?" Bob asks.

"Oh, no. That was never my path."

"Why not?"

"It just never seemed like the thing for me to do."

"Well, then it wasn't. I went through basic training with several men who were pushed into it by some kind of familial obligation, and if they even made it through, it was a struggle."

"But it wasn't for you?" I ask with genuine interest.

"No, it was. But I wanted the struggle and the discipline."

"That's so interesting. My father always said something similar."