25. Dean - Things Coming Together

Dean - Things Coming Together

Chapter twenty-five

Mae tells me that she saw Dylan headed toward the barn, so we go to try talk with him.

"Why don't you let me go in first, Mae?"

"Yeah, good idea."

I let her have the umbrella to herself, and I go in.

"Dyl?"

"Leave me alone."

"I know it sucks, bud. Believe me, I do."

"I'm so stupid. I actually let myself get excited to go to Mexico with her."

"That isn't stupid. Almost anyone with travel plans looks forward to them," I say.

"Yeah, but I should've known better."

"To be honest, some of this could be my fault."

"How so?"

"Your mother and I got into an argument last night."

"Don't let her make you take any of the blame, Dad. This is all on her. She probably would've snuck away without me even if you didn't get into some kind of fight."

He's probably right.

I then make eye contact with Mae and wave her in.

"Hey, Dylan."

"I'm sorry for storming out of your kitchen like that, Mae."

"Oh, no. You don't have to be sorry. I would've reacted like that, too."

Once again, he uses the sleeve of his shirt to clear his tears.

"May I give you a hug?" she asks.

He sniffles but nods. "Okay, bring it in."

I can tell her mama energy is making him feel better because he's clutching her and just lets himself cry. "Thank you," I mouth to her.

When he calms down a little and releases her, she sits with him on two hay bales. I just stand by and watch.

"You know, I can really relate to what you're going through."

"You can?"

"Oh, yeah. I'm not sure if you know this, but my parents died in a car accident when I was a kid. My sister too."

"Wow. That's a lot."

"It was. But I'm telling you all of this because I want you to understand that your mom is still here. And at any time, maybe she'll turn around. As long as she's here on the physical earth, who knows what can happen? However, even if things remain how they are…you always have your dad, right?"

"Yeah." Dylan is listening to May, but he looks at me with eyes that affirm her words. I smile and give him my best dad nod.

"Well, see. Right there—you're so lucky. At least you have one constant parent. I didn't have any after the accident."

"I guess you're right. I should be grateful for what I do have."

"Exactly, like how I'm incredibly fortunate to have been raised by my grandpa."

"I heard about his heart failure. I'm so sorry."

She looks at me. "I'm sorry! I had to tell someone. I felt guilty being the only one to know."

"So, you put that heavy secret on a fourteen-year-old?"

"He was the only one around."

She kind of laughs and then returns her attention to my son.

"Well, thank you. But we just have to have positive thoughts that he'll live and be around us for as long as he can. Right?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, are you hungry, young man?"

His grumbling stomach seems to answer for him.

"All right. Well, Coral and I made breakfast. What do you say we head on in and get some for you?" She jumps up and reaches for his hand. He accepts it.

But before we're back at the house, a huge crack of lightning goes off and the thunder follows.

Like clockwork, Boris comes crashing through the back door.

"Boris! Boris!" Mina yells after him.

"Don't worry! I'll get him," I yell back.

And I start running after the large and dopey dog who is flicking up mud with each stride.

"Dean! Hold on!" Mae calls. She catches up and struggles to tame him.

"Can you get a hand on his collar?"

"I'm trying!"

"Here, let me grab his butt," she says, and tries to wrap her arms around his lower half to stabilize him. And it seems to work until he slips through and runs to the neighboring farm. "Oh no! The mud makes it feel like he's covered in butter!"

"Come on. Let's try again. Boris! Boris!" Dean shouts.

So, we continue to run and try to catch him.

We get to a point where he's between us again, so I suggest we try cornering him.

"Let's just charge at him. He won't attack us, right?"

"Have you seen him, Dean? He's the most lovable dufus dog in the world."

Either way, we both extend our arms and slowly start toward him.

Then, when she is close enough, Mae grabs his collar with both hands.

"Mina! Come get your dog!"

Her daughter comes charging from the house and runs Boris back inside.

"Hose him off!"

"I'll get him right into the shower."

"Oh, great. That's going to be a fun mess to clean up later."

With the chaos eliminated, we're able to just look at each other—both completely caked in mud from head to toe. We laugh hysterically as we examine ourselves and each other.

"Well, hey. It's probably a great exfoliant for the skin," Mae jokes.

Even underneath all of the brown goo, she still looks beautiful.

Our laughter dies down, and we just stare at each other, breathing heavily from the energy we just exerted.

"I hope you know that I was never going to go through with the condo deal."

"I know. I'm sorry I let Anna get to me."

"That's just who she is, Mae. She likes to start fires and walk away from them."

"I guess. Was what you said last night true, though?"

"What?" I ask.

"That you aren't going through with the plan because of my grandpa?"

"Well, of course. His desire to stay here until his dying day was pretty compelling but…" I smile at her before I continue. "But there's also this gorgeous granddaughter he has that seems to keep making my life more and more interesting with each day she's in it."

"You better be referring to me and not my teenage daughter."

"Eww. Of course, I'm talking about you." I walk over to her and take her in my arms. "Thank you for everything you did for Dylan today," I say, staring into her eyes.

"You're welcome." Her small hands naturally find their place at the nape of my neck—and her warm skin is a nice contrast from the cold raindrops.

"It felt really nice to have someone consoling him with me. It was almost like I wasn't his only parent, for once."

"Well, maybe neither of us have to do things alone anymore," she says, her voice suddenly low and sensual.

"Yeah, maybe not."

Then, she does something I didn't expect. She kisses me. Deep and sensual. Arms tight around my neck. I feel like we're in a fairytale or something as the rain hits our skin. And I feel a little lost when we finally part.

Rubbing at my lips, I ask, "So, what's next?"

Her reply, "I honestly have no idea. But I'm excited to find out," fills my heart.

"What are you crazy kids still doing out there?" Bob yells out the back door.

She and I look at each other and just smile.

"We'll be right there!"

After that, we jog toward the house, but I manage to steal one last kiss before finally retreating from the rain.

And when we do step foot inside, we come upon a sweet moment between our children.

"That's me?" Mina gushes as Dylan shows her his sketchbook.

"Yeah. And here, this one is Boris."

"Oh Dylan! You captured him perfectly." She makes to close and shove the book toward him, but he stops her.

"No, that's for you. I figured once the rain clears, we can go down to the market and pick out a perfect frame for it."

"Oh, that would be great. Like a dark burgundy one, maybe? To match his collar."

"Yeah, that'd be perfect!"

Mae and I watch this sweet exchange, and she squeezes my elbow.

"You raised such a sweet boy, Dean Cornel, like the sausage and the university."

"Thank you, and ditto."

Soon after, Coral, the ever-maternal woman that she is, brings both of us towels and wraps them around our shoulders.

"Come on, guys. Let's get you warmed up. A full belly should help."

We sit down, she presents us with plates of food, and we thank her profusely.

I take a bite and commend her on how delicious the blueberry pancakes are.

"The secret is a dash of cinnamon," she reveals.

"Oh! I can definitely taste it."

"Full disclosure, Dean, Mae helped."

"Hardly! I flipped them. That's about it."

"That's one of the most important parts. If you blow that part, they're ruined!"

"Hey, don't sell yourself short. You're pretty great," I comment.

She beams up at me and grins.

"What is it with you two? You've been nothing but smiles since you came back in. I thought you'd be mad that Boris got out?" Mina asks.

"Uh…"

"I think everyone is just happy that the whole condo thing is settled now," Coral jumps in to say. Then, she winks at me.

"Yeah, exactly." I nod.

"What are you going to do instead, Dad?"

I turn my attention to my son. "I'm not sure, buddy. I'd love to still see Cornel Condominiums become a reality. I guess I'll follow Coral's initial suggestion and find another place to put them."

"Where are you thinking?" Mae asks.

"Good question. Unfortunately, when she was looking and trying to convince me to set my sights on a different property, she couldn't find anything suitable—in terms of location and price."

"Hey!" Mina exclaims. "Wasn't Mr. Summers just talking about how he wanted to sell his mother's farm?"

"What are you talking about? When did you see him?"

"He stopped by a few days ago to make sure we were properly protecting the hives from the rain."

"Oh. How did I miss that?" Mae looks at me, and I shrug because I didn't notice him around, either.

"Do you know where it's at?" I ask her.

"Just outside of Sonoma County, I think."

"Did he give you any idea on the size?"

"Not technically. But he said it used to be a dairy farm, so I'd imagine it has to be somewhat large."

"Hm." The wheels in my mind have started turning, and I make a mental note to call him once the cell service is back.

"Did he say the hives were doing okay?" Mae asks her daughter.

"Yeah, he said they were fine."

"That's good." Mae sighs, relieved.

"Yeah, I'm getting excited to make my first batch of mead," Bob comments.

"Grandpa, should you really be drinking in your condition?" Mae gives him a cautionary look.

"Oh, I'm just going to have a taste. The rest will go down to my buddies at the VA."

"Well, okay." She nods at him.

"I wouldn't mind a tiny taste, too" I say.

"Of course!" Bob winks at me conspiratorially.