Sage…

This morning seems to be taking forever. I am anxious and ready to go see Nick’s farm and I’m hoping he doesn’t change his mind about me. My heart goes out to the man. I observed the pain in his eyes yesterday when he was telling me the history of his home. The story was heartbreaking and comforting at the same time. Heartbreaking because Nick has lost his entire family but comforting knowing the love that has been in that house. It is a house with character and I haven’t even seen it yet, but it couldn’t be anything but exactly that. I want the farm without seeing it and I know that isn’t a sound business decision, but this is for me and my dad’s memory.

I have straightened my room, showered, and I am ready to meet this day head on. I look at my watch and it’s still just a little before eight. My attorney isn’t in his office yet. Today is the day we set up for me to call and check in. Roger Stanton has been the only person I have depended on since my dad’s passing. He has known me since birth and feels more like a grandpa of sorts I would guess. I must say I guess he seems like a grandpa because I have never had one. My paternal grandparents died right before I was born. They died within weeks of each other. They had my dad when they were older, and my grandfather’s heart gave out and according to my dad, afterwards my grandmother died of a broken heart from losing the love of her life. My dad couldn’t hide the sadness from his voice when he would tell me the story, but he says it happened the way it should have. My dad was a romantic at heart.

My maternal grandparents are a bit of a tragedy. My mom never knew who her dad was. Rumors are he was the President of the BlackPath Motorcycle Club who died in a motorcycle crash, but he never stepped up and claimed my mom as his child. Rumors also say that my mom has two brothers she has never met. I believe the rumors because they came from Mr. Stanton. My maternal grandmother died of liver failure from years of drug and alcohol use. My mom distanced herself from Carolyn, her mom, after she hooked up with Dad. Mr. Stanton let me know all of this when I went to him for help to get away from my mom after one of the most frightening weeks of my life. I look at my watch again and know I can go eat breakfast with Haddie to get this day going. I don’t care if I eat but caffeine is a must and then I will make my call to Mr. Stanton, so he knows I’m alright. I’ll let him know that I may have found part of my dream and find out if he has obtained the information that I need. Sounds like a plan to me.

I leave my room and walk down the stairs. This place has been quiet this week. In fact, except for the first day I was here there have only been a few people that have stayed here—unless I missed them. I’m here except for when I go out exploring around the small town. I wonder if Haddie is having financial problems. The way she cooks you would think she had every room occupied nightly but yesterday I found out not only does Haddie donate lunches to the retirement center, but she also helps feed the sheriff’s office a few days a week. I knew that Haddie had a huge heart by the way she has taken me in, but cooking for the elderly, so they can have a small lunch while they play games and visit with others their own age is not an easy job. Yesterday when I went over there to help her there were at least fifteen people visiting along with the few volunteers and Haddie had a lunch for each of them and helped clean the place. I helped as much as I could, but I’m still an outsider and the people didn’t warm up to me much. Then we visited the sheriff’s office and dropped off lunches for the deputies on duty. There are two deputy sheriffs and two city police officers. The deputies have call outs to other parts of the county. The sheriff’s wife owns the diner and she usually provides the food for a price but Haddie’s is free and better tasting from what the four officers said. I need to find a tactful way to ask Haddie how the bed-and-breakfast is doing financially. I hate to think of Haddie struggling.

I walk into the kitchen and I see Haddie and Nick both sitting at the table with mugs of coffee in front of them. Nick is here most mornings but by now he should be opening Nuts and Bolts—his hardware store. I smile at the them both, but what I really want to do is bombard Nick with questions. Instead I walk towards the coffee that I smelled as soon as I started down the stairs. “Good morning.”

“Good morning dear, there are some muffins on top of the stove to go with your coffee,” Haddie tells me. My mouth was already watering from the aroma of blueberry muffins in the kitchen.

“Thank you Haddie. They smell delicious. I am already gaining weight from being here. I’m going to need to start running again to keep my backside in my jeans.” I know I have lost weight over the past few years—always traveling—so a few pounds won’t hurt. It’s not like I’m like my mom and weigh my food, so I won’t gain an ounce. I will never be that vain. I just want to be healthy but sometimes I go overboard. I think it’s because my mom was always monitoring my food intake because she didn’t want a fat child interfering with the happy family image she wanted everyone to have of us. Another thing I don’t miss.

“Girlie, you need some meat on those bones if you’re going to put in the work on the farm and that is why I’m still here. I thought we could ride out to the farm this morning; that way you can have a look at it. After, we can get down to my stipulations and iron out the price. I also want to hear more about you before making my final decision.” Nick doesn’t look as sad this morning as he did yesterday when we spoke about it.

“I think I may have come up with a way to ease part of your apprehensions.” I have Nick’s attention now; I pour my coffee and walk to the stove and get me a muffin along with a napkin off the cabinet. Haddie’s and Nick’s eyes are both on me.

“I’d like to hear your idea but first I want you to see the place; no need in haggling if we aren’t sure if the farm is a fit for you.” I sit down at the table in an empty chair next to Haddie.

“I packed a quick lunch, so we could eat at the farmhouse. Nothing fancy just some sandwiches and chips and I made some sweet tea to take with us. Nick is full of surprises this morning.” Haddie looks at Nick and they are having another conversation with their eyes. I need to learn the thing they are doing so I will know what they are conversing about.

“I have been walking around my room trying to get the time to go by faster. I’m glad Nick is here early. This day would have drug by until lunch,” I say while trying to scarf down the muffin and then drinking the hot liquid that will keep me awake with the lack of sleep.

“Don’t choke yourself, we have plenty of time. No reason to rush.” I know I more than likely am having bad manners by eating so fast, but I would be lying if I said I was slowing down any. I poke the last of the muffin in my mouth and lick my fingers. The muffin is yummy, but I want to see this farm. My heart is already set on buying it so if it turns out to need a ton of work, I am going to be disappointed. No, I won’t be disappointed—I’ll just be more determined to buy the farm and get the work done. I get up and take my napkin to the trash can and make sure I didn’t leave any crumbs on the table. I am chewing as I am doing this and hear Nick laughing at me, but I ignore him and swallow the last of the muffin and then drink the last of my coffee. “I’m ready to go when you are.” Haddie has moved to the refrigerator and taken out a bag I am guessing is our lunch. I turn and go to the kitchen sink and wash my cup out and put it in the dishwasher.

“Nick help me with the tea.” I turn and walk to Haddie as Nick takes the jug of tea and I take the bag out of Haddie’s hand. “I have Rita watching the place while I go on our adventure for the day.” Rita is the woman that helps Haddie with the cleaning around here. She’s friendly enough but she’s a little too friendly with any men that come in—especially if they are just passing through. Haddie says she has tried to marry every single man in the county and some that are married, so now she just wants her way out of town even if it is from a traveling salesman. To me Rita just seems lonely and looking for someone to pass the time with but what do I know? I don’t judge people when I have learned hardly anything in life is as it seems.

“She was saying she wanted to pick up a few extra hours this week,” I tell Haddie thinking this is Rita’s chance to buy that dress she was wanting to buy for a barn dance that’s coming up.

“I have my old red out front. I haven’t taken her out in a while so thought this would be the perfect time.” I look at Haddie as we make our way to the front room. I wonder if Nick is talking about a dog or something. He has never talked about having a pet. I see Rita is dusting the wood furniture in the sitting room.

“We will be back before dark, Rita. Are you sure you can stay that long?” Haddie waits for Rita to answer but Rita just nods instead. “I’m not expecting anyone in tonight so feel free to make yourself something to eat as usual and when you’re finished dusting the furniture just straighten whatever needs it and be sure and check the front porch. I think the trash can out there needs emptying. There’s some muffins on the stove top if you haven’t eaten yet.”

“Alright, Ms. Haddie. I will get it all done and don’t rush back. I need the hours, so I can buy that sundress I was telling you and Sage about a few days ago. Trask asked me to the barn dance, so every hour means I can look more special for that hunk of man.” Nick rolls his eyes and I smile and give Rita a little wave bye.

“You should save your money and bake that man a cobbler. That man can never get enough cobbler at the church functions. That’s the way to get a man is through his stomach. My Walter didn’t care if I was wearing a potato sack as long as I had a smile on my face and a cobbler on the table after dinner. You girls have it all wrong these days.” I let out a little laugh at that. Nick has stopped by the front door. I don’t say anything and walk over by him as we wait for Haddie to join us.

“I know Ms. Haddie, we’re having cobbler for dessert.” I snicker under my breath and Nick looks at me sideways, but I can see the laughter in his eyes too. I think the innuendo went right over Haddie’s head because she gives Rita a small smile and joins us at the door.

Nick opens the screen door, but I still haven’t seen around him. When he moves and holds the screen door open for Haddie and myself, I get my first look at the red truck sitting at the curb in front of the bed-and-breakfast. The paint job is faded, and I see a small dent in the passenger side door. I am in awe. It’s just like the farm truck in all the old pictures I have seen. It’s a 1959 Apache Chevy step-side truck. I can’t stop myself from running to it and I want to raise the hood to check and see if it has the original motor in it. Nick and Haddie come up beside me.

“Do you know trucks or are you in that big of a hurry?” Nick asks, and I can hear the humor in his voice.

“I love this truck. It’s like the ones in all the farm pictures I’ve seen. I showed my dad the pictures and he liked it too. Can I see the motor?” I ask Nick with my sweetest voice.

“You are full of surprises girlie. I thought you would be a fan of those foreign- made sports cars a lot of young kids drive these days; never would have taken you for an American-made classic.” Nick steps up to the truck and pulls the release for the hood and opens it up and steps back. I know I am grinning from ear-to-ear. I look at the original 235 6-cylinderengine. I can tell this truck has been taken care of. I try to shut my gaping mouth.

“It’s a beauty. This truck is worth a lot of money even with the dent and faded paint. You have taken such loving care of it. I am sure that dent has an amusing story and all paint jobs fade. Your truck just has character to it. You are a lucky man.” I look around and Haddie is already in the truck.

“I bought old red from my uncle with less than a thousand miles on it. His family was growing too big and they were moving to a bigger town. Everyone else that bought them bought the blue, but I knew red was my color and I had to have it. I needed the truck to help on the farm, and the memories in this truck make it priceless to me.” He lowers the hood and I step over to the passenger side door. “We still have a lot to see today but I’m glad to know not all young people have lost their good sense.” I don’t know what to say to that, so I keep smiling. My head is so far in the clouds right now that I won’t come back to earth for a while and it’s then that I realize it has been such a long time since I have smiled so much or felt such happiness. I hope this farm deal goes through, so I can stay here. I feel at home here and I’m not so lonely.

The trip to the farm is filled with beautiful country scenery of wildflowers, green trees and grass, and a countryside that has been left untouched by city lights and busy streets. There is a friendliness that you never see in the big cities; everyone waves at each other and Haddie told me the name of each person and where their family homes are. The traffic isn’t bumper to bumper and there are no blaring horns. The air is fresh and not filled with exhaust fumes and smog from the big factories. I take the scenery in and savor it. I know I’m being rude by not being a part of the small talk between Haddie and Nick, but I’m afraid I will miss something in the countryside, When we turn off onto a rock driveway it brings my attention to what Haddie is saying.

“Sage what has you so interested out that window? You would think you had never been for a drive in the country before. Did you hear what Nick asked you?” Haddie asks me, trying to pull my attention into the conversation.

“I’m sorry, it’s just so beautiful out here. What did you ask me Nick?” I need to pull myself out of my own head and pay attention. I want this man to know how much I want this farm, so I need to be listening when Nick is talking in case, I come up with answers to any questions he may have.

“I said when we turned onto the rock road it’s the drive for the farm so everything you are seeing on the road is part of the farm. That last drive was your neighbors, the Stillmans and you have the Hillhouses on the other side. Their homes sit further back on their properties, so you shouldn’t see much of them unless they’re being nosey or one of the boys comes over to give you a hand on the farm. Donald Stillman will be a bossy old cuss to you. He doesn’t believe a woman can do anything but cook, clean, push out babies, and then be arm candy at social gatherings—excuse my bluntness. He and Skeeter have two sons. One is bleeding him dry of his money chasing some darn dream of being someone famous. I think the last thing I heard is he wants to be a singer. He’s a drifter and useless on a farm. He’s afraid he might get a blister on his soft hands. The older boy, Trask, is a hard worker but he’s a skirt chaser.” Nick looks at me to see if I’m still listening and when he sees that I am he goes on. “The family on the other side are good people. They mostly raise beef and they farm some. Joseph and Dolly have two sons too but the younger one, Hawkins, hasn’t shown his face in this town since he ran off with his older brother Botie’s fiancée. Joseph had a heart attack when he was younger so anything stressful on their farm Botie takes care of it—but Joseph does try to help. Botie wakes with first light and works until everything gets done but he’s never too busy to help a neighbor or friend. He’s skittish around women and I can’t say I blame him.” I stare at Nick. He has been rattling things out and it almost makes me grin at him; if I wasn’t afraid he would be upset.

“Listen to you going on. You say the women in town gossip and just listen to the things that have come out of that mouth of yours. No one has ever said what Branton is off doing and Hawkins is just a little lost right now. The good book says not to judge. Hawkins’ will come back to his good senses. Everyone just needs to give him time. He’ll miss his family and he must know that they will never accept his relationship with that hussy,” Haddie says with conviction.

“Don’t start swearing like a sailor at this late time in your life.” Nick teases Haddie and he starts laughing. Haddie slaps Nick’s arm playfully.

“You old fool, hussy is not a curse word. It’s just frowned upon. I’ll ask for forgiveness tonight. Can you say the same?” Haddie is still being playful. I like seeing this part of her.

“Not supposed to ask forgiveness for something you plan on doing again. That woman tore those boys apart and I have worse words for Talia than hussy.” I can tell Nick doesn’t like this woman. I look back out the window at the land and try to take it all in. I see a barn off in the distance. Everything is so green. We turn a corner and I see the farmhouse and my jaw drops. This place is everything I have dreamed of and more. It’s a white-framed two-story house with a big front porch that even has a swing and two rocking chairs on it. I feel the tears trying to leak out of my eyes. My dad would’ve loved this place. I hold it together because I feel Haddie and Nick’s eyes on me. I can’t get all emotional or I won’t be able to convince Nick this is what I want, and that I can do this. If I need to hire some farmhands to help then that is what I’ll do, but I am determined. The truck comes to a stop in front of the house and I see the roses growing in front of the house and ivy climbing the trellis at the end of the porch. I open the door and get out. I notice there are two men walking this way from the barn, but I wasn’t aware that Nick had anyone working here. The sun is in my eyes, so I can’t make out if I have seen the two in town. It’s not like I have met very many of the people in town and the ones I have aren’t overly friendly. They had rather stare than have a conversation with me. I have come to understand that’s just their way at keeping me at arm’s length until they know if I’m going to hang around or be on the next bus out of town. To tell the truth; if this deal with Nick doesn’t work out, then that may be exactly what I do. Seeing this farm has just shown me how much this is what I want in my life and I won’t stop until I get it. Dad always said make a plan and stick with it until you achieve it.