Fifteen
Shane
I grew up in a big ass family. I have five brothers and sisters and nearly a dozen nieces and nephews at this point. All I've ever wanted is to have a family, whether it be one kid or seven. It's harder than people realize to lose not one but two babies in the womb. I was so fucking angry at Miranda for not taking care of herself for either of them. She told me she wanted children, but in the long run, she wanted the alcohol more, and then decided a family wasn't worth it after all. Alcohol was the victor. It's a fucking disease that destroys so many lives along with the person who can't put the bottle down.
I watch as my best friends and family raise their children in a home that I've been fighting for the dream for fifteen years.
With Melanie in my life though, the void doesn't seem as real. I fought tooth and nail against my attraction to her, but the contentment that washes over me just looking at her has me thinking a different tune.
It's about that time of the week where I fill my family in on the news of my life since most of them are back home on or near the farm. I usually call my parents and at least one sibling because word will spread fast. Now that Melanie has been in my life for a little while and I know I'm getting serious about her that I can't hide anything from my family. They have every right to be worried, but when they hear how my demeanor has changed when discussing my love life, then they will know for sure.
I've invited Melanie over for a good Tennessee BBQ dinner and I plan to call my family while she's there. Someone in my family is going to want to hear her voice or see that she is real on FaceTime and since there are no vacation plans to Tennessee just yet, I have to show some sort of proof.
I figure we can ease with her having a full stomach before I throw her to the wolves that is the Thompson clan. The beeping of my alarm code signals to my woman's arrival. Her senior partner had her stay a little longer to discuss a project and since I had nothing to discuss with her professionally at the moment, I texted her to meet me at my place. If I had stayed, I wouldn't have had time to get the grill up and running before she arrived.
Her voice calls from the foyer.
"Shane? I'm dropping my stuff by the front door and I seriously need to wash my hands after that cab ride. I'll be out back in a minute."
I quickly grab her favorite maple water from the fridge and pour her a glass. The scent of the water is actually quite soothing instead of overwhelming as I first thought. She loves this stuff and with my connections, I got a good stock of them to last her a few months. I hear the sound of the door to my hall bathroom open and close when my sensual beauty glides through to the kitchen.
I hand her the glass of water from the island. "Maple water to refresh yourself."
She takes a hefty chug of the water and sighs as if that water is the best part of her day. "Good lord I miss this stuff. Thank you so much for getting it Shane. My parents normally send me some, but one time the whole box was delivered crush so I told them not to waste their money anymore."
"Well, as your amazingly hot lawyer man-toy, I made sure these were delivered unharmed to last you a few months at best."
She wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me. The sweet taste of maple caresses from her tongue to mine. Before we get ahead of ourselves, I reluctantly stop her her, "Mel, if I leave that barbecue on, I'm likely to set the backyard on fire. I'll taste that sweet maple on you later. I have a nice night planned for us."
She laughs that sweet and savory laugh. "Fine. I will behave only because I am hungry for some that Tennessee Barbecue you brag about so much. I will just sit here and interrogate you a little more about your life."
I grab the plate of ribs that had been marinating all day in the fridge. She follows me outside to the patio and as I lay each meat onto the grill, she begins round one. "I only about how you are Shane Thompson, most demanded entertainment lawyer in New York City, but how did you become master of the contracts and negotiations?"
"My family owns a farm in Tennessee and back when I was a teenager, a location scout came to our house to ask my parents if they could use it to film a television movie. My parents were worried that the crews would destroy our land and our schedules. They brought in these lawyers and everything to show how they would pay for the expenses for our animals and their food and not disrupt our harvest season. They were so detailed and on point with every thing to make sure our farm name was well represented to audiences. I met Logan Brecker because he was cast as the farmhand love-interest for the rancher's daughter."
"With you knowing my addiction for those movies, is there a chance I've seen it?"
I close the lid and join her at the patio table. "Possibly. I love our farm and I love my family even more. My parents never pressured any of us to take over the farm once they were ready to retire, but my oldest sister and her husband actually wanted to take it over. She had gotten her degree in Agricultural Engineering and wanted to revolutionize the farm. With such a big family, someone was bound to want to take it over."
She puts her hand over mine. "That sounds like a beautiful way to grow up."
"Yeah although with that many kids, it was hard for my parents to be able to afford major schooling. I got into Vanderbilt on a partial scholarship and when I graduated, I worked for Logan to pay for law school at USC. Learned everything I could about the entertainment industry as his PA and his lawyer at the time helped me get the job at CEG."
"Well damn. That's pretty sexy to think of you working your way up and paying your dues. So you've always been a little rough around the edges haven't you? No wonder you have such a naturally ripped body."
I grab her hand and run it over my abs. "These are from hard work of keeping up with Logan and his trainer. My natural farm lifting built these arms you love to be wrapped in."
"I would have loved to see pictures of you on the farm. You barely have any framed in the house."
I fidget with her hand, nervous like a teenager versus a man who's almost forty. "Well, you can ask my mom or sister to text you some when we're off the phone with them in a bit." I drop her hand and go check on the ribs.
"What do you mean when we're off the phone.?"
I grab my phone out of my pocket and pull up my mother's contact information. "Since a trip down south can't happen in the extremely near future, you're gonna meet her on FaceTime tonight."
She groans and I kiss her, hoping to ease some of her nerves. "It will be fine Mel. They'll love you."
I hit call on my phone and my mother's beautiful face comes into view. I hear half a dozen voices in the background so I have to deal with shouting for them to be quiet so she can hear me. Introducing Melanie goes off without a hitch and within minutes, they love her. My mother, of course, has to give me tips on cooking my ribs and Melanie's laughter of being scolded by my mother earns her points in father's book apparently.
My whole life has come to a great point where I have love, family, good friends, and a solid career. Damn, my future is looking great.