Page 10 of Dusty

“I would love to have her children in my life. I’ve been sort of beating around the bush to get information about them from you since I met her. Obviously, you never noticed, did you?” She thought about what he said and was surprised that she’d never caught on. “Good, that’s the way that I love it. I’ll call her tonight, then.”

When he stood up, she did as well. He told her that he was going to miss her, and she pointed out that if he became a part of her family, he’d be sick of her in no time. He was still laughing when he left her there.

~*~

Taking Scott to the closest airport to put him on a flight out of the state was an eye-opener—at least the drive-in had been. The man didn’t shut up about the things that his mother had made him do over his lifetime, starting with his first day of school. Things that while not heinous, they were things that weren’t the sort of things that would get him in good with anyone he was around. Dusty thought that Scott’s mother was one sick woman.

She taught him how to cheat on tests in the classroom—even in kindergarten. The sort of people to hang out with, which he told him had been anyone that wasn’t a true American. Which to him was all wrong. Scott told him that no one was a true American anymore. That we’d all come from someplace else. He was taught how to steal things from the store was another thing that she’d taught her son from a very young age. Dusty was glad that the man was getting away from his mother. He might have been a first-rate person if not for her influence.

Giving him enough cash that he could buy a one way ticket, he told him to pick a place and go there but not to tell him his destination. He didn’t want to mess it up for the other man by letting it slip where he’d gone. The man was nervous enough as it was.

Leaving him at the airport after getting him some things to use on the flight—a book, some snacks as well as a bag that he could carry on as he had literally nothing to take with him but a couple of shirts and some questionable underwear that had seen better days, Dusty was glad that the man was going through with this. It might take him a while to get his life on track, but this was a good first stepfor not just Scott but with those people who were around him all the time.

As soon as Dusty was out to his car, he looked at Scott’s phone—having had it handed to him earlier, he saw that Scott had fifty-three missed calls and had twelve messages—all from his mother. There were text messages as well and after reading those, he was laughing as he found his way to the voicemails.

Each one that was there was from his mother. Christ, she got more and more angry as she went on and on. Twice, on the last few messages, she’d been cut off due to her rambling on about the things that she was going to do to him when he finally came back, and that seemed to piss her off more. The promises, because they were well beyond threats by the end, would have had the man running back home with his tail between his butt cheeks. He knew that it would him.

Pulling out his cell, he wanted to call Shipley to let her know what was going on now that Scott was out of their lives and working to get his own life on track. She was due home tonight, and he couldn’t wait to talk to her. Just as he was going to call, she called him. He loved too that when it came up on his phone who it was, he had put “My Wife.”

“I have some wonderful news for us.” She explained how she’d been given her retirement for her help in things both domestically and on foreign soil. There was also the added bonus perks she was going to get. Which, even though she nor Dusty needed the money right now, it was something that she’d worked very hard for and wanted to cash in on it. “I have insurance, too, as well as money for whatever kind of funeral that we have. For both of us.”

“What about your house there? You mentioned that they might well want to purchase it.” Shipley explained to him how that was going to work. “So that is a good perk. We can have a house there and here at home so that we won’t have to share with strangers. I think I like that one best of all.”

“Getting any of the perks that he gave us is something that I didn’t expect. So I’m thrilled to death that I’m going to be able to cash in on something that I worked so hard for.” They talked about the different aspects of living here or there and how much nicer it was going to be to not have to worry about anything from now on. Then she asked about Scott. “Just so you’re aware, my sister said Alma has been asking around town as to where he might be. It was said that she thinks that one of you boys killed him off because he was competition in my hand in marriage. I’m hoping that by the time she gets around to asking us where he is, we have a plan.”

“Oh, I have a plan. I don’t have the slightest clue where he is. I took him to the airport, and he took it from there. Not that I have any intentions of telling her about the airport but I will be honest when I say that I don’t know where he went. While there, I handed over the cash that I took with me so I could tell him to just buy a ticket, and that’s what he did.” She asked if he’d asked for advice. “Not at all on traveling. However, he did tell me things about his childhood that makes me feel sorry for him. Also, he told me that he thinks that she killed his father. But as he has no proof, he…he told me that he had no idea why he was pursuing you. Scott said that his mother had told him what to do and that he did it without question.”

“Yeah, I’m beginning to understand where he was coming from more and more.” They talked a bit more about Scott and the way that he’d been brought up, and with Shipley adding her thoughts, it’s a small wonder that the man had ever been able to hold down a job, much less try and find someone to love him. “I’m happy for him. I’m glad too that you were able to make sure he understood that if he returned, you weren’t going to be so helpful to him again.”

“I really believe that he understood that more than he did me. He’ll not return. And if he does, it will only be on the death of his mother. Even then, I’m not so sure. Scott was giddy if you can believe it. Thrilled beyond words that he was getting this chance when he really didn’t feel like he earned it.”

He pulled into the driveway of their home and sat out in his car, talking to Shipley. He had to laugh when she asked him if he was going to continue to call her Shipley or use her first name. At her laughter, he was able to tell her that he didn’t care what he called her so long as she loved him. That, she told him, was a perfect line.

“I have to get going if I’m coming home tonight.” He said he’d wait up for her. “I wish now Iwould have told you to drop me off. Now I’m going to have to drive home to see you. Not to mention, we still need to have a few times getting down and nasty with each other. I want you in so many ways that I can’t think when I see you out in the yard with your shirt off.”

“You tell me that when you’re hours away? That’s so unfair.” Teasing her a little, he told her how he’d been taking the coldest showers, and if she didn’t take him to her bed, then he was going to break something on his poor, abused body. “A man can only stay hard for so long before he begins to not have any kind of brain cells left. You do understand that, don’t you?”

“I’m taking cold showers, too, just so you’re aware. I’ve never been one to use sex toys, but with things the way they are now, I really think I might have to purchase us one. It seems like forever since I’ve had sex.” He asked her if she knew what she was doing to him. “I do. I have been in all the shops here in town today to see if I could find something enticing that I could lure you to bed with. So far, I’m not having a great deal of luck, sadly.”

“Honey, you could show up in just your panties, and that would be more than enough for me. Nothing at all would be even better.” She laughed, but it was a sexy one. Breathless like and so full of promise. He smiled cunningly. “You keep this conversation up, and I’m going to meet you at the door hard and naked. What will my family think if I just stand around all evening with a hard-on.”

“They’ll wonder what took you so long in figuring out what to do with it.” They talked like that for the next twenty minutes of so. At least long enough for her to get into the shuttle that was taking her to the airport to come home in. While waiting for her, he decided that there were things that he wanted to do to the house before she came home.

It wasn’t too late when he remembered to order her flowers. Someone would meet her at the airport with them, and she’d know just how much he loved her. Also, the rose petals that he sprinkled all over the bed were next. He had made up a cheese and meat tray so that they’d have something to munch on between bouts of lovemaking as well. Going to the wine cellar, which he thought all of his family had one in their homes, he pulled out the best white that he had. Making a mental note to himself, he was going to invest in some champagne so that they’d have it round for special occasions like today.

It was what caused him to pause a moment at the top of the stairs. All moments with Shipley were special, he realized just then. He also had other thoughts filtering through his mind. When she had their first child, a boy or girl. Christmases spent with each other and children when they came along would be the best. They should have had some special occasions when they moved into this house together, he realized then. He was able to have some special times because of her retirement, but he wanted to make special days that didn’t have anything to do with special occasions.

Just plain old Mondays would be a day to celebrate. A Friday as well. Smiling as he carted things up to the second floor, thankful that this part of the house was finished up, he enjoyed shaving for her so as not to give her beard burns when she came to him.

Just as he was running out of things to prepare for her coming home, he realized that she would be landing soon. Once she disembarked and was on her way home, it would be another hour for them to get together. After thinking about how much fun he was going to have tonight, and hopefully her as well, Dusty was dancing a jig around his living room when the front doorbell rang. Like they were laying on the button to get his undivided attention.

Looking in the little camera he was dismayed to find Alma there. The crazy woman had her cane pressing the button while she leaned into it. Almost as if she were going to come through the door and right into his lap. Opening the door, not caring at all if she fell on her ass, he jerked the door open.

Barely catching himself when she came into the room head over ass, he waited until she weltered her way up off the floor and stood up. He didn’t dare get close enough to help her. He might be in a very forgiving mood, but he wasn’t stupid either. Dusty asked her what the hell she wanted, as he was too busy to mess with her tonight.

“Where is my son?” He just stared at her. “Are you stupid like that woman is that my son is going to marry? I asked you a question. Where is Scott?”

“Now, why the hell would you think that I should know. I barely know you, and that’s too much for one person to put up with.” She seemed confused, and he didn’t elaborate. “Well? When are you leaving?”

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