Page 50 of Miles. Alton & The 9:04
Chapter Sixteen- Tussle
Thom Brown sat in hisoffice staring at the wall, in a mental tussle with his emotions.He was married to a lovely woman he hadn’t thought would be able to cook, but each day she was making him amazing meals.Concern covered him in the idea she may have been compensating for her own emotions and the rapid changes in her life.He also ruefully admitted the barefoot thing and taking the pie out of the oven turned him on like someone had stuck a cattle prod in his nethers and every nerve came alive.
“Hey,” Jiminy said, walking into the office.“How ya doing?You seem to be worlds away.”
“In my own head, I guess,” Thom said.
“Yeah, married.How's that going?”
“Actually, very well.”
“That's nice,” Jiminy said.“Hey.I was wondering.You know, Megan and all.She's been so sweet with the whole Petr thing and keeping me company.Would it be weird if I dated her?I mean, if it's okay with you.”
“Jiminy, I have no say and no stake in the woman's life, other than making sure she is safe and coming to no harm,” Thom said.“Is she interested in you like that, or are you taking advantage of easy pickings?”
“Hey.Hey.You know me better than that,” Jiminy said.
“No, I don't,” Thom said.“I have known men I thought were the salt of the earth who turned into monsters when they got a steady woman in their life whom they wanted to rule.Other men, who I thought would be the most stand-up people in the world, start drinking in bars and moving in to prey on inebriated ladies.So no, I don't.Again, is she interested, or are you taking advantage?”
“I dunno, when you put it like that,” Jiminy said, frowning.“We get on and have been spending time together and stuff.I was gonna ask her to the movies and to get an ice cream afterwards to get her out of the house, but now I'm wondering if...never mind.”
“Jiminy, ask.If she says yes, then fine,” Thom replied.“Is she settling in okay?Does she need anything?”
“If she needs anything, I'll make sure she gets it,” Jiminy said defensively.“You made your choice and have a wife.I'll take care of Megan.”
Thom held up his hands.Rising slowly, he was preparing to head home.There was a conversation he also needed to have today with his wife, and he wasn't sure how to approach the subject, but he'd figure it out.He bid a good night to Jiminy, turning over his shift to the night manager, and he waved to Pearlie Mae as he made his way to his vehicle.
The fifteen-mile drive to his home filled him with so many emotions that he didn't know where to start.Curiosity made him wonder what she was cooking for supper and what new touches she'd added to the house.
“Budget, we have to talk budget,” he said, turning down the long gravel drive to his home.It was a nice home with a wide front porch with rocking chairs, a quaint home with a large back deck and Adirondack chairs that were half eaten by a flipping porcupine.A sweet home with a lovely wife.
Thom parked his vehicle in the carport since her Audi was in his spot in the garage.The Subaru was also in the carport since it was what she'd been using to dash about town.They needed to talk about that as well.
He entered the back door to the smell of freshly baked bread.Chicken and rice in a red sauce, and peas drizzled in butter sat on the stove.Everything in his mind went out the window when he walked into the living room to find her sitting in one of the chairs by the window, reading.Mae looked up at him and smiled.The smile was bright and so wide, Thom swallowed hard.
“Hey, did you have a good day?”she asked, grinning at him.
“I did, and your day?”
