Page 62 of Miles. Alton & The 9:04
In the past three weeks, with so much activity happening on the property, Thom had fencing and privacy gates installed to keep nosey people and lookee loos from getting too inquisitive to come explore the homestead.The gates made him feel a bit more secure with Mae being on the property alone most of the day.
The cars drove past the old train depot, crossing over the tracks and passing the main house.They drove around back coming to the barndominuim.Rae Weston was leaning forward in the seat.
“Mae, you live in this?”
“No Daddy, Thom and I live in the house we passed, the one over there,” she said.“Here is where you guys are staying this weekend.”
“We aren't staying with you?”her mother asked.
“You're here, therefore you're with me,” Mae said, cutting the engine.“Come on inside and take a look about.”
The kids were out of the vehicle first as Thom opened the doors to the unit. The family piled in, staring, looking, uncertain what they were seeing.
“I saw no reason for us all to be bunched together in my house, so I built this so you all can be comfortable,” he said.“Mr.& Mrs.Weston, the bedroom there is for you guys; it has a private bathroom.Jae and Rae, you can pick either of the other two bedrooms.Girls, you're in the pink room, and guys, you're in the blue.A teen hangout spot is in that corner, complete with gaming console and a Firestick for streaming.Family, there is a great room here.The pantry and fridge are stocked with stuff Mae said you like to eat.There are beers, sodas, and fruit juices, and I grilled burgers, dogs, chicken sausages, chicken dogs, turkey burgers, and more.We can eat whenever you're ready.”
Jae walked over to Thom and extended his hand for a shake.“Well, damn.This is alright.”
The kids noticed the sporting equipment and started asking a million questions.Thom held up his hand.He was trying to explain it all as best he could.
“I only have three ATVs, so if you want to explore the property, we may have to double up,” Thom said.“Kids, there are bikes and pickleball, tennis, and badminton rackets, and other stuff in that area over there.A hoop is on the side and basketball is here, along with a soccer ball and anything else that will break a sweat.”
Rae Weston stood in the middle of the floor.“You own all of this?”
“Yep, my little kingdom of peace,” Thom said.
“And the old train station, I remember it.You own that as well?”Rae Weston wanted to know.
“Yeah, that is where I keep my train collection,” he said.
Bae asked, “And the house, you said you built the house?”
“Took a while, but yeah.I lived in the train station, restoring it, before I started on the house,” he said, walking out the rear door being followed by the family.“Over there is Mary's office.Big Black is home and parked in there, along with all her tools and goodies.She's so cute when she puts on her engineering overalls.Gives me all kinds of goosebumps.”
Rae looked at him.“How did you and Mae meet?'
“She drove her train into that station, stepped off the engine and said she was looking for me,” he said.“I heard angels on High singing and immediately fell in love and asked her to marry me, and she started to laugh.She stayed the weekend in the guest room while she was here for her job.I sang to her and it went from there.”
Rae snarled his lip a bit, looking side eyed at Thom, and said, “You seduced my baby?”
“No sir,” Thom said.“She tried to seduce me and I turned her down.”
Thom burst into laughter.Rae didn't want to smile, but he did.He also didn't want to like Thom Brown, but he was starting to dig the vibe of the unassuming man.Mae called everyone to come wash up and asked her father to bless the food.Everyone in the family sat at the long picnic table eating the prepared meal, talking, when a truck horn blew.Jiminy had arrived.
Thom didn't move, but Megan was all smiles.“He has a surprise.Well, more than one,” she said holding up her hand.
Megan was wearing an engagement ring.She and Mae began jumping up and down hugging while everyone stared at the odd man, unloading what looked like animals.
Jae asked, “Are those...porcupines?”
“Hey!”Jiminy said.“Yep.Yessir.That is Petr Qwill, and would you believe that joker returned last night with a woman and three children?Brought his baby mama and little porcupettes right up to my door like I was running some rehab center for porcupines.”
Rae Weston's eyes were large.“That man has pet porcupines.”
“Hey, the one in the back, I dubbed him Quilliam Shakespeare, the little girl is Flutternutter, and the bigger one, well that one is Dart Vader,” he said, laughing.“The Mama, I named her Pickles McQuillface.I had to turn them over and take a look at their business to see who was a boy and who was the girls.”
Jiminy was grinning his butt off when he was looking at Thom.Rae leaned over, his forehead furrowed.“Is he alright?”
“Alright is a relative term,” Thom said.“He's good people and can be counted on when needed.Jiminy, if those creatures start chewing on my new chairs, I will gut them and throw 'em on the grill.”
