Page 5 of Class Act

“Pashaw,” she responds. “Fate took care of that; I just gave it a nudge.” Then she shrugs as if it was nothing. And I guess to her, it wasn’t.

“Ma, I know you want grandchildren, but this is taking it a bit far, even for you.”

“G-g-grandchildren?” Madelyn stutters, almost choking on the sip of water she’d taken from the bottle she’d just removed from her purse.

“Let’s back the crazy train up, Ozzy Osbourne,” I suggest, making them giggle. “You’ve gone from boarding it to the destination without any sightseeing in between.”

“I took matters into my hands.”

“By finding me a mail-order bride?”

“Umm,” Madelyn interrupts as I see her raise her hand from the corner of my eye, “I’d like to point out that I thought I was being hired as a housekeeperandI think the technical term would be email-order-bride.” The last is said with a grin. Good to know even when thrown for a loop of this magnitude, she perseveres.

“I’m a bit offended you don’t believe I can find my own.”

A sound that can only be labeled a scoff leaves my mother. “Oh please, the only date you’re familiar with is the fruit.” Madelyn laughs, finding our exchange amusing.

“You aren’t wrong,” I admit, not in the least ashamed. “And you?” I inquire, shifting to see Madelyn’s face.

“Not my favorite, the experience nor the fruit.” For that, I slowly reach over, giving her time to move away before I make contact, and place my hand on hers. She does me one better and flips hers, so our palms are touching. A roar builds in my chest, but proving that just being near her settles me, it comes out a purr. And, just like a kitten, I want to roll over and present my belly. That doesn’t mean I’m tame because that position bares another part of me that definitely wants her attention.

This is not me, never has been, so I can only surmise it’s her that’s bringing it out in me. That alone needs to be explored, as does my instant attraction to her.

Hopefully she’ll give me the chance.

Chapter Five

Madelyn

April 11th…

As much as I wanted to talk more about what Hannah’s arrangement entailed, and how Cain truly felt about it, he and I agreed it was best left for another day. So, we spent the rest of it with him giving me a tour of the property, my favorite being the goats, though the horses were a very close second, and showing me the guest room. Of course, he wouldn’t let me carry my bags, which he’d taken from his mom’s car before she left.

What I did insist upon, however, was that I be allowed to do the duties I originally thought I’d been hired for. Cain balked at first, which I appreciate in a way, but I just don’t have it in me to sit around and do nothing.

Besides, from the little time I’ve spent here, it isn’t hard to see that Cain does, in fact, need help. The man runs practically non-stop. I wouldn’t be surprised if his brain continues to function while he’s unconscious, working through problems he doesn’t have the time for while awake.

And Icannotthink about Cain in bed, all mussed from sleep, cheek wrinkled from resting on the pillow because that leads to visions of his appearance when I first saw him.

Forget milk doing a body good…being a cowboy kicks its ass in that department. The planes and valleys that make up his chest had me ready to drool, and let’s not even talk about what those sweatpants couldn’t hide.

If a marriage – or even a relationship – could be built on attraction alone, Cain and I would last for eternity. It may not be a solid foundation, but perhaps it can be a support on which to create one.

I’d intended to dive in to my work straightaway this morning, starting with making us breakfast, but Cain persuaded me to wait a bit while I adjust. And he sweetened the proposal by adding an incentive I couldn’t turn down…spending that time with him.

As I descend the stairs, not only does the smell of coffee greet me, but so does a smiling Cain. I’m not vain, though I must say I look good in the clothes Hannah helped me choose for this adventure as I’d been unsure what I’d need, but the approval radiating from Cain makes me feel beautiful.

“Morning, wife,” he says, eyes twinkling with playfulness.

Liking this side of him just as much as the serious one from yesterday, and that we’re acknowledging the proverbial elephant in the room while simultaneously ignoring it, I go with it. “Morning, husband.” Me referring to him as such seems to have a very umm, shall we say, uplifting effect on him.

Following that, we share a meal – what seems to be his specialty consisting of cinnamon, sugar, and buttered English muffins – and make our way outside. Even though Cain took the week off from teaching, and the farm at Mason’s urging, he wanted to give me an idea of what a day in the life is like here.

And during it, I learn just how hard Cain works, and that this is what he was born to do. His joy in being here, tending the land, and caring for the animals is evident in every action. This is not a job to him. It’s as essential as breathing.

It makes me wonder about him as an educator, leading me to ask if I’m able to observe him there as well. He seems shocked by my question, and happy that I want to do it, and states that he’ll look in to it. Which won’t be for a week as he requested a week’s worth of leave, stating a family emergency, so we could get to know each other, from the school. Upon learning that, Mason ordered Cain to do the same from the farm, our excursion today aside, his surprise at Cain not arguing shocking both of us

An act which, to me, earned at least a couple layers to that foundation.

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