Page 35 of Just Friends

“Oh, all right. Are you coming to Thanksgiving? I’d love for you to meet Roger and his kids.”

Rebecca pulled into her apartment parking lot. “No. It’s too long of a drive for one day.”

“Then come for a week at Christmas.”

“Yeah, I’ll do that.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”

There was no doubt she would require Rebecca stick to that. Now, she’d have to burn a few days off around Christmas for a trip she didn’t want. After disconnecting the call, she went to get her laundry done and have clean underwear to visit her dad.

Twelve

Rebecca received the delivery of venison that Weasel promised her and had more meat than she would ever need. So, she decided a stew would be perfect for the next get together at Huntington Farms. The recipe required cooking all day on low heat. Driving out to the property, she set up her cock-pot in the narrow kitchen. The 1935 farmhouse which Brandon and Ben had restored with some help from Autumn. It served as the administrative offices of the wedding venue along with accommodations for the bridal party to dress upstairs. The main sitting room performed a wide variety of functions including a gathering spot for her group of friends. The focal point of the formal room was a large, stacked, river rock fireplace flanked by windows. This place was one of her favorite places to be. It was where she retreated to when things came to a boil with Kyle, and they’d hidden her there for the night and surrounded her with love and support.

On her way out to the parking lot, she spotted Dustin, the sous chef from the anniversary celebration she helped cater. Dustin carried two industrial-size trash bags filled to the brim. He was slightly shorter than her, super skinny, and wore shorts despite the chilly temperature. The t-shirt showed off his arm full of tattoos on the right and a sleeve in progress on the other. He might have been forgoing meals to fund his tattoo habit. He could be younger than her; she wasn’t entirely sure.

“What are you doing out here?”

Dustin looked up startled. “Didn’t know anyone else was here. I’d offered to finish cleaning from last night.”

“Big wedding?”

He nodded and carried the bags around behind the barn and toss them into the dumpster. “Yeah, it was crazy…and I hate the caterer. He’s an ass. I’d rather you come back and do it.”

“Well, they haven’t asked. I’m not a caterer; just doing the guys a favor.”

Dustin leveled a look at her. “You should be.” Rebecca shook her head. “Why are you out here so early?”

“I’m making a dinner out here tonight for my friends, and the venison stew needs to be in the crock-pot.”

“Nice… I’ve never had it.”

“You should come out tonight and try it. At seven.”

“I don’t wanna impose….”

“Oh, it’s not an imposition.”

???

That afternoon, she returned to the farmhouse and checked on her dish. The smell of the food wafted through the empty rooms when she arrived. Stirring the soup, she lifted a spoonful to her mouth to test the seasoning. She was adding more salt when Autumn strolled in through the rear entrance.

“That smells amazing. What it is?” Autumn looked into the pot.

“A venison stew,” Rebecca replied. “Weasel gave me an entire deer, and its more than I could handle for myself.” She opened the small oven and popped in the pan of rolls.

Autumn stared at her for a beat. “When you say he gave you a deer?”

“I mean, he brought a dead deer to my door.” At Autumn’s disgusted expression, she giggled. “My thoughts exactly.”

A smile broke across Autumn’s face. “What does one do when a man brings you a dead animal as a token of his affection?”

Rebecca laughed. “Well, you smile and make him take it to get it processed. Then try to figure out how to use it all.”

Autumn’s mouth fell. “He seriously brought you…”

“A deer carcass in the back of a pickup.” Rebecca nodded. “Showed me the arrow hole that went through it and everything.” They both snickered.

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