Original Story
The farmhouse stood back from the road, a cement porch with white columns
flanking the front. He pulled the car up on the gravel turnaround and switched
off the motor. Looking to his companion, he grinned. "Are you ready?"
"Yes!" she almost giggled. "Let's see this place you've been blabbing about."
"Blabbing?" he tried to sound offended. Stepping out of the car, he walked
around to the passenger side to open her door. "Oh, how gallant." she took the
hand he offered
They walked down the wide stone steps flanked on each side by peony bushes. The
screen door that he pulled back creaked in that warm, welcoming way and she
hoped he didn't see the tears building up in her eyes.
Taking out an old-fashioned skeleton key from his pocket, he turned it slowly in
the lock, the door swinging open.
"Oh!" she exclaimed in obvious delight as she viewed the room before her. An
antique sofa sat against the wall, a recliner sitting companionably beside it. A
huge cabinet dominated the back wall. She touched it gently, tracing one of the
door carvings with her fingers. The cherrywood felt like SATIN against her skin.
She took in the rest of the room, noting a foot operated sewing machine and
curtains embroidered with ROSES.
"The furniture goes with the house if, we want it," her boyfriend said leading
her out to the kitchen. She loved the Frigidare, "like my grandma had" and
thought the apple-shaped canisters were some of the cutest things she had ever
seen. "What a great place to keep flour and SUGAR and tea." A dry sink stood
against one wall and a glass cabinet on the other. The sink was a single and
the enamel was flaking off. He answered her unasked question-"Yes Rachel we can
get a new one."
The bathroom was small but held all the necessary elements including a built in
linen closet that, when you opened it, smelled like home.
The bedrooms upstairs were large and one still contained a brass bed, gleaming
in the half light. Rachel ran her hands over the frame, imagining the two of
them lying there, her fingers twined around bars as she and Ben made love.
She knew before turning around that he was thinking the same thing. Reaching for
his hand, she pulled him close and kissed him not so gently. "Later." It was a
promise.
Back downstairs and leaving through the mud porch, they walked out into the side
yard. "They said there used to be a garden up there," Ben pointed to a bright
spot past the pine trees.
"Like carrots and peas and potatoes?"
"And green beans, and corn and turnips."
"Turnips?"
"Radishes?"
"Radishes!"
"Okay so we will negotiate on that."
He told her there was one more thing he wanted to show her, "something that
should seal the deal." Taking hands, they stopped by the car where Ben pulled
out a small picnic basket from the trunk.
"Where are we going?"
"Up the hill."
They crossed the dirt road, up the hill, past a barn. "Is that our barn?" she
asked, hope in her voice.
"Yes, it's our barn." he laughed.
They found a nice spot in a meadow of Brown-Eyed Susans or as he liked to say
"Black-Eyed Rachels." They ate a meal of chicken salad sandwiches, apple slices,
Oreos and rootbeer. The two of them talked about the house, the possibilities of
what they could do with 110 acres and how much they loved this spot.
"So, are you ready to talk to the guys?" he asked about going to the real estate
company.
"Hmmm," she leaned back into the sweet smelling grass, closing her eyes.
"Sweetie?" he finally asked.
"I need a COOKIE."
He pulled an Oreo out of the box and handed it to her. She munched it slowly,
before sitting back up.
"Yes!"
"Really yes?"
He pulled her and held her close. "Did I ever tell you how much I HEART you?"
She leaned her head on his shoulder. " Is that something like love?"
"It's exactly like love."
End
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.