35. Molly
For the first time,Vaniel turns up the drive to Udderly Creamy Farm. Dad sits in the passenger side, gazing out the window, and I’m hit with a sense of renewed appreciation for the beauty of Alex’s farm.
“That’s the farm shop,” I point out. Imara and a former employee who is now a college student home for the summer have been working in the shop. Once school starts again, I’ll be working during the week. I’m only working for one Bedd brother this time.
The pasture next to it is empty since it’s almost seven, and the animals must be up at the barn. “That’s where I fell in cow shit,” I add, pointing to the grassy hill as Vaniel climbs the steep driveway.
“It’s beautiful here. Summer is so green.”
I smile. It is. And I can’t believe that I’ll be living here now. I’ll get to see New York through all the seasons.
Dad and I spent three weeks driving back to Fork Lick. We made memories together, visiting roadside attractions and national parks. In an odd turn of events, I was sending pictures of my adventure to Alex instead of Dad. Every night, I’d talk to him and tell him about my day, and we’d count down the miles together until I’d see him again.
We reach the top of the hill, and I park next to Alex’s truck. Trixie races out of the barn to greet us. She barks until I exit the van and come around the front. Then she recognizes me, and it’s all butt waggles and yipping and bouncing around until she gets herself back under control.
Then she gives Dad a good sniffing, spending extra time on his prosthetic, which is visible since Dad’s wearing shorts today. It’s the beginning of August, and it was the hottest day of the year so far, so we were thankful to be driving in Vaniel’s air-conditioned comfort since we left the Allegheny National Forest right after lunch.
With Dad, we’ve done more camping-style overnights than boondocking in parking lots or on public property. Surprisingly, Dad has enjoyed sleeping in the tent. He calls it communing with nature—which is also what he says when he’s peeing in the woods—so all around, Dad’s getting a lot of one-on-one time with the outdoors.
“Molly.” The deep voice full of affection draws my attention away from Trixie and toward the big man striding over from the barn. I take off at a run and launch myself at Alex. He catches me, lifting me up so I’m even with his face and giving me a panty-melting, completely-inappropriate-in-front-of-my-dad kiss.
“I missed you,” I say when I pull away.
“I missed you, too.”
He sets me down and greets my dad with a handshake. I stick myself to Alex’s side and twine my fingers through his.
“Alex, good to see you,” Dad says. “Did it come in?”
My boyfriend grins. “It did.”
“Did what come in?” I ask.
The two men exchange a glance.
“Wait, have you been cahooting?” I put my hands on my hips. I knew the two of them were talking, but mostly I thought that was logistics planning. Dad’s going to stay here for a few weeks, living in Vaniel while I’m in the house with Alex. He’s going to think about whether he wants to move to Fork Lick permanently and sell the trailer when he goes back to Spokane. And Dad and Alex have been talking about things he can do to help around the farm.
“Me? Cahooting?” Alex feigns innocence, while my dad just grins.
I mock-scowl at Alex, who holds out a hand, beckoning me to follow him. “Come here. I have a surprise.”
Dad starts toward the house like he knows where he’s going, and I ignore Alex’s hand. Instead, I slide my arm around his waist while his comes to rest on my shoulders. A kiss lands on the top of my head.
“How’s your family?” I ask.
“Good,” he says. Alex told me about his conversation with Ethel and his siblings. Although I don’t ask about his therapy sessions, he often calls me afterward, trying to decompress emotionally. My heart gets wrung out for him every time. “You’ll see them all tomorrow,” he says.
Today is Friday, so tomorrow, I’ll be bringing Dad to the berry picking. Raspberries are in season now, so there’s even more ground to cover. Alex is bringing one of the calves again—not Mootlida, she’s aged out—and, of course, the flavored milk.
And then, of course, there’s dinner on Sunday. I’ve been keeping up with Ethel, watching some of her videos she’s been posting with the help of Diane, who has returned to Bedd Fellows. Ethel told me Sam, Colleen’s twin, is coming to dinner this Sunday too.
Ethel also told me she and Ethan went on a scavenger hunt around the house for two days, trying to find where Ethel stored the leaves for the dining room table so they could expand it and fit everyone.
Instead of leading us into the house, Alex goes around the backside. I’ve never been this way and had assumed it was just a small yard that butts up against the woods, but when we turn the corner, it’s not an empty yard.
There’s a boxcar—an honest to god boxcar—sitting in Alex’s backyard.
“What….?” Alex’s arm slides off my shoulders as I step ahead of him. “What is…? No! You didn’t!”
Alex laughs. The boxcar is red—red! Just like in the story!—and rests on its wheels in the grass. It’s got black trim, and while the paint is not in good shape, the walls are solid and thick.
I place my hands on the side. It’s warm from the sun, and the wheels mean that it’s set up pretty high.
“What is this doing here?” I ask, awe softening my voice.
“I thought maybe you’d like to fix it up. It’s kind of impractical to travel in it, but it could be an office or a, uh…” Alex rubs the back of his neck and pointedly does not look at my dad. “…in-law’s suite. Someday. Maybe.”
“Oh my god. Can we get in? Does it open?”
Alex helps me slide the heavy doors back and then climb up onto the floor. It’s a big step up, and we have to give Dad a hand, but soon we’re all standing in the long, empty space—even Trixie, whose nose huffs in the corner.
I gawk and run my hands along the walls. The ceiling is curved, and the sides are wood paneling that’s seen better days. It’s stiflingly hot, but I don’t care.
I turn to Dad. “Did you have anything to do with this?”
Dad shakes his head. “It was all Alex’s idea.”
I fling myself at Alex again, wrapping him in an enormous hug. “Thank you so much. This is going to be amazing.”
He pulls away just enough to gaze at me, a soft smile on his lips. “I can’t wait to see what you come up with.”
Much later, after we eat dinner and Dad goes to bed in the guest room, Alex and I lay in a sweaty pile on his bed. Alex had to literally bite his knuckles to keep quiet, and I think we did an okay job. Trixie certainly slept through it—she’s snoring in her fancy-ass dog bed.
After a few minutes, Alex turns to me. “Are you thinking about your boxcar?”
“Oh my god, yes.” I cover my face with my hands. “Sorry.”
The bed bounces while he laughs. “I’m glad you’re excited. And I’m glad I get to have a front-row seat to watch you do this.”
I turn to him in the dark and whisper. “Thank you for the new adventure.”
He whispers back. “Thank you for being my adventure.”
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