Brigit’s Flame - June 2009 - Week 1 - The Ranch
Ranch
Sarah had worked with Robert for a number of years. He was actually 10 years her senior, and her boss. When the new parent company forced layoffs, Sarah was one of the last to go. She and Robert kept in touch for quite a while by email, until one day he suggested meeting for dinner. He’d retired to his ranch, and still did some consulting from home. Weirdly enough, Sarah had gotten lucky, falling into the same type of job but for an insurance company.
Robert and Sarah met for dinner, and had a fabulous time. They discussed all the employees, past and present, and the various things going on in their lives. Sarah’s son had just turned 25 (she was now 48 to Robert’s 58), and was living with a terrific girl, albeit a bit of a personification of a typical blonde at times. Robert had a boy and a girl, both with kids of their own.
After dating for a month or so, Robert invited Sarah out to the Ranch for a weekend visit. It wasn’t your typical “old time” working ranch, but he had quite a few acres, a smallish house. Sitting on the back porch, enjoying an after dinner drink, Robert (at Sarah’s coaxing) told her about his years growing up at the ranch. They were sitting on a sofa type bench, a coffee table in front of them, looking out toward the pasture. The back porch had a little fenced railing around it. You could see vegetables growing off to the right, some mighty sunflowers in a row on the left. Directly in front of them, on the other side of the pasture was a grove of trees. You almost hear, faintly, the water in the creek.
“See, we met in high school. I had a brand new Mustang that my parents got me for Christmas my senior year. We’d drive out to the country and watch the stars, and” giving Sarah a devilish smile, “other things. A few times, on a Saturday afternoon, we’d spread a blanket on the ground, and drink some lemonade.”
“Sounds like it was a great time” Sarah said. She turned on the cushions, leaning back on the arm rest to face him, pulling her legs up. Grinning, she put her feet in his lap. Absentmindedly, he was lost in remembering and telling his tale, Robert started to rub Sarah’s feet. They’d both taken off their shoes upon entering the house earlier in the evening.
Robert smiled at Sarah, “yes, it was. We were two kids in love, or what we thought was love. We got married a year after graduation, and our boy, Junior was born 9 months later. A year to the day, Michelle was born. My parents passed away in a car accident while Trudy was pregnant with Junior.”
“Oh, Robert, I’m so sorry. You’d told me they’d had the accident, but I didn’t realize when.” She reached over and stroked his arm. He tugged on her arm, pulling her close enough for a quick kiss, then settled back to the telling of his story.
“Trudy chose to stay home and raise the babies. She didn’t want to work. She did the laundry, the cooking, gave a mean shoulder massage. When the kids started school, and she was at home all day, she grew restless, but still didn’t want to work. Even part time. I’d come home at night, and she’d be frustrated and unhappy and would start yelling at me. I was offered a job in Tennessee, but she put up such a fuss, I kept my job here.”
Sarah lifted her legs, and just smiled at him as he looked at her with a puzzled expression. “No, no.” she said. “Keep going; I’m just changing position.” Then she turned so that she could sit in Robert’s lap, sliding an arm around his back, the other hand holding his in her lap.
Robert smiled down at Sarah, kissed the top of her head and continued. With a deep sigh, he said “it got so I didn’t like going home, so I’d stop on my way and have a beer, or two, with friends. I came home one night, and she was really in a tear. Apparently, she’d worn a new dress, and I hadn’t noticed. Next thing I know, she’s pregnant again. When she hit about 11 weeks, she had a miscarriage, and our marriage just deteriorated even further. We wound up divorcing a year later. “
Sarah absorbed the telling, listening to his voice. She could hear the sorrow for a marriage gone wrong, hear the wistfulness of should-haves, could hear the hope that he hadn’t scared her away. Looking up at him, she smiled, saying she understood, and moved her hand from his back up to his neck and the back of his head. She pulled him in for a kiss. She smiled into the kiss as his hands came up to stroke her back, and squeeze a shoulder.
“The kids tell me she finally met someone, got married, and is happy.” He played with Sarah’s hair, wiggling his finger through the silky strands. “I guess what I’m telling you is that I’m not perfect. No, wait,” he said as she’d opened her mouth to speak, “no one is perfect. Some of us may be perfect for each other, but you know what I mean. I’m saying that I’ve learned from my mistakes, but I’m also sure I’ll make others.”
“Robert?” she said.
“Yes?” he replied with a grin.
“Having worked with you and admiring, from afar, your attitude and demeanor, and now dating you,” she then softened her voice a bit, “I think you’re perfect for me.”
“So, you think role reversal wouldn’t be such a bad thing, maybe?” he questioned.
“What do you mean?” she asked. She really was confused as to what he might be getting at.
“Well, if we get together, I would never dream of asking you to quit your job. Unless, of course you wanted to. But if this thing between us gets deeper, would you have a problem being the one driving to and from work? You wouldn’t need to stop on the way home to have a drink with friends?”
Laughing slightly, Sarah said “No. You know I rarely drink,” she giggled. “Most of my friends live in different areas than I do, and have kids younger than my son. Honestly? I have more friends online than anywhere else.”
They continued talking for quite some time, and as it had gotten very late, Robert invited Sarah to stay the night. She willing agreed. Thinking to herself, hmmmm living on a ranch. I wonder how many dogs I can have?