when you’re not.”
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Bliss
Dear Lane,
You’re coming! I can’t believe you’re coming. Your itinerary looks good, but there are a few things I’d recommend before you leave.
The hotel you chose is amazing, but you can get a place just as nice a little farther uptown closer to some of the things you want to do.
If you want to see one of the afternoon matinees at the RAC or attend a night performance of the opera or ballet, I’d get online at www.RAC.rockland.com and see what’s available now because they’ll sell out just as quickly. I think RAC has a formal dress code so you might want to bring something semi-formal or formal.
I want you to know that my mom will want to invite you guys over for dinner or something, and I don’t want you to feel obligated. So, if you meet her and she invites you, feel free to say you’re busy with something else; I won’t be offended.
I can’t wait to see all of you. But I truly wish Martha and the boys were coming as well. I would love to see them all.
Looking forward to showing you “my pasture,”
Matt
Eight
The stairs seemed extra-long that Thursday night. It’d been two days since Lane and Patience had left Argosy Junction. Tad’s email sent the night before said they’d arrived in Minneapolis safely and were heading southeast from there today. They’d either arrive late tonight, or they’d stop along the way and arrive in the morning.
He wasn’t hungry. Normally famished after work, Matt felt a nervous sickness in his stomach that churned at the idea of food. There was no chance of a quirky little email from Patience or one of Lane’s funny missives that teased him and kept him abreast of the happenings around the ranch. They didn’t have a laptop, and she’d have no way to write.
His mom waved at him with her spatula as he kicked off his boots into the coat closet and stripped his shirt into the waiting laundry basket. “I’ll bring my pants out in a minute, Mom.”
“I got a call from your girls. They said they’d probably be in around ten or so and might call you for directions if they get lost. That little girl is such a chatterbox.”
While his mom rhapsodized over Patience’s conversation, Matt slipped into his room to change his clothes. Mom must be trying to get her work done hoping to have Saturday free for guests. He started to slip on his old, comfortable, threadbare gym shorts, but his mom’s words echoed through his mind. Call for directions. If they did that, he might try to drive and meet them at the rest stop outside the city near Fairbury.
He found the printout of Lane’s itinerary and took it to the kitchen. Carefully, Matt punched the numbers into the phone and waved the paper at his mom as he wandered back to his room as she called out, “Your mail is on your dresser. I made the bed after I washed the sheets, so I had to move it.”
Matt nodded, still concentrating on the ringing phone in his ear. “Hello? Patience? This is Matt. Hi. Hey, listen. Tell Lane that there is a rest stop about midway between Fairbury and Rockland. So have her call me, or you call me when you get to Fairbury. We can meet there, and I’ll just lead you guys into the city, okay? Everyone feeling okay? Having fun? Well, good. I’ll talk to you later.”
In the kitchen, Matt’s mom overheard Matt’s side of the conversation and translated it into motherese. Her son was worried about a young woman and her little sister. Her son wanted to get them safely to their hotel. Her son had friends driving to meet them from almost two thousand miles away. Her son had a girlfriend for the first time in five years or more, and he didn’t seem to know it.
Matt shuffled out of his room and hung up the phone. He snatched a fried onion from the can she sprinkled over her casserole and dodged Carol’s half-hearted kick. “You leave that alone. Dinner’ll be done in
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Bliss
Dear Lane,
You’re coming! I can’t believe you’re coming. Your itinerary looks good, but there are a few things I’d recommend before you leave.
The hotel you chose is amazing, but you can get a place just as nice a little farther uptown closer to some of the things you want to do.
If you want to see one of the afternoon matinees at the RAC or attend a night performance of the opera or ballet, I’d get online at www.RAC.rockland.com and see what’s available now because they’ll sell out just as quickly. I think RAC has a formal dress code so you might want to bring something semi-formal or formal.
I want you to know that my mom will want to invite you guys over for dinner or something, and I don’t want you to feel obligated. So, if you meet her and she invites you, feel free to say you’re busy with something else; I won’t be offended.
I can’t wait to see all of you. But I truly wish Martha and the boys were coming as well. I would love to see them all.
Looking forward to showing you “my pasture,”
Matt
Eight
The stairs seemed extra-long that Thursday night. It’d been two days since Lane and Patience had left Argosy Junction. Tad’s email sent the night before said they’d arrived in Minneapolis safely and were heading southeast from there today. They’d either arrive late tonight, or they’d stop along the way and arrive in the morning.
He wasn’t hungry. Normally famished after work, Matt felt a nervous sickness in his stomach that churned at the idea of food. There was no chance of a quirky little email from Patience or one of Lane’s funny missives that teased him and kept him abreast of the happenings around the ranch. They didn’t have a laptop, and she’d have no way to write.
His mom waved at him with her spatula as he kicked off his boots into the coat closet and stripped his shirt into the waiting laundry basket. “I’ll bring my pants out in a minute, Mom.”
“I got a call from your girls. They said they’d probably be in around ten or so and might call you for directions if they get lost. That little girl is such a chatterbox.”
While his mom rhapsodized over Patience’s conversation, Matt slipped into his room to change his clothes. Mom must be trying to get her work done hoping to have Saturday free for guests. He started to slip on his old, comfortable, threadbare gym shorts, but his mom’s words echoed through his mind. Call for directions. If they did that, he might try to drive and meet them at the rest stop outside the city near Fairbury.
He found the printout of Lane’s itinerary and took it to the kitchen. Carefully, Matt punched the numbers into the phone and waved the paper at his mom as he wandered back to his room as she called out, “Your mail is on your dresser. I made the bed after I washed the sheets, so I had to move it.”
Matt nodded, still concentrating on the ringing phone in his ear. “Hello? Patience? This is Matt. Hi. Hey, listen. Tell Lane that there is a rest stop about midway between Fairbury and Rockland. So have her call me, or you call me when you get to Fairbury. We can meet there, and I’ll just lead you guys into the city, okay? Everyone feeling okay? Having fun? Well, good. I’ll talk to you later.”
In the kitchen, Matt’s mom overheard Matt’s side of the conversation and translated it into motherese. Her son was worried about a young woman and her little sister. Her son wanted to get them safely to their hotel. Her son had friends driving to meet them from almost two thousand miles away. Her son had a girlfriend for the first time in five years or more, and he didn’t seem to know it.
Matt shuffled out of his room and hung up the phone. He snatched a fried onion from the can she sprinkled over her casserole and dodged Carol’s half-hearted kick. “You leave that alone. Dinner’ll be done in
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