Finding Love again (closed)

[babygurll1968]

The cloud of dust kicked up behind the beat up car as it pulled up to the gas pumps. The old station still held the diner and small store from the days of earlier times in the small community of Marrowhead. Eyes peered from the inside of the building as the door opened and the small female form emerged. Eyes that squinted,some went wide as familiarity dawned. The female moved from the car,her hands going to the small of her back. Arching her back as if to relieve tension.

Looking at the young woman one would think her a mere teenager,yet that was far from the truth. Her beep brown eyes moved over the town she had grown up in,a place where she had found her first love. A town she had fled from as a teenager when she became antsy. Her deeper brown hair blow across her face and one hand reached up to tuck it behind her ear as she looked around. Standing only around 5 foot tall,her body still lithe from all the running she did. Except one thing was noticibly different. She was pregnant,very pregnant.

Tracy Summers stood there,almost 6 months pregnant and never more unsure about anything. Her eyes filled with tears that she quickly wiped away as she let memories fill her thoughts. Her she was almost 30 years old and widowed. A child on the way she was determined to grow up healthy and happy. Her hand rested protectively over the growing mound,a swift kick under her palm brought a small to her face. "Easy Champ...not the time or place to mak Momma miserable."She whispered to the babe as she looked at the door.

Her stomach picked that moment to growl and she moved forward letting out a deep breath to calm her nerves. Most people probably wouldnt remember her anyhow,so she opened the door and walked inside. She tried not to let the curious eyes bother her as she sat down. her hand shook slightly as she lifted the menu,jumping when a young female voice startled her.

"What can I get ya?'came the teenaged voice of the girl standing beside the table. Tracy felt like an idiot and ordered a coke and burger,letting her eyes move arounbd the room and meet with several that were still staring." ok now,ya all have seen visitors before. Im sure ya all have seen pregnant ones too."Came the older voice from behind the counter,the voice belonging to a woman who seemed ancient to Tracy. Yet someone she remembered from her childhood.

Anna Miller moved form behind the counter and over to wrap her arms around Tracy's neck before straightening back up. "Child,You are a sight for these old eyes. What's it been? 10 years since ya up and left."Anna asked her wiping her hands on her apron before sliding into the booth across from Tracy without thought.

Tracy felt the heat rise into her cheeks and nodded. "Almost 12."She said softly as she smiled at the woman she had known growing up. "I'm sorry I never came back. Things just didn't work out the way I planned them."She said suddenly wanting to open up to the woman across form her. "I needed to come back after everything...go back to the old place for awhile.'She said thinking of the house and land that was now hers.

Anna nodded patting her hand as she could tell there was more to it than Tracy was saying,but she was a patient woman. She slid form the counter as the phone rang and went to answer it. Tracy sipped her drink as she let her thoughts change once more. The night it all had came crashign down.

She knew her husband was a cheater,but yet her pride stopped her form leaving him. That rainy night changed it all for her on its own. The car had skidded and hit a semi head on. She was 2 months pregnant then. The police had come and told her there was an accident. She went to the hospital but neither her husband or the other woman could be saved. She became a widow before she could tell her husband he was going to be a father. During the funeral her husband's family shunned her. Telling her that he should have married the other woman.

They had always treated her like a country girl,looking down on her background. Sometimes she thought he married her just to piss them off. After the funeral she went home alone,noone to console her. No friends. She decided then she was going home. So now here she was,enough money for awhile from her husbands estate,but after the baby she would have to find something to do. She sat there,soon the locals had decided the new girl wasnt worth the bother. Some still cast their better than thou look her way and then to her belly.

Tracy slid as best as she could from the booth,walked to the counter and paid her bill. Anna smiled softly before touching her hand. "Tracy,please come see me soon. Being alone is not good."Anna spoke softly to Tracy before turning and yelling through a window into the back at someone. Tracy smiled at the sound,almost laughing how one can go from soft and gentle to yelling at the top of their lungs in the same breath.

Tracy nodded and walked out of the station,her eyes squinting in the afternoon sun. She looked aorund the town noting not much had changed as she slid back into the car. She started it up and drove slowly down the street towards the only real home she had known. The house sat on about 10 acres,a small farmhouse setting. A small barn for the animals she would like to get once more,a pond,and the house itself.

Small,quaint,very private. the enarest house belonging to her first love was more than a mile down the one lane road. She tried not think of him,what he was oing now,as she pulled into the drive. She sat there for several long minutes before the pressure on her bladder made her leave the car.

 

[kagetora13]

The Maan farm had become a very different place since his return. The past couple of years gave him the opportunity to upgrade and modernize most of the farmstead. He had sold most of the livestock in favour of an organic and multi-level greenhouse solution. Being able to use thermal heating and solar power also helped keep costs down. He was determined to make it his own and did much of the work in the house including re-working the kitchen which would impress even the most staunch epicurious fanatic. It was a bonus that he was able to present to many of the business who bought his produce.

Admittedly, when he left Marrowhead nine years ago he never thought he would be coming back. The outside world to him was mysterious, enticing and so vivid that it was like living in an adventure book. He met a special heart who shared his enthusiasm for exploration and supported his love of writing and photography. At the time he often felt he was where he needed to be and had everything he ever needed. But as the years went on and his needs to start a family surfaced and it seemed to change their dynamic. It became increasing awkward trying to discuss their future together and his needs. Trying to not want became his un-doing and 7 years later he returned to the one place he knew and trusted.

The day was turning out to be one of the best days of the month. No matter how hard hard Chris worked he could not help but be energized by his surroundings. The rains the past two months had turned the area surrounding his orchard from a wispy brown to a living and lush green landscape. As the days had passed he even started seeing the pairs of Canadian Geese return to area. A couple had made his pond their home away from home (he was grateful for the company of the familiar neighbours). There was simply a serenity at the “Mann” farm that he could not feel else where.

Chris just finished getting the guest bedroom ready and was feeling increasingly nostalgic. He had just gotten back in touch with Tracy a month ago and it was like being a teens again with the sharing of memories and laughter. She had a bright joyful soul which always complimented his sensitive side. There was nothing they could not share with one another, that was the strength in their relationship. He opened the doors to the adjoining veranda and he felt the moist air full of lilac wash in. Looking around pleased he could share all this with her.

His thought were interrupted by a sound of a car coming down the side road. He knew it must be her since hardly anyone came out here at this time. He made his way downstairs and outside to meet his guest. Coming around the corner he could see her sitting in her car. His face filled with a smile as he approached. Opening her door and extending his hand he helped her out. He gave her a hug and just grinned seeing her natural glow. She had truly become a beautiful Mother which warmed his heart. “Wow Tracy, welcome to Mann Estates. I'm so glad you both could make it”.

 

[babygurll1968]

Tracy was stunned by how much the place had been changed,but for the better. Her hands grew a bit tighter around the steering wheel as she tried to get the courage up to get out. Chris made the descision for her when he opened her door and helped her out. She blushed waiting for him to look at her or say something about her bulging belly.

She stood next to him and looked at the house..it was beautiful. Much more so than when she had been younger. She looked up at him and smiled,placing her hand over her belly as her son chose that moment to remind her of her bladder. "Chris...it is beautiful. You have done it wonders."She said realizing one of her hands was still in his. She slowly pulled it free and moved towards the porch,her steps easy and safe as she climbed the few steps.

The interior of the house was warm and welcoming,almost making her cry. Wiping her eyes she silently blamed it all on her hormones. She touched the old afghan across the couch and smiled. Recalling all the times they had snuggled under it as they watch old movies. His folks had never once asked if they were a couple,they just let things go with the tide. Eventually Tracy had grown edgy,needing a change. She had left right after graduation,the fight Chris and she had still fresh as if it had happened yesterday.

"Damnit,Chris. I have to get out of here. I thought you loved me?"She recalled saying as she stood in the center of the room. " This place is smothering me...there is no place to go from here."She had said,feeling them dig deep into her soul even now as she recalled the look on his face.

She had not meant it to sound that way,but it had ad she knew she had hurt him deeply. She had left after that,not looking back. Now all these years later there was no place she would rather be but home. She had told Chris she would stay a couple days with him while she got her own house aired out and back in shape. She turned and smiled at him,her hand still touching the afghan.

"I am really glad to be home. I know along time ago I couldnt wait to get away from here."She said as she moved around the room,touching things. "I was such a stupid little girl then. Not knowing what I was getting into. I fell for the first man to show me any attetntion,then I found out how he truly was."She said softly as she told him a bit about her past.

Her head lifted to look at him,she felt her heart leap as he still looked the same as almost 10 years ago. Maybe more handsome,but he seemed different too. She started to say something then stopped as she couldnt wait any longer before moving quickly down the hall,hoping the bathroom was still where she recalled.

 

[kagetora13]

He stood in the foyer watched her surveyed his handy work. Gone was the traditional wallpaper now replaced with creamy inviting tones which reflected the many colours of light which shown into the house. The texture walls leading to the kitchen also added dimensions and shapes which gave an organic feel. Much of what the house had become was because of his Mother. She had often dreamed about modernizing the home and spent many an evening sharing ideas with him through the books and magazines she picked up in town. In fact he could thank her for not only nurturing his creative skills but also help him grow his natural skills in engineering. In many ways this house was a tribute to her.

Chris could not helped but be touched watching her connect to their past. Seeing her tears made him realize that there was a lot going on behind those eyes. In school she was known for her bubbly personality. You would not be surprised to see her in the cafeteria singing a song with a friend or playfully chasing a classmates. She made him smile with her antics but when they ended up in a writing class together a new truth was revealed. Her insight and observations about the world and others often mesmerized him. She felt poetic to him which made him fall for her even harder.

Going to the kitchen he started to get things ready for some afternoon tea. He wanted to make the rest of the day restful for Tracy (at least this was one thing he knew she needed). He setup some pastries in the family room and moved the reading chairs so they could sit side by side while watching the activity in the distance by the pond. The water started boiling when Tracy made her appearance. “So my dear, I think it is time you get off those feet for a little pampering ... dare I guess what my girl would like” (grinning thinking about how much she liked chocolate).