“I know,” Tony said as he took his seat at the tableand pointed to the others, they settled down, and actually turned down his offer for something to drink.
“We’re not here for long,” Marcia said. “I had to see you. I’ll admit I was pissed at Lloyd when I found out you were here and he hadn’t told me, but when he explained how exhausted you were when you arrived, I said I wouldn’t forgive him until I saw you with my own eyes.”
“Do you forgive him now?”
“Yes, you look good for what you’ve been through. How rough was the trip out?”
“Rough, I ended up getting a rental truck and towing my own truck behind it. I didn’t know what I would need, and I’m glad there is living room furniture here. Shay was a big help in getting me packed up.”
“What happened to yours?”
“Don’t you remember? Mom and Dad sold it and brought that damn hospital bed in. They set up my living room like it was a hospital room.” He shook his head as he remembered what had happened back then.
“How are they?”
“No clue, they all moved out of state while I was recovering from my seventh surgery. In case I didn’t tell you, I’ve had a total of nine since we were rescued off the side of that mountain. When I got a clean bill of health, I had to try to pass my Guard physical,because I failed or had low counts on the rope climbing, I was issued a full medical discharge. As soon as I received that, that’s when I contacted you to see if there was a position here for me. The rest is history.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re here. Are you working with Caleb?”
“I am,” Tony said with a nod, and told both of them about the difference of his stiffness now compared to what he endured back home. What he was doing for work, and how good it made him feel at the end of the day.
Marcia hung on his every word, and was able to see how much truth there was to his words, then she sat up quickly and grinned at him.
“What?”
“Are you dating anyone back home that might be joining you later?”
“Nope, it took all my energy to get better after each operation, I didn’t have time to try and find someone to date. However, since coming here, there is someone I’m interested in.”
“Who? All the women I know are hooked up with someone.”
“Staci.”
“Who’s that?”
“Dr. Hardt,” Lloyd said with a grin. At her confused look, Tony told her why she was there, and then Marcia seemed to remember that she was coming.
“Oh, wow.” She didn’t know what else to say, then laughed. “I guess I’ll have to grill her at the BBQ on Sunday. What are you bringing?”
“Nothing, Erin said that Staci and I didn’t have to since we were the guests of honor.”
“That makes sense, when we had these in the past, the new arrival didn’t have to bring anything until the next one.”
“How often do you have these?”
“Holidays, you know, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Before all the men started to arrive, us women would meet at the main house once a month and only two of us would cook for everyone. That was back when there was only six of us. When the men arrived, we did the same until there wasn’t room anymore, so we would have the get togethers at the big cabins over on Broken. This past summer, when Ryan and Pru got married, Erin was able to convert one of her barns into the meeting place. It worked out well, and there is room for everyone.” She looked at him with a grin. “It helps regulate the weather, you know? No rain to deal with, or the wind and snow.”
“How many people are we talking about?”
“Roughly thirty people. Maybe thirty-five,” Lloyd said. “It depends if all of the employees of Erin’s Way come or just the three guys. If they all come, then it’s closer to fifty.”
“Is there a reason why they might not come?”
“The holidays Marcia named, they are with theirown families, since none of us men have any family except for our girlfriends, we have a get together for everyone at least every few weeks just so we can catch up with everyone.”
“That sounds wonderful, and I can’t wait to meet the women. I met the guys when they came here to help me unload my rental, and earlier today when I helped carry the meat into the community pantry.”
They sat around and talked for another hour before Marcia said she should let him get his rest, and when she hugged him before she left, it was a side hug, and he thought he saw relief in Lloyd’s eyes. The men shook hands, and it wasn’t long before Tony found he felt at ease after seeing his best friend again, and when he fell asleep, his dreams were full of a different woman. One he couldn’t wait to teach to cook again.
