"Gretchen!!" Debi shouted, scaring the hell out of the two older Oriental women in front of her, as she finally made her way off the train.
"Debi!!" I screamed back, startling the hell out of Blake.
The Debi was my "bestie." She and I had been friends our entire lives, first meeting when my family moved next door to hers when I we were four.
From the moment we met, we'd been inseparable. Sharing all of the trials and tribulations of growing up, the good and the bad, even all of our birthday parties, as we were born 2 days apart, were spent together.
She had spent a rather hellish year wrapped up in a nasty divorce from her loser husband.
The day prior, I'd called and given her an invite to spend a week hanging out with Blake and me at out farm.
From twenty five feet and without my glasses, I could see the stress of her divorce had taken a toll on her. She looked worn out.
Excitedly running towards her, I almost bowled over the Oriental women, but once past them, it was all hugs and kisses.
"I was so excited to get here after you called," she giggled. "I took the first train out; I didn't even bother to tell my office I would be gone for a week."
"I've missed you so much," I gushed as we hugged. "I wish you didn't have to leave in a week. I want you here forever."
I have a very embarrassing emotional and mushy streak.
Once her bags were collected, we headed back to our farm.
I use the term farm rather loosely. At one time it was a farm, Blake inherited it from a relative he didn't know he had, but our small vegetable garden is the only concession we've made to our homes past history. The rest of the 30 acres was our private hideaway.
There was one stop we had to make. A winery owned by Tommy, one of Blake's closest friends, to pick up a few bottles... After all farm living is a thirsty living.
After a half hour of tasting and listening to Tommy's pathetic attempts at humor, we were back in the car, headed home.
After giving her a quick tour and a wardrobe change, the two of us headed out to the back deck.
I was in my semi normal hang around the house clothes, a boy-beater tank top and a baggy pair of soccer shorts.
Debi was on the same page as I was, coming out in a tank top and shorts too.
Sitting down, we saw that Blake, who had hidden himself away in his workshop, had chilled the wine and laid out some fruit and cheese.
With our bare feet up on the deck table, we drank wine, ate cheese and brought each other up to speed on our lives. I listened when she started talking about her divorce. The more she talked, the more emotional she was starting to get. Eager to change the subject, I asked her if she was seeing anyone.
"Nope," she replied shaking her head. "I halfway had a fantasy of hooking up with someone while I was staying here."
"Sorry babe," I told her. "Pickings are a little slim around here."
"What about Tommy, is he single?"
It seemed appropriate that, when speaking of fantasies, Tommy's name would come up. Not because he was fantasy material, more because the man was delusional. The entire time we tasted, he kept flirting with Debi. Somehow, he got onto a kick about how the two of us could be sisters.
I couldn't help myself, but I called him on that one.
"Yeah, we look exactly alike," I taunted, with a smile. "Of course you have to factor in that she's 5'-10" and I am only 5'6". She has curly brown hair, mine is blonde. She has big boobs. Mine are, well, not as big. Her eyes are blue and mine are brown. But yeah Tommy, other than that, we could be twins."
Thankfully, Tommy saw the humor.
"Yes, Tommy is single," I answered her. "But the guy is really a pig."
"Oh how bad could he be?"
"He refers to dating as 'Fishing for Furry Flounder'."
"I see your point... But it's been a year and a half, if this goes on much longer, I may have to borrow Blake," she joked.
"I might let you," I joked back. "But I get to watch."
An immediate wave of "Where the hell did that come from?" washed over me.
Our eyes met for a split second of awkward.
"You guys ready for another bottle?" Blake asked as he stepped out on the deck, breaking the silence. "Everything alright?"
"Couldn't be righter," Debi answered with a smile.