Mike watched as the sun rose over the trees and the sunlight began to bring his yard to life. He held his mug of steaming coffee in both hands, slowly sipping the liquid. 'Life is good' he thought to himself.
Mike turned his head as he heard his wife step onto the patio. "Mike, over there" she said softly and pointing to the far side of the yard.
They watched as a doe and her fawn took tentative steps into the yard, emerging from the woods that bordered their property. It was one of the features that attracted them to the place initially. Their yard was surrounded by trees giving them a significant amount of privacy.
Melody put her arms on her husband's shoulder and kissed him on the head. Mike looked up and smiled.
"You okay, hon? You were up early." Melody woke to find the bed next to her empty. They usually woke around the same time.
Mike watched as she took a seat beside him, "I am Mel." He looked back out on the yard, "I was just thinking about life, things."
"Okay" still not sure if he was truly okay.
"I was thinking that we don't get to be together as much as either of would like."
"True. I do wish we had more time together."
Turning to look at her directly, "I was thinking that maybe it's time for me to leave the store. We've talked about my starting my own business. I can work from home. I've already put what would be the office together. It's just a matter of deciding to go for it or not."
Nodding her head, recalling prior conversations, "Well, we've talked about this plenty of times. Are you ready?" turning to look at him.
Smiling and looking back at Melody, "I think I am." Mike had an idea for a business that he could run out of the house.
They were both quiet for a while, lost in their own thoughts. There had been a lot of discussion about what it would mean for both of them. They were well enough off that it wouldn't be much of a financial strain to lose his income while the new venture got off the ground. While he would be able to do most of the business on his own, there were a few places where he needed help. He needed to find someone with a legal and accounting background. He hadn't found that person yet.
"I just have to find someone that I can partner with."
Mel had become friends with one of her most loyal, and recently, her most difficult customers. Deanna was not happy in her present job and had the background Mike needed. "I know of someone who might be able to help."
"Who?"
Melody scooted her chair around to be able to look at Mike easier. "You remember my talking about Deanna?"
Mike nodded his head, recalling a number of conversations regarding her.
"Well, as you know she's been coming to the store for, god, since before I started there. It got to a point where I was ready to tell her to take her business elsewhere and well, to make a long story short, we got to talking and we've since become pretty good friends."
"I remember you saying something about this" looking over his coffee mug as he took another sip.
"I originally thought about having her come and spend some time with us, see if we can loosen her up a little."
"I'm not sure what you mean."
"Well, she had a relationship fall apart on her and has had some bad experiences with men in general. Apparently she works with a number of them that won't give her the time of day."
"What's wrong with her?" he asked.
Mel looked at her husband with a scowl "Why do you assume it's her fault?"
Knowing he had said the wrong thing and trying to stay out of the looming dog house, "Hmm, I meant, well, shit. I meant..."
"I know what you meant" not sure she was ready to let him off the hook. "Some of it's her and some of it's not. She had a rough breakup a couple of years ago and, personally, I think started to take it out on the men she works with."
"So men are assholes?" having run in to similar people, both male and female, before.
"Pretty much."
"Hmm, okay."
"But here's the interesting part, she's an accountant for some company and it turns out that she also has a law degree."
"Really? But..." knowing that there was more. If this was Mel's most difficult customer, Mike wasn't sure why Mel would even consider her. "But, she's having difficulty getting along with the men in the office."
Looking out onto the yard, she thought about his comment. "Because I think that, well, I think that we could help her."
"We?" he declared.
Looking at him, "Yes, we. Look," Melody leaned forward, putting her elbows on her knees and looking him straight in the eye, "she has the skills you need. And I think that if she was able to get out of the environment she's in that she might start looking at things a little better."
Nodding his head, he still wasn't sure that this was a good idea. He needed someone with a positive attitude, one that would help him get things done and be good for the customers as well. He wasn't sure that he really wanted to deal with someone who had a lot of baggage.
Melody knew her husband well enough that she knew he wasn't sold. "Besides, she's got killer legs."
Mike raised his eyebrows, "You think good looking pair of legs is going to convince me?"
Knowing that she had him at least thinking about it, "Just meet her."
Taking another sip of his now cold coffee, he looked at his wife, "Okay."
Melody sat back in her chair, happy that she was able to at least get Mike to consider the possibilities. She decided not to elaborate on other ideas that she had that might involve Deanna.
"What do you want to do today?" Melody asked.
"Actually, I was thinking of just staying home today. There are a few things I'd like to get done around the yard. But, it's been a long week, so I thought I'd just take it easy."
"I like that idea." Melody really wanted to know more about his afternoon with his mother and how he was feeling about it. She knew that it was a rather significant step for the both of them and there was a certain amount of fear that it may backfire on them. She looked at Mike who had resumed looking at the yard, "How's your mom? Talk to her lately?"
Mike was silent, his mind turning to the events of that afternoon. As a kid and like most kids when they started understanding the differences between boys and girls, wondered what his mother looked without clothes. He had never imagined that he would not only see her naked, but would make love to her as well.
Melody watched as a smile formed on his face. She remained quiet, letting him to speak when he was ready.
"I talked to her yesterday. She's good."
"And you?"
Turning to look at her, "I'm good too."
