by Corey Colombin
Recap of Chapter 32: Finally together after the holidays, Penny and Matthew have a steamy reunion, followed by lounging lazily and catching up. When the conversation moved into sharing each of their 5-year plans, something big was revealed. Matthew made it clear that his 5-year plan included her, settling down, and planting roots. It was everything she hoped for.
Martin was coming in from a walk around the lake with Barney when he heard the phone ringing. Yeah, he still had a landline. Some old habits are hard to break. He grabbed the receiver on the last ring before it went to voicemail. “Martin here,” he said, trying to shrug off his coat and listen at the same time. “Oh, hi Martin. You are there. I was beginning to wonder.”
“Matthew, is that you? Just hang on a sec.” He put the receiver down and extricated himself from his jacket sleeve, laying it across the top of a kitchen chair. “Okay. I’m back. I just came in from a walk and I needed to get free of my jacket. So… how’s everything in your neck of the woods? Is my girl okay?”
“He thought about Matthew’s phone call and couldn’t help but smile. Poor nervous guy. It was really endearing.”
“Oh, yeah, she’s fine. Everything is just fine here. Actually, I was calling to see if you might have plans to come our way anytime soon.”
“Well, that’s a good question. I haven’t really thought about it. Are you guys planning anything that I should be a part of?”
“Not really. I mean, nothing definite. The truth is, Penny doesn’t even know I’m calling. The thing is… I mean, the reason I called is that I… uh… I kinda wanted to know when you’d be coming this way next so I could set a time to take you out to a nice dinner.”
“Well, that’s mighty nice of you. And, not to state the obvious, Matthew, but we can get a really nice dinner right there at the Lucky Penny. Is it that Penny wants a break from the place or is it a spying mission to check out some competition? We’ve had some fun with that in the past.”
“Oh, no, nothing like that. I mean, it does sound fun. But, you see, Penny wouldn’t be joining us. It would be just the two of us—a guy’s night out. And, you could pick the restaurant—something nice, like a steak house—we have a really good one called Black Hat Cattle Company. Or, you might like Italian, or even something casual like a pub. Like I said, it would be your choice, so wherever you want to go.”
Standing in his kitchen, Martin squinted and stroked his chin. So, the boyfriend wants a private audience with his girlfriend’s dad? He sounds a little nervous, too—speaking fast and filling in every pause in conversation. Plus, all the ‘ums’ and ‘uhs’. That sounds suspiciously like asking for her hand. He could be wrong, but probably not. In fact, he’d wager on it. The last guy—rat bastard—didn’t bother with that quaint formality and look how that turned out. He hurt her too many times to count. Even thinking about that jerk left a bad taste in his mouth. He looked down and realized he’d been clenching his fist and deliberately stretched his fingers.
Forcing his mind to the present, he said into the phone, “What kind of timeframe were you hoping I’d find myself available for this guy’s night out?”
“Oh, I don’t know. That’s why I’m calling. I was just trying to get an idea of when you were planning on being out here next so I could plan, I mean make a reservation or… um, whatever.”
“Well, I shouldn’t really commit without talking to Penny first. I wouldn’t want to impose on her hospitality or come at a time that didn’t work. I usually come out when she needs some help with the restaurant or handling a crisis. You understand.”
“Oh, of course. That makes perfect sense. But, um, can you do me a favor? Can you not tell Penny I called to prompt you to make plans to come out?”
“I can do that.” He agreed, sure that he was right about what he was walking into. “I’ll keep you posted on when she thinks might be a good time. Maybe sometime in late spring or early summer sound good to you?”
“That would be great! Whatever works best for you. And, hey, have a good day!”
When he hung up the phone, he turned to Barney, who was taking a nap at his feet. “Looks like our girl has a suitor, ol’ boy. What do you think about that?” Barney’s tail thumped the floor.
He thought about Matthew’s phone call and couldn’t help but smile. Poor nervous guy. It was really endearing. It’s not like his daughter was fresh out of high school, never having left home. He could have simply made plans with her and informed him when he should slap on a suit and show up. They could have eloped and sent a postcard from Aruba. There were many ways for Matthew to play his hand, but he chose to honor her dad and his role in her life by asking permission. He wanted Martin’s blessing and that soundly tipped the scales in his favor. He seemed like a good guy. He certainly stepped up with that whole 5-year anniversary of a tragedy business. Really, as long as Matthew was good to her, kept her best interests in mind, and didn’t break her heart, he’d be square in Martin’s eyes. Anything short of that and he’d regret it. Martin would make sure he regretted it. He idly wondered if they would have children. It’s a little late for a start, but not impossible. One or two to bounce on his knee would be great!
He knelt down to pet Barney. “Look at me, Barney, jumping way ahead. Maybe we should wait for him to ask and for her to accept before I count grandchildren.” He grabbed his jacket off the chair. “Come on, boy. That wood pile won’t chop or stack itself, will it?”
Penny was sitting at her desk when Matthew called. A smile crept into her voice. “Hey you—what are you up to?”
“Oh, not much,” he said. “I called so you could wish me luck.”
“Oh, yeah? What do you need luck for?”
“I’m putting a bid on a big, 2-plus-year job that starts in the fall. It’s a complete remodel of a lodge in Nederland. It’s another job that includes housing.”
“So, you’d live and work in Nederland? How far is that from here?”
“It’s not too far. About an hour away. A little more. We can both work and take turns visiting each other or spend weekends together.”
“Well, I will wish you luck, but I can’t say I’m looking forward to you being so far away.”
“I’m confident we can make it work. Plus, if I get it, it will be something great to put in my portfolio. These types of jobs can get a lot of press and be featured in magazines.”
“Well, that does sound like it fits into your grand 5-year plan.”
“And… ?”
“And, what?”
“Tisk, tisk, Penny,” he teased. “We discussed this. And what is good for my 5-year plan is good for your 5-year plan.”
“True.” She giggled. “When do you turn in your bid and when do you hear back?”
“Bid goes in today before 5 and I hope to hear back in 2-3 weeks.”
“Okay, I wish you buckets of luck! I mean it. Fingers, crossed. Fingers, toes, eyes… whatever it takes.”
“Better. It’s the start to implementing all my future plans. And hey, Penny?”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
“I love you. Now go kick some bidding butt!” she said and hung up with a smile on her face.
