“You sell eggs and honey?” Marissa asked.
“Sure,” my mother said. “Sometimes, I get more from that than I do the pension, depending on how much the chickens produce.”
“Have you thought about starting a business?” Marissa asked. My mother shook her head.
“No, there’s no need,” she said. “I just collect the eggs, sort through them and box them up. Then I collect and can the honey. Then I take it all down to the local store. They sell it and we split the profits. Sometimes they put it toward my groceries. Everybody wins.”
“Sounds so simple,” Marissa said.
“It really is, and it works for us,” my mother said. “I just wish my boys were a bit closer so we could see each other more.”
“I do too, Mom,” I said. “I miss your cooking.” We all laughed at that.
“So when are you two getting married?” my mother asked.
“Shortly after we get back to California,” Marissa said. “Would you like to come out?”
“Of course,” my mother said. “I’ve never been to California.”
“Good,” Marissa said. “I’ll talk to my folks and see what we can arrange. I know they’d love to meet you.” That night as we lay in my old double bed, Marissa looked at me strangely.
“You really like it here, don’t you?” she asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “This is my home. This is where I’d like to retire. My dad used to take me out hunting and fishing in these hills when I was a kid. I know these hills like the back of my hand.” She smiled.
“It is a nice home,” she said. “Simple. Quaint, even. I could probably get used to it in time.” I held her as memories from my childhood flooded my mind. We fell asleep and I woke up early enough to help my mother gather the eggs. I crept downstairs as Marissa slept in my old bed and caught up to my mom in the chicken pen.
“Good morning, sleepyhead,” she said with a smile as I entered the pen. She spoke as I helped her gather the eggs. “So tell me about this girl, Marissa. Do you love her?”
“Yeah,” I said. “She was my physical therapist when I got back from Iraq. She really helped me a lot.”
“Have you told Jenny about her?” she asked.
“No, I haven’t,” I said. “I figured she’d be too busy with her fiance.”
“Is that what this is all about?” my mom asked. “Revenge for Jenny meeting someone?”
“No, mom, it isn’t,” I said. “Besides, it’s not like we were engaged or anything. She made her decision, so I made mine.”
“I see,” she said. “Still, it might be nice to get some closure there. I know she still loves you. Do you still love her?”
“I reckon I’ll love her the rest of my life,” I said. “I loved her from the time we were little kids.” My mother smiled at that.
“I know,” she said. “You two were inseparable growing up. I guess we all just took it for granted that you’d end up married to each other.”
“I guess I did, too,” I said. She nodded her head and went back to collecting her eggs, leaving me to my own thoughts. Is that what drove me to Marissa? I had a lot to consider. But, Marissa was here with me, and Jenny wasn’t.
After we collected the eggs and the honey, Mom made breakfast and ribbed Marissa for sleeping so late. It was nearly 8:00, after all.
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