Sunday 1 Sep 2019

After hanging out with the family and doing a river run. Bobbie and Townes were tired in the evening. He brought over some take out and they had a quiet meal on the deck. Townes decided to stay with Bobbie and they went to bed and straight to sleep.

In the morning, Bobbie got up to feed the cat and put on coffee. She decided to make some muffins and they were just going in the oven when Townes appeared. He had his boxers and a tee-shirt. She suspected that’s how he slept all the time. “You sure are a sight for sore eyes, what do you do to keep so fit?

He smiled and pretended to flex his arm. “I Have a trainer I see about twice a week to keep it tight.” What do you do?

“I run a couple times a week; do some yoga too. I like to hike and work in the garden. I’ll probably help Johnny carry lumber around for his house this week but if I feel too bored, I have a punch card for a gym where I’ll do a couple circuits.” She pretended to flex her arm. “I don’t have to work at it too hard.”

He moved over to her and casually pulled her apron off. He crouched down and put her over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. “I know something else that’s good exercise.” And he carried her towards the bedroom.

“The muffins have to come out of the oven in 18 minutes.”

He dropped her on the bed. “That’s plenty of time.”

The oven timer dinged and he locked his legs around her and wouldn’t let her go. “Nooo, you have to stay here with me!” He started to tickle her and she had to struggle to get away. She was still giggling and felt exasperated as she pulled the muffins out of the oven. He really does make me feel like a teenager, she thought.

Townes came out of the bedroom. “I hope you don’t mind my teasing. The muffins do smell good.”

Bobbie grinned. “Well, you’re not getting any.”

Townes sniffed and looked down his nose. “They’re probably no good anyway.”

“Are you kidding? I make the best blueberry bran muffins.”

“Can we eat them in bed?”

“You bet. I know it’s brunch in the restaurant today but I have half a mind to try out my new do not disturb signs and stay in bed all day. She went over to a drawer. “This one is a magnet. It goes on the elevator door downstairs. This one hangs on the door at the top of those stairs and this one hangs on the back door by the kitchen. She placed the signs and locked the doors. She went in the living room and got her Zune and found the split headphone jack. Townes poured coffee and put a couple muffins on a plate.

“Were staying in bed all day?”

Bobbie nodded.

They ate the muffins and coffee and talked and laughed. She got him to put on headphones and she played him her favourite music, pausing to say when she learned a certain song or if her and Johnny sang a song. She played a few more, telling him about her family and their get togethers and how they played these songs. She told him how she got her nickname as a kid and she played him Me and Bobbie McGee.

Townes told her stories about his own childhood. How he never knew his father and how his mother and grandfather were so close after his grandma died. His mom ran the business from the shadows and when his grandpa died, Townes became the face of the company and he felt he couldn’t do what he wanted with his mother pulling all the strings. He eventually convinced her that she should just take over and he stepped back. He did still sit on the Fox Oil board of directors because his mom and Katherine Fox were not friendly.

They asked each other questions. “How many boyfriends have you had?”

“Including you? I had a childhood friend and we called ourselves boyfriend and girlfriend, then I met Alex and then Brose and that’s everyone.”

“I’ve had more. I went out with a girl named Melanie who was the daughter of a friend of the family. We were young adults and we were together and in the public eye for 15 years. Eventually we realized our relationship was just another thing our mothers controlled and neither of us wanted that. I rebounded with a string of younger women, some actresses and some that were just socialites that were after me for money or notoriety. Some were good people under it all but I just never connected with anyone.

Bobbie grabbed her guitar. “That reminds me of a Song; Turn out the lights”

Townes listened carefully and when she finished, sat up and took her guitar, placed it beside the bed. He turned out the light and reached for her.

They snuggled and napped and only got out of bed long enough to feed Fossie and finish the Left over take out in the fridge.

Monday Sep 2

Early the next morning, Fossie was meowing and picking up the door and both Townes and Bobbie woke up and looked at each other. “I should go feed Fossie and I have a meeting with Frank, my financial guy, at 10.”

“Ahh, you still have to work for a living.”

“Naa, I’m retired.”

“What was your real job again?”

“I was manager of the IT department for a government office.”

“You said you did that for over 30 years. Don’t you just want to take a bit of a vacation now?”

“That’s why I have a lot of good people that can run the place without me if need be.”

“For the last 30 years you’ve had a career and built a family. I’ve been pretending to run a big company, pretending to have meaningful relationships and funding a few special projects and charities to make me feel accomplished. The last little while I’ve felt empty and panicky because it’s too late for me. Things changed when Trixie came on the scene. Nobody took her seriously at first but she’s like a tidal wave. She manages to make you feel like it’s a really good idea to do things her way.”

Bobbie laughed. “Imagine growing up with her.”

“You and Johnny and even Trixie, with your big projects, have inspired me to have a big project. I have a little business to see to and I’ll be back soon. I have an idea and I want to take you somewhere.”

“I have to be back at 10 to see Frank.”

“Frank’s coming with us.” He hugged Bobbie, grabbed his coffee and left.

Bobbie was curious so she tidied up and went to shower and get cleaned up. She took down her do not disturb sign and grabbed her portfolio. She heard someone at the door and saw Frank.

“Hi Bobbie, I was talking to Townes Carson and he’s decided I’m to join his financial team and asked to meet him here.”

“There was a knock at her back door and Townes came in. “Good you’re both ready. I was noticing at how much this area is growing and was talking to the land acquisition and construction arm of my company and I just acquired a piece of land behind the Oceanbright housing development. I’m getting a crew together to start some site planning for a new commercial/residential building. I thought we could drive out and take a look at the land.”

“I’ve got a lot to do to get up to speed on this Townes. Maybe I could meet with you and then Bobbie. Mostly I have some forms for you to sign Bobbie and you guys could go see your land after.”

“I have to check on everyone anyway. I was conspicuously absent from Sunday brunch yesterday. Maybe I’ll get a picnic lunch ready. Later this afternoon we should go see what Johnny’s up to.”

Frank and Townes went over to Franks office and Bobbie headed into the restaurant.

“Good morning Mark, how did brunch go yesterday? I’m sorry I left you high and dry.”

“No problem Bobbie, we had a good idea of everything involved from last week and I just tweaked the buffet a little and we were able to serve more customers. Effie said you weren’t feeling so good so I understand.”

“Oh Mark, I can’t lie to you. I was just lazy and Townes and I just had a quiet day to connect and get to know each other.

“I thought that Townes guy was interested in you. He’s big deal all over social media; I was surprised to see him around here. But to be honest, the way you are with all that, I’m just learning to roll with it. I talked with Townes and I think he’s a genuinely nice guy.”

“I think he’s nice too. So, I was wondering if I could get a couple of sandwiches to go.”

So explained that she and Townes were going to have a picnic and Mark personally packed two boxed lunches. Bobbie grabbed the lunches and went over to the Gallery.

Lacey was there and rushed right over as Bobbie came in the door. “Is it true that you are dating Townes Carson and he might be moving to our little town?”

“Yes, and maybe. Trixie introduced us and Townes is planning to invest in a condo and I haven’t asked him but he’ll probably keep a condo for himself.”

Townes appeared at the top of the stairs. “Frank’s ready for you Bobbie.” He met her down at the foot of the stairs and gave her a kiss. “I’ll change and bring the car around and wait for you.”

Bobbie blushed because she knew Lacey was watching and she ran up to Frank’s office. “Hi Frank do I have some stuff to sign?”

“Yes, you do and we’d better hurry because that man of yours, I’m guessing, is anxious to get his plan in motion.”

Bobbie finished up with Frank, grabbed her picnic stuff and went to meet Townes. “Hi, I brought a picnic and we can eat it on your new land.”

They drove up the highway and through a little dirt drive can came out an opening. They got out and Bobby saw the new Oceanbright housing development below them and they were high enough that they overlooked the ocean beyond. Behind the were some flat areas and the mountains behind and to the West. “This is a nice spot for a picnic and a good spot for a tall condo development.”

“We always called this star gazer green and it always had lots of wild blueberries. She looked at the ground. “see, there are the wild bushes. They are mostly done producing.” She picked a few late berries and gave them to Townes. He popped them in his mouth.

“Yum, I am getting hungry.” Bobbie put a blanket down and got the picnic ready as he talked. “So, I want to build condominiums here. I was thinking two 8 storey ones, kind of kitty cornered so many of the apartments will have a sea view. Then we’ll have a courtyard and commercial development in the ground floor. We like underground parking for residents but we’ll have a parking lot for guests. I want to have one of the penthouse apartments because I want to have a lady caller over once in a while and she likes roof decks and nice views.”

They were sitting on the blanket eating sandwiches. “That sounds amazing Townes. Say, who did you buy the land from?”

Townes checked his phone. “The land was owned by a coal company and the contact’s name was Peabody.

“That guy is a real bully, he wanted to re-open the dormant coal mine on motel land. It would have ruined everything.” She told him the story of how she and Trixie fooled him but how there was a real conspiracy claiming it was the Chinese government buying the mine and the motel.

“Coal mining should be dead. Maybe I should get my people to look at a hostile take over of Peabody mining and close down all the mines.”

“Aww Townes, you’d do that for me?”