Paisley
I’m a mess, as usual. Whenever I have these types of events here at the farm, part of me knows it’s going to be a success but the other part of me is scared to death because all kinds of people are going to be where my home is. And that brings up so many memories in my head.
Trying to calm myself, I think about Ollie and all that happened that night. He’s almost too good to be true, as though he’s a figment of my imagination, because it’s like he came out of one of my romance books; he fits my ‘dream man’ almost exactly. But also, because I know he has demons, though he hasn’t shared, like I’ve not shared my own demons. But besides that, we’ve shared nearly everything else about ourselves up to now. I know he’s from Timber-Ghost, Montana and has a huge family with what did he say, four brothers and three sisters. And that the ranch his family runs is a pretty big operation. I told him that I only have a brother and sister and we aren’t really close but stay in touch here and there. He stayed after our make-out session, and he helped me make around thirteen dozen cookies so fingers crossed that will be enough, along with my berry breads I baked from the other day.
All the volunteers are here, even Joe and Merty. She’s going to be running the little kid sticker table so she can relax and enjoy the day. I told Joe if she gets tired then she can go into the house and lie down. He could come find me and I’ll unlock the house. But since Joe is one of the very few who knows where I hide the extra key, I told him he could use that one also. Both of them know my story in great detail so they understand why I’m so cautious, especially around strangers.
The adoption open house starts at noon, so I’m going around making sure everyone knows their job and how to get ahold of me. When on the farm, I have a cell phone dedicated to just here. That’s the number everyone has, I don’t give out my personal cell, well, except to Joe and Merty. So, when my personal cell goes off, I’m kind of shocked. Unless something is going down at the clinic, but I have one of the new vets handling calls for the weekend. Grabbing it, I look down and feel the smile on my face.
“Hey, where are you? Everything okay?”
Hearing a lot of background noise, I’m wondering where he’s at.
“Pixie, hello, morning. Yeah, everything is fine, we’re loading up and on our way. Just checking in to see if you need or forgot anything and want us to pick it up? Natalie’s screaming shit off, hang on for a second.”
I hear ‘WHAT’ and start to giggle because it was an irritated tone. Waiting, I walk toward the horse pastures and see Taos brushing out the mares, so I just lean against the fence watching and taking a moment to just be.
“Sorry about that, Natalie wants to know if you need any water, sunscreen, paper plates or napkins, first aid kit, or ice.”
As Ollie is listing things off the only two that come to mind are the last two. I have a pretty small first aid kit.
“Ollie, yeah, I could use some ice and another first aid kit or just some extra bandages. That’s it. Thanks for checking, honey.”
I can feel his reaction through the phone, without a word from him, even though I wait. When he has it together again, I hear him scream to Noodles to go back inside and get the black first aid kit in the front closet.
“All right, Pixie, we’ll get some bags of ice, I’m bringing my first aid kit, which should be enough. If you think of anything else just text me, okay? See ya shortly.”
He hangs up before I get a word in—before I can tell him how awesome he is. Just knowing he’s on the way makes my heart beat a little bit faster and it’s a damn good feeling. With these thoughts I go to the small animal house to check how things are going in here. My volunteering brother and sister team are working this one today, Sheila and Kenny. They greet me when I first enter, then we do a quick walkthrough and as always with these two, I’m impressed. They took a section of the dead area in back and have turned it into a kind of private area for someone considering adoption to get to know the animal they’re interested in. What shocked the crap out of me is they did all this in the last two hours. I was here early this morning feeding everyone, and it wasn’t like this then. Both of these kids are in high school, and they both love animals.
We chat for a bit, and I make my way around doing a quick walkthrough to ensure we are ready. During our last adoption open house, we had folks waiting to come in so I want to be ready. When I finally hit the canine/feline building, I quickly enter hoping all is good here, so I can then make my way back to the house and get situated at the front by the adoption runs. As I look around, everything looks awesome. Taking a quick minute, I head back to Ollie’s kitties. Looking through the window I see the kittens playing around while momma watches over them. They all look so good. Even momma is coming along, though on a slower recovery pace.
As I return to my house to get everything on my table at the entrance, I’m excited about today. We’re ready and I pray that many of these animals are able to find their forever homes today too. Not because I don’t want them here but because they deserve to know that feeling of unconditional love between a fur baby and its human momma and daddy.
* * *
I’m sitting at my table, organizing everything, putting the brochures in the wooden stand beside the table that Joe made for exactly this purpose. In front of the table, off to one side, is a huge cooler that is filled with bottles of plain water. We have similar coolers throughout the farm, so water is readily available. My adoption applications are in my folder on the cart beside me. I have giveaways too. Little hand sanitizers with pictures of the current animals here on the farm. Pencils for the kids with little pads of paper with a picture of the farm in the background. And the large bowl at the end is filled with fruit. My baked goods are under the tent right next to me with other items some of the volunteers baked and brought to me this morning. I was so touched because I didn’t ask any one of them to do that because they do so much already for the farm. Hearing horns blowing, I look up to see a literal caravan coming down the drive toward the house. What the hell, there’s like four or so huge SUVs stopping off to the side of the parking area. As the doors start to open, I get it. The military folks have landed.
Knowing it was going to be a hot day, I’m in jean shorts and a greenish thin summer blouse that shows my shoulders, with Chucks on my feet. Right now, my hair is down but a scrunchy is on my wrist. Today isn’t for fashion, it’s for comfort. As I watch Natalie and Charlie walk my way, I see they had the same thoughts. Both are in shorts with a cute top and gym shoes or in Charlie’s case, combat boots. Their hands are filled with Tupperware containers, not sure why. As they get closer, I hear Charlie ask where to put shit for the bakery sale. No way. Oh my God, did they bake too? Feeling slightly overwhelmed, I just stare at them like an idiot.
Natalie takes one look at me then the table next to me and heads there, placing her load on the end and motioning Charlie to do the same as she comes back my way. Once she’s beside me, she pulls me into her arms. I grasp on—feeling I don’t even know what—as I watch guy after guy follow Ollie, and I think, Liam, Natalie’s husband, to us. Before they reach us, Natalie leans over and whispers.
“Honey, this was all Ollie. He organized it all. Asked all the guys to come out here. Begged Charlie and me to bake some stuff and even have Mark and Liam here, which if there ain’t beer somewhere around on the weekend then those two are usually elsewhere. So, you going to share what has that SEAL on Wheels, as you call him, going to these extremes for you means? What happened after we left the other day?”
Before I can utter a word, I see Ollie wheeling toward me, a smirk on his face.
“Pixie, this enough help? If not, I can get a second shift here later, just say the word.”
His eyes are shining and just seeing that makes me happy. Smiling back at him, my heart beating hard, I give it right back.
“No, my SEAL on Wheels, this should do. Let’s get everything organized so we can have the guys out there helping with the animals.”
Hearing laughter, I look around, not sure what is so funny. Both Charlie and Natalie are kind of smiling and laughing too. I don’t get it.
“UM, Pixie, SEAL on Wheels?”
Looking into his face with that damn eyebrow raised, now I get it, and immediately join in with my own laughter.