#578
"Why do you do that?" Gary asked far more calmly than he felt. Tess turned to look at him as she ran the dish water.
"Do what?"
"Call me stupid. I'm not, you know. A person can't do what I do and have done if their stupid. I may not be the smoothest man when it comes to personal relationships, and I am aware that I'm a late bloomer, but I'm not dense or stupid. I'm beginning to resent the hole you and Toby and Milo relegate me into." There it was out. Gary did resent the superiority the three of them acted in thought, word and deed.
"Ahh," Tess floundered her words, " wasn't aware you felt that way."
"Bullshit," Gary called her out. "I don't believe for one minute the three of you weren't very aware of the way you have treated me. You are the only natural born child, Toby and Milo came to this family the same way I did. They had the same problems I did, acted out the same way, pushed the rules as I did. only difference, they were over that brand of foolishness before I came along. I got to glorify myself with my own foolishness all alone. It's been a helluva uphill climb, and I'd like to end the fight."
"Um, yeah, sure. I mean, I guess I didn't realize you felt that way." Tess was almost stuttering in haste and nervousness.
Gary snorted, "yeah, right." he didn't give an inch; it was time for the foolishness and nonsense to end.
"Ok, I'll change." Tess promised. "I guess picking on you has become a habit I wasn't aware I did. Please forgive me."
"One down and two to go," Gary offered his acceptance of her apology.
"She really does like you and would like to think about being serious," Tess added, hoping to change the topic of conversation. It was very uncomfortable and pinched hard, to look back over her mistakes.
"I happen to think a lot of the lady myself," Gary agreed. "I'm going slow because I'm aware my relationship with Janie wasn't a healthy one. I don't want to make the same mistakes."
"Fair enough," Tess conceded. "Did Ma tell you about Ben and Bruce before they left for Denver?"
"No, what about them?"
"Ben committed suicide after you left him in Georgia. Not your fault," she hastened to add. "He had a life that depended on other people fawning over him, and it had come to an end with Ma. He just couldn't take that. He came here wanting to shoot Dad, and then Ma, for supposedly abandoning him so many years ago. Sad, sick and twisted."
"Well hell, I wouldn't have left him if I knew."
"We know that, no one is thinking you wouldn't have been clan strong." Tess soothed. "Now Bruce, he worked up a mad when he got to the clinic and went roaring in and interrupted a burglary, and got shot for his unique brand of carelessness. I don't know if Milo knows about that, or not. I'd like to tell him; if you don't mind. I'll talk to him about his attitude at the same time. We'll get this squared away, as soon as we can." Tess was honest and sincere, and her voice told Gary she was very contrite.
"I'd appreciate that very much. Thank you," Gary finished the last of the silverware and put the plates on the stack. "Where are your little ruffians?"
"Oh my goodness, it has been awful quiet, hasn't it. I don't know where they are." Tess pulled the drain plug and rapidly dried her hands. "Thanks Gary for helping," she called out as she hurried toward the playroom.
Over in Milo's house, Honey was showing Milo the five places that had her attention.
"Which one is your number one choice?" Milo asked, looking at the colorful page of properties.
"This one," Honey pointed to the picture on the right hand page. "It's not right in town, but not far out. The house has almost three acres with good fences, barn, shop, garages and a nice sized house with four bedrooms and three baths. It would be perfect for us."
"Yeah, but look at that price. I don't see how we can swing that much money." Milo looked at the glossy pictures and felt a pang that they would have to let it go by. "Even with the back pay and Marshall's job raise; that's too much."
"There is a way, if you'll hear me out." Honey was calm on the outside, and quivering jelly on the inside. Milo was so stubborn, there was no telling how he would react to her plan to use her money fund.