Getting Acquainted

It’s Tuesday and Gracie has signed up to volunteer with building a house. She is interested in woodworking so maybe this can help her with acquiring skills and learning how to handle the different types of saw machines. Upon arrival, Gracie sees Paxton. The house has already been framed with the siding and roof put on. They are inside working on the interior. Gracie and Paxton work closely together on a task, laying tile together. The two on their knees on the floor. Paxton hands her a tile as she looks into his soulful brown eyes, he peers into her sparkling green eyes and takes a step towards her. He leans closer to her face ready to kiss her but one of the other volunteers walked in. They resume tiling the floor in the room. Soon it is lunch time, someone has brought sandwiches and drinks. The volunteers take a break to eat and mingle. Following lunch, since the tile was done, Gracie is paired with a group performing a different task. She mingles with the other volunteers while they work on the house. Paxton ends up outside working in the yard while interacting with the volunteers. Someone injures themselves and is rushed off in an ambulance. Once the shift is over Paxton approaches Gracie as she walks to her jeep. She happily greets him and smiles.

“Did you have fun?” She asks him.

“Yes ma’am, I sure did, and you?” Paxton says with a smile that reaches his eyes.

“Yes, I had a wonderful experience.” Gracie has her sunglasses on and Paxton with his, their eyes are hidden, but both smiling at each other. 

“Do you want to go eat?” Paxton asks.

“Yes, sure”

“Do you want to leave your car at home?” the man inquires.

“Yes, I should probably give Gunner a break as well.” Gracie says with confidence.

“Do you want to bring Gunner over to my place, he can play with Delilah, I think she is ready for him. I can make us dinner.” Questions Paxton.

“Ok sounds great!” the last exclaims!

“I’ll text you, my address.” Paxton says affirmatively.

“Great, I will see you in a little while,” They hug good bye.

About an hour later, Gracie pulls up to Paxton’s, it’s only ten minutes away from her. He lives in a nice well-kept neighborhood, homes are spaced apart, and his home looks fairly new. His house has white stone, beige stucco along with white board and batten siding with a front porch. It is not as big as others, just a single story perhaps twelve hundred to sixteen hundred square feet. His yard is nicely landscaped with green grass, trees, bushes, and some flowers. He is in real estate, so he probably had it arranged with good curb appeal. Gracie and Gunner hop out, then knock on his front door. Paxton greets them happily.

“Howdy Gracie, glad to see you made it. Delilah is in her room.” He lets them in and gives Gracie a hug. He walks them over to Delilah’s room to let Gunner in. The door to Delilah’s room is a barn style, with a top and bottom door. The bottom door is closed so the dogs are contained. Paxton has made enchiladas. They sit at the table and eat. His table is farmhouse style. His kitchen cabinet a dark brown with green granite counter tops. The inside walls look like a log cabin. In the living room is a dark leather brown sectional with a large blue chest, with glass top for a coffee table. He has a deer head on a wall, and a plastic fish that sings and moves it’s head. His house décor has warm tones to it. He enjoys fishing and hunting, it shows.  Afterwards they watch a movie on the couch, sitting next to each other. Then Delilah whines. The pair hurriedly race over to the dogs to find they tied. The dogs are mating, so the owners decide to give them space. Back to the movie on the couch. Paxton offers to make popcorn, offers Gracie some red vine candy, and a drink. She accepts.

“Should I leave Gunner with you for a few days, do you have space to put him separately and time to let them mate? Or should I bring him every other day for a few days? It is best to let them mate a few times just to ensure it takes.”

“You can bring him every other evening for a few days, it will give you an excuse to see me as well.” 

Gracie gets up to help Paxton in the kitchen with the popcorn when suddenly he wraps his arms around her waist and looks adoringly into her eyes, then kisses her lips. He pecks her mouth, she returns it, then he kisses her more deeply, massages her tongue with his. He detaches his lips from hers, and looks at her beautiful face, Gracie’s eyes are still closed, her lips spread into a bashful smile, her face blushes, and he steps back smiling. The microwave dings for the popcorn. Paxton pulls the bag out and places it on the green countertop to cool, then grabs a bowl from the cabinet to put the popcorn in. Once it is cooled, he pours the popcorn into the bowl. Afterwards he grabs the red vine candy from the pantry, then asks Gracie what she wants to drink.

“What do you have? Do you have vodka? Sprite, I will assume you do not have cranberry juice. I would like Vodka if you have some.” Gracie questions.

“I have vodka and sprite, no cranberry juice. I’ll remember that for next time.”

“Ok sounds good.”  

Paxton makes Gracie’s drink, then makes a jack and coke for himself. He places everything on a tray then walks back into the living room, with Gracie happily following behind. The tray is set on the glass top of the coffee table. Paxton and Gracie sit back down on the couch, recline their seats and resume the movie. Now they cannot reach the drinks and snacks.

“Ok, that will not work,” Paxton sits back up and grabs the Gracie’s drink, “there is a cup holder to your right.”  Gracie pulls the cup holder down and sets her drink in it. Paxton places his glass to his left, leaving room to sit beside Gracie. Paxton brings the popcorn to his lap and hands Gracie the red vine candy. The two watch the movie, while sipping their drinks and enjoying their snacks. Gracie falls asleep. Paxton notices and decides to fall asleep himself, next to her.

The next morning Gracie awakens, realizing where she was. She looks around and does not see Paxton. The woman gets up and checks on the dogs. Paxton’s bedroom door is open, carefully stepping in, Gracie hears the shower running and quickly exits his room before he comes out. She walks into the guest bathroom. Fortunately, she has a toothbrush in her purse so she can cleanse her teeth at the very least. She decides to wait for Paxton before she leaves. Gracie goes into the dog room to see the dogs happily resting. She pets Delilah and talks to her before taking Gunner out. Paxton is dressed standing in the kitchen, making eggs when she walks out. He smiles at her.

“Are you hungry,” Paxton playfully interacts with Gunner as they approach him. “You must have been tired! I was too. I have to leave for work shortly but there is time for us to eat real quick.”

“Ok, I’ll have some eggs,” Gracie says smiling. She sits down at the table to wait.

“So, what do you have planned for the day?”

“I am not sure yet.” Gracie sweetly replies.

“Ok. Hey did you decide on any of those properties, I showed you?”

“You know what, thank you for reminding me. I forgot about that.” Gracie responds with a giggle.

Soon after eating they head out the door. Paxton opens Gracie’s jeep door to let Gunner in the backseat. Next, opens her door, as he wraps his arms around her and kisses her gently.

“I could get used to this. But I need to head out.”

Gracie is cruising down the road in her jeep, her long golden brown hair flows in the wind, Gunner has his tongue sticking out. Then, two cars ahead of her crash into one another, one spins towards Gracie. She looks behind her and cannot back up. Her heart is beating faster, then she closes her eyes. The car screeches to a stop a few feet away.  The nerve wracked woman feels thankful the car came to a stop. She takes a few minutes to calm her nerves and reduce the stress she just experienced. Gracie, focuses on breathing, holding one hand over her chest, and one on her stomach. Just concentrating, on breathing, the expansion of her ribs, lungs, the rise of her chest. It has calmed her nerves, stilled chaos, and brought inner peace back. Birds chirp nearby. The road is now blocked. Gracie, still in yesterday’s clothes, thinks about showering and changing her outfit. The driver in the car moves their car out of the way, and Gracie drives past, while the other car is in the other lane. The woman happily arrives home to her cabin and freshens up right away. She is thinking of what she should do for the day. Gracie reviews lots for sale and finds one she can buy online. The woman prepares to look at it in person, she decides it will do. Before buying; the woman researches the covenants, and zoning laws pertaining to the property. She decides the property will suffice for visiting in her camper van. She buys it online and it will take a few weeks before she can stay on it.

“Ok, Gunner we found some land.” There are miles of hills, a rather scenic view to and from the neighborhood from town. There are glimpses of the lake. How pleasant. She thought about taking Gunner to the lake in Boerne. Gracie packs her kayak and other things for the lake.