Chapter 34
“What’s all this shit?” Paul asked several weeks later, scanning all the boxes around the room.
“About the last fifteen years of my life,” Montana called out as she unpacked.
“Jesus, it’s like….boxed hell in here.”
“Look, hon, I know you can be a bit anal retentive about the whole neat and clean thing, but remember, it was your idea for me to move in with you and the girls before the wedding. And before you get cold feet on me, keep in mind I sold the furniture from my place with the exception of a few pieces that were my mother’s.”
“Is this going to take long?” he asked.
“I certainly hope not. The majority is either unpacked or I threw it out before I moved up here. Make yourself useful and hand me a couple of boxes, will you?”
Paul nodded, picking up the first box he spied. “Well, at least it’s boxes you want. I usually get stuck doing that when someone moves, their senile little asses come over to my door, ‘Could you help me move some furniture?’ Then I get stuck doing the whole bedroom/living room/dining room set or some shit like that.”
Montana took the box and smiled. “Well, what can one say? You’re a strong, healthy man.” She gave him a wink.
He snorted. “Then I hate it when they're like ‘Well, this can go to the dumpster.’ I'm like ‘Yeah, YOUR ass can walk it a an eighth of a mile down there.’ What am I, the neighborhood slave? Oquela.”
“No you aren’t a slave. So when are the girls coming from your dad’s?”
“Sometime tonight. Are you sure you aren’t pissed at me for suggesting you quit your job?”
Montana looked at him. “Honestly? At first I kind of resented it, but then I figured if it made you happy–plus I know you want someone at home with the girls on a regular basis–I wasn’t so upset anymore. It was right after that when I gave my notice. It’s going to be odd for awhile not having my own paycheck, but I’ll get used to it. I think a break from that zoo will do me good anyway.”
“Well, you’re not exactly going to go broke; I’ll see to that. I may be a cheap ass hick, but I just want to make sure you know that when you've got me, you don't got to worry about anything anymore, because there's someone to protect you, take care of you, love you and do all those things the best he can, but sometimes comes off with a different way of doing those things.”
“I think I had some very strong indication of that from the way you interact with Mac and Kira,” she nodded.
“And it isn’t bothering you?”
“Would I be here if it did? By the way, speaking of being here, Brian was. He finished the Doritos and ordered two On Demand movies. He‘ll pay you back.”
“Yeah, right. The little fucker still owes me five hundred bucks for all the porn he ordered six months ago. And he ate the Doritos? I’m going to kill his ass.”
“Hey, be thankful he said something instead of you discovering the extra charges on the cable bill and your Doritos missing.”
“I don’t think it would be difficult to figure out who the guilty parties would be unless you developed a Dorito fetish and TV viewing habit I know nothing about.”
“Not quite.” Montana shook her head and chuckled.
“I'd prefer if the guys would just be honest and say ‘I got movies On Demand and ate all your food; don't expect any money back!’ Because basically, that’s usually what happens. And with this wedding shit, I can’t be throwing cash around anyway.”
“Paul, I said before, I don’t expect anyone to blow a king’s ransom on this thing. We only invited fifty people; it will just be Brian, Tasha, Logan and the girls standing for us. Daddy and Sly are giving me away. Dotty and her bridge club are doing all the cooking for the reception, and it’s a cash bar, so no need to worry about booze. That’s it. I can’t see the purpose of a gala wedding; the only real expenses will be the reception hall and the cake. Which reminds me, we have a cake tasting on Thursday.”
“Jesus. Can’t we just go to Fred Meyer and drop fifteen bucks for one?”
Montana gave him a look, quirking an eyebrow. “Is sixty five dollars really going to kill you?”
“Is that all it is? Wow. Spanky said it was going to be a hundred and fifty bucks for his. I think I can deal with sixty five. But is it going to be a nice one? You get what you pay for, you know.”
“This coming from a man who just suggested buying one from Fred Meyer’s not even thirty seconds ago. But yes, they have a great selection. And the way you like to eat, I would think cake tasting will be right up your alley.”
“Ha, ha, you’re just a barrel of laughs, aren’t you?”
“Oh come on; it’s supposed to be the bride that is worried about everything being perfect. Could you hand me that garment bag, please?”
“You’re not going to stuff all my shit in the hall closet, are you?” he asked.
“Of course not; why would I? There’s plenty of room in here for both of our things.”
“Wow. And to think I was convinced women like you didn’t exist anymore.”
“So are we going to dinner tonight since the girls will be back?” Montana asked, unpacking a few more boxes once she finished in the closet.
“Considering you’re about finished with boxed hell and the sprouts will be back with me, I say it’s cause for celebration. Why not?”
The phone rang, interrupting them. Montana answered on the third ring. “It’s probably Daddy wondering if I made it down all right,” she explained.
Montana attended to the call for a moment. “Oh hey, Bri. Sure, he’s right here; he just came back a little bit ago and helping me unpack. I’ll put him on.”
She grinned and handed Paul the phone. “It’s your other wife,” she joked.
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