Goerke's Corner Pt. 04

Thanks for all the gracious comments and high scores. They make writing worthwhile.

Goerke's Corner part four

During my run the next morning I had a sense of fulfillment flowing through my body and brain. A feeling of having arrived so to speak. I chuckled to myself, *you were looking for a wife and now you have a family*.

The early morning sun was just rising above the trees as I turned onto Tillman Rd. It felt warm on my face. I couldn't help but smile as I considered my good fortune again. I had begun to slow down as I approached the driveway to cool off and slow my heart rate. I was half stride when I looked up and saw Greta sitting on the front porch with a cup of coffee in hand. A smile on her face. Even with no makeup and bedhead she was beautiful to me.

Her smile permeated my very soul. As I walked the last steps to the porch, her words reached out and grasped my heart.

"Good morning Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome. I was going to snuggle with you in bed before the girls woke up. Imagine my disappointment when I found the bed empty. Then I remembered that you run each morning."

I leaned toward her as though it was the most natural thing to do. She lifted her head. Our lips met. I couldn't resist the chance to let her know that I loved her.

"Good morning beautiful. Sorry about snuggle time, I'll keep that in mind from here on."

Squeezing my hand she said, "Nonsense. Don't completely change your routine because we're here. If running every morning is your norm then do it. We'll find another time to snuggle."

Her eyes seemed to sparkle as she spoke barely above a whisper, "Besides, you're going to need to be in shape and have stamina once we get properly acquainted."

I grinned, "Acquainted?"

Looking into me eyes she giggled, "Yes, as in the biblical sense."

I let go of her hand, "I'd love to sit and talk but I have to relieve my bladder in the worst way. Are the girls up?"

"Not yet. Go pee, I'll start breakfast. Is French toast alright with you?"

"Wonderful." I said looking back over my shoulder.

We had eaten and were on the couch talking when a sleepy-eyed Heidi appeared. Walking directly to me carrying what looked like a tattered well-worn blanket, she stopped in front of me. I have no idea where the idea came from but I instinctively lifted my arms for her to sit with me. There was no hesitation, she crawled onto my lap burying her little body in my arms as she snuggled with her "blankie" as she called it.

Her tiny head was laying against my chest as I held her. Greta looked at me and shook her head slightly with a wicked grin.

"She owns you, big tough Marine."

Trying to sound stronger than a five-year-old girl I responded, "No she doesn't."

Then Greta laughed, "Little do you know, and she hasn't even used the magic word yet. She owns you buddy boy. That's the fun part. The hard part is when you have to tell them no and those teary eyes tear your heart out."

I looked at Greta, "The magic word?"

She mouthed *Daddy* and smiled.

It was at that moment I had an epiphany. Greta was right, this little one did own my heart, or at least a part of it. I realized that I was learning about love in a way I had never known before. I was determined never to be without it again. I was going to get up and change except that when I moved Heidi whimpered, "No Daddy, not yet."

As I slumped back onto the couch with Heidi in my arms Greta started laughing. I shrugged and mumbled, "What?"

In a whisper she snickered, "No Daddy, not yet. She has you hook, line, and sinker."

I was putty in these girls' hands and they somehow instinctively knew it. Greta saved my bacon so to speak.

"Heidi. Let's get your sister up, I'll make some French toast."

She silently squirmed out of my arms and stood taking Mommy's hand. As they walked down the hall ahead of me Greta turned her head and made a kissing motion. Greta may have thought the girls had wormed their way into my heart, and they had, but it was Greta who now owned it, not them. There would always be room for them, but their mother would always be first and foremost in my heart. I had heard it said many times, the kids will grow up and leave, if you aren't still in love with each other when they're gone, it will crumble and fall apart.

Knowing it was a work Saturday at the orchard I didn't shower. I put on work clothes and made my way to the kitchen/dining area. The girls were scarfing down breakfast so I sat next to my future bride. She glanced at me and asked.

"What's on the agenda today? Are we building anything?"

"It's a workday at the orchard. Grace will be mowing, I think I'll have Elizabeth, Jo, and Heidi stock shelves. There's nothing big, it will be something to keep them busy. Hilda has something she needs to do in Clairemont so that leaves me to run the store."

"What about me?" She asked.

"Is there something you would like to do?"

She pondered a moment, "I think I would like to walk around and get the lay of the land. I haven't been here for over fifteen years. Maybe I'll run into someone I know."

The girls were dressed and ready for the day. We walked to the station/store instead of driving. Their little hands in mine. Damn I felt proud. As we approached the station who should pull in but Hilda. I got Grace busy mowing the orchard while the rest went inside. An inventory of small canned goods and other long shelf life items had been delivered Friday but not yet stocked.

I smiled when I walked into the building. Greta and Hilda already had the boxes open and were explaining where each product went according to the shelving chart we had. I grabbed the pricing sheet and a pricing gun for Elizabeth. Hilda bid us goodbye saying she would be back no later than two. Greta worked with the girls for a short while, once each knew their role, she took her leave as well. Walking west, I had an idea where she was going, to visit her folks' gravesites at the cemetery.

The girls and I got along fabulously. I popped my head in the back room around 9:30 and asked,

"Anybody want to share a pop and some gummy bears with me?"

My answer was an immediate stop to what they were doing and three little people pushing past me into the front portion of the station. They did rock, paper, scissors for what kind of pop they were going to drink. Elizabeth won in the end, it would be root beer. I grabbed a 20 oz bottle from the cooler, poured each a glass and tore open the bag of gummy bears.

As they ate and drank they told me all about the morning. Mind you, I was twenty feet away and could hear every word they had said all morning. That didn't matter. While we were circled around the table the door opened and in walked old man Semrow. He had gassed up and came in to pay.

"Hey there young feller. Who's these pretty ladies? Ain't seen um around afore. I didn't think there was no young'uns' left in town."

"These are Hilda and Greta's girls. Do you remember the Friedrich family?" He nodded. "These would be their grandchildren."

"Those was good folks. Took a lotta sh... stuff during the war. Wasn't their fault Hitler was such a bas........... bad guy."

I handed him his change and wished him well.

Elizabeth in her infinite wisdom blurted out, "He was gonna swear wasn't he?"

"I think you're right Elizabeth."

Just then the door opened and in walked Greta, all hot and sweaty. Walking to the cooler she grabbed a bottle of water and sat with the girls. They in turn proceeded to tell her everything they had just spent twenty minutes telling me. I busied myself in the office during the gabfest. When it was over Greta popped her head in the door and asked for the pricing sheet.

"They're almost done with what you had them doing. I'll get them started on the next batch."

I was a bit concerned, "Am I asking too much of them? I know nothing is heavy but I feel like they should be outside playing."

"You made their day Rob. They can play any day, they don't get to do stuff like this. And since you're paying them five dollars each they're ecstatic about their jobs."

"What? I'm paying them five dollars an hour?"

"No silly. You're paying them five dollars for as long as they work. That's a lot of money to them, and, you're going to do it with a smile. Aren't you?"

She wasn't asking, she was telling. I didn't mind, I knew what she meant. I was learning so many new things about women and little girls. The key factor being ....*they don't think like men*. Having come from a male dominated lifestyle, learning to let this wonderful woman introduce me to a softer gentler side of life was going to be both challenging and rewarding.

There was string of customers at that time. She tended to the girls while I waited on customers. Two asked if the orchard was going to be open soon. When I confirmed that it would both said I'd better get signs up or something. Most people in the area were under the impression the orchard was no longer growing produce. Greta heard the conversations. With the girls busy she came and sat with me.

"They're right Robbie. We need to advertise and let people know we're open again."

I smiled, "We. Who's we paleface?"

She smacked my arm, "Stop it. You know what I mean, and yes, WE need to advertise. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the signals I'm getting are we're in this life together from here on. Therefore, all of this becomes US."

We looked through the local shopper and decided that we would run ads in that as well as the local fish wrap. We would also put-up signs at the station and orchard. Greta told me she would take care of that on Monday, both printed advertisements and having some signs made. Then she stood and took my hand. She said nothing about where we were going, I followed as we walked outside. Pointing 75 yards down the road she asked.

"What are we going to do about that pie shack? It was a money maker when it was open. I think Lisa Stuttgart was one of the ladies that made pies. Do you know if she's still in the area?"

I was grinning but saying nothing when she poked me in the ribs, "What's so funny?"

"Andy and Lisa are my neighbors. She already told me that if I, or should I say, we, open the shack she wants to bake pies. I happen to know both she and Andy are laid off right now. One huge problem though. The shack is ready to fall down."

Sliding her hand through my arm she snuggled to my side. "Then we build a new one. Tear that sucker down and put up a new one with enough room and equipment to do it right. The state health department isn't going to let us get away with domestic ovens like they did in the past."

Just then a car pulled in for gas. I excused myself and went inside. By the time they had paid for the gas and a gallon of milk Greta was back inside.

"Well Rob? What do you think? Should we start tearing down that eye sore and get busy putting up a new one?"

I needed to make her aware of a few things. "You're talking a lot of money Greta. Money I don't have in the budget. Next year yes, this year, I don't think so."

She pushed me into the office and closed the door enough so that it was only open an inch or so.

"You're forgetting something Rob. I have a lot of money. Money that I need to do something with or I'm going to get nailed by the IRS. I would rather it be invested in our orchard than in their pockets. They'll just piss it away."

That caught me completely by surprise, "But. We aren't married or anything like that. Do you mean you want to be a silent partner like Hilda is?"

I could tell I'd hit a nerve. She walked to where I was standing, put her arms around my neck and said.

"Well if being married is what you're worried about, let's get married. I know what I want, I would like to think that you know what you want. So let's quit *pissin about* as Dad used to say and get it done. I'm not worried about the physical part, we both know we make each other's motor run."

I pulled my head back, "But you've only known me like two weeks. Isn't this sudden?"

She relaxed and snuggled into my chest, "Robbie, I've known you forever and I've loved you even longer. If you're having doubts then say so. If not, shut the F up and ask me to marry you."

"Greta, I didn't picture asking for your hand like this. I wanted to make it special and romantic and in an intimate setting."

She laughed, "You're a diehard romantic Rob. I don't need all that stuff, I've been through that already. What I need is a man who will love me and my babies to the end of time. That's you Rob. You're the one I want to have more babies with, the one I want to be in bed with every night."

She stopped talking and ground her abdomen against mine producing an instant hard on.

"And yes. I want that too. You're the one I want between my legs, the one I want to ride, the one I want to mumble in the moss and make me scream with delight. The one who will be my forever lover. My question to you is this. Do you want what I want?"

"I do. Greta, will you marry me?"

She laughed and kissed me. "I thought you'd never ask."

It was at that moment that I knew the rest of my life would be anything but boring.

She reached down and rubbed my cock through my jeans and cooed in my ear. "So what do you think Robbie. Shall we tear down the shack and build a new one?"

I knew what to say, "Anything for you babe. Anything for you. Just stop rubbing my dick before I explode."

She quickly pulled her hand away, "No way Jose. That stuff is mine and I don't plan to waste it. When I'm in town Monday I'm going to find out what they need for a marriage license. We're gettin' hitched Robbie my love."

We were in the throes of a long kiss when there was a knock at the door. Grace was standing there with a grin on her face.

"I'm done Uncle Rob." Then she began to giggle and couldn't quit. Greta put her arm around her shoulders.

"It's alright if we kiss sweetheart. We're going to get married."

She squealed, "You are? When? Does Mom know? OMG, can I be a bridesmaid? I'm gonna tell the others."

Greta stopped her, "Not yet honey. We need to tell your Mom and let her tell Elizabeth. We're going to tell your cousins tonight. Isn't that right Uncle Rob?"

I was speechless for the first time in I couldn't remember how long. All I could manage was a very weak, "Um, yes. We're going to tell them tonight."

I was numb. I didn't feel rushed or that I'd been blindsided. No. I think it was the speed at which things were moving. Not that I minded, I just had not imagined anything like what was happening. I knew that we would need to be careful around the girls until they were used to seeing us embrace, kiss and be romantic.

I could remember watching Dad tenderly hold Mother as they kissed while she was cooking. Almost always he would pat her butt and whisper something. Then I would see the twinkle in their eyes as they conveyed love and desire without saying a word. That's what I wanted. To be so in tune with one another we would instinctively know what the other wanted or needed. I could remember Mom and Dad finishing each other's sentences and wonder how they did that. Soon I would know.

A customer drove in and we separated. Greta took Grace into the store where the others were just finishing up. When the last of the inventory was on the shelves, the boxes broken down and in the dumpster in front of me were four hands palm up. I remembered Dad saying so many times, *the laborer is worthy of his hire*. I reached into my pocket, pulled out three fives and a ten for Grace.

Her sister wasn't too happy about that, "Hey, how come she gets ten and we only got five?"

Greta was going to answer until I put my finger up and gave her the *be quiet* look.

"Well, when you're old enough to drive the mower and do the entire orchard you'll be paid ten dollars as well. But that won't be for a few years."

She mumbled, "Oh yeah, that." And her attitude changed on the spot.

Greta walked with the girls back to the house where they were going to bake cookies. I had a few more customers after they left. I was sweeping the floor just before closing when Hilda walked in. I continued as we greeted. Looking at her watch she asked.

"It's only five, Why are you closing?"

"It's on the door Hilda, open from 8 until 6 Monday through Friday, open until 5 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. The pumps and overhang lights stay on overnight for credit card purchases."

"Where's your truck?" She asked.

"We walked over so the truck is at home. Greta and the girls went home to make cookies. You and the girls are welcome to stay for supper if you like. We're having burgers and potato chips."

"Yeah. We'll stay. Lock up, we need to talk. I'll be in the car."

I had no idea what was about to happen. As I closed the door she turned in the seat to face me.

"Greta says you're getting married. Is that right?" I nodded. "Don't you think it's a bit rushed?"

I needed to take control of the situation like right now.

"First. She wasn't supposed to tell you until we could do it together. Second. It was she who told me to hurry up and ask her to marry me. Third. We haven't told the kids yet so don't say anything."

I was flustered and she could tell.

"Sorry Rob. I didn't mean to jump in your crap. And why am I so surprised? She's been telling me for weeks that she was going to marry you and have a bunch of kids. I just didn't think it would be within the first two weeks of them being back. Then again, she always has been head strong."

I looked at Hilda, "Yeah, we're gonna have to deal with that. I mean Greta and me. I don't mind being tender, caring and affectionate, but if she thinks I'm going to be some pussy whipped wimp she's got another think coming. Like I said, we need to deal with that."

Hilda held her hands up, "Not my deal Rob. That's between the two of you. Just explain it to her, she's been on her own so long she probably isn't even aware she's being pushy and assuming. Be sweet but stern, that's how Theo was with me. Once I understood where he was coming from, we made adjustments and life was good."

Walking from the garage into the kitchen was heavenly. The aroma of baked goods literally invaded my nostrils. Greta and I kissed hello as the girls took turns hugging me. I went to wash up, upon my return I could hear Hilda talking to Greta with pauses as Greta obviously spoke softly.

"You need to cool your jets, Greta. He's used to being in charge. Yeah, yeah, you're an independent woman, blah, blah. Horseshit. I told Rob not to fuck this up, I should have told you. Nobody said you have to be a doormat, in the same token, don't treat him like one. Bullshit. You keep saying you want a man to love and protect you, well shut up and let him. Damn girl, sometimes you piss me off."

I walked back down the hall toward the bedroom. As I turned to make like I was just exiting the bathroom Heidi burst from the room.

"Did you taste the cookies Daddy?"

I faintly heard Greta this time, "It was my idea and he loves it."

Their conversation ended as soon as they realized I was in hearing range. The burgers were good, the girls' cookies even better. Hilda and her girls hit the road just before seven. Greta had her two in the tub by 7:15. I cleaned the kitchen while she bathed them and got them into pajamas. They asked if they could stay up until 8. Greta turned to me.

"Did they behave and do a good job today?"

"They sure did."

"Okay, eight o'clock. No later."

Fifteen minutes later they were falling asleep on the floor playing dolls. I scooped them up one at a time and laid them in bed where Mommy tucked them in.

When Greta came out she sat next to me with tears in her eyes. "I screwed up today didn't I?"

As much as it hurt me to see her cry I knew we needed to establish some boundaries or life would be hell for both of us.