#mlawwilliam

@willthebaker From the moment she awoke Saturday, Dorothy spent the bulk of her day in the kitchen. To avoid heating up the condo, she pulled out her slow cooker and started on the pork roast, seasoning it and inserting garlic and herbs. Since she had several hours before it would be finished and the carrots and potatoes would take no time at all, she got started on the two desserts she planned on making that day. The first was a small Oreo cheesecake for her and Will to have later on and the second was her mother’s recipe for chocolate cake with vanilla frosting. 

In between the cooking prep and baking, Dorothy darted away for a couple of brief trips to the bathroom. While she was relieved to know the reason behind her nausea, it didn’t really make throwing up any more enjoyable. She took deep breaths and hoped to herself that she would keep it together through dinner and her surprise reveal to Will. While the cheesecake sat in the fridge and the chocolate cake cooled on the stove, Dorothy disappeared in the bedroom long enough to put her reveal surprises inside a gift box and wrapped it in silver paper. She managed to get a nap in, but set her phone alarm to wake her less than 2 hours later, so she would have time to fix the rest of dinner and shower. She mashed potatoes, steamed some baby carrots, and prepared a thick gravy directly inside the slow cooker. 

Alex: WELCOME HOME! I HOPE THAT YOUR TRIP WAS AMAZING AND THAT YOU'RE NOT TOO TIRED OR JET-LAGGED.

Dorothy: Hey Will, just wanted to remind you there's a I'll be sleeping over Rosie's with Alby after work tonight and tomorrow night.

Alex: So TMC is having a Star Wars marathon today so I'm finally watching them.

Alex: So remember how you were like "don't give up your dreams Alex, you can do this." Well I convinced myself I can't do it. Or really my best friend gave me a reality check and I'm pretty sure it's not worth it.

The fact that Will and Dorothy found themselves standing in yet another airport, ready to board a plane to take them away from the city was not lost on anyone who knew them. After a surprise discovery of a half-sister, a false pregnancy, a new home, two stupid fights, and a wild night of make-up sex, an escape was something the newlyweds needed. This was going to be a celebration, a chance for Dorothy to see where he had grown up. She would get to experience everything his small town had to offer and with the peace and quiet usually offered there, it would give them a chance to repair what had been broken. As they boarded the plane to Kentucky, Will looked over at his wife, offering her a warm smile. After he’d explained a few things to her, he felt as if they were in a much better place, something he had been concerned with after their fight. He hated confrontation but knew that fights as part of a relationship were normal. But that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt. Waking up alone, in an empty house, was unbearable and he needed this trip to figure out what was wrong with him. Why had the fight happened in the first place? The flight would be short, but also a connecting one once they reached Kentucky. Grabbing her bag from her, he stuffed it into the overhead bin before sitting down next to her. “So, we’ll arrive in Lexington in about two hours and then they’ll be a small five seater plane scheduled to fly us to McCreary airfield and that’s where mom and dad are meeting us.” He said, looking over at her. He grabbed her hand, kissing the back of it as they waited for the plane to take off.

Dorothy was a blend of emotions. Everything had been such a roller coaster and the past week seemed to be leveling out, at least where she and Will were concerned. They were still in the process of moving into their condo, and nothing they had recently gone through had been completely forgotten, but it would be nice to get away for a few days--away from work and the City, to see Will’s family again and to see where her husband grew up. Those thoughts were the only things currently staving off complete dread for getting on an airplane--two airplanes again already. Her terror wasn’t the level it was when first mounting a horse but the take-off and occasional dips when making the descent. She did take Dramamine and when she and Will boarded the plane and took their seats, Dorothy rested her head against his shoulder and shut her eyes, thinking about what all would be awaiting them once they reached Will’s hometown. She lifted her head to look up at him as he spoke and gave her more details about the travel plans, and then smiled when he kissed the back of her hand. “I think I can handle that.” Minutes later, a flight attendant was going over safety procedures and the captain was guiding the plane out to the runway for take-off. Dorothy tensed during the ascent into the air, gripping her husband’s arm a little tighter before until the plane was steady in the sky. At one point, she nodded off and didn’t awaken until the wheels hit the tarmac in Kentucky. She felt confident enough to handle the transition onto the smaller plane and couldn’t help making a little bit of a joke about feeling like a star for the small plane they were taking to get from Lexington to Stearns. It didn’t take long for her to see the difference between Lexington and New York City, especially when they were back in the air. She stayed awake for the shorter flight and despite insisting Will could sit nearest to the window, Dorothy spent most of the time leaning across his lap to look down and admire the wide open fields--properties sprinkled with horses and separated only by wooden fences. Every so often she would express her admiration for the openness, ask Will if he had been to Lexington other than for flying, and a dozen other questions about his home town and the surrounding areas. She was looking forward to seeing Stearns and more than that, she was looking forward to seeing her in-laws. It was the first time since the wedding and steadily, she was growing favorably towards the idea of having parental figures in her life again, in addition to Rosie. Peeking out of the window again with her weight balanced on her hands on Will’s shoulder and armrest, she asked, “Is that it there? Stearns?”

It almost didn’t seem fair to subject his wife to yet another plane ride but given how far a car ride to Kentucky would be, it had seemed easier and faster. Hoping that this trip would help restore everything they’d lost the past couple of weeks, he knew the sooner they got there the better it would be. After a quick check in at the airport and putting their baggage on the conveyor belt, they stood in line for barely thirty minutes before they called them to start boarding the plane. Will hated the fact that she couldn’t enjoy the beautiful scenes that being high subjected them too but he also knew that she got sick and probably wouldn’t be able to enjoy it like him so he just let her what was best for her. Besides, it felt nice to have her sleeping on him. She looked so peaceful and calm, which is just what he was expecting the two of them to feel once this trip was over. This was going to be good for them, he could tell. His parents had a way of making anyone around them feel better, even if they didn’t realize it. He was so lost in the book he was reading, he almost jumped when the bell dinged announcing they fasten their seatbelts and were coming in for a landing. He didn’t want to wake up his wife so he just leaned his head on hers and waited for the plane to make its final approach. Once they’d landed, there would be a fifteen to twenty minute time limit in which the small carrier plane would fuel up and then it was off to Stearns. He took that time to call his parents and let them know that they had made it to Kentucky and would be arriving in town soon. He knew they were planning something but he wasn’t sure what but it had him shaking his head regardless. When the pilot came and told them he was ready, he smiled, grabbing his wife’s hand as they boarded the small four seater plane. “I wish I could say I own this but sadly, I do not. It might be something to look forward to in the future though.” He teased, taking the seat by the window after she refused. It did feel nice to watch her lean over him, her curiosity piqued by all the sights below them. He answered all the questions she asked to the best of his knowledge and laughed softly as her eyes lit up. Looking down where she was pointing, he nodded, making a joke that often floated around where small towns were concerned. “Blink and you’ll miss it.” Will laughed, resting his head on the windowsill as the town got bigger and bigger the closer they came to landing. “Its not much. But its home.”

Dorothy watched until she realized they were descending; that was something she didn’t trust herself to handle watching. She said nothing back to Will’s comments about his humble beginnings but merely gazed adoringly at her husband. Her fingers were interlaced with his as the small plane made its final descent and brought them safely down onto the tarmac once more. As soon as they were permitted, Dorothy got up and grabbed her carry-on bag from the overhead compartment. With the plane and port being so small, it didn’t take long for her to spot her in-law’s waiting a safe distance away for them. Excited to see Will’s hometown, and to be free of airplanes for the next few days, she was the one leading him off the plane; right away, she noticed the air was cleaning and their surroundings were much greener than anything in the city. She squeezed Will’s hand again and softly grinned, “There’s your mom and dad!” Dorothy only let go so she could give Mr. and Mrs. Turner proper hugs ‘hello’. “It’s great to see you both again,” Dorothy told them both after pulling back from the hugs.

Once the plane was safely on the ground, he stood, stretching his legs as he waited for Dorothy to grab her bag before he did the same. He made sure to thank the pilot before plastering a huge smile on his face, waving at his parents as they headed over. “Well dontcha look nice?” Meredith said, her wide smile lighting up the entire airport as she hugged her daughter in law. “I hope yer not too exhausted ‘cause we have booked a tour of tha town for ya.” David chimed in, nodding his head as he pulled Will in for a hug. “But first, Denise wanted to meet your wife so she’s closed down that cafe and we’re supposed to go and meet her there for lunch.” Grabbing the bag currently on the ground, David ushered the group towards the car. “I mean, only if ya want to. If ya’d rather sleep at the house, I’m sure she’d understand.” Meredith spoke, scooting into the passenger seat. Once Will was seated next to Dorothy, he leaned over and whispered. “She won’t. Understand. She speaks two languages, food and welcome parties. If she shuts tha cafe down, its a big deal. But we don’t have ta go. She’ll live.” He explained, giving her hand a squeeze. “Hey moma, how’s Serena? Is she still kickin’?” At his mom’s inhale of breath, his face fell. “Oh. Well I didn’ expect her ta live forever. You did bury her under her favorite tree though right?” At Dorothy’s confused face, he chuckled softly and looked over at her. “Sorry. Serena was our milkin’ cow. And my best friend. She followed me everywhere.”

It wasn’t often that Dorothy wore jeans in the summertime but knowing that Will’s parents lived on farm land, she mostly packed jeans and shorts, with the exception of a nice summer dress to wear for the birthday party. After greeting Will’s parents, and assuring them she wasn’t the least bit tired and completely game for whatever they had planned, she was happy just listening to the banter between the two and her husband. What drew her in the most was Will falling into his southern accent. She had never really heard it before and with how quickly he slipped into it, seemingly without even noticing, it told her that he had been hiding it. Dorothy’s lips spread into an amused and slightly turned on from hearing it. It would have been enough to distract her if he hadn’t been talking about a cow he was once fond of. She gave his hand a squeeze in return and nodded when he explained who Serena was. “I’m sorry babe,” she whispered to him while they rode in the car. They were only at the farm long enough to drop off their things; Dorothy was happy to see it in person and couldn’t wait to become more familiar with it over the next few days but she was happy getting to know the town and seeing the places Will grew up knowing. Before she knew it, they were heading to the café David mentioned earlier. In between eating and having desserts recommended to her, Dorothy was passed around, asked questions about her career and married life, and occasionally told stories about Will in his youth. Lunch moved to dinner and the fatigue from flying and talking her mouth dry was finally catching up to Dorothy. Meredith seemed to notice and rounded the family up to head back tot eh farm for the evening.

Will almost felt bad that instead of resting after the long trip, they were thrust into a lunch at a cafe, where his friends and family bombarded her with questions about their marriage, what she did for a living, when they were planning to have kids and he had to fall a bit more in love with her as he watched how easily she took it in stride, answering them with grace and poise. He hadn’t warned her about the rest of the family, how intruding they could be, but he hoped that she would forgive him for it. Finally after what seemed like forever, the crowd began to thin and his parents took that opportunity to whisk them away to the farm, where they spent the rest of the night relaxing as he explained where and what they were going to do the next day. There was a surprise he had been planning since she’d agreed to come with him but that would come tomorrow night at dusk. The stayed up a little while longer, looking at baby pictures and listening to horror stories from his childhood before the exhaustion overtook them and they headed upstairs to the bedroom they’d be sharing. It didn’t take long for the pair of them to fall asleep, making sure to get plenty of rest for the coming day’s activities.

---

He woke up to find the sun shining bright on his face. He looked over at his wife, snuggled into his side and he gently wiggled himself free, planting a soft kiss to her cheek before getting out of bed. Even though he was just visiting, falling back into the routines he’d had back in high school easily took over. He got dressed in a pair of jeans, his boots, one of his flannel shirts, coupled with a white muscle-shirt and his cowboy hat. He headed downstairs, careful not to wake his parents as he headed to the barn to start the chores he’d been doing for years. He gathered the eggs, milked the cows, and lay out a bit of fresh hay from the barn for the cows and horses. Searching the pasture for his horse Midnight, he whistled loudly, laughing as the black stallion came running straight for him. “Heya buddy.” He whispered, kissing the side of his mouth. “I missed ya pal. If I had had the room, I’da brought ya with me.” He confessed, running his fingers through the horse’s mane. “What say we take a ride for ol’ times sake?” When Midnight nodded, Will laughed, jumping up onto the horse’s back as they started out walking along the fence line. He was so caught up in feeling the warm sun on his face that he didn’t notice Dorothy had emerged from their room and was watching him in his element.

Dorothy usually had little trouble falling asleep in places that weren’t her bed. She had to rest on thinly-padded cots at the hospital and sometimes in chairs, and spent her undergrad years sleeping on a dorm bed. Sleeping on an actual bed was a true luxury, and falling asleep beside her husband was like a dream come true, especially after a long day of traveling and meeting half the town of Stearns. Normally, Dorothy was a light sleeper because of her job but she hadn’t stirred even in the slightest when Will awoke early that morning. Her body rested in the nearly the exact same form it had been when she finally shut her eyes the night before. At some point her mind felt she was rested enough and she slowly pried her eyes open, surfacing to consciousness. She was prepared to bid her husband ‘good morning’ but found his half of the bed empty. Dorothy wasn’t particularly worried about his whereabouts but she was concerned that perhaps she had overslept. They were on the family’s farm after all and the Turners were probably up early on a far more consistent basis than she was. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she made her way out of the bed and rummaged through her packed belongings until she found a light cardigan to help tolerate the chill morning air. Hugging it to her body, she padded over to a window that allowed her to overlook the farm’s open pasture where the only movement happening was the light breeze of the grass and the slow trot of an ink black horse and its rider. She squinted curiously and then went back to her side of the bed where her glasses sat on the nightstand. Once she had them on along with a pair of shoes to join her pajamas and cardigan, Dorothy smoothed down her messy curls and left the room. She wasn't one who absolutely needed make-up on before being seen by others; with as little makeup as she could wear into work, it wasn't unusual to see her without, or with very little, outside of occasions. Rather than heading to the main house, she went out to the pasture where sure enough, the rider turned out to be her husband. Dorothy didn't call to him or try to do anything to draw attention to herself; quite the opposite as she stood near the thick fence and rested her forearms against the wood. Breathing in the fresh, crisp air, hearing nothing but the sounds of the occasional animal making it's presence known, interspersed with the steady trot of horse hooves--all of it was far more peaceful than anything you could hope to get back in New York City. And although Dorothy loved her own hometown, she still loved getting away every once in a while and was thankful to have a husband and in-laws with a fondness for more rural living. This private sentiment was especially true right now as she watched Will ride. It was so different from their honeymoon; she was able to watch him from a distance and he didn't have to go at anyone else's pace but his own and his horse’s. His attire hadn't escaped her notice either as she absent-mindedly crossed her legs and rubbed one slowly against the other, shin-to-calf. A smile graced her lips, the longer she gazed upon Will. He really seemed like he was in his element and she couldn’t help wondering if he would ever want to return some day--if not to Stearns, then perhaps them buying a farmhouse somewhere in upstate New York. In moments like this, it amazed her how much her life had changed in three months’ time. Before Will, her life was about advancing her career, keeping up with her sister, and trying to improve on being a good friend to the few she still had while branching out to make new ones. Since receiving her letter, however, her friendships had blossomed, she and her sister...well, Dorothy knew after she was back in New York that she would have to talk to her sister; she just didn’t know when that would be yet. And work-wise, she felt extremely lucky, even with the long hours and being back and forth between the Women’s Health clinic and the ER. As more surrogates and expectant mothers were beginning to come in, she knew the pendulum would swing back to more of her time being taken up by that side of her job rather than the ER. She was in a good place at her job though. And she and Will were in the midst of preparing a home together. She loved him. He was giving her something no one else had ever truly given her before, and that was: a very unique type of faith. With Will, day by day, she was believing more and more that someone out there could want to put her first. He was that someone. He was someone who could love her as someone other than a sibling, and as more than just a friend. He was someone who wanted a life with her and not just because a law required it. He was sharing his life with her by bringing her to Kentucky. He made her feel desirable in every way possible--physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally. And while her friends and family often made her feel loved, it was Will who made her heart feel full and whole. All of these thoughts and more resonated with Dorothy as she let her cheek rest against her hand, bespectacled eyes still watching Will with complete adoration.

It felt good to be working around the house again. To do the things he’d grown up doing. It was like he was a kid again. The most surprising part for him was the fact that he remembered everyone’s name and where everything was. Even after all these years, his dad had kept things exactly the same. Gathering the eggs was a bit hard but he’d managed to get them without getting pecked. There was a sense of nostalgia and memories came flooding back, memories of doing this with his dad, and then making his mom breakfast in bed. Or surprising his parents with a carriage ride through the town. There were so many things going through his mind as he did these small things to keep a sense of calm for himself. He started thinking of what he could do to make this place memorable for Dorothy. He had made her get on a plane and come all this way and while she’d seemed amazed by it all, he knew that there wasn’t much to do in a town this small but there was a place he used to disappear to with Midnight when things got rough for him. Once the eggs were gathered, Will disappeared into the barn to milk the few cows they had. The difference between his family and the rest of the town is that his parents didn’t farm just to make a profit. All of their animals were a part of the family and the milk and eggs gathered were for them to use, not to make money. Most of their income came from selling the calves and hay in some of the bigger cities. It wasn’t an easy thing to do but given that this was a predominantly farm town, there was no money to be made in selling to their neighbors. Shaking his head, a light chuckle escaping from him, he grabbed the pitchfork and starting pitching hay for the animals. He scooped a few loads into the wheelbarrow to lay out for the horses later. He turned his attention back to the cows, grabbing a shovel to go clean out the stalls. He had to make sure he changed before Dorothy woke up and had a chance to smell him. It was the only part of the job he hated. Once everything was done to his satisfaction, he put on his gloves and grabbed the handles, pushing the barrow to the entrance of the fence. He got distracted watching them run in the fields and after whistling for Midnight, he lost all memory of what he was supposed to be doing. And then he had to ride and he found himself getting lost in the moment, the wind in his face and the sense of tranquility that riding invoked in him. His eyes were closed and he didn’t notice Dorothy coming outside to watch; instead he was running Midnight as fast as her legs would carry her, glad to see that she hadn’t lost her speed. On his return trip, he felt as if someone was watching and he slowed down, not wanting to fling mud, among other things, on the person. He opened his eyes and noticed Dorothy standing there and he smiled, clicking his tongue to guide Midnight over to the fenceline. He tipped his hat and gave her a wink. “Mornin’ ma’am. Aren’ ya a sight for these sore eyes.” He said, his accent thick. He hated that he’d hid it from her and really had no reason too. He even had it for the first couple of years until Kayla died. After she was gone, he dropped it, hid it from everyone. Until now. “I was goin’ to ask if ya wanted to ride with a real cowboy this time but you’re going to need to put more on than jus’ yer jammies.”

Dorothy watched Will ride, chin resting across her folded arms along the fence. Her toes absentmindedly curled and the only time she stopped biting her bottom lip was to smile as Will approached her. It grew into a full grin as she continued loving his thick accent and the way he greeted her. “Morning, yourself, cowboy,” she replied. “Is riding on a full stomach frowned upon? Porque si no, me gustara desayuno con mi vaquero favorito.” Smirking, she stood just a little straighter, propping her elbow on the fence and moving her chin to sit in her palm. Dorothy purposely gave him a once over and then added, “Or maybe... I’m dressed just right for riding with a real cowboy.”

Riding a horse was one of the only times Will felt truly at peace. No matter what was happening in his life, or at school, he would come home and hop on the back of these creatures and just ride, letting the wind kiss his face and take away his problems. That and his mom’s homemade chicken pot pie. Dorothy had no idea of the plan he had for the pair of them tonight but as he made his way over to her, he couldn’t help but smile and hope that it wasn’t too cheesy. At her question, he couldn’t help but laugh and shook his head. “I think that only applies to swimmin’ but considerin’ I’m wearing my favorite shirt, maybe we should wait at least an hour before we go ridin’.” He said, leaning down to give her a quick kiss. When the question left her lips, he racked his brain to try and remember his high school Spanish. “Are ya askin’ for food because I think I can make that happen.” Will grinned, before feeling his cheeks heat up as her eyes scanned his body. Even after all the times he got checked out by women, and sometimes men, he couldn’t help but blush. “Well how ‘bout this? How’s about we go eat a bite and visit with mom and dad and then tonight, well, let’s just say I have a little somethin’ planned for the two of us.”

Dorothy giggled, “Yes, we wouldn’t want to ruin that shirt of yours.” She then tilted her head up and leaned over the fence to meet his lips and then relaxed against the fence again. “Bien, baby. And yes, I was asking about breakfast with you. It felt so nice to sleep in a little bit but watching you there woke me right up.” She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and listened to him pitch an idea of what their day would look like. “Is this something planned a surprise or can I know?” Dorothy already assumed it to be a surprise but couldn’t help indulging her curiosity. “I want to make sure I’m dressed appropriately for this plan of yours, vaquero.”

When his wife giggled, he shook his head, quickly finding himself loving that sound more and more. “Well I mean, we can’t ruin it more than it already is but ya know what I meant.” He laughed, jumping down off the horse and tying the reins loosely to the fence so she could eat some hay. When she complimented him on his guessing right, he chuckled, and shook his head. “I had to go all tha way back to high school fer that one.” Jumping onto the railing, Will patted the spot next to him, his head resting on her shoulder as they watched the rest of the sun rise above the horizon. “Really? But ‘m all sweaty and dirty.” Looking down at himself, from the mud and manure on his boots to the dirt and hay clinging to his clothes, he thought he looked a mess. But he smiled at her words and wrapped an arm around her, kissing her cheek. “Its kinda a surprise but you don’t really hafta dress up for it. Something comfortable is the only requirement.”

Dorothy watched his effortless dismount, giving him a soft but toothy smile. “You know you can always ask me if you’re not sure about something I’ve said, honey.” There was something spry about him as he went from the horse to the fence and invited her to sit next to him. She climbed up and sat down beside him, placing her hand in his before she was settled in. She then smirked at the pale colors in the sky while wasting not time replying, “Maybe someone getting a little down and dirty turns me on.” The manure smell, she could do without but it hardly mattered in that moment, which was only making her earlier proposition that much more enticing. “I thought it might be a surprise,” Dorothy said, grinning a little more than before, “but comfortable, I can do.” She stayed leaned against her husband through what was left of sunrise, basking in the quiet calm that Stearns was for the time being. Eventually, she hopped off of the fence and headed inside with Will to have breakfast and spend some time with his parents before the big party. The day passed quickly and before she knew it, Dorothy was standing in front of the guest bathroom mirror, touching up light amounts of make-up on her face, wanting to look good for her surprise plans with Will.

“I know that, love, and I’m also thinkin’ of takin’ classes online to brush up on it. But that might have ta wait until we’re all moved into our new place.” Will said, a small smile spreading across his lips. “Does it now? That might be a good thing ta remember for the future then.” Smirking at her and leaning in to kiss her nose, they fell into that comfortable silence that he enjoyed as they finished watching the orange hues of the sky disappear as the sun rose higher in the sky. Shielding his eyes, he watched as the horizon came into focus and he looked back at Dorothy. “Over there somewhere is where yer surprise is babe.” He teased, before hopping down and helping her join him. He untied Midnight and let her run before heading inside to cook breakfast for everyone. The party was a success, it seemed as if the whole town was in attendance and after getting the okay from his mom and dad, he hurried home to change, putting on a nice pair of jeans and a button up shirt. He grabbed the saddlebag containing a few bottles of wine and a memory album as well as a container with a few food items inside. It wasn’t much but they hadn’t expected to eat so much at the party. Checking himself in the mirror once again, he headed downstairs to wait for Dorothy to arrive.

“Oh really?” she asked, “Did I inspire you?” Dorothy was content sitting on the fence, watching the sun rise up with her husband. The peace and intimacy of it just being the two of them was romantic in her eyes. And when the light threatened to blind them, she merely shut her eyes behind her sunglasses and remained leaning against Will’s shoulder until it was time to go in. Dorothy opened her eyes hearing him hint at her surprise and then grinned, “Let’s go!” jokingly, of course. She fully enjoyed breakfast with her husband and in-laws, and was happy to see Heather again. She was positively glowing, and their encounters in person seemed to go over far better than their first meeting online had. When she and Will slipped away from his parent’s party for the plans she knew little about, Dorothy freshened up in their room and bathroom, still wearing the dress from the party but changing into more comfortable shoes and washing her face and neck to re-apply some of her eye make-up, as well as her perfume. She then joined Will downstairs, a smile coming to her face right after she saw him. “Hey, handsome,” she greeted sweetly. As soon as she was under his nose, she pecked his lips and then reached for his hand. Remembering the two of them at sunrise, she cast him a curious gaze, “So our plans are outside?”

He laughed, shrugging his shoulders. “Perhaps a little. Or maybe its because I wanna know what you’re sayin’ when ya break into it. I mean, I’ve pretty much already guessed what vaquero means but the rest of it, well, let's just say it’ll be good to say some things to you as well.” He teased, crinkling his nose before focusing on the sun rise. He couldn’t help but look down at his wife, letting out a content sigh as it steadily rose higher in the sky. Finally after a few minutes of comfortable silence, they headed inside, setting about the kitchen to set up for a nice family breakfast. Will and his sister were still kind of in that awkward stage of making up and still being mad but for his parent’s party at least, they acted like siblings. Soon enough, it was time for Dorothy’s surprise, time for Will to share with her a place that not even Heather knew about. He was happy to hear that so far, it had remained uninhabited or disturbed and as he dressed, he couldn’t help but smile. After packing the pack and heading downstairs, he sat in the chair next to the stairs and waited for his wife to emerge. Even dressed in the outfit from the party, she still managed to take his breath away and his smile grew, a small chuckle escaping him. “Hey yourself gorgeous. I mean, I know I’ve already called ya that but it still rings true now.” Bending down to grab the basket, he held out his left arm for her to take before stepping over the threshold and into the fresh air. “That would be a correct assumption. This is a place I came to a lot during my rides or after a particularly harsh day of being bullied. I’d go there and just be at peace. I’ve never shown anyone this place before.”

Dorothy looped her right arm around Will’s offered left one and happily leaned against his shoulder. “Thank you, honey.” Walking beside him, she glanced down at the basket, “Well now I see why you wanted me to keep things light while we were at your parent’s party.” As they walked outside together, Dorothy enjoyed the fresh air hitting her face and filling her lungs. It and the openness of Stearns were things she was going to miss once they returned home to New York, but she listened to Will talk about this rather secretive place he was taking her to. “It means a lot that you want to take me to this place, babe. I can’t wait to see it.”

”So I have a question. I know you don’t particularly like riding a horse but how do you feel about sharing one? This place we’re going is a bit beyond walking distance and I figured the night was nice enough to enjoy a horseback ride. I’ll do all the work and you just hold me close.” He said, turning to look at her. “Otherwise, it’s about a mile and a half up ahead and with shoes like that, you’re not goin’ to be comfortable.” Will explained, running a hand through his hair. “I just don’t want the sun to go all the down before we get there because it is literally the best view in Stearns.” A light breeze flowed over them and he couldn’t help but close his eyes, breathing in the fresh air. “I love New York but this place draws ya in, makes you want to stay. Its goin’ to be hard to say goodbye.”

Listening to the question, she smiled at the way Will made it sound more enticing and appealing to go riding. “I wouldn’t mind that. I know I freaked out a lot in Cancun but...well, after our picnic, I did feel a lot more relaxed for the ride back.” Dorothy smiled fondly at the memory and how that day included a few firsts for her, including the sex on the beach. Giving their interlaced fingers a squeeze, she said, “I’ll do the ride with you, babe.” She looked up at him and smiled again, adoring everything about the way he had been thus far with the trip. “We’ll have to come back sometime soon--perhaps for a longer stay than a weekend trip. I’m sure your parents would love that too, if we did.” Thinking it over, she asked, “How would you feel about spending Christmas or Thanksgiving out here? We can do one of the holidays here and spend the other holiday back in New York and then alternate each year?”

His smile grew when she agreed to go by horseback. “I promise it won’t be as scary as your first time and I also promise that before long, you’ll be riding like a pro. If that’s somethin’ you wanted to do.” He offered, guiding her over to the stables. Luckily he had cleaned them out earlier so there would be no mess for the two of them to step in. “I bet you did. Sex tends to do that to a person.” Will teased, before leaning down to kiss her softly. As he approached Midnight’s stall, he stepped inside, attaching the basket to her saddle before grabbing the reins and leading her outside. He grabbed the step stool, setting it in front of Dorothy so she could step up. “I’m not sayin’ you’re short but Midnight is a bit bigger than the ones we rode in Mexico.” Laughing, he stood behind her until she was safely on her back before he himself climbed on. Instructing her to put her arms around him, he clicked his tongue and guided the horse towards the clearing. “I would love that actually. We can definitely swing that and mom and dad would love the company.”

Dorothy believed Will and kept his words in mind while they made their way to the stables. She grinned back at his response about sex and gladly kissed him back. Waiting where she was, Dorothy watched Will walk one of the horses out of the stall. She recognized the large beauty from earlier that morning and marveled her from up close again. Dorothy playfully rolled her eyes with a smile, “I can see that, babe,” and gave Midnight a few petting strokes near the base of her neck before using the step stool to mouth the horse. She remembered the bit of anxiousness from México but scooted back on the saddle for Will to have room. As soon as Will mounted Midnight, she hugged herself to him and watched where they were headed. “Yeah? I’m glad you like the idea, honey. It would be a nice little tradition to start, I think. Maybe Heather would be on board with it too so your parents would have both of their kids home for one of the holidays each year.”

The sky was surprisingly clear and he secretly thanked the heavens for allowing him this one night before they had to return to the hustle and bustle of New York. Feeling his wife's arms around him securely, her chest resting against his back, he smiled, the light breeze carrying the smell of her perfume to his nose. “You smell fantastic by the way.” Will complimented, turning his head to offer her a warm smile. “So tell me what ya think so far. And be honest. We country folk can take it.” He teased, humming along to himself as they headed closer and closer to their destination. Seeing it in a picture didn't do it justice and he was incredibly happy to be sharing it with someone he loved. “It's not far now. I know it's cheesy but when I tell ya too, I want ya to close yer eyes.” He stated, reaching back to pat her on the leg. “I'm going to speed up now so we can get there before the sun sets. Just lettin’ ya know babe.” And with that, he pulled a little tighter on the reins and Midnight began to gallop, leading them faster to the hilltop. When they were about two minutes away, he stopped, and turned to his wife. “Alright babe. Close those beautiful eyes and I'll tell ya when to open them.” When she gave him the all clear, he gave Midnight a gentle kick and he galloped the rest of the way. Making sure that there were no obstructions, he tapped her on the shoulder. “You can open them now.” (a href="denied:“https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/0d/52/f8/c3/photo1jpg.jpg”x)

Will still made her blush with the simplest compliments. When asked what she thought of his hometown so far, Dorothy replied, “I thought me suggesting we come back for the holidays was my way of letting you know I love it--enough to come back for more visits.” She thought about bringing up her thoughts from that morning about them living on a farm someday but decided against it. They had a life ahead of them and only a few months behind them. For now, she listened to Will and although she quickly felt wary about shutting her eyes while on the back of a horse, she did it, first out of instinct and held on even tighter when Midnight broke into a gallop. When Will instructed her to, she squeaked out, “No problem!” and closed them again before Will signaled for his horse to start up again. Dorothy softly gasped, clinging to her husband and didn’t relax her hold around his torso until she heard him speak to her again. She blinked a few times to regain her focus and then lifted her head from his shoulder, looking up at the view. It literally took her breath away and right away, she noticed how quiet it was. There were leaves rustling and the sound of the water running quietly along. “Wow…” she whispered, still looking out at the sun setting over the peaceful space. “I can see why you came here for some peace--honey, it’s beautiful….”

He laughed at his mistake and shook his head. “Right. That would definitely be a clear indication of you enjoyin’ yourself.” He smirked, nodding his head. “Point taken. Although trying to get Heather to come back here might be a bit harder. She’s quite taken with New York and always hated the small town life but I spose if we ask nicely, she might make an exception.” Will confessed, his voice falling silent as they rode. It was a nice night and he could just about imagine how it was going to look once they arrived at their destination. The sun setting low beneath the trees, the reflections off the water was almost like a painting and he couldn’t be more anxious to get there and show her. Upon arrival, he stopped short, grabbing the hands that were around his waist and waited for her response to the view. “I’ve been planning to bring you to this spot since we got married. Its one thing to look at in pictures but its quite another to see in the flesh.” They sat there in silence, waiting for the sun to disappear and he smiled, looking back at her. “Ready for our picnic under the stars?” He asked, dismounting off the horse and standing next to Midnight, ready to catch his wife as she climbed down. Grabbing the basket and her hand, he walked over to the perfect spot, letting go of her hand long enough to spread out the blanket. “I feel like I’m in high school again and we’re on our first date.”

Dorothy smiled, “I thought so,” and listened to him talk about Heather. “She wouldn’t have to move back, but if she’s that tied to the city life, then we wouldn’t have to push the issue.” It just seemed like a nice idea but Dorothy wasn’t looking to do any hard convincing for her sister-in-law to come home for a visit over a few days for the holidays. When they arrived at their destination and Dorothy stood, blown away by the view, she tore her eyes away from one sight to the other--her husband. She felt a flutter inside her and accepted his help off of his horse, fixing her dress from the ride up once she was on solid ground again. She accepted his hand with a smile that wouldn’t leave her face and helped him fix the corners of the blanket he laid out for them. “I love you.” She said it so casually but full of heartfelt meaning as she gazed across the blanket at him. “You’re just...amazing, Will. I can’t put all of my feelings into words but…” She gazed at their surroundings as if the words could be found there, and then her brown eyes found his green pair again. “You make it easy for me to love you with all my heart.” Coming down to her knees on the blanket, she reached up for his hands for him to join her; with her hands still in his, she lowered her voice to match the intimacy of the space, “You don’t have to say it back--not now, but what I’m trying to say is that I’m in love with you.”

”I’ll call her up and see if she’d be game once we work out the details. I’m sure she’ll be going back regularly so mom and dad can spend time with the baby once he or she is born but knowing Heather with how demanding her job is, she’ll pay to have them come out to New York. Mom did say she didn’t get to spend hardly any time there so she definitely wants to come back.” Will was oblivious to the looks from his wife, his mind focusing on setting up the picnic, all the finger foods and desserts that he’d stolen from the party. His neighbors tended to over due when it came to social gatherings so he knew it wouldn’t be missed. The casual ‘I love you’ made him smile into the basket and he turned to look at her. “I know.” Smiling, his cheeks flushed as she continued to pour her heart out and it only made his love for her grow more and more. He’d known for a while how he felt about her but had a hard time expressing it. That was the crazy thing about love. You know you feel it but you can’t explain those feelings. Sitting down next to her, his eyes not leaving hers, he leaned in to give her a quick kiss, his fingers interlacing with hers. The next confession, however, made him feel as if he were floating, his heart swelling and the butterflies that she continuous gave him fluttered all at once. “You make me so happy, Dorothy. I know I have issues and things I need to work on but you have made me feel so loved in this short amount of time and I was so ready to open my heart completely to you.” He said, lifting one of their intertwined hands and placed it over his heart. “You fixed the broken pieces inside and made it whole again. Something I’d come to think would never happen.” He confessed, looking deep into her eyes. “I am in love with you too. I have been since Mexico. That day on the beach, before the sex, when it was just us being ourselves, I knew then. I’ve just been waiting for the right time to tell you.”

Dorothy simply nodded here and there during Will’s explanation, thinking Heather must have been nearing her due date, and that it would be nice to pay visits to both Meredith and the baby when the time came. While in Kentucky, one of Dorothy’s favorite things to do had been watching her husband. He was home and while there wasn’t a dramatic difference, there was a change within him that she found herself adoring. She couldn’t quite put it into words but she was very honest in her ‘I love you’ to him, as she always was whenever she spoke those words. When she began elaborating and ended up in a ramble, she sat on her knees at first, and then all the way on her bottom with her legs crossed at her ankles, all the while still feeling the memory of his lips gently on her own. Following her confession, she became aware of how much her cheeks were burning. Dorothy listened to Will and wanted to remind him that she wasn’t perfect either but she chose not to interrupt. Her eyes went from his face to their hands coming over his heart, making her smile from how meaningful his own words were. He held her gaze once more, and she smiled at the fond memories of their honeymoon--even the then terrifying horseback ride--but hearing him tell her back that he was in love with her made her heart soar. She rolled her lips into her mouth and leaned in, only releasing her them when they were close enough to leave a kiss on the corner of Will’s mouth. After kindly sliding her fingers free, Dorothy held a hand against Will’s face while winding her other hand over his shoulder to keep him close while she kissed him full on the lips.