All For Love

Kevin Harmon saved and closed out the program. The screen on the computer went back to its desktop scene of green grass, trees, a lake in the foreground and a snow capped mountain in the distance. He would give the program a chance to germinate, even though it was an inanimate object. He felt more at ease when he ran the actual program for bugs if it sat a few hours.

He swiveled in his chair to face the large window. The setting sun lit up the snow on Mt. Hood like a torch. He loved the view of the mountain and the valley between them. Evergreen trees gave way to the valley of green grass and flowers that was untouched by development. He owned most of it and he was going to keep it just the way it was.

His thoughts were interrupted by repeated thumps under his feet. A shrill voice sounded over the intercom that now he wished he had never installed. "Kevin, get down here. Dinner is going cold. We aren't waiting any longer." His mother's screeching caused a wince.

"Coming Mother!" he shouted back even though he knew she wouldn't hear.

He hiked his grey sweats up over the girth of his stomach and pulled the matching sweatshirt over the elastic band. As a last minute thought he swept up the stained twenty ounce coffee mug and headed to the stairs. He stopped at the kitchen doorway, his mother watched Helen set the table. She tried to micro manage the help but it didn't work.

"Mother, if you continue to bang the broom on the ceiling, we are going to have more holes that I'll have to have repaired. That knock down ceiling isn't cheap to fix." He watched with trepidation as she whirled to face him.

"You have plenty of money. It isn't like its going to be a big deal." Her eyes dared him to contradict him.

He turned away from her and went to his seat at the table. His mother and her friend, now sharing his house, sat at each end of the table, daring the other to say which was the head and the foot. He waited dutifully for the ritual to perform.

"Maisie, would you lead the prayer tonight?" His mother smiled and held out her hand to Kevin while he held his other, in disgust to the praying mantis shaped woman opposite his mother. Maisie offered a prayer to whomever was listening because it wasn't directed to any god. After what seemed an eternity she sneezed and let go of his hand. Kevin quickly reached for the dish in front of him. he didn't look to see if the woman was finished or not.

"Kevin, Maisie and I have a lovely woman we met that is just dying to meet you." His mother raised her eyebrow as she passed a dish to him which he slid toward the other end of the table. "Did you hear me?" She demanded.

"Yes, Mother. I don't want to meet any women. I have someone I am seeing and we're quite happy."

"When?" She demanded. "Who is she and why haven't we met her?" His mother didn't watch as the food once loaded on her fork tipped over onto her ample breast.

"I'll introduce you when the time is right. For now we're just keeping company." He filled his mouth so he didn't have to talk for a few minutes while he pretended to chew the life out of the tender butter crusted chicken breast.

The two women pestered him with questions which he deftly countered until the dessert was served.

"Thank you Helen. Dinner was delicious as usual. What's the dessert?" Kevin comlimented the woman serving. Helen cooked and kept house for him. At first his mother tried to order her around. When she resisted saying Kevin was her boss, his mother tried to have Kevin fire her.

That night Helen served dessert. It was a pot du Chocolate. Melted semisweet chocolate with a thin brownie type crust that topped the melted sweetness, served with a scoop of coffee ice cream on the side. Kevin turned to his mother, the chocolate still coating his tongue and the cool ice cream sliding down his throat. "You will not tell Helen anything from now on. She can cook what she wants, and as long as the house is clean, dust free and smells good, and she cooks like this, she stays. Mother, you will be responsible for your own suite. Helen will vacuum and dust unless it is too cluttered, then its your responsibility." With the laws laid down, both women went to their corners and formed a mutual mostly hostile free relationship.

'Helen, did you know Kevin has a girlfriend?" Maisie inquired. Kevin could tell by the tone of the stick woman's voice it wasn't asked casually or in friendship.

"I suspected," was all she said and Kevin frowned at her retreating back. What could she have suspected? But the sweetness on his tongue dissuaded any further thought.

"I think you need to invite her to dinner. We want to meet her, see what woman you can keep attentive." His mother waved her empty spoon at him.

Kevin almost choked on the ice cream. The insinuation was: she must not be much. "In time mother, in time."

"What does she look like? at least tell us a little about her." Maisie nodded in agreement.

Kevin allowed a smile to raise the corners of his mouth, "She's a little shorter than me, Kind of light brown hair with some highlights in them. Big Brown eyes and a soft mouth."

"What's she like. Is she outgoing? a party girl?" Maisie interjected only to get a frown from his mother.

'Do tell." His mother added her two cents.

"No she's pretty quiet. Never gets out of step with me. Loves long walks and the outdoors."

There was a whoop from Maisie, "Outdoors? You never go outdoors. You are holed up in that office every day on that computer playing games. What do you know about the outdoors?"

"You don't know the first thing about camping or survival." His mother added, not to be outdone.

"We find that we like to explore and take things as they come." He picked up the little plate he had practically licked clean and carried it to the kitchen.

"Thank you Mr. Kevin." Helen smiled warmly at him. She couldn't have been more than five years over his thirty-eight years. She always wore a uniform similar to what the waitresses in the 1950's diners wore. They were a variety of colors but all the same drab style. "Helen, you out did yourself this evening. The chicken was tender and moist, the vegetables cooked to perfection and dessert was a master piece. I really think this dessert moved closer to the top of my list of favorites you make."

"You are most welcome, Sir." She beamed under his praise.

"What do you suspect about my girlfriend?" he shifted from one foot to the other.

"Nothing. I just wanted them to think I knew something they didn't. Sorry Mr. Kevin, I hope you aren't upset."

Kevin responded to her smile with one if his own. "Nope. Have a good night."



Kevin slipped on a pair of comfortable jeans and a soft knit shirt. At the back door to the garage he pulled on his favorite jacket and lifted the keys from their hook. The midsized SUV bumped along the ruts in the dirt road and onto the paved road. His destination just ahead, his heart began to beat a little faster. She was waiting for him, like she always did, near the fence, as he drove in to the yard.

His step was lighter and he was almost running around the back of the building, through the grass to where she stood. He stopped before her and took Jessie's warm body into his arms. He breathed her fresh scent and even with the tang of the farm scent around them, it didn't bother him nor her. She laid her head on his shoulder and gave him all her affection from their last meeting.

Together they turned to the well marked trail. He didn't have to use a flashlight, she knew every step of the way. Kevin told her about the new program he built. The ways he made the characters move and interact. She listened and nodded, sometimes stopping to pick up a flower or interesting blade of grass. Kevin walked close to her side as they strolled down the lane together. The sky above was studded with a myriad of stars against the midnight blue sky. When they reached the gate Kevin didn't speak. He lifted down the bars for her to precede him and he replaced them when she passed. Inside the barn area, she turned to him in the evening light. She smiled as she didn't know how to thank him for the time they spent together. She was just a Jersey cow and he was her owner.



Word Count 1548