Dixie had to admit, she wasn't as frightened of the idea of seeing her old flame as she thought she would be, which surprised her.
Since moving back to her hometown, "Billy's Steakhouse" was the one place she had avoided like the plague. Now, in retrospect, she realized that her fear was based on ancient history, and today, after all she had been through, it didn't seem all that important.
Still, she was curious to see how her old love's life had turned out, and she couldn't help but hope, just a little, that he was miserable.
Answering the door when Pete knocked, Dixie was impressed. "You clean up real well, Detective. These are beautiful. Thank you," she said, taking the bouquet of peach colored tulips he had thoughtfully brought.
Seeing the tall, handsome detective in his dockers and sport shirt made her glad she had decided to dress down and wear a demure black skirt and white silk blouse with, of course, black peek-toe high heels.
Even in her four inch heels, Pete was still a good three or four inches taller than she, a fact she was appreciating as he walked her to his car, a restored 1970 Mach One Mustang.
"Oh Wow, Pete, this is some ride you have here. 428 or 351? "
Pete stammered as he shook his head incredulously, "Whew, not only gorgeous, but she knows her cars. I'm impressed, Dixie, and its a 428 CobraJet V8."
Dixie chuckled "I thought so. I've had a thing for muscle cars for years, but I've never owned one. Hell, even back in 1976, I only had a Duster. Woohoo. The Miata is my one effort at being cool, car wise, that is."
On the way to the restaurant, they made pleasant small talk, and Dixie told him about her talk with her uncle's lawyer.
"Apparently, Uncle David was somewhat of a jokester in his day. He left that note inside the shotgun, thinking that whomever found it had to be in dire straits for one reason or another. He had that part right", she laughed."The attorney said he thought David had hoped someone would be taking it down to blow their own head off, and he would be the answer to their prayers. The lawyer said, all I have to do is fly down to Atlanta to sign the paperwork, and it's mine, lock stock and $200,000 barrel. Can you believe that?"
"There is a 200 grand trust set up to care for the place, and I guess that is how he paid the caretaker. His will also stated that whoever takes the land has to agree to continue letting the Fireman's Association continue having their Fourth of July picnic on the property. I can live with that."
"Lady, you have some luck." Pete replied, shaking his head.
Dixie was beginning to realize that Pete was a truly nice guy, "a keeper" as some would say. He told her he had been a cop for thirty years and he was divorced with two grown children He was proud of his sons, both police officers "up north".
Seeing the neon sign "Billy's" up ahead, Dixie's stomach knotted up. "Oh hell, here we go." she thought as they pulled into the parking lot.
"It's a nice place, for a steakhouse." she thought as they were led to a booth. "No sign of Billy, although I'm not even sure I'd recognize him after all these years."
Suddenly she heard her name, "Dixie? Dixie Davis? I heard you were back."
Turning, she saw him, and felt as if she had been gut-kicked. All the heartache, love and anger she had for him came rushing back in an instant.
There he was in front of her, bigger than life, and every bit as handsome as she remembered.
Composing herself, she smiled, nodding, "Bill. Its been a long time. I'm Dixie Black, for the record, have been for the last twenty five years. This is Pete Benning, Detective Pete Benning. Pete, this is Bill...What was your last name again?" Dixie asked, trying to appear nonchalant, knowing full well his last name was Fleegledorf.
Bill looked dumbstruck and hurt, "Fleegledorf, and you knew that, didn't you Dix? Hi Pete. "
"Honestly, Bill, I have spent the last thirty or so years trying hard not to think of you at all." Dixie retorted, her eyes piercing his."Is this our table?" she said, dismissing him.
"I'm sorry about that Pete. Bill was my high school sweetheart, and there are some bad feelings between us. This is the first time I've seen him in Gee, thirty years or so." Dixie explained.
"To be honest Dixie, Bill is my cousin, and the reason I moved here. We've been pals since we were kids. He was heading down a bad road after the divorce, so I came to help him get over it and just never left."
Pete explained that Bill and his wife, Missy had divorced after only five years, when Missy left him for another man, taking their son away to Alaska. He had never remarried.
"I always thought he was carrying a torch for someone, but he has never been willing to talk about it, so I haven't pushed it. Is that someone you, Dixie?" Pete asked, looking sad, bordering on hurt.
"Me? No, it isn't me. We were engaged when I went away to school, but he broke up with me when Missy got pregnant. I haven't heard from him since then. It seems like a hundred years ago." Dixie lied. "Tell me how you became a cop."
Somehow she made it through her date with Pete, but her mind kept wandering back to Billy, and she knew Pete picked up on her confusion and distraction.
Walking her to her door, Pete asked "I had a good time, Dixie.Can we do this again? Maybe seafood next time? "
Dixie smiled, "I'd like that, Pete, but give me a couple days, okay? I guess I have a picnic to plan, and I'm flying to Atlanta to sign the papers for the farm on Friday, but I'll be back early next week."
She stood on tiptoe and kissed him softly. "G' night, Pete, I'll see you soon."
Lying in her bed, an hour later, Dixie was torn and confused.
"Dear Lord," she prayed "I don't know why you've laid this particular burden at my feet right now, but I can think of a million other things that would have been a better deal than this one. So, thanks a heck of a lot, Lord. I know whatever doesn't kill me only makes me stronger, but I'm about as strong as I need to be, if you know what I mean. Ant chance of lightening the load a wee bit, lord? Amen."
Her last thoughts before tumbling off to sleep were:
"What the hell am I going to do now?"
by
donna f.
Member since:
March 6, 2006 Dixie Buys the Farm and Chokes
June 24, 2009 11:53 AM EDT
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Comments: 27
Uh-oh! Dixie has a dilemma! I loved how you explained the note in the shotgun. Very clever. I can't wait to see what happens with Bill and Pete and Dixie, too. Also, very clever way to set up the picnic.
Poor Dixie! She just got rid of her nightmares and now she's living one. LOL!
Considering Lynn has already posted that the picnic is at the farmhouse, I had to do some fancy dancin' to close up that little detail...
Well, I like that fancy dancin'. Sometimes we do our best dancin' under pressure. Have a six-shooter handy?
Nope, but Pete does..lol
No sweat, Donna. Revenge is sweet. So, ummm, Uncle David's last name wasn't "Black?" Oops. Thought Dixie would go back to maiden name. So, might as well ask, was David her uncle on her Dad's side or Mom's side? Or, was he "David Davis?" I have some editing to do. And, I almost uploaded Tee's next entry with the same mistake. ;)
Nope, if you look at one of the collaboration stories, her uncle was " David Talbot"...Her Mother's brother. Talbot was her Mommy's maiden name. Dixie was a "Davis" before she became a "Black"
Ah. Vague memories now. I'm not good with names, especially last names. I'm amazed that you can remember them all so easily. Even with Tee's tale, I had to go back to remember what I named everyone. lol
The plot thickens. I can't wait to read the next chapter
In due time, Rebecca, in due time..
So now she has Pete AND Bill? she is gonna be in a three-way mess, for sure!
yeah, and they are cousins, no less....Arghh!
Hee hee hee. I'm hearing the theme song to the Patty Duke show.
Oh, what tangled webs Dixie keeps stumbling into.
I'll join with the others in saying that I can't wait to read what comes next.
Good Job, Sweetie.
smoooooooooooooooches
Yep, you would think she was a spider, wouldn't ya with all those webs?
Smoootches right back atcha, sugar plum!
Wow, so much of my images have changed in this. I'm sure Dixie was doing the same thing I was doing, picturing Billy at 19 still. I don't feel so guilty though, since I got stuck with that image, because I was picturing him like she probably would. On the other hand, didn't picture her living so far south - assuming David wouldn't get a lawyer from the other side of the country.
And, well, didn't see Pete and Bill being related, which has been interesting all along, since Pete has always been black in my mind. (Denzel Washington with a moustache and a little gray in his temples.) Now the only thing I know for sure is that Pete has a fine butt for being around 50, and Bill is still gorgeous. Definitely, have to rearrange my images. lol
Dixie really is a redheaded bombshell with holy-cow blue eyes, right? (And, yes, I know the eys are contacts, but, hey, everyone sees her with blue eyes, so she has them!) lol
I'm glad Uncle David included some "fix-up" money.
For someone who makes this up as you go along, I'm wonderfully envious. This is dang good! ;)
Hmmm, I never pictured Pete as being Black, but it would, if you pardon the non-PC aspect, explain the "fine ass"...have you seen Denzel from the back?Mmm Mmm Mmm!
She doesn't live "so far south"...she had to fly to Atlanta, so its feasible that she is north of the Mason Dixon line...maybe the lawyer is an in-law or third cousin twice removed , of David's? I have made an effort to purposely leave the locale vague, so it could be Anywhere, USA.
And yes, until she laid eyes on him, her minds eye saw Billy as 19...I'll try to describe him better, the next time he shows up...
There was a reason I pictured Denzel. Not only has he been a cop more than once in movies, my mind definitely doesn't mind seeing him, either. I'm with Dixie, I like watching men walk away, assuming they have something worth seeing when they do. lol
As for location. Yeah, I know you've intentionally left it nondiscript. Can't help that my mind doesn't. I've had Dixie living just about every where (except WV) between Northern VA and Indiana. Probably the only reason she hasn't been in more locations is because I don't know too many other locations. Apparently, the nondescript is working, or I'd have her locked in somewhere.
As for the flight to Atlanta, was thinking a couple of hiccup planes out of secondary airports, until Atlanta. (Hiccup planes, when the ride is so short, you finally have your belongings organized as the plane lands.)
So Billy doesn't look like Michael Dougals? lol (Hey, you tell me both men aren't hard to look at, I think of men who aren't hard to look at. lol)
Excellent job, donna!
Cousins, no less? Wow, that's way interesting and I also can't wait to see what you'll come up with next.
Thanks, Marilyn.
Excellent dilemma, nicely told. I need to make sure I catch up and follow up.
I really hope you do, Sheila.
wow, I didn't see that coming at all!!! Cousins???? Well, I love the story, I am glad she went to the steak house, I reckon I am glad he is still good looking, too. I am thinking along the lines of a Sam Elliott, maybe Matthew Mcnahey(spell check please) make him look like Matthew, whooo hoooo, that is what I am thinking he looks like anyway, with that sexy slow southern drawl...
wow, I need a fan!!! My mind gets all caught up in fine asses!!! That is why I like football, too!!!! LOL
Now, I am ready for some soapy, or wet, or something with the firemen!!!!
thank you for getting my juices running this morning!!! What a way to start a Saturday morning! Now, if only I had my own Matthew around here... I wouldnt make it to the firemen, but, since I dont, off I go!!!!
I am living vicariously thru Dixie right now!!!! smile
spell check, spell check please.... sorry bout the misspellings I am purchasing a dictionary since I can't seem to find the three or four I had forever, I think my son threw them away, because I would make him write sentences using words in the dictionary.. LOL< pure torture!!!!!!
I'm a McConaughey(I looked it up!) fan myself. I have a pic of him with my sister..She lived right across the river from Huntington, WVa, and met him in a restaurant when they were filming "Marshall"...she said he was lit up like a Christmas tree...lol
I'm working on the next installment today.
ok, thanks for looking that up.. I am writing his name down correctly...sigh, pittar patter goes my little heart!
Your sister?! What a lucky, lucky girl!!!! whooo hooo!!!!
Not so lucky, no...she passed away last November.
oh, gosh Donna... just smack me around a little
I am so sorry........
I didn't know
It's Okay, barb...you couldn't have known...