Love in the Heartland

by Diana Currie

  Much to Nathan’s surprise, the few people that recognized him around town just wagged their fingers and exclaimed, “Hey, aren’t you that actor?” Not a lot of Joe’s friends could do more than recognize his face. Only one remembered that he’d seen him in Zero Gravity. Sandy’s friends at yoga class had been a little more interested in him but it was still nothing like walking the streets in Hollywood. It got him thinking about how he might have overestimated his appeal to the everyday person going to work or walking their dog in downtown Amarillo. Perhaps he was much safer there than he thought; it was a refreshing idea.

  Maddie and Kyle were discussing her plans to move while he was hanging out at the house one morning in January. They were talking in the kitchen as the twins played together on the living room floor. Kyle had stopped by to do some laundry and was glad to see his sister was home so they could talk.

  “When do you leave?” Kyle asked as he leaned against the kitchen island.

  “After May finals. I think I’ll stick around for Mother’s Day and book my flight for the following day. Do you want pecans or walnuts?” Maddie asked. She was kindly making him some Banana Nut bread to take home.

  “Walnuts. Is Nathan going to come to your graduation?”

  “I haven’t asked him yet. Do you think it would cause a commotion if he was there?”

  “I don’t know. He’s your boyfriend; he should be there, right?”

  Maddie sighed. “He is my boyfriend, but big crowds like the ones at graduation ceremonies can be tricky. I wouldn’t want his presence to distract from what everyone is there to celebrate.”

  “That kind of sucks,” Kyle commented.

  Maddie spooned the batter into a loaf pan and pushed the mixing bowl across the island for Kyle to lick just like when they were kids. “Yeah, it does suck quite often but I knew it was part of the deal when I signed up.”

  Kyle frowned and dipped a finger into the remaining batter. “Have you started looking for a job yet?”

  “I did a little searching on the internet but it’s too early to start actual job hunting. I still have another semester to go. Y’all are acting like I’m moving in a week or two!”

  Kyle laughed. “Are you going to try and ditch that Texan accent once you’re there?”

  “I don’t have an accent!” Maddie refuted.

  “I just heard it,” he insisted. “It slips out whenever you’re not mindful of it.”

  “Nathan’s never called me out on it before.”

  “Maybe he’s just a-trying to be nice because he’s always fixin’ to get rowdy with his girlfriend,” Kyle replied laying on a thick Texan dialect.

  “Oh, shut up! You’re gross, Kyle,” she teased and tried to pull the mixing bowl away from him.

  “Go ahead and take it, I’ve done licked it clean.”

  “Stop talking like a redneck. And by the way, there was salmonella in that bowl.”

  “Then you can drive me to the hospital and watch the girls for days while I recover from your poisoning me.”

  Maddie smiled. “I’m gonna miss this.”

  “What? Me ragging on you?” Kyle asked.

  “Yeah. The sibling banter will be harder to do over Face Time and Skype.”

  “I’ll find ways to torture you long distance, Sis,” Kyle promised.

  “You better,” she replied softly, fighting back tears.

  The next day, Maddie was watching television wondering where Nathan was at that moment. They’d had a good time together when he’d visited in December, but he had to leave before Christmas to go see his family. They hadn’t seen each other since. She was supportive of his decision to go there for the holidays and had declined the invitation to join him in Wisconsin because she didn’t want to miss out being with her own family. She thought about how holidays would always be difficult once she moved. They would have to decide whose family to visit on Thanksgiving and who they would go see on Christmas. She didn’t like thinking that next Christmas she might not be able to see her family unless she and Nathan spend the holiday apart. If they stuck together on holidays then one of them wouldn’t get to see their relatives.

  She was pondering this and many other little consequences of moving to L.A. like the smog and the traffic when Joe walked in with the mail. “A letter came for you, Mads,” he announced.

  “What is it, junk mail?” she asked idly, not wanting to get off the comfy sofa.

  “It’s from Nathan.”

  That got Maddie’s attention. She ran into the kitchen after her father and saw him holding out the mail with a smirk on his face. Maddie gasped when she saw it. There was Nathan’s handwriting on the front of a letter sized envelope a shade of yellow that was like dandelions only brighter.

  “Oh my god,” she exclaimed.

  “What?” asked Joe, clueless to the significance the color paper had to Maddie.

  “Nothing,” she replied and hurried into the living room to open the letter.

  Dearest Maddie,

  I thought it appropriate to petition you in the same manner you so bravely did to me more than a year ago. I was lost and alone back then, influenced by the culture of partying all night and drinking too much. I could have easily followed an even darker path if it weren’t for your letter. I will always credit you with saving me, Angel.

  Our relationship began in a very unconventional way to say the least, but I am grateful for that time we had to get to know each other slowly. At times it felt like torture not being able to see your face while we talked, and at others I was so thankful that you weren’t there to see me picking myself up off the ground and slowly starting over. It was so critical that you were outside the Hollywood bubble that I was trapped in. You came from such a different, better place and our friendship grounded me in reality during those early months. The culture out here can very quickly and dangerously pull you under water and you were my breath of fresh air right when I needed it most.

  What I am trying to say is that I never want to have to save you from that water. You are precious to me, and for that reason I want to do whatever it takes to preserve all the things I love about you. Family is important to you. Your roots, your home town, and your upbringing are the things that make you the person you are.I couldn’t live with myself if I let any of those southern girl qualities I admire change.

  We both know you wouldn’t be happy in Los Angeles. You might become BFF’s with Emma and find a good paying job, but what else will you love about it? Me, I suppose. But you will always miss the dry sun baked landscape of Amarillo, your family, your nieces, and that desert sunset you showed me so long ago. Remember? One of the best memories of my life was lying in the back of that truck with you watching the sun go down. I know you better than you think… you picture yourself raising your children in a small, slow paced town like the one you grew up in, surrounded by family.

  For all of these reasons I’ve decided that I can’t let you move to Los Angeles. But you and I both know that for this relationship to work we need to be together. So, what do we do? I think I have the solution; I hope you will agree with me.

  Go open your front door, Angel.

  Yours,

  Nathan

  Maddie read the last few lines of the letter again. What was he saying? Starting to panic, she looked up and saw Joe grinning at her. What was going on? Her heart was pounding as she staggered towards the front door. She opened it thinking maybe she’d find a bouquet of red roses or another letter, but no. Instead, Nathan had delivered the only thing in the world Maddie wanted. Himself.

  “What are you doing here? What is this all about?” she demanded waving the yellow paper in the air.

  Nathan stood in front of her in a t-shirt and dark jeans looking just as nervous as he did the first time he came to Amarillo to surprise her. Back then he’d come to declare his feelings for her and hoped that she would return them. This time Nathan knew he was going to ask her for much more.

  “Hi,” he said.

  Maddie
’s expression softened as the uncertain tone in his voice disarmed her anger. “What’s going on, Nathan?”

  “You read the letter?”

  “Yes. You changed your mind. You want me to stay in Texas,” she said, the disappointment evident in her voice.

  “Yes, that’s right. And I know you want that too,” he replied.

  “So, what is your solution if it isn’t me moving in with you?”

  “I still want you to move in with me, just not in Beverly Hills,” Nathan clarified as he stared at her.

  “You’re moving to Texas?” Maddie shrieked.

  “Please don’t tell me that you don’t want me here, because I already put money down on a house,” he said smirking.

  “Are you insane? What happened to needing to be in Hollywood? Needing to be near the industry people and the movie studios? And all the time we’d be apart if we lived so far from L.A.?”

  “Can I come in?” Nathan asked, ignoring her questions.

  Maddie bit her lip but stepped back to swing the door open and let him inside the house. She couldn’t think straight. He bought a house without talking to her first? When and how? As he came in Maddie noticed that Joe had mysteriously disappeared. She wondered if he had known Nathan was coming. All the uncertainty was making her head spin. She took a few calming breaths and looked up into his bright green eyes. They had never looked so serious before.

  “Like I said in the letter, I have a plan,” Nathan said cautiously as he sat down on the sofa.

  Maddie’s knees gave out as she plopped down beside him. “Ok, what is it?”

  “Remember when I told you about that television producer who’s been hounding me for months?”

  “The TV show offer you said you didn’t want to take?” Maddie replied flatly.

  “I’m going to do it. A television gig is more stable work. If it’s successful I could be on the same project for years.”

  “I still don’t understand how this solves our problem.”

  “Melissa and I met with the producers and we compromised with them about location. They’d already scouted a filming site in Nevada, close to Las Vegas, but Melissa was amazing and got them to agree to film in Texas.”

  “Where in Texas?” Maddie whispered.

  “A little town outside Amarillo.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “But I thought you didn’t want to do television?”

  “I didn’t, but the more I thought about it the more I liked the project. It’s going to be called The Dirty Thirties and I’ll be playing an outlaw during the time of the Dust Bowl throughout the Great Plains. It sounds cool, and I’ve never done anything like it before. Do you know how amazing it would be to work on set all day and get to come home to you every night? We could have dinner together, discuss how our days were, and fall asleep in each other’s arms like a normal couple.”

  Maddie smiled, letting that vision sink in. It felt too good to be true. “What if the show bombs? What if you move here and then the show gets cancelled in the first season? Don’t shows have like a 99% chance of never getting passed the pilot?”

  “This is different. Aaron Beckett is the creator and he’s done some very successful shows in the past. From what I’ve heard, Netflix’s been developing this project for years. They want to do something like Boardwalk Empire; a period piece with a historical context. Trust me; they’ve invested too much time and money to see it fail.”

  “You said you and Melissa had to compromise? What concessions did you make?” she wondered.

  Nathan shrugged casually. “It was still a major coup getting them to agree to change the location of filming, but Melissa didn’t underestimate how badly they wanted me to be on the show. All I had to agree to was a twenty percent cut in my salary and a more lenient nudity clause.”

  “I’ve seen your films, Nathan. How much more lenient can you get?”

  “I haven’t seen the final draft of the contract; Melissa is still reviewing it. But it’s not about private parts, if that’s what you’re worried about. My cock still belongs to you,” he teased. “The changes are more about types of sexual situations and length of exposure. It’s Netflix… the online networkshave an easier time pushing boundaries with the censors. It’ll be fine. I was more upset about the pay cut but it will be worth it.”

  “You’ll be playing a cowboy in the 1930’s?”

  “Yeah. The producers told me they’re trying to cast another big name to play the sheriff of the town, and they’ll probably go with an unknown actress for the leading lady. I read up on the Dust Bowl and I really think it’ll make for an interesting backdrop for the show.”

  “Joe actually knows a few old timers who lived through it. I’m sure they’d be willing to talk to you about it if you’d be interested,” Maddie offered.

  Nathan smiled appreciatively. “Yes, that would be really helpful. I hadn’t even thought about how some people who grew up here would have lived during that time. It’s an interesting idea for a show, don’t you think?”

  Maddie nodded and then sat back against the sofa trying to absorb all this new information. She didn’t have to leave home. Nathan was willing to come to Texas, and might have a long-standing job here too. They could move in together… maybe Nathan was on to something after all!

  Then she had a terrible thought. “What about the house in L.A.? What about Stanley and Lupe? I don’t want them to lose their jobs because of me.”

  “I’m not laying anyone off. I’m going to keep the house in Beverly Hills too.”

  “It seems ridiculous to pay for a housekeeper, a driver, and a gardener for a house that you’ll rarely be in.”

  “I’ll still need to go to L.A. a lot if I want to make movies in the off season of the TV show or whenever it does get cancelled. I’d rather have a house there with clothes and other stuff than have to check into a different hotel every time I go.”

  “So, you’re going to employ Lupe and the others to maintain an empty house? What will poor Lupe do all day; remake the same bed over and over again? That’s depressing.”

  “Actually, Emma and Rhett are going to live there and pay a very modest rent.”

  Maddie was surprised to hear that. “You’ve really thought this through.”

  “I really have,” Nathan agreed reaching for her hand.

  To his surprise, Maddie threw her leg across his lap and straddled him. “You’re amazing,” she whispered and kissed his mouth.

  “I meant what I wrote in that letter,” he replied. “We’ll make it work here. And when I’m away you’ll have your family. I never want you to be alone, Angel.”

  Maddie hummed as her lips left kisses along his jaw, up to the sensitive spot behind his ear. Nathan put his hands on her backside and pulled her closer against him. As they kissed, her fingers threaded into his hair and she rocked her hips against him.

  “Do you want to go upstairs?” Maddie whispered.

  “Your dad is home,” Nathan replied removing his hands from her hips.

  “How do you know that?”

  “His police cruiser was parked outside. And he tipped me off to when you were reading the letter.”

  “I knew it! I don’t care that he’s here. I need to fuck you right now,” she pleaded, pulling his mouth back to hers.

  “Jesus, Maddie. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say that before.”

  “I mean it. Come on, take me to my room,” she insisted, pulling his arms around her waist again.

  “I have a better idea,” he said in between kisses to her cheek and neck. Do you want to see the house I’m buying?”

  “You really have one picked out already?” she asked, pulling back enough that she could see his face.

  “Paid cash a week ago. I wanted to prove to you I was serious about coming here… in case you gave me a hard time.”

  “What made you think I’d give you a hard time?” she asked. Nathan just stared at her with a knowing smir
k that said everything. “Fine then, how did you pick one? I mean, have you even seen it yet?”

  “I went house hunting in December while I was here. Your dad took me around to make sure I chose a good neighborhood.”

  “You two have been in cahoots for a month!”

  Nathan smirked. “Yep.”

  “What if I don’t like this house? Don’t I get a say?” she teased.

  “I think you will. Come on, let’s go!” he said grabbing her hands and pulling her to her feet.

  To Maddie’s surprise, Nathan had a rental car waiting outside the house. He drove north for fifteen minutes, past Kyle’s apartment complex, to the neighborhood surrounding the country club and golf course. When Nathan said he’d bought a house Maddie immediately assumed this would be the neighborhood he would choose. The grass was greener than anywhere else in Amarillo and the houses were larger and further apart.

  Nathan was nervous as he parked the car in the driveway of a house that was smaller than the mansion in Beverly Hills, but not by much. The house was an impressive European style design and situated in a quite cul de sac. The privacy reminded him of the L.A. home and was a major selling point when he’d selected it.

  “Here we are,” he said nervously. “What do you think?”

  Maddie smiled as she unbuckled the seat belt and stepped out of the car. “It’s gorgeous. Was your objective to find the largest home possible?”

  “Actually, I did look at two larger houses. I really wanted a gated entrance but we can always put one in if the need arises. And the backyard is really nice. You’ll see that there are no homes behind us so we’ll have privacy. I’ll show you,” Nathan said as he fumbled with his keys looking for the right one.

  “I still can’t believe you bought a house already. I think I’m in shock.”

  Nathan found the key to the front door and grabbed Maddie’s hand. “Don’t freak out on me. I know you’re going to love it. It was built in 2008, five bedrooms and five bathrooms. There’s a wine cellar, movie theater, greenhouse, an elevator, and an amazing view from the second-floor balconies.”