The Douglas Farm
Oliver awoke the next morning from a dreamless sleep. After his horrible nightmare last night, he didn't dare close an eye, but after awhile, sleep overpowered him.
Well, at least I didn't have that dream again, he though with relief. He looked over to his wife's side of the bed, but once again, found it empty. He then caught the familiar scent of hotcakes. Although he appalled the wretched things, Oliver was willing to risk it in order to see Lisa.
After he was showered and dressed, Oliver walked into the kitchen and found Lisa standing in front of the oven, tending to her hotcakes. Joseph and Eb were sitting at the table, nervously awaiting their breakfasts.
Lisa looked up when she heard Oliver walk into the kitchen. "Good morning, dahling!" she said pleasantly.
Oliver smiled and walked up to her side. Good morning, sweetheart!" he replied as he gave her a kiss. He then took his regular seat at the table.
"Good morning, Joseph. Good morning, Eb." Oliver said politely.
"Morning, Dad!" Eb said in his usual cheery tone. Oliver rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"I told you not to call me…" Oliver began to say angrily, but Joseph cut him off.
"Oliver, was there something wrong last night? I heard some commotion very late last night." he said in a concerned tone.
Suddenly, Oliver began to feel uneasy. He hadn't remembered the nightmare he had until then. Now he was beginning to recall all the strange events that had occurred in it involving Joseph.
"Oh, uh, nothing was the matter." Oliver said quickly. "I, uh, just had a bad dream and awoke to find Lisa gone. I just went looking for her is all."
"Oh, I see. Must have been some nightmare to make you go searching for your wife." he commented.
"It sure was." Oliver said more to himself. To Oliver's relief, Lisa came over from the stove with three plates balanced in her hands.
"Here you are, gentleman." she said as she placed the plates of hotcakes in front of them.
"Uh, looks delicious, Lisa." Joseph said warily as he eyed his breakfast.
"Lisa, what happened to the Dee Dee's dehydrated meal in a bag?" Oliver asked.
"Oh, I accidentally spilled it in a puddle of vater and it un-dehydrated all over the floor." Lisa explained. "But fortunately, I had ten whole pounds of hotscakes batter left!" she said proudly.
"Yeah, lucky us." Oliver tried to say sarcastically under his breathe, but Lisa heard him.
"Vhat vas that?" she asked in a suspicious tone.
"Oh, nothing. I was just, uh…" Oliver said, trying to think of a good explanation, but Lisa cut him off.
"Never mind. I know vhat you meant!" she said huffily as she turned back to the stove to get them their coffee. She returned with the pot and began to pour into Oliver's cup what was supposed to be coffee, but instead, it came out as a syrupy-looking substance.
"Lisa, what's this?" Oliver asked in a puzzled tone.
"Coffee!" Lisa exclaimed in a shocked tone.
"Lisa, you love me, don't you?" Oliver asked.
"Of course I do, dahling!" she said.
"Then why are you trying to kill me?" he asked.
"Olivah! That vasn't very nice!" Lisa exclaimed.
"I'm sorry, honey. But next time you run out of that dehydrated stuff, just assume we aren't hungry. Now, we have to get to work." Oliver said as he arose from his chair. Joseph and Eb did the same thing.
"Sweetheart, I'll send Eb into Drucker's to go pick you up some more of Dee Dee's before he gets to work." Oliver informed her.
"All right, dahling." Lisa replied sadly. Oliver noticed the hurt expression on her face as she began clearing her uneaten breakfast from the table.
"Eb, here." Oliver said as he handed him the keys. "Go pick up some of that Dee Dee's stuff. And don't take to long. Alf and Ralph still need you to help complete the barn." he reminded him.
"Yes sir." Eb replied. He then ran out the front door and out to the car.
"Joseph, would you mind meeting me in the corn field? I'll be out in a second."
"Sure thing, Oliver." Joseph replied with a smile. He then turned and walked out the back door. Oliver felt a shudder go through him as he was reminded of that horrible nightmare he had. He shook it off quickly and turned his attention to Lisa. He wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"Lisa, I'm sorry I said all those nasty things about your cooking. Do you forgive me?" he asked.
"Yes." Lisa said dryly.
"You don't sound like you forgive me." he said sadly.
"Vell, it's just that sometimes you don't depreciate me!" Lisa exclaimed.
"Not true. I always 'depreciate' you." Oliver said.
"No you don't, you don't depreciate my cooking or my cleaning. Sometimes I feel like you take me for granite!" she cried.
"That's not true, sweetheart! I may have taken you for 'granite' once, but after I came so close to losing you, I swore I would never do it again. And I'm sorry if my teasing made you feel like I still do. I'm sorry." Oliver sad apologetically. He then spun her around to face him and kissed her softly on the lips.
After they parted, Oliver asked, "Do you forgive me?"
"Vell," Lisa said, looking up into space and pretending to think. She then smiled and giggled. "Alright, I forgive you!"
Oliver smiled and was about to lean in and kiss her again, but Eb interrupted. Oliver sighed in annoyance.
"Eb, can't you see that we're in the…." Oliver began but Eb interrupted him.
"Sorry, Mr. Douglas, but Mr. Kimball is outside. He wants to see you." Eb informed him.
"Oh great! Just what I needed! Tell him I'll be right there." Oliver instructed. Eb nodded his head and walked out the front door. Oliver sighed once more and turned his attention back to Lisa.
"Well, I guess I'll go talk to Mr. Kimball and then get to work. I'll be back for lunch, honey. I love you." Oliver told Lisa as he gave her one final kiss.
Lisa smiled. "I love you too, dahling."
Oliver smiled and headed out the front door to talk to what had to be, in his opinion, the most exasperating man on the planet.