Here you go possums, a lovely new chapter! Lots of people commented about the Cady knowing Walts dream thing - here's how it went down - Walt got a little drunk one night and made a comment or two to Henry, who being the clever observant friend, joined the dots and shared his suspicions with Cady.
VIC
He left a fucking postit on her desk that evening TOMORROW 7pm COME FOR DINNER. BRING WINE IF YOU LIKE. She was annoyed at the high handed approach but also relieved he wasn't going to make them both suffer by dragging it out too much longer.
But OH SHIT! She was going out to the cabin! To Talk! About Them!
Vic wasn't sure which one of those statements scared her the most. The potential for awkward silences or crippling embarrassment was right of the scale really. No one had ever died of embarrassment surely? Maybe they hadn't tried hard enough!
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WALT
He knew he took the cowards option, leaving the note on her desk, but he genuinely couldn't face any more shocks to his system and so left earlier than usual. The truth was he needed to do some, make that a lot, of cleaning up at home, plus organise something for dinner. Henry was going to be unbearably smug so Walt decided it was fair he provided dinner as well.
He spent hours tidying and cleaning, it sure made a difference and he realised just how badly he had been looking after himself. The empty beer cans filled two bin bags alone, and the floors were filthy, cobwebs in the rafters and the windows grubby outside and in. He needed to do a proper spring clean once the weather would allow it. But for now he worked well into the night, made sure the wood bin was full and prepared a shopping list for essential supplies, coffee, wine, the creamer she liked.
He even changed the sheets on the bed, noting they were nearly as threadbare as the cuffs on his favourite work shirts, the ones worn in to his shape. Walt sat on the end of the freshly made bed and took stock of his life. Cady had said some hurtful things when they were fighting about her relationship with Branch, about how he had stopped caring for himself and everyone else in his life when he was so buried in his grief. Even then he was in too deep to see clearly but now he couldn't deny the evidence laid out in front of him.
Cady was right and he needed to tell her that, and make it good between them on that point. He needed to start living again, for the future and not for the past. Cheered by this small internal victory Walt smiled and then stalled, if it was really going to happen, he also needed Vic, and that meant them both here, face to face, talking. Nervous now, he scrubbed suddenly damp palms up and down his faded denim clad legs.
She dreamed about him? He was both exhilarated and terrified by that idea, especially if they were anything like his dreams.
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VIC
Vic knew she was fluffing around, delaying leaving for the cabin. She was nervous and jittery and jumped when her cell beeped unexpectedly. It was a rare text from Walt. He had seen the light after Cady's accident but really only used his for calls, usually to Rubys' annoyance only outgoing calls. Vic hadn't realised he even knew how to text until she had received the first one a few months ago.
Hands shaking she keyed her phone open and read the message
[Dinner in the oven, ready in 30 min]
Shit, it was a 20 min drive! Grabbing her jacket and keys she headed out the door. A moment later she stormed back in and grabbed the overnight bag she had also packed and this time locked the door behind her, before roaring up the road in her truck, into the twilight.
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WALT
He hadn't wanted to ask if she was on her way, but wanted some way of making contact in case she was having the same second thoughts he was, so a dinner reminder via text seemed a neutral enough option. He hadn't realised he was holding his breath til he saw the lights of her truck heading across the valley in the dark. He opened the door and gave her a hand up to the porch, the missing stairs yet another reminder of unfinished business.
He took the proffered wine and went to the kitchen to open and pour. From Henry's painstaking education he knew it was a reasonable quality wine, expensive enough to show someone cared about making a good impression without spending a fortune. He smiled at that and turned with both glasses in hand, and nearly tipped them down the front of Vic, who had uncharacteristically very quietly come into the kitchen behind him.
She took a glass and wandered into the lounge, idly circling the room before sinking to one end of the couch, now placed strategically in front of the glowing fire. She took a healthy sip before saying quietly "You cleaned up" she sounded surprised so his response was a bit gruff
"Yeah, a bit overdue really" and she laughed saluting him with her glass
"Walt your place was a tip" It was true and still was in some ways, so he shrugged and raised his glass in a toast "To Spring Cleaning, even in winter".
She eyed him over her glass as she sipped again and still surprising him said "Dinner smells good, I'm starving" and Walt startled, with her arrival he had forgotten about the food. Henry had provided a baked pasta dish and salad, commenting pithily that even Walt couldn't screw up assembling that into dinner. Walt hadn't argued, he knew he did great pancakes, and was OK with bacon and eggs, but hopeless beyond that. Maybe he should ask Henry to teach him something simple but tasty.
Dinner was served and eaten quietly in front of the fire. They talked shop and the tension in the room kept rising in spite of their calm quiet tones. Dessert had also been provided, an excellent Tiramisu.
VIC
The wine was one of her personal favourites, it went well with food and was a nice easy wine to drink. Dinner had been lovely, she had recognised Henry's hand in the cooking but gave Walt credit for thinking ahead and ensuring they had something pleasant to enjoy.
She was feeling a lot better about the world after indulging in a generous helping of Tiramisu and sat on her corner of the sofa, idly spinning her wineglass between her fingers, watching Walt tidy up in the kitchen. How could they be so easy with each other at work and suddenly clam up like teenagers on a first date. Even more embarrassing, she realised the warmth in her face was a blush merely from the thought of them being on a date.
WALT
He stood in the doorway, watching her lit by the fire, a warm glow to her face and basked for a moment in how beautiful she was, and the fact, the glorious fact that she was actually here. The realisation that it was now up to him to ensure she stayed sobered him up pretty quickly. He had never been good at this and took a deep breath, preparing to say her name but she beat him to the punch. She was full of surprises tonight.
"Cady said you were in love with me" and then she asked the impossible question "Why Walt? Why me?"