A small addition to this story just because "the scruff is so much more attractive than the timber." :)
August closed the front door and set his backpack on the grand coat rack in the front lobby of Dorothy Madden's house. His latest carpentry project turned out to be a grueling ordeal and every day when he got off work he felt exhausted. As he walked toward the kitchen to retrieve a snack he spotted Dorothy in the living room surrounded by several men in business suits.
They all ignored him as he passed by. He wondered at his luck as he watched the woman who allowed him to call her his. She was so dynamic, so rich and powerful, but underneath he was able to find something soft about her. He let his mind wander to the Enchanted Forest. He pictured Dorothy there with him surrounded by trees instead of business men.
His father would hate her. She would look to the aged carpenter like a villain. After Geppeto grew to know Dorothy he would love her the way August did.
August stopped. Love? Did he love her? He opened the fridge. As he reached for the pastrami he nodded. Yes, he did. Why shouldn't he? She was not really a villain. Heroes and villains only existed in the Enchanted Forest not in New York.
The meeting must have adjourned because August heard a mumble of voices reach the front door and fade away. He made himself a sandwich, settled on the bar stool, and nearly took a first bite when Dorothy entered.
She knew how to make an entrance. There was nothing subtle about her. He loved her for her near tactless disregard for subtlety.
"Fools! So easy to step on, on my way back to the top."
The flash of pride across her eyes made August smile before he took a bite. She glared at him.
"You will ruin your dinner."
August stuffed the food to one side.
"So?"
Dorothy put her fur cuffed hand on her hip.
"It's your birthday, darling. I wanted to treat you."
August rolled his eyes. He hated his birthday. It reminded him of his less than ordinary birth, and where he really came from.
"I know that look." She came around the counter and stood next to him. "I know what a horror it is to admit one has aged, but…" She put her manicured fingers on his arm. "The presents, darling, the presents."
She pulled him toward the French doors. He had no choice but to abandon his sandwich. She led him out into the garage. They passed her 1920s coup De Ville and he saw a small tarp covering some mid high object.
"What is it?"
"Your birthday present."
August smiled. He felt twelve again. He walked over to the object.
"It's too big to be a puppy."
"Puppies are too unruly without a way here to control them."
August ran his hand along the tarp. She often made such cryptic comments but August's attention was too focused on the gift to study the words further.
"Too small to be a pony."
"Do you have an animal fetish I know nothing about?"
August stood back and put his hand under his chin.
"Hmm, what else could it be?" He knew his stalling would drive her crazy.
Her eyes flashed and she marched over to the tarp.
"Oh, for the love of Dior." Dorothy pulled the tarp from the prize. She uncovered a restored 1980s motorcycle. August stood in stunned silence. How had she known? He stepped forward and ran his hand along the handlebars.
"Only three hundred specialty design handle bars were made." He bent down to examine the wheels.
"Custom chrome wheels." He touched the seat.
"High quality black leather." He shook his head. A curl pulled at the corner of Dorothy's thin mouth. She put her hand on her hip.
"You know how I feel about leather, darling."
"How did you know? This is the ride of my dreams." August climbed onto the motorcycle. He gripped the handle bars and felt like he just took control of his own destiny.
"I'm just that amazing. How do you not know this by now?"
The thing that always struck him about Dorothy was how she could fully mean something in the moment but be so insecure about herself the next. Her eyes darted away, and August saw the insecurity for a split second. He inched forward on the seat.
"I do know. Only amazing girlfriend's get to have a ride with me." He winked.
Dorothy dropped her hand from her hip and moved toward him. He watched her swing her leg over the seat. Her every movement was rich with an assurance of her own attractiveness. When her arms snaked around his waist he cover her hands with his.
"You like it then?"
He removed his other hand from the handlebar and turned to face her.
"I love it." Whether she realized the word it could have been interchanged with you he could not tell. He kissed her over his shoulder. She moved her hands up his chest. He stopped the movement with his hands and ended the kiss.
"Hey, now, none of that. We're going for a ride." He turned back around.
Dorothy made a humming sound in the back of her throat.
"Yes, and when return I will give you your other present." She whispered in his ear. August grinned and then kick started the engine. Life here was definitely better than the Enchanted Forrest.