Title: The Swear Jar 9/X
Author: Romantique
Email: dolph1n
Classification: Raylan/Winona Family/General
Rating: T for language (but no worse than the show)
Summary: Raylan is a new dad. This one is a stand-alone, not a sequel to 'A Change of Scenery.'
Disclaimer: It's 'Justified' hiatus time, and I'm bored. This fic is based on nothing but my imagination and takes place sometime after the end of Season 3.
Legal: These characters do not belong to me. I'm just a fan and have not made a dime. Please email me to obtain permission to post.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
The drive back to Lexington was a leisurely one. Winona sat in the backseat with baby Cait. While she understood the safety of rear facing car seats, she hated them, nonetheless. She couldn't see her baby's face from the front seat, and on a long drive like this one, it was a little too long for her baby to be out of her sight. She remembered hearing about these mirrors for rear facing car seats from her sister and thought she had better check into getting one.
Since the day Caitlyn was born, the baby was inseparable from her mother except for very short periods of time. The three times Raylan had watched the baby, alone, were the longest periods of time without her that Winona had yet experienced. Gayle's house was so crowded, and Winona didn't like being any more of a bother than she was. So, she and the baby stayed confined only to her bedroom, the kitchen, and the living room on a rare occasion. She relished the thought of her being able to find a place they could call their own.
At one point, Raylan glanced back at Winona through the rearview mirror and asked, "You're sure your sister's not due back 'til Thursday?"
"Yes," Winona nodded. "I talked to her last night, and I told her we were getting re-married."
"Yeah?" Raylan asked, waiting for the other shoe to drop, knowing he wasn't Gayle's favorite person in the world.
Not only was Raylan not Gayle's favorite person, he felt uncomfortable staying at her house. He did it, reluctantly, for two days earlier that week. But to stay there with Winona, playing house? It was giving him pause.
"Gayle's happy for us," Winona reported. "She said it would be the best thing for Cait if you and I work things out. I told her we have."
Shifting her weight forward in the seat and loosening the seatbelt at the shoulder, she added. "And I think she'll like having her house back."
Raylan smiled. "We'll stop off and pick up the Sunday classifieds, just as soon as we cross the County Line."
Making eye contact with Winona through the rearview mirror, he added. "And if you let me stop for lunch, I'll even hit a couple of places with you this afternoon ... that is, if you want."
"Really?" she smiled, placing her arms around his headrest and on his shoulders.
Reaching up, he took her left hand into his. "It's the least I can do."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
About an hour later, the three of them were sitting in small diner just outside of Lexington. Ordering off the lunch menu, Winona and Raylan drank coffee, as she combed through the Classifieds.
"My God," she exclaimed. "Rents are so sky high. We'd be much better off buying something."
"Yeah?" he asked, as he leaned over and unbuckled Caitlin from her infant seat.
He picked up the tiny girl, and flung a clean cloth diaper over his shoulder like a pro before bringing her up to his chest.
"Did you have a nice nap?" he asked the infant. "You were sawin' logs back there in the backseat."
He was very aware this was his last day off. It would be back to work the next morning, and he wanted to make sure the baby was awake long enough to be able to sleep at night.
"Oh, wow. Here's one," Winona said, pointing to the paper, "4 bedrooms, 3 baths with an office. It sits on a third of an acre, about 15 minutes from the Courthouse."
"How much?" Raylan asked, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
His soon-not-be ex-wife had a propensity to loving expensive things.
"$195, 000," she whispered, not wanting anyone in the diner to hear her.
Raylan raised an eyebrow.
"You're kiddin'?" he whispered back.
Winona pulled out her cell and started punching in numbers. While she was talking and making an appointment, the waitress came with their food. Raylan overheard her.
"I hate to ask you to do this, but would you change our order to a take-out?" he asked. "I'll make it worth your while." And he winked.
The waitress caught his drift.
"No problem," she said.
"Here," Raylan stopped her. "Take this and go ahead and ring us on up."
And he pulled out $30.00 in cash, double the amount of their $15.00 tab.
The waitress smiled a big smile and took the bills from his hand.
"I'll be right back," she said with enthusiasm in her voice, at her sudden luck.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Once again, Winona was sitting in the backseat of Raylan's car with the baby.
"Promise me you won't get your hopes up," Raylan said, on the way to meet a realtor. "It's probably too good to be true."
"I know," Winona said. "But what if it's not? We'll never know unless we check it out."
Navigating from the back seat, she directed him. "Turn left here ... and then, make a right."
A moment later, she said, "And take the third left onto Woodview Drive."
He followed her instructions, looking around at the neighborhood. It was nice. Quiet with lots of trees. He liked trees.
"459, that's it on the right," she said, pointing to a brick, split-level Tudor style home.
Raylan pulled up into the driveway where they saw a For Sale sign on the nicely manicured lawn. It seemed they arrived before the realtor. He stepped out of the car and pulled a flyer out of the drop box, and sat back down in the driver's seat of his car, passing the paper back to Winona.
"Oh, wow," she said. "4 bedrooms, 2 full baths/2 half baths, sun deck. Built in 2005. Attached double car garage. 3,219 square feet. Lot size is 14,520 square feet. Alarm system."
"We want to make sure that's not Wynn Duffy's alarm company," Raylan quipped.
"No shit," Winona agreed and then continued. "Updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Laundry room off the kitchen. California closets. New carpeting, paint. 30 year roof."
"Winona," Raylan stopped her, "that's a buck for the Swear Jar." Then, he changed his tone. "As much as I'd love to buy this house for you, and without lookin' at the inside, it appears to be a fine, fine house ... I'm not sure I can qualify for it on my salary. I mean, you're not workin'. And I'm not so sure you should rush back to work, until Caitlin's a little older."
She leaned forward. "Raylan, I have some money for the down, and then some. Gary had a life insurance policy, and I was the beneficiary. I paid off our house and put it on the market, and it sold about six months ago. It had acquired some equity, and I need to roll that equity into another house, or I will be taxed on the capital gains. Honey, something in this price range would be perfect. Our payment would be little to none."
This was all news to Raylan, that Gary had left her some money. It also explained why she had been financially able to up and leave her job at the Courthouse the way she did. She could afford to leave. He'd never asked her about her finances before because it was none of his business. But now that they were going to be married, he could understand that some of her financial dealings would now come to light. He had a few of his own.
"I've got some money in savings," he volunteered. "I can put some money down, as well." He let out a freeing sigh. "I also own my Aunt Helen's place out on Indian Line. I've got a renter in there now ... it brings in a little rental income. And then, there's Arlo's place. It was confiscated by the Marshals Service, but when they're all done with it, it will revert to me as next of kin. More income property."
"Wow," Winona cooed in a playful way. "I'm marrying a real estate mogul," she continued with a smile.
"Not hardly," he responded, shaking his head and raking his fingers through his hair. "Ownin' property in Harlan hardly does a real estate mogul make."
It was at about that time he heard a silver SUV drive up and park in front of the house. A heavy set, well-dressed middle-aged woman came walking up the driveway. Mrs. Hastings introduced herself, made a fuss over their baby, and passed out her business cards. Then, she led the little family into the house of a tour.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
That night, Winona lay in bed. Back at her sister's house, she had given Caitlyn a bath, nursed her, and when the babe was fast asleep, she gently placed Caitlin in the bassinette in her bedroom. Winona read while Raylan was in the bathroom taking a quick shower.
A little while later, Raylan came into the bedroom, hair damp, in his boxers and t-shirt. He set the alarm on his cell phone and placed it on the night stand closest to 'his side' of the bed before climbing in.
"It was fortunate we were able to rent the house while we're waitin' for the escrow to go through," he said, speaking lowly so as not to wake the baby. "I can pick up the keys tomorrow and call to have the utilities switched over. I also want to run it through our system to make sure it's all clear. You know, just for grins."
"I'll say it was fortunate, although the baby and I don't have much to move in," she said, closing her book. "How about you? Did you buy anything substantial since you moved out of the motel?"
"No," he said. "You can have fun buyin' whatever you want," he said, pulling the covers up over him. "All I need is a comfortable bed and a big screen TV."
She laughed. "Oh, yes. A big screen is our number one priority." Then she smiled, I'll get you a nice one for the living room, but no TV allowed in the bedroom. The bedroom is for sleeping and sex, only. And besides, a TV in the bedroom reminds me of a motel room."
"Do say?" he said, turning off the light and extending his arm out, an invitation for her to come in closer and snuggle.
She immediately responded, laying her head on his chest, gently stroking his arm.
"Speaking of sex, do you think I could persuade you into letting me have my way with you?" she asked.
"I feel kinda funny doin' it here in your sister's house," he responded, slowly stroking her hair with his fingertips. "But maybe you could help me get my mind off of my surroundin's?"
As she moved closer towards him, he wrapped his long arms around her, and in one swift movement, lifted her up on top of him. Her lavender fragrant hair hung down, surrounding both of their faces, and she leaned down for a sultry kiss. As her hands began to work their magic on his body, her body ached for his. Their kiss deepened and their breathing became heavier. Winona began writhing with slow, rhythmic movements, and he reacted in kind.
She had taken his mind off of his surroundings, alright. At one point, Raylan had the fleeting thought that it was a good thing they were getting married soon because they could hardly keep their hands off one another.
(To be continued ...)