Nightmare into Fantasy

“Bro, how were you able to talk me into this?” Anthony grunted as he moved another bale of hay toward the front of the barn. Sweat was dripping furiously from his brow and he had long ago abandoned the ragged t-shirt he wore today. He should have known the day was going to play out like this. Every time… every…damn… time, Parker asked him to come out to his parent’s ranch, Parker, that sneaky s.o.b. always manipulated him into chores.

“Suck it up big baby, we’re almost done. Here let me get you another bottle,” Parker jabbed as he fished a bottle of water out of the cooler, and tossed it toward Anthony forcing him to drop the bale he was carrying. It didn’t matter, the bale dropped and Anthony was struck in the face by the moist projectile. “Buddy, for a detective, your reaction time sucks!”

It was never clear what hurt more, the physical pain of whatever happened in the moment, or the emotional pain from Parker’s barbs that came right after. Always something degrading which challenged his character or technical skills. It always made no sense. Parker was the only one who could catch Anthony with his guard down. For a detective with such a pristine case record, this fact from their friendship always rattled him. “How do you always manage to catch me off?” He asked while rubbing the spot on his face where the bottle connected. “I’ve made a career off of deciphering minute details in the moment and somehow, some jackass from college, who can’t even eat without needing a bib, always finds a way to break past me. I just don’t get it.” He mumbled the last bit to himself, part physical exhaustion from five hours in an old barn and part utter bewilderment because... fuck Parker!

“Because dude just like when we’re playing Playstation… I’m in your head.” Parker said, opening his eyes wide and pointing to his temple. “Just like when I picked OBJ (Odell Beckham Jr.) up off the waiver wire.” Parker knew this was a sore spot for Anthony. He had been running a Fantasy Football league for the past half dozen years or so and it got quite competitive. On several occasions, one or more heated exchanges led to one of the group rage quitting midseason, only to be welcomed back a few days later. Everyone understood, it’s just fantasy but sometimes these people got personal.

“Man shut up,” Anthony said. “I’m still salty about that. I remember watching the guy on the wire for like 20 minutes and the moment I try to claim him... hit refresh and he’s gone. That’s some bullshit. What made it worse is how trash your team was that year.” He said, chuckling. “By the way, you playing this year? I know you said you were going to reassess before the beginning of the season but come on bro, the league just won’t be the same without you,” Anthony asked, appealing to Parker’s competitive nature.

“I don’t know if I can find the time this year, guy. What with the parents moving, the new job and managing to find time for Tanya, my spare moments are tapped,” Parker reflected. His participation in fantasy was a slight point of contention between him and Tanya. At first she found it cute, he was so invested in it. Then it grated on her that he was so invested in it. The common refrain, “There’s always next year”, nearly ended their relationship...

There’s Always Next Year

After what seemed like the most stressful semester of her life, she was struggling with exams and finding a placement for her residency. Her stress boiled over one night when Parker managed to convince her to take a night off. Instead of romancing her, all he did was check his phone every five minutes for updates on his fantasy football match. The evening passed with few words between them until Parker resigned to the lost season. In his submission, he shrugged and said, “There’s always next year,” turning his attention towards the ball of stress, rage, and disappointment seated next to him on the couch.

She didn’t talk to him for a week. Parker was so wrecked emotionally, he thought it was over when she called him a week later and said, “We need to talk.” How did he let it get to this? He was complacent, distant, and oblivious… the perfect storm of partner dissatisfaction that has led to the dissolution of many relationships. Apparently though, weeping like a child who had just lost a pet and groveling like one would have done to prevent losing their head worked. Bless her soft-ish heart.

She saw him for the kind of man he could be. His faults were many. He was incredibly hard on himself, his memory wasn’t the greatest, and he appeared distant when they were together. But he was kind and creative. He saw hope through darkness and was incredibly generous when it came to community development. Tanya loved Parker deeply and they had seen some shit. She was confident she wanted a ring on it. And so she waited. And waited. And waited.

Proposal and a Pear Tree

How many more chances was he going to get with Tanya? He’d already fumbled his proposal a dozen times. It was always the same. Who ties their shoe a dozen times? But this time was going to be different.

“You got that look in your eye again Parker. The one that says this time, only this time never comes. You gotta stop making a fool out of this woman, dumbass.” Anthony felt it when they were around each other. Parker and Tanya were electric together. They had an energy, subtle yet infectious that made you want to be around them. “Bro, you gotta ask her to marry you.” Anthony urged. “I’ve never seen you this happy. You two fit.”

Parker carried the last bale toward the front of the old barn as he reflected on Anthony’s words. Of course he was right. Just pull the fucking trigger. She made him want to be the man he wanted to be. She willingly stood aside when he acted fooley. They indulged in each other’s dreams. There was no other woman for him. This weekend was going to be the weekend he proposed.

His parents were at the ranch clearing out their personal effects. The sale took for...ev...er! But the ranch finally sold after eight months on the market. They only had eight weeks until they closed this chapter on their lives. Parker’s parents were super excited and eager to begin their real retirement in the Okanagan Valley. With the proceeds from the sale of the ranch, they were able to purchase a small vineyard. All they talked about was all the wine they were going to make. It was starting to get obnoxious.

The ranch was home to Parker. This is where he grew up. So many memories. And she was still buried there. It had become tradition for Parker to head to the pear tree every time he visited. He should have done more. He could have done more. He was seeing a therapist to confront his guilt. All he had to do was follow and maybe they would have found her before the spring.

Despite the pain lying beneath, love blossomed above. He remembered the exact moment he knew. It was that look... that spark... that smack to the face. It was the first time he said, “I love you”. The Pear Tree is where he was drawn to propose to the love of his soul.

Parker tossed the bale onto the pile outside the barn as Anthony finished sweeping up. “You ready to head in buddy?” Anthony solicited while picking up his shirt and using it to wipe his brow.

“Sure guy. Let’s head in.”