Robin's Vermont

By Taylor Adams

Robin's Vermont is a humorous and lighthearted feel-good story about a young couple chasing the American Dream.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Taylor Adams
• Release date: Mar 9, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465781734

Taylor Adams

Taylor Adams is the author of several acclaimed thrillers including Hairpin Bridge and No Exit. No Exit has been published in 32 languages and was recently released as a Hulu Original film. Adams lives in Washington State.

Book preview

Robin’s Vermont

Taylor Adams

Copyright 2012 Taylor Adams

Smashwords Edition

It takes forty-five minutes to drive from Burlington, Vermont to Medley. The small farming community sits among rolling hills and ragged mountains. Dairy farms are scattered along the winding valley that is Medley. At six thirty in the morning the sun is just beginning to peek over Camel’s Hump Mountain and onto the small town.

The sun’s rays streak through the bedroom window of Robin Mansfield. She’s a 24-year-old blonde with a Fuck You attitude. She pulls the comforter over her head when her perky mother Nellie peeks in through the door opening. Come on, Nellie says. Chop, Chop, time to go work. It’s Monday.

Robin rolls over with her pillow wrapped around her head. She moans, Fuck work. After a few minutes she rolls out of bed and takes a shower. She gets dressed and heads downstairs.

Nellie is in the kitchen cooking breakfast when Robin takes a seat at the table. She grabs an apple from the fruit basket. Her father Barney is already eating and sipping coffee. Would ya looky here? He says.

Robin says, It’s not fair. Why do I have to work? You guys are the ones who copulated and created my embryo. You horny perverts should have to support me for the rest of my life. It’s just not fair!

Barney replies without looking up from his morning paper. Can you pass the syrup Sunshine?

Robin considers throwing the syrup at her father because of his lack of sympathy.

Robin’s Brother Robbie races into the room and plops down at the table. Robbie is two years younger than Robin. He’s very high strung and full of energy. He looks around. Where’s my purple cup? Someone took my cup.

Nellie says, Nobody took your damn cup. I had to wash it for god’s sake.

Robin pours a glass of milk while she holds the apple in her mouth with her teeth. Barney asks, What time you picking up Constant?

She pulls the apple from her mouth. I got five minutes.

Robbie says, You two should just move in together. What kind of a couple lives in separate houses and stays with their parents after they get married?

Robin replies, Mind your own freaking business, asshole.

Nellie says, Robin Ann, you watch your language.

Robin slides down in her chair a little. Her Labrador retriever, Brewsky waddles into the room and jumps up with his front paws on her lap. He licks her face. Robin says, You are such a good boy, aren’t you?

Robbie says, You’re sick. He was just licking his balls two minutes ago.

Robin yells, Mom, tell Robbie to shut the freak up.

Nellie looks over her shoulder. Robbie shut the freak up before I whop you upside the head.

Throughout the chaos there is a sense of family harmony.

The scene at the other side of town is entirely different. Inside the families’ well kept, turn of the century saltbox, is Constant Mansfield. He’s 24. His tossed blonde hair gives him that typical surfer look.

When compared to Robin and her family, Constant and his family are about as opposite as the north and south poles. Constant, an only child sits quietly at the table as his mother Wanda brings his eggs. Constant quietly says, Thanks. Can I have some ketchup?

Wanda replies, Be careful, too much sodium makes you bloated.

Clarence, Constant’s father strolls up to Wanda at the sink and plants a kiss on her cheek. Morning Beautiful, how’s my favorite wife?

I’m your only wife, dink.

Clarence says, Where’s Robin? You guys are gonna be late again.

Relax Clarence. They got to eat.

Back in my day… He’s cut off as Constant and Wanda finish his sentence You got one chance. After that, back to the unemployment line. They all laugh.

Relax dad, I’m salary. It’s no big deal if I show up a little late.

Well it’s not good work ethic.

Wanda cuts in, Give the boy a break. He’s the first Mansfield to get a college degree. If that don’t take work I don’t know what does.

"Well, long as he doesn’t get a big head.

Robin pulls in the driveway and honks the horn. Constant says, Horn blows. He jumps up and heads for the door.

Wanda asks, Horn blows? What’s that mean?

Just being a wise ass. Clarence says.

Constant opens the passenger side door of the truck to see Robin smiling and ready to take on the day.

Robin says, Morning sunshine, how we doing?

Still waking up.

He jumps up in, gives Robin a big kiss, puts his coffee in the cup holder, slams the door shut and straps on his seatbelt.

Robin asks, Ready?

Ready.

Robin pulls the truck out onto Main Road as they continue to work. She says, My daddy says that we need to find our own place soon. He doesn’t mind me staying home, but it’s not right for us to be living separately.

Jeez um crow. We’re trying. I can’t help it if my parents don’t agree with us sleeping together under their roof.

Well, my daddy says you can stay at our house.

Yeah right! Remember that time we thought nobody was home and we were going at it like wild animals?

I remember.

Yeah, well I’ll never forget.

We just need to find our own place.

We will sugar. I’ve been looking, but everything is priced so high. That old farmhouse down by Miller’s is selling for three hundred thousand. And there’s hardly any land.

I’m just sayin. Robin says.

Robin is driving along as Constant looks out the side window contemplating. Someone driving a Subaru pulls out immediately in front of Robin. She stomps on the brakes as Constant braces his hands on the dashboard.

Robin yells, Fucking asshole!

Constant joins in. What an effing moron!

Robin says, There’s not another car in sight. People are always in such a rush.

She tailgates the car until it finally turns

They pass through town. A few regulars are hanging out on the front porch at Jacques General store. The speed limit is only 25 miles per hour. Everybody waves as they pass.

They continue through the town of Richmond and onto Williston.

They pull into a parking lot. The sign in front reads American Smokestack. Robin is the warehouse manager for American Smokestack. She parks the truck and jumps out. Constant gets out of the truck, walks around to the other side and hops into the drivers’ seat. Robin gives him a kiss through the open window. She jokes, Don’t forget to pick me up.

I won’t sugar. Have an awesome day.

You too.

Constant zips away as Robin enters the warehouse.

Inside the warehouse the lighting makes the air look gray, almost hazy. Robin’s