How Did You Find Out in progress

EXT. PATIO - DAY

Hunter and Tom stand near the table. We see Chloe through the window over the sink, watching from behind the center island.   

HUNTER: How did you find out?

TOM: Well, wen t online and did a search for your mother.

HUNTER: When was this?

TOM: Bout ten years ago. Come across her obituary. Seen you and Chloe as her survivors. Did a search for you and found the only one that spells Hardyn with a Y. There were a couple addresses in California. Then I did a search for her parents and found the ancestry site her mother kept. Your grandmother. Got to your limb on the family tree and seen your date a birth. Did the math.

HUNTER: The math.

TOM: Carson City?

Hunter nods.

TOM (cont.) I thought about lookin' for ya but I didn't know what Olivia mighta told ya. And I thought about the fact she wasn't survived by a husband mighta meant there'd been who'd passed. 

HUNTER: There was not.

Tom nods.

HUNTER (cont.): She told me about the two days. A little about the night. There are a lot of Tom Walkers in Texas.

TOM: Yessir.

HUNTER: A middle name might have helped.

TOM: Travis. Anyway, wasn't long after that I was in a bookstore with my wife doin' some Christmas shoppin'. Seen Trabuco on a table a books just out in paperback. Cover caught my eye, and then H-C Hardyn. Found your Wiki page. And the paragraph about your short story Ranch Hands. Wrote a letter, care of your publisher.

HUNTER: Never got it.

TOM: Never sent it. More I thought about it, seemed the right call to leave ya alone. You were just comin' into success and the timin' seemed like not the best. 

HUNTER: Why now?

TOM: Well, plan was to just drive by and take a picture. Then when ya seen me, well, I thought it might seem like I was stalkin' ya, back to me askin' for directions.

HUNTER: Passing through on your way to Texas for what, if you don't mind me asking.

TOM: You can ask me anything you want. My sister Ruth's in a little town called Comfort, in the hill country. 

HUNTER: Other siblings?

TOM: No sir.

HUNTER: Do I have any?

TOM: Not the I know of.

HUNTER: Is that a wedding band?

TOM: Yessir. My wife Wanda stayed back in Laramie to be with a friend, otherwise she'd be along. Us and Ruthie are buyin' a house in Kerrville. We're just gonna drive around a few days lookin' at neighborhoods. 

HUNTER: They know you're here.

TOM: Yessir. Both mighty surprised.

HUNTER: How long have you been married?

TOM: Twenty years this November.

HUNTER: Previous marriage or marriages.

TOM: No sir. Wanda was married before.

HUNTER: Does she have kids?

TOM: No sir. Wasn't able to. 

HUNTER: Lemonade or water?

TOM: A lemonade'd be great. Thank you.

HUNTER: Be right back.

TOM: Be right here.

Hunter walks to the kitchen door.  Tom sits at the table.  Hunter stops, turns back to Tom.

HUNTER: Tom, if it's okay with you, Hunter rather than sir?

TOM: Yessir. Hunter.

Hunter continues to kitchen.

INT. KITCHEN 

Chloe at center island, casserole prep. Hunter enters, goes to fridge.

CHLOE: Well?

HUNTER: Gramma's obituary ten years ago. Subsequent searching and bookstore moment. No siblings. Married to Wanda, they're buying a house with sister Ruth in Texas hill country. 

Hunter fills two glases with ice, pours lemonade, puts pitcher back in fridge, stands next to Chloe, both looking at Tom.

HUNTER: Well?

CHLOE: Minute sample size but I get a good vibe. Kind eyes, a sadness twinkle. We'll need to take a picture or two.

HUNTER: Roger that.

CHLOE: And you'll have to bust out the Tahoe pic.

HUNTER: And a picture of his face when he sees it. Door, please.

Chloe opens the door, Hunter walks to Tom, Chloe closes door, returns to center island, watches Hunter sit across from Tom. She gets phone from pocket just in time to record Hunter and Tom joining glasses in a toast, pockets phone, resumes casserole with eyes never leaving Tom and Hunter.