Dylan’s Redemption(33)
“I’m fine, James. I did what I had to do yesterday. I put the past behind me a long time ago. It’s time to move on.
“Speaking of moving on,” she said and focused her attention on Buddy’s old house. “Who can you spare from the crew? I need three guys to come with me to clear out a house. I had the Dumpster delivered this morning. We’ll gut the place, and I’ll need the guys to help me fix it up over the next week or two.”
“I’ll have the guys meet you at your truck.
“Would you like to come to dinner tonight? Trudy’s making her meatloaf and mashed potatoes. There’s nothing like my Trudy’s cooking.”
Right about that. The woman made being a wife and mother look like an art form.
Jessie went home every night to an empty house. Cooking for one had lost its shine the first month she’d lived in her new house. She barely used her spectacular kitchen to cook an actual meal. She usually threw together a can of soup and a sandwich, or went really wild and ate a bowl of cereal. What a shame. She should cook more often. Maybe if she did, she could invite someone to eat with her. Dylan’s face came to mind, both irritating and intriguing her. She wondered what he’d say if and when he found out where she lived.
Eating alone sucked, so she accepted the dinner invitation. “I’d love to come. What time?”
“Since you’ll be in Fallbrook, let’s make it seven.”
It would take her close to an hour to get back over to Solomon, but Trudy’s cooking was well worth the drive. “Sounds good. I’m going to talk to Brian before I leave. Round up my men.”
“They aren’t cattle, you know.
“Close enough.” She winked and scooped up the blueprints and other papers she needed before heading out the door.
Chapter Twelve
* * *
SWEAT DRIPPED DOWN Brian’s back. Not even seven in the morning and his muscles ached, his mind lagged. God, he needed a break. The guys working with him kept up a fast and steady pace. He tried his best not to fall too far behind. They didn’t talk, except to call out a measurement or ask for a tool. He wanted to sit down and take a breath without his muscles going into spasm. He hadn’t worked this hard in the last six months, and it had only been an hour since he arrived on the jobsite.
He hadn’t seen his sister, had no idea if she’d check on him like she’d threatened. On time for the first time in a long while, he wasn’t going to screw up this opportunity, so he ignored his screaming muscles and kept at it.
Marilee had made it clear: he needed to work hard, earn his pay, and make sure they had the medical coverage they depended on for her and the baby. If he didn’t, she would leave and take the baby with her. Time was running out on the pregnancy. Pretty soon there’d be a baby to take care of and feed. He needed this job.
No way would he make his sister look bad to whoever she’d had to beg to give him the job. He didn’t even know if she’d just gotten him the job with someone she knew, or if she worked for the company too. At the time, he hadn’t been clear of mind to ask any questions.
“Let’s lift this section into place. Brian, you secure the bottom and we’ll hold it in place.” Bucky gave the orders and expected him to obey. Brian understood that much about the quiet man and did as he asked.
“You’re moving a little slow,” Bucky chided with no real hint of a reprimand. “You’re trying hard though. That’s all I can ask from the new guy,” he said by way of encouragement. “We’ll have you up to speed soon enough.”
That, or I’ll be dead.
Brian eyed Bucky and wondered if they assigned him to break in the new guys. In past years, he’d have had no problem keeping up, or being better than the likes of Bucky. Drinking had sucked the life out of him. Out of shape, he hadn’t been eating properly, and his hands trembled after sobering up over the last two days. Whatever alcohol lingered in his system, he’d sweat out over the next seven hours.
The two guys hefted the wall frame into place, and he screwed it to the floor.
“J.T.’s on the way over.” Bucky let go of the new wall and headed over to start framing in another section.
“Is J.T. the boss?” Brian asked and drilled the last screw into the frame without taking the time to look up and see who Bucky was talking about.
“Owner and boss,” Bucky said in answer and went back to doing his work. Brian waited for the piece Andrew cut to fit.
Jessie spotted Brian helping to put up a wall in one of the thirty-eight track homes. In the beginning stages, they still had to pour foundations for the twelve custom homes that would line the back of the park yet to be started.