Dylan’s Redemption(34)
She loved the noise on a construction site. Definite sounds of progress. Hammers, saws, drills, air compressors, engines, and men. A cacophony of sounds, all of which contributed to the building of family homes.
She made her way to talk to her brother. Several of the men stopped her to ask questions and update her on the progress of one project or another. She had good people working for her, and for the most part, she could let them do what they did best. Build.
“Hey, Bucky, Andrew. You guys breaking in the new guy?” She gave them both a smile and stepped up onto the newly built floor that now supported two new walls her brother helped put up.
“Yeah, boss,” they said in unison and got back to work, knowing if she wanted to talk, or give them something to do, she’d get on with it. They weren’t required to stand around and jabber with her.
“Jessie? You’re the boss?” Amazed, Brian stared at her. “I knew you were successful, since you drove that Porsche, but I never expected to find you in charge of a construction site.”
Either he’d been too drunk when she’d told him about his job, or he hadn’t figured on her being the one to give it to him.
“Brian, you did realize when I offered you the job you’d work for me.”
“I didn’t realize you still worked construction. I thought you’d get as far away from a construction site as you could.”
“Yeah, well, when you’re fifteen and the only skill you have is construction, you use it. The only thing Dad ever did for me turned out to be a blessing. I got a job right away, and while I went to school, I could work from sunup to the middle of the afternoon and attend classes into the evening. Once I had my degree, I borrowed some money from the man who’d given me a job and started my own company. He gave me a chance to prove myself. Pop believed in me. From that belief came Hope Construction.”
“Are you saying you own this construction company? This project is yours?”
She smiled because Brian’s fog had finally lifted. Judging by the look on his face, her accomplishments impressed him.
“Yes, Brian.” She spread her arms to encompass the entire construction site of dirt and foundations and trucks and organized chaos. The site wasn’t much to look at right now, but in a few weeks they’d complete several homes and have others well underway. Several of the custom home projects were her designs.
“All of this belongs to me. I have really great people working for me. I work closely with a development group. They find the land and do the work to get the building permits and zoning, and then I build. This is the largest project my company has taken on alone. Pop and I have worked on several projects together. He’s been instrumental in helping me get started and build my company’s reputation.”
“Who’s this ‘Pop’?”
“Ever heard of John Langley?”
“Are you telling me you’re backed by Langley Construction? They’re the largest construction firm in the state.”
“They did back me, but I paid off my last loan to Pop about a year ago. Since then, I’ve been running in the black.”
“Is that who met you at the funeral? Those two men you visited with yesterday.”
“Yes, John and his son, Greg. I went to work for Pop when I left Fallbrook. Pop helped me get a small studio apartment and made sure I got my GED. Then he helped me get into college. All the while, I worked in the office with him planning and organizing construction projects, and more often than not working a construction site. Pop taught me everything I needed to know about owning a construction company and what it takes to plan a job and see it through. I learned when to buy equipment and when to rent or borrow. He made sure I knew when to take on a portion of the job myself and when to subcontract it out. I’ve done pretty well over the last couple of years. When I need help or advice, Pop and Greg are there to lend a hand.”
“Is Greg your boyfriend?”
“He’s my friend. He was there for me when I needed him. Pop is the father I wished I had. You’ll like them. They’re good people.”
She didn’t mean to hurt his feelings with the truth that strangers had been there for her when he wasn’t, but you couldn’t dispute the facts.
“Take a look at the changes I want to make to your house. Let me know if you like them, or if there’s something you want to change.” She laid the blueprints out on the subfloor and waited while Brian scanned them. She’d spent most of yesterday afternoon going through the old house and updating the blueprints.
“You want to extend the house on both sides?”