Chapter 20

Sunday saw me up bright and early. If we were going to have a reveal, as Lily called it, in a little more than a month, I wanted to finish the basement. So far the only thing framed down there was the safe room. I needed to frame, rock, tape, mud, and texture the basement before any painters arrived. They were due the week after next, so there was a little pressure on me to finish the job.

I was out of Grandma’s by six, at the build by six-fifteen, and figuring out what I wanted in the basement shortly thereafter. Dad found me at a quarter to eight.

“When I didn’t see your truck on the yard I figured you’d be here. What are you up to?”

I explained that I wanted the basement finished for the big reveal. Dad understood that, pulling out the pad he always carried with him. “What do you see for down here?”

Half of the basement was already taken up with the mechanical room and storage. The rest was the safe room, another restroom, and an open space. I mentioned I’d like a game area: pool table, foosball, that kind of thing. There wasn’t anything that Dad needed to draw, it was simply a matter of vapor barrier, framing, insulation and rock on the walls.

“Good idea, Tim. Want help?”

I did, and we spent the day working, skipping church and Grandma’s lunch before we called it quits at eight. There was just enough time to head home and catch the Sunday Night Football game. I fell asleep halfway through, and I guess I must not have snored, since they let me snooze where I sat. Dad sent me to bed when the game ended.

The following week set the pattern for the next month of my life. Sunday night, put together a schedule and give it to Grandpa. Monday through Friday, go to school, get out, go to the build, work for six hours, go home, do what little homework was required of me, and hit my mattress sometime between eleven and midnight. Wake up in the morning and do it all over again. Weekends meant dawn to dusk or beyond.

I saw Paige every day, whatever good that did me. She was hurt; I could tell that from her body language. I offered to eat lunch with her, and she refused. It was almost like the first month I was here, except that I had friends now. They of course wanted to know what the deal was with us. All I could tell them was that this was my fault. They offered to help me fix it, by talking to her. I informed them that this was something between the two of us and I’d have to take care of it.

I had pushed myself hard, and Thanksgiving was next week, with Grandpa reminding me that it was traditionally a break of at least two days for everyone. Did I want the trades to work overtime, or could we push some of the jobs into the week following? I needed to talk to Dad.

This was one of the periods where he was back in Chicago, overseeing the final renovations on the Black’s house. “Dad, do you have time to talk?”

“Sure, what’s going on?”

I was lounging on my bed at home, having just revised the last building schedule. “I need to check some things with you. Are we still on for December ninth?”

“As far as I know. Evie’s been the one coordinating that. I think she’s sent out invitations to all her previous clients for the big reveal.”

“I just wanted to know if you’ll authorize overtime if I need it for next week. We’re on schedule, but I’d prefer it if we had a few more days between sign-off and the open house.”

There was silence from the other end. “Tim, you’ve been the project manager on this house from the moment we bought the property. If you want to have the subs work overtime, then that’s fine with me.”

We talked for a few more minutes, catching up with each other. And then Dad asked about me and Paige. Wrong question. I sent him the reports. He could see that I was putting in sixty hours each week. How could he not know that between the work I was doing for him and school, there just wasn’t enough time left over for a social life? Instead of answering, I told him I was tired and needed to talk to Grandpa yet before I went to bed. I signed off, angry with Dad for the first time in a long time.

“Overtime is approved if we need it,” I told Grandpa. “But I think if I help the guys out, that probably won’t be necessary.”

He nodded. “Tim, I never did apologize to you for screwing up on the gazebo. I’m sorry. I’m getting a peek at how hard you work each week managing this project, and I can’t believe I never saw it before. I’m amazed by you, I’m proud of you, and I want you to be proud of me. We’ll get this done, and Evie can show it off to whomever she pleases, but I’ll always know that it was you and your dad who made it happen.”

“Thanks, Grandpa. I want you to know that I’ve had a lot of time to think while I’ve been working on the basement. I shouldn’t have been so hard on you. I forgave you a little while ago, but I haven’t taken the opportunity to tell you. I love you and Grandma; I just wanted you to know.”

“Don’t forget to tell her that too, kid.” His voice was husky with emotion.

I simply nodded before going to bed.

Thanksgiving week finally arrived. We were so close to being finished. The painters had been in, the trades had finished up, I was taking care of the last of the trim work, and Grandpa was supervising the landscapers. What was I forgetting? Oh, yeah, there were some people I wanted to invite to Lily’s reveal.

It was funny, last week at school before we took Thanksgiving break, the girls had been talking about LM Designs’ open house that was happening in December. It was all I could do to keep my mouth shut. Gloria mentioned that her mother had heard it was going to be attended by a literal ‘Who’s Who’ of the elite from Atlanta and the surrounding area. She had been trying to score an invitation, but they had already all been sent.

Paige was still avoiding me like the plague, so I couldn’t tell how she was doing. I was almost falling asleep in classes, and I had to step into the parking lot several times a day to take care of issues Grandpa couldn’t deal with. Things were coming to a head, and wouldn’t I be happy when I had the week off?

Well, I would have except that Grandpa scheduled the occupancy inspection before I was ready for it. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Thanksgiving week saw me out at the build from early in the morning until after dark each day, frantically finishing all the small details to be found on my punch list. I had spent Sunday walking through the house and making that list, all except for my bathroom, and that of the master suite. I finally finished up, although I had to call Lily to come and look at the two upstairs bathrooms for which she had taken responsibility. She came over on Wednesday and gave me an earful.

“What is this I hear about you not making any time for Paige in the last month? Do you know that she’s spent her evenings crying into that little Wildcat you got her? What do you think you’re doing?”

This was a cross between a Lily and Mrs. Goddard issue. I decided to drive it home for her. “Lily,” I began before I was cut off.

“Oh no! This is a mother issue, not a professional one.”

I didn’t let it go. “Lily, you’ve been in contact with me this entire month. You’ve called me at three in the afternoon; you knew you could reach me at eleven at night. Where was I when you caught me on the phone?”

She was irate, “What does your location have to do with my daughter?”

This was tiring, and I had already been through a very long month. “Think about it, where was I when you called? Each. And. Every. Time?” I emphasized the last four words.

Her butt hit the newly carpeted floor when she put her pique aside and actually considered my question. “I did this?” She sat with a bewildered and anguished look on her face. “Noooo! I did this.”

“Not that I’m trying to be pedantic, but you and Dad, yes.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

I clenched my fists, willing myself to stay calm, “Are you kidding me? You two called me in the middle of my second date with your daughter, all excited about this opportunity. I hadn’t heard that in my dad’s voice for over a year. Surely you had to know that moving the schedule up several weeks would mean longer hours for someone. You were the one to convince Dad to let me manage this. I still can’t believe that neither of you made the connection that I would need to drop almost everything in my life to get this done.”

I paused, taking deep breaths. “I’m sorry – I’m trying not to be angry.” A few more deep breaths. “Mrs. Goddard, I would do almost anything to see my dad happy again. I would sacrifice my own happiness for that. You make him happy, and this project made you happy. What was I supposed to say when the two of you told me that you wanted this to happen? I mentioned to you that Paige got some bad news the night of our second date. This was it. I didn’t tell her why, because I didn’t want her to be angry with you, but I told her I wouldn’t be able to see her for over a month.”

I slumped to the floor next to Mrs. Goddard. “Don’t tell Dad. Please, don’t tell Dad. Accept that I did this for him ... and you, and let it mean something.”

We sat there silently until finally I stood up, helping her back to her feet. “Paige and I will either work this out or we won’t. Now, come on, I want to lock up and get home.”

We walked out to her car. “Please, keep this to yourself.”

She gave me a tearful nod. I stood there and watched her tail lights recede into the night before I shut everything down and went home.

Thursday. Thanksgiving. What was I thankful for? Family. Friends. Dad. Mrs. Goddard. Paige, although she wasn’t talking to me right now ... again. Uncle Frank and Aunt June. Grandmas and Grandpas, Edwards and McKenzie. The fact that the house was almost done. Sleep.

There are three NFL games on TV on Thanksgiving now, from noon eastern until late at night for us. That was my plan. No one had better mention the house, inspections, furnishings or anything else. It was football, turkey, snooze, repeat. That was my plan. I was wearing sweats and hadn’t showered. I would if someone said something, otherwise...

I’ve heard the saying, ‘Men plan and the gods, (or God), laugh(s).’ Grandma was the one to notify me.

“Tim, go shower and put on some decent clothing. Evie and Paige will be here in about a half hour.”

The disruption to my plan pissed me off; I guess I was harboring a little resentment there. I went to my room, put my cell on the dresser, grabbed my Surface Pro, some warm clothes, my sleeping bag, wallet, truck keys and left the house. Yeah I know, really mature, wasn’t it? Problem was, I was mad at the monkey wrench and I was hungry when I took off. Grandma had been cooking up a feast all day, and I had skipped lunch so that I’d be ready for it.

So when I left, there wasn’t much I could do except head into town and find either a fast food joint or Chinese restaurant that was open. Chinese ended up winning the day. It was my intention to get the food, and then head back home, taking the dirt road that led toward Grandpa’s shop from the back side of the property. I could let myself in, connect up to the network in there and watch the games over the internet on my Surface Pro, using the house cable account.

Men plan...

I should have known they’d see the plume of dust raised by my truck as I drove the dirt path to the shop. Did I mention I was tired? I took Grandpa’s hide-a-key and used it to get into his office. It was cold in there, but I had my REI minus-80-degree-rated sleeping bag for that. I plugged in the tablet, hooked up to Wi-Fi and started watching football, the second game. My belly slowly got full with the Mu Shu Pork I brought back with me, making me logy and eventually putting me to sleep.

When I awoke in the third quarter, a soft angelic hand was stroking my hair. “I didn’t know, Tim. You should have told me instead of shutting me out.”

Paige. My wide awake brain was screaming at me to tell her to go away, but that wasn’t the part that was in charge right now. “Why are you here, Paige?”

“Mom told me last night how you sacrificed us to help her and your dad,” she gushed. “Tell me that’s not the most romantic thing you’ve ever heard.”

“Paige, I was there. Wasn’t romantic, was tragic. Tragedy. She wasn’t supposed to tell you. What’s the score?” I don’t think the neurons were firing correctly.

“Don’t worry, Dallas is winning.”

“Don’t like Dallas, want them to lose. Jerry Jones needs to stay behind the scenes and quit messing with the coaching and draft picks. Let the professionals take care of that.”

“Tim ... Tim ... Tim”

I woke up again to a different angel. Man, my dreams were getting weird.

“Tim.” That sounded like Mrs. Goddard.

“Who won, Cowboys or... ?” I couldn’t remember who they were playing.

“Cowboys, they were playing the Redskins.”

“Oh, not good. What’s the next game?”

“Steelers-Colts.”

“Bet you a million dollars that the Steelers...” I can’t remember anything after that.

“Tim, wake up.” I’m pretty sure that was Grandma’s voice from the door to her once-and-soon-to-be-again sewing room.

“Grandma?”

“Yes, Tim. It’s time for you to get up.”

“I am up, aren’t I?”

“No, Tim, you’re asleep in bed. Time to get up.”

“Okay, Grandma, I’m getting up.” I crawled out of bed. “Mind if I take a shower?”

Grandma laughed, “Please. You stink!”

While I was showering, I thought about the fact that Grandma was going to make a turkey today, and I planned to watch the Thanksgiving games.

I wallowed out of the bathroom, pulling on some clothing in my room. Wait, major deja vu. I’ve lived this day before. I got a sneaking suspicion. “What day is today?” I yelled.

“Friday.”

Oh, shit! I lost most of a day.

I checked my cell phone. It was nine already. Okay, time to salvage Friday. Breakfast was ready for me in the kitchen.

“Grandma, where’s Dad?” I asked.

“He’s taking care of some last minute things for the open house.”

Oh. Maybe I should ask Grandma if I said anything embarrassing. “Grandma, did I say anything I need to apologize for while I was out of it?”

“Well, we have a wedding to prepare for, and you should probably get her a ring, but other than that, no, I think we weathered the storm.” Grandma was cracking up as she told me this.

“You’re okay with Evie and me getting married? You don’t think that maybe she’s robbing the cradle?”

“Smart Alec! We were really worried about you. Didn’t you learn your lesson the first time?” She sat by me at the breakfast table, rubbing my back.

“I guess not.” The hot food she put in front of me was beckoning. “Grandma,” I said between bites, “how much was a dream and how much was real?”

“I don’t know, Dear. What did you dream?”

“Well, Paige found me in Grandpa’s shop and told me how romantic everything was.”

“Real.”

“And then Mrs. Goddard was there and I bet her a million dollars...”

“Real.”

“Please tell me that I didn’t propose marriage to anyone.”

“No, I was just kidding. Aren’t you happy about that?”

“I don’t know.” Real.

I was forbidden to leave Grandma and Grandpa’s house, even to go outside to the shop. I guess they figured there were just too many things out there that could put me back into work mode. The TV and the couch were made available for my use, but how much college football can you watch before you fall asleep? It wasn’t an experiment, so there was no one taking notes, but I would have provided them with good information had they been.

Since my sleep habits had been less than optimal lately, I was left to snooze as much as I wanted. The soft hand stroking my hair roused me from slumber once again. This time, my awake mind was content to leave Paige sitting where she was as it reveled in the sensations she was causing.

“Paige, I think I was a little tired yesterday, so if I said anything to upset you, I’m sorry.”

“You weren’t just a little tired, Mister. You had all of us worried after Mom couldn’t wake you when you fell asleep while trying to make bets with her. She got your dad and grandpa, and they had to put you in a wheelbarrow to get you back to the house.”

Just imagining that sight made me laugh. “That must have been pretty funny to see. Anyone have video?”

Her palm left a stinging sensation when she slapped my chest, “It was not funny, Tim. It was scary. People aren’t supposed to fall asleep so deeply that you just can’t wake them, not unless they’re taking something. You weren’t, were you?”

“Weren’t what?”

“Taking something,” the little catch in her voice told me this was a serious question.

“No. Nothing. Just working too hard for too long and it all caught up to me.”

I lay there for a while simply enjoying what her hand was doing. “Can I ask you something?”

“What?”

I needed to know details about the build. “Have you been over to the house yet, Paige? Are they done? I had a punch list that I was working on, but either Dad or Grandpa will have to take care of that until I’m let out of jail.”

“No, Tim. They won’t let me over there either. I guess they think that if I see it, I’ll tell you about it, and then you’ll get all worked up, like now. I’m here on doctor’s orders to help you get some rest.” She kept stroking my hair, shifting in her seat to slide under my head and shoulders, so that I was resting on her lap.