Chapter 5
Jasper
Somehow, I'd made it back to my apartment with practically no memory of the drive there, and had to hope I hadn’t run any red lights along the way.
I was in one piece despite my mind being anywhere but on the road.
It wasn't the first time I had driven on autopilot, but it had been a while.
Was there a guardian angel out there somewhere wiping sweat off their brow for how hard they worked to keep me alive?
I, undoubtedly, gave them more than they bargained for.
Maybe they were a naughty little vixen whose punishment was being assigned to me.
I whispered a quiet, “ Sorry and thank you,” in case someone out there was listening.
Safely inside my apartment, I kicked off my shoes, and hurried to my desk to open my laptop.
I was anxious to get to my emails on a screen large enough to look at everything properly.
It was the only thing I could think about since I'd left the farm, and why my poor guardian angel needed a raise or a promotion or something.
Get them some golden sparkles to bedazzle their wings, surely they earned that much at the very least.
George had given me verbal estimates while looking through the barn.
The estimates had covered a wide range, but I was eager to see the full breakdown.
He said he would need to do a little research, since this would be the first hot shop his company had done, but that he would include multiple options that would allow for different budgets.
The ballpark figures he'd given me might have sounded daunting if I hadn't already been looking into what it would take to convert basic office space into a studio.
It would be costly, glassblowing wasn't an inexpensive activity, but I was prepared for that.
I only had to decide exactly how far I wanted to take it.
My gut instinct was to go all in. There was a chance—a big one—that I wouldn't be able to make enough money on glasswork to justify the cost of doing it.
My parents argued this point every time I brought it up.
I knew I could, though. Knew it deep inside my bones.
If they were to look at my bone marrow, they would see a kaleidoscope of glass shards twinkling in the light of the microscope.
Of all the things I'd done, nothing felt quite as right as glass and fire.
I couldn't explain the depth of it or how it pulled at my very soul.
My parents certainly would never understand.
They weren't creative types and would never be able to grasp the need to make something.
On the chance that it didn't pan out as a successful career, I couldn't imagine ever giving glass up.
It might not have been something I grew up dreaming of doing, but once I found it, it clicked like nothing else ever had.
I wanted to do it for the rest of my life, even if I never became a world-renowned artist, or even state-renowned.
What I wouldn't give to see a piece I made in a gallery or a show, but that wasn't going to happen without a space to work in.
After refreshing my inbox several times—as if it wouldn't show if I received a new email—I jumped out of my chair when I saw a message from Grove Hills Construction.
“Okay. This is it.” It wasn't anything final, merely quotes, but it felt like something tangible, much like the supplies in my storage unit. This was a real step. A big step. A real, fucking big step.
Blowing out a breath, I sat back down at the computer, and opened the email.
I didn't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't the twenty-page document attached.
When he said he was going to do research, he meant it.
I met with George because of his reputation, and if his thoroughness in this quote was any indication, he was the right guy for the job.
It was broken down into three tiers, each with clear and specific labor, parts, and costs.
The first would suffice. It would make for a simple shop, but would barely meet the needs of the equipment I'd already purchased.
I had enough money saved that I would be able to pay it in full without blinking, which would mean I would be up and running sooner.
Except, I'd waited this long, and if I was going to do it, I wanted to do it right, not just right now.
The middle road option would be fine. It would take me some time to get access to the funds for it, but I would be able to make the deposit to get the work started.
My eyes kept drifting to the last quote, though.
It was a stretch goal, for sure. A dream shop.
One that could last a lifetime, and had the potential to become a place I could share with others, possibly even mentor future glassblowers, as I had been.
How long would Gio's generous offer hold up?
Was it worth pouring such a huge sum of money into a barn that belonged to someone else?
Gio's offer seemed as genuine as he did.
I didn't know him well, yet, but with how he was with his kids, and how much they clearly adored him, I felt I could take him at his word.
I had planned to pop in and talk with him in person earlier, but I'd gotten so caught up with the contractor that I missed the opportunity to see him.
As I stared at the figures before me, I was hit with a pang of guilt.
I didn't want it to seem like I was taking advantage of Gio's incredible offer.
I didn't feel right about moving forward with any plans, especially not the big plan, without ensuring he was okay with it, no matter how eager I was to reply to George and get the construction under way.
Instead, I pulled my phone out and, once again, found myself staring at the number of a man I barely knew. A man who’d made me feel more at home in such a short time than I ever had with my family.
Hitting call, I blew out a breath, bracing myself for the possibility that he might take back the offer. I didn’t actually think he would, but I had to prepare for it before I started signing checks.
It rang a few times before Gio answered, each ring echoing louder in my ears. “Hi, Jasper. How’s it going?”
I heard voices and laughter in the background and I looked at the time on my phone. “Shit. I’m interrupting dinner. I’m sorry. I can call back later.”
“No, it’s fine. Let me just go to another room.” The voices grew more muted and I heard some rustling before he started talking again. “All right, now I’ll be able to hear you better. Is everything okay?”
I sighed audibly. Here I was, disrupting his family time, again, and soon would be disrupting whatever quiet he had on the farm with noisy construction.
“Hi, Gio. Yeah, everything is great. I mean, it could be, potentially, I hope, unless it’s not.
Shit, sorry. I thought I had my thoughts together, but they’re all jumbled up. Just give me a minute.”
He chuckled softly and said, “Take all the time you need, I’ll be here.”
Damn, he was so sweet. I, however, was a mess. I smacked my phone lightly on my head. Get it together! “Gio, I, uh, need to ask you something?”
“Of course. Did everything go okay with the contractor today?”
“Yeah, it did, actually. In fact, he’s given me a lot to think about, which is where my question comes in. I, uh, I need to know how serious you were about the barn before I get in too deep.”
I heard a door close, and wondered if he was settling onto his bed, and imagined how sexy he might look, taking his glasses off and putting them next to his bed. An intrusive thought I absolutely didn’t need at the moment.
“I was serious about it, Jasper. Very serious. It’s yours.”
The swoon that was building inside me was barely contained. “God, you say that so easily, but I’m not sure you know what it means.”
“I think I have an idea.” Gio’s voice was calm and smooth like the honey he bottled.
“It’s a lot of work, Gio. The barn is incredible, a perfect space, really, but if I want to build it into the kind of hot shop I’ve been dreaming of, there’s so much to do.
I’ll handle all the costs of it, of course, but I don’t want to disturb you with all the work.
And… it’s going to be permanent. Nothing can’t be undone, of course, but if I do this, I’m hoping it will be a shop that can serve me for a long time. I’d be around… a lot.”
Gio laughed softly, not sounding at all concerned. “I’m aware that construction is a part of the process, and there’s no time limit to the offer.”
“Are you sure? What if you get sick of me?”
“It’s a big farm, Jasper. I think we can manage.” There was a hint of amusement in his words, a sound that was rather pleasing, and made me feel a little better.
“You really mean it? I don’t want you to regret it. Admittedly, I want this so fucking bad, I'm ready to jump on it, but I want to make sure I’m not overstepping or crossing a line to get there. That’s not how I want to start my business.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I promise you’re not overstepping. I offered, without conditions. Well, don’t burn it down, that would be a condition, I suppose.”
I couldn’t stop the smile that was building as the yes became more clear and the quote I wanted to accept became more attainable. “Part of the construction will be to ensure the place is as safe as it can possibly be. By the time we’re done with it, it’ll be able to withstand pretty much anything.”
Another laugh came from him and I wanted to soak in the rich sound.
“See? That sounds pretty good to me. Do whatever you need to do, Jasper, I believe in you. That being said, if it would make you feel better, we could put something in writing so you don’t have to worry about me changing my mind.
I won’t, but I don’t want you to feel like it might fall out from under you. ”
Every worry I had vanished with the idea. Contracts were something that had become ingrained in me growing up. “Always have a contract.” “Contracts protect both parties.” Lessons I had heard over and over. “Oh my God, yes! That would make me feel better, actually. Are you sure you don’t mind?”
Gio’s deep, calm voice reached through the phone like a hug. “I really don’t mind. Come on by whenever, and we’ll get it all sorted.”
“I think I love you,” I breathed out, feeling unbelievably relieved.
“Ah, well, um, okay, then.” His typical calm and cool tone suddenly shifted, making him sound unsure for the first time.
It was then I realized what I said, and rushed to cover. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say that, I’m just so grateful and excited. Please tell me I didn’t just screw everything up.”
Gio shouted, “No!” He cleared his throat and continued, “No, it’s fine. Sorry, it just caught me by surprise. We’ll get those papers signed as soon as possible, so you can rest assured nothing will jeopardize it. I… better get back to dinner.”
“Right. Right. Dinner. Say hi to everyone for me, and thank you. Seriously. I’m beyond excited, and I can’t thank you enough for helping make this happen.”
“I’m happy to be able to help, Jasper, though I have no doubt you would have gotten there on your own.”
“Thank you, Gio. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Have a good night.”
We hung up and I punched a fist in the air. “Yes! This is happening. It’s fucking happening!”
I looked at the quote once more. Third tier.
Dream shop. I had enough set aside for the deposit that would be required.
The remainder I had in my trust, it was just a matter of accessing it.
With a click on the reply button, I was already working out the conversations that I would have to have in order to get the funds.
It would suck, but I could bite the bullet, knowing it was going to get me my studio.
The next day I received e-sign documents from Grove Hills Construction and transferred the deposit.
The work was set to start soon and it all felt completely surreal.
My life, as I knew it, was about to change.
If only I had known exactly how much it would change.
Though…if I had, I probably wouldn’t have done anything different.