2
Mark
Sitting at my desk looking over blueprints Monday morning, I pick up the latest batch of invoices for Marcketti & Ellis Construction that need to be signed off on so that they can be sent out. My phone shimmies on my desk as it vibrates. It’s Trystan.
“What’s the word on the cast? You get to bust out of it soon? Please tell me nothing is wrong. It’s not even lunch time yet.”
“It’s good. The cast comes off mid-March. That’s the good news. Bad news is I just got to the site. The plumbers fucked something up on the Johnson project. It’s going to put us behind a couple of days.”
I let out an exasperated breath. Just another Monday.
We gave the Johnsons a list of plumbers that we personally vouch for when they asked for ideas of who to use for their build.
They went with somebody not even on the list, which is completely their choice, but when I saw the name, I knew they had a history of screwing things up.
I tried to nicely hint at it, but the wife was dead set, and that was that.
“How bad of a fuck up?” I lean back in my chair, resting my elbow on the arm while rubbing my forehead in a nervous gesture.
“Like, put it in a completely different place than it was supposed to be.”
I curse under my breath. This is just fantastic.
“Yup. You gonna make the call or am I?” Trystan asks, voice full of dread. This is honestly one of the worst parts of the job.
“I’ll call the husband.”
“Probably smart.”
I huff at his remark.
“Thanks for letting me know. I’ll get back to you.”
Hanging up the phone, I pull up my big boy drawers and dial Mr. Johnson.
After I’m done with the phone call that goes exactly as expected, I finish signing off on the invoices and check over orders to see what is expected to come in for our current projects.
With that list in hand, I drop off the invoices with Trish, our secretary, to be mailed then walk to the back of our building which connects to the company’s storage warehouse.
Opening the door, I’m hit with the comforting scents of lumber.
This is my happy place. I waltz from aisle to aisle checking off everything that has come in since yesterday.
We’re only missing two shipments, which I remember seeing would be here sometime tomorrow according to the tracking info in my email this morning.
Sweet. Most of the time there’s at least one shipment up in the air that we are unsure of its whereabouts.
I text Trystan with the little bit of good news.
We needed something good after the plumbing debacle.
I’d originally started this company on my own seven years ago, but after Trystan got out of the service three years ago, he joined the company after Colin vouched for him.
Within a few months, I knew I wanted him as my partner.
He is a beast of a foreman, and with his leadership skills, runs a tight ship.
He doesn’t put up with bullshit, and all the guys like him.
I was more than happy to give him a place at my side.
The load it took off my back was such a relief, and I knew he was worried about finding his place back in civilian life.
The extra money he brought to the table helped immensely with taking our company to the next level.
My phone buzzes again. It’s my dad. Happy mood gone again. I pick up.
“Hey, Dad, what’s up?”
“Have you met this guy that Bryn’s dating yet?”
I sigh… Hello to you too.
“Yes, unfortunately.”
“So, you agree he’s bad news?”
“Yeah, I’m not a fan. I don’t think it’ll last long from the looks of it.”
“I hope not. I always pictured her with someone more stable. More attentive. He just doesn’t look at her like he should. His eyes wander too much.”
“Agree on all counts.”
“How’s business going?”
I’m actually surprised the man asked. I figured he’d get details on Bryn then dash.
“It’s going alright. This morning’s kind of been a crapshoot. One of the plumbing contractors screwed up big, but it could’ve been worse.”
“Good good,” Dad rattles off, and I realize he’s not even really listening. “I’ve got to get back to work, Marcus. I’ll talk to you later. Keep an eye on your sister. Your mother and I love you.”
A disappointed exhale whooshes slowly from my lungs.
“Love you too, Dad. Talk to you lat–.”
He disconnects before I even finish saying later.
I don’t know why I ever get my hopes up that our conversations will get better or that he’ll actually take a true interest in me.
He’s still pretty salty that I didn’t follow in his footsteps and take over the little restaurant he and Mom own downtown.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy cooking, but I never intended to run the restaurant.
That was their dream. This place is mine.
I take pride in my work. I love helping other people’s dreams come alive.
I love seeing their eyes light up when they fall in love with their home either again or for the very first time.
I rub a palm across my stubble, wiping away the sour taste phone calls with my father always tend to leave behind.
It does no good to dwell on them. All that does is put me in a terrible mood for the rest of the day.
My thoughts wander to Bryn. I hope she’s having a good morning.
I know Colin always keeps a good eye on her when I’m not around.
This new guy though. I know I’m an overprotective asshole of a big brother and all, but he’s no good for her.
Doesn’t treat her right. They’ve been together less than a year, but the red flags I’ve seen should’ve had him out on his ass months ago.
Thankfully, they aren’t living together.
I wonder if there’s some way we can get him to blatantly show his ugly colors to Bryn before she gets any more invested.
She deserves the very best after the crap she’s been through.
???
Ava
“Why does adoption have to be so hard?” Sami, one of the partners at our firm, drops into the chair across from me, tossing her head back against the chair in exasperation while adjusting her glasses.
She has a heart of gold, which makes her so good at this job, but it also makes the tough parts of the job that much harder.
She works herself to the bone trying to help families find their missing pieces and get children out of the horrible system and orphanages.
Family law is definitely a double-edged sword.
I am super proud of our firm and our team. We’ve helped a lot of families come together, and I wouldn’t trade this career for anything. The wins definitely outshine the losses. We take those hard here though because a loss typically involves a family torn apart or a child left in the broken system.
“I don’t know. I feel like once we know the family is a safe and good fit, there shouldn’t be so many issues,” I say, knowing how long the process can be drawn out.
“Right? It drives me crazy that many of these good people have to fight tooth and nail to just help a kid or have a kid, while others who have zero desire to be a parent do so with no effort and could care less if their child is well taken care of or loved. On days like today, it makes me steaming mad, you know?” Sami rambles about the injustices of reality.
I nod in understanding, letting her get it all out.
She really just wants someone to listen for a few minutes.
When she leaves to go get some coffee, I peer down at the notes for my current case and center on the picture of the little girl I’m working to place in a home.
A home that will give her siblings, a good life, and two loving parents.
She’s been stuck in a girl’s home for the past six years.
This little girl deserves some happy. She deserves the world, and I’ll do my best to help get it for her.
Walking through the grocery store attempting to figure out what I want to eat for dinner tonight, I blow a breath through puffed cheeks, trying to get my mind out of work mode.
Some days it’s really hard to leave it all back at the office.
In my basket, I already have a bottle of wine and tampons, because it’s just that kind of fucking day, and, of course, I started early.
I’m browsing frozen meals when I hear a familiar voice cursing under his breath.
???
Fuck my life!
Breathing in deep through my nose and counting to three, I turn to face the cocky, handsome asshole that drives me to the edge of insanity every time he is within thirty feet of me.
That’s not generous enough. He just has to be in the same building with me, and I can feel him just waiting to get a dig in to make me want to rip his hair out or smack that smug smirk off his annoyingly gorgeous face.
To think, one time I even entertained the idea of dating him.
Pssshhhh…
“Hi, Ava.”
“Mark.”
“It’s always a pleasure running into you.”
“Is it though?”
“Rough day at the office?”
“Long day. Yes.”
He peers cautiously into my basket, and I pull it back a little. I should’ve grabbed something to cover the damn tampons. I roll my eyes.
“That makes sense. Ice cream.”
Huh?
The look on my face must give off my thoughts because he goes to explain.
“If I recall right, Brynnie and Mom would always go for ice cream around shark week time.”
I stifle a giggle. Shark week.
“You surprised me. I was expecting a snarky comment.”
“Maybe you just caught me at a good time. Maybe I was feeling more benevolent. I also know better than to poke the bear because I know the other idea I had would’ve poked the bear.”
He winks and begins walking off before I can say anything but looks back over his shoulder to remind me.
“Seriously, ice cream.”
And damn him… I grab some ice cream. Girl dinner tonight.
Rounding the end cap of the frozen aisle, I run smack dab into the wall of a hard chest, dropping my basket at the guy’s feet. I drop instantly to pick it all up.