Chapter 13 #2
Vince continued. “Lace and I haven’t exactly talked about where things are going to go from here.
Between us, I mean. Other than that I’ll move into one of her spare bedrooms. Oh.
Which reminds me.” He snapped his fingers.
“The second full bath in the house needs a total overhaul.” He got to his feet.
“I’m going to text Statler right now and schedule a time when he can give me a quote. ”
“If you’re doing a studs-up reframe,” Guy Sothard interjected, “I’ll throw in all the lumber.”
Vincent smiled and nodded. “Thanks Pops.”
Now it was his mother who spoke again. “Statler should be at your brother Julian’s house. Jules and Petula invited him over for supper tonight.”
Vincent jingled the keys in his hand. “Then forget the text. I’ll head there and see if there’s any dessert left.”
The dogs heard the keys and ran over, wagging their tails.
“Not this time, guys,” Vince crooned. “I’ll make it up to you, tomorrow.”
They seemed to get the picture, because they both turned with a huff and went back to their beds.
“Tell the kids we say hello,” Ellen called out as he headed for the door.
She’d already hit play on her show, so there was no need to answer.
The drive took ten minutes—with one quick stop—and sure enough, Statler’s beat-up old truck was in the driveway. Vince chuckled. He didn’t know why the man didn’t replace that piece-of-shit, but there was some odd attachment there, and nothing would convince Stat to part with the old beast.
Had Statler owned it even during his high school days?
From Vince’s recollection, it had to be the same one.
But what did Vince know? Before coming home, Vince hadn’t seen Statler in over twenty years. And even back in the day, being from different high schools, they’d only played club football together for a local, fall league; chumming around, but never actually hanging out very much.
But with Julian now in love and living with Statler’s sister, Petula, Vince and Stat had started seeing a lot of each other; finding that they had much in common as adults, and enjoying the hell out of each other’s company.
Vincent was just happy right now that Statler’s newest job, a big factory build up north, had kept being postponed due to finalizing agreement signatures, and gaining permitting. If the project hadn’t been on hold, Statler wouldn’t be able to help out with Vince’s proposed remodel.
As it was, Vince hoped the man’s schedule wasn’t too busy with current, smaller projects.
Knocking once on the door, Vince let himself in, knowing that everyone would probably be out back, enjoying the cool night air.
Sure enough, he walked through a couple large rooms that were the opposite of the construction in Lace’s house.
Here, there were plain, smooth white surfaces and soaring ceilings, as opposed to the pocked plaster of slightly crooked walls that held ancient oil paintings of unknown origin in Lace’s antique cape, where low beams crisscrossed eight-foot ceilings. And that was speaking generously.
“Yo. Stat. Bro,” Vince called out so he wouldn’t scare anyone as he pushed through the back door onto the expansive deck.
“And the lovely Petula, of course,” he added, going over to lift and kiss his future sister-in-law’s hand.
He whipped a bouquet of flowers that weren’t fake, out from behind his back.
“I picked up something for you since your boyfriend has probably already lost his romantic touch at this point in your relationship,” he teased with a wink.
“Asshole,” Julian mumbled good-naturedly.
“Aw, Vince. That’s very sweet.” Petula shot Julian a smirk, then graced Vince with a charming smile. “You must want something.”
Vince sputtered, then laughed. “Okay. You got me. I need to talk with my general contractor friend.”
“Something to do with a certain antique cape owned by one Lace Heiger?” Julian put in impudently.
“You’re kidding,” Vince groaned. “Mom told everyone already?”
“Nope. Buck,” Julian smirked. “He and Bobbie went to retrieve Cooper and Reyghan, had a quick chat with Mom and Pop, then called me.” He ended triumphantly.
“It’s only been fifteen minutes, tops,” Vince groused, then shook his head. “I can’t believe this family.”
Statler didn’t bother getting up.
“What’s this project you have up your sleeve?” he asked immediately. “Just know if it’s anything illegal or immoral, I’ll be charging you double.”
Vince snorted. “Nothing like that,” he assured his buddy, taking a seat and snagging one of the last brownies on a plate that looked like it might have been full, earlier.
“I need a quick bathroom remodel. I was hoping you’d have some time before you head north.”
“That damned job,” Statler grumbled. “We should have broken ground in April, and here it is August. At this rate, we’re going to be freezing our asses off before we even have any steel in place.”
Vince felt a little bad for Statler. But only a little. Statler was always traveling far afield to take on difficult jobs. The conditions for the one he was waiting on, sounded sketchy as hell. But what did Vince know?
The good news, though? Next to that job, Vincent’s project would be a cake-walk.
“So what have you got?” Statler tipped a beer bottle to his lips and took a good long sip.
“Antique cape with a bathroom that time forgot.” Vincent launched right in. “It was clearly installed in the 1940’s, and everything in it is bad. Pepto-Bismol tiles, popcorn ceiling—probably asbestos—and a tub you wouldn’t want your goat to drink out of.”
Petula snickered.
“So a total gut, then?” Statler asked, unphased.
“Absolutely. But as a bonus, Dad says he’ll supply all the lumber needed, for free.”
“That’s helpful,” Statler told him. “Since we never know what we’ll find on the underside of an old bathroom. If there have been any long-term leaks, even years ago, some of the floor joists might have to be replaced once we rip up the floor.”
“That’s all in your wheelhouse,” Vince replied with a smirk. “My bathroom expertise comes from showering, brushing my teeth, and pissing… Uh, sorry Petula.”
“No worries,” she responded cheekily. “I’m used to Sothards who piss. Especially ones who don’t put the toilet seat up.”
Julian didn’t refute the claim, but his face was suddenly crimson.
Note to self. Don’t pee on Lace’s toilet seats.
“So, when can I come take a look?” Statler asked, deflecting attention from Julian. “We’ve almost wrapped up a prefab install just outside of town that my crew can finish by themselves, so I’m available whenever.”
“Tomorrow? Eight AM?” Vince asked, his excitement growing.
“Great. You got it. Just shoot me the address.
Damn. It looked like this was really going to happen.