Church
Afew weeks later, Perkins, Collins, our mom, and I pulled up to the Humanity for Community job site that Jackson Strong was heading up.
We’d left Bailey at the bed and breakfast because that twin pregnancy was kicking her butt.
Collins was pregnant, too, but she was having a much easier time than Bailey.
“Bayliss said we should look for Jones,” our mom told us. “He’s the project supervisor.”
“Really?” I questioned before I thought to keep my mouth shut.
“It’s good to know that he’s pouring into Jackson Falls,” Collins said.
“Yeah, and not just pouring his semen into these local young hos,” Perkins commented.
I choked on my laughter.
“Perkins.” Our mom admonished her with a small frown.
“What? He’s been whoring around Jackson Falls and Chinook Woods since he got here. All the conversations at the salon are about him and his conquests.”
“Come on, Perk.” Collins glanced over at Perkins. “You know talk about him has died down in the last few weeks or so. Apparently, he’s either been on his best behavior or he’s working toward turning his reputation around.”
“Well, it couldn’t get much worse,” Perkins mumbled.
I didn’t say a word. I silently followed our mother as she made a beeline for Jones. He spotted her and gave her a big grin.
“You’ve gotta admit that the guy is gorgeous,” Collins whispered to us.
“Community dick is always good-looking.”
I rolled my eyes at Perkins. She could be the quintessential eldest sister at times—all judgmental and disapproving.
Jones checked us in. “So this is your next job after finishing up my project, huh?” I asked him.
He gave me that million-dollar smile. “Yeah. But that won’t stop me from coming by to do those other things you asked about. Changing out the hardware on your kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Installing those custom doorknobs and hanging that chandelier in your bedroom.” He smiled again. “I got you.”
“Appreciate you,” I called over my shoulder as I walked away. One thing about being the youngest sister, if I had lingered just a second too long, my sisters would’ve been all over me with questions.
Jones had put all four Kingsley women on framing and wall assembly. We elected Collins as the foreperson. She got to watch and supervise while my mom, Perkins, and I actually did the assembling.
When it was time for lunch, Bailey showed up with a big bag of food from the bed and breakfast. All of us celebrated by clapping, dancing, and doing little shoulder shimmies. The Kingsley women loved to eat, and the chefs at Bailey’s place made the best food.
Bailey unpacked the offerings, and my mother beckoned Jones over. “Hey. What’s up, Ms. Alisha?”
“Lunch, baby. I had Bailey bring enough for you. Pull up a”—she looked around; we were all on makeshift seating—“a step stool, or a pile of lumber.”
“I actually brought my lunch today, something from the crib.”
My mom twisted her lips. “What’d you bring?”
Bailey was steadily unloading the food. I knew those aromas were wafting into his nose. And I knew whatever he brought from home couldn’t compare with what Bailey was pulling out of the bags.
“A sandwich.”
“You can eat it for dinner tonight. Come eat with us.”
“Yeah,” he said finally. “That smells good as he—That smells good.”
“Sit down,” she told him as Bailey gave us a wave and headed back to work.
He found a stepladder from somewhere and pulled it over to our little group. He and I were next to each other. He stared at my sandwich. “What you got?”
“Double-battered chicken sandwich with lettuce, tomato, Muenster cheese, and mayo. Truffle fries on the side.”
My mother slid over an aluminum-foil-wrapped square.
Jones unwrapped it and found a sandwich identical to the one I was eating.
We ate in silence for a little while, all of us enjoying the deliciousness of the food.
Then my mother had to take a call from Bayliss.
Collins had to take a call from Beckham.
Perkins needed to rebook a client at the salon. It was just Jones and me.
“So,” I began, “is this better than working on my project?”
He grinned, showing me his dimples. “Probably when I first started, and you were dead set on icing me out. But lately, you’ve been nicer.” He gave a shake of his head. “Nah, it ain’t better than my last few weeks on your project.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. I looked down at my fries and picked one up. When I raised my head, I saw a woman coming toward us.
“Jones. Long time, no see.” She bent down and caught him up in a hug. The smell of her perfume mixed with perspiration drifted into my nose.
“What’s up, lil’ mama?”
She grinned. I wanted to snicker. She thought he was calling her a pet name. She didn’t realize that he didn’t remember her given name. “I thought that was you. Where’ve you been?”
“I’ve been busy. Working.”
“You’re heading this entire project up?”
He nodded.
She grinned again. “You have been busy. You ever feel like taking a break?” Her eyes were bright with both confidence and flirtation.
“No time. I’m on my grind. When I’m off it, I’m sleep. I don’t get out like I did when I first got here. But you take care, sweetheart.”
She stood there for a few additional seconds, like she couldn’t believe he dismissed her. She gave it one last shot. “All work and no play makes Jones a very dull boy.” Her mouth fell into an attractive pout.
He shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. “That’s the price I have to pay to be on my grown man shit. We’ll see each other around.”
She took the hint that time. “Okay. See you.”
I went back to my fries. I guess it was true that he was trying to pull back from being in the streets. I wished him the best of luck.
A little more than a week later, I looked around my brand-new, completely finished, and ready-for-business production room. Jones and his team had made all of my dreams come true. The space was perfect.
And now you’re intimidated, Inner Church whispered to me.
“Ain’t nobody intimidated,” I lied out loud.
I was definitely intimidated. What if I spent all of my savings on building out the space, and my sales stayed the same?
What if a rare apple tree disease attacked my orchard and killed everything?
What if things just didn’t work out the way I expected them to?
I wanted to call Mari so badly. She was the rational one. She was the one who saw the big picture and was methodical enough to make it into a reality. But it was her mother’s birthday. Her entire family was in California at their ocean-view vacation home.
Rain pelted the newly installed roof. Spring was considered the rainy season, but to me, fall was just as rainy.
We were expecting a major downpour. It would’ve been the perfect time to get into a rhythm, lock in, and knock out enough product to shelve a few cases for a little bit of surplus.
But instead of setting up to work, I was standing in the middle of the room, looking around.
The doorbell that Jones installed to alert me of deliveries rang, and that was followed by a light rap on the door.
There was a small glass pane in the door that I hadn’t yet covered with any kind of window treatment, so I could see Jones standing there.
I crossed the room and opened the door for him.
“What are you doing here?” I stepped back and let him step into the production room and out of the rain.
“Yo, let me apologize off the rip for just dropping by. I know that—”
I cut him off. “Surprisingly, I wasn’t even talking about you showing up unannounced.
You might have some last-minute touch-ups or something to do.
Or maybe you needed to pick up your tools or something.
I’m not tripping about you stopping by. I mean, what are you doing out in this storm?
They’re predicting flash floods and possible mudslides. ”
“Shit, I know. I’m not from around here.
I was sitting in Butterscotch Café, minding my own business, when I noticed people leaving real fast. Then the waitress brought my check, talking about they were about to close for the night and send their people home to beat the storm.
As soon as I got in my truck, I knew there was no way I was making it out to Uzziah’s. ”
“You stay with Uzziah?”
He eyed me. “Nah. I stay on his property. When I first got here, I wasn’t sure how long I was staying.
” He shook his head. “I’m never sure how long I’m staying.
My family calls me a nomad. Never been one to put down roots.
I like to stick and move. Stay mobile. I got me a little camper.
It’s an RV. It’s small, but I pimped it out.
Everything’s modern and new. Anyway, it’s parked on Uzziah’s property. ”
I chuckled. “Your getaway RV? When you need a new place to conquer, you just pull off, huh?”
He chuckled too. “Pretty much. Make sure my bike is secured on the trailer, and I’m out.”
“That’s convenient.” Thunder cracked loudly outside.
“Yeah.” He looked around. “Anyway, I thought I could make it to the lodge. Ride out the storm there. Get Aunt Beverly to give me a room for the night. But shit, I couldn’t even see out the windshield. Your place was the closest. I was hoping you would take pity on me.”
Bright streaks of lightning illuminated the production room. “Yeah. I’ll take pity on you. There’s no way I would send you back out there in this.”
“Thanks. What were you doing with this rain coming down like this?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “I was supposed to be breaking in my brand-spanking-new production room. I filled all of my current orders. This was supposed to be my chance to get ahead and create a surplus. Instead, I’m standing here, overthinking where I should start.”
“You don’t know where to start? What does that even mean?”
“Right?” I widened my eyes. “I’ve been waiting all this time for the production room to finally be ready. Now it’s ready, and here’s me, . . . frozen.”