Chapter 8
“Is every payday like this?” Ms. Simmons asked as they finally made it back to the office.
“Today was pretty tame actually; they probably thought you were a potential client and didn’t want Jordan hearing that they scared you off before you signed a contract,” she admitted expertly parallel parking the Jeep between Jordan’s truck and Ms. Simmons’s car.
“Mr. Grasse told me you seemed to never stop yesterday, and I can see it’s true.”
“It’s a lot of work running this place. I take care of the office and Jordan takes care of the rest. I’m trying to convince him to hire someone to handle part of the office work, so it doesn’t overflow to him while I’m not here but he’s hesitant.”
“Ah…Mel would you please convince this husband of yours to listen to me?” Dwight said coming out of Jordan’s office.
“I don’t know what about, but I can give it a try,” she stated with a smile.
“Let me and Mel talk things through and we’ll get back to you Dwight,” Jordan said dropping a kiss on her cheek. “Everyone happy?”
“Always,” she answered.
“Well then don’t forget about that tour Mel. I’ve seen some of your work in Jordan’s office and it rivals the students in my top classes,” Dwight said sending her a warm smile.
“I’m getting around to it; I have to convince the boss to let me off for the afternoon first.”
“Maybe he should hire someone else and give you a break,” Dwight said looking at the stack of work on her desk. “How do you manage that on top of school?”
“It’s a secret,” she told him.
“Called she barely sleeps,” Jordan added, “but hopefully once we hire someone else she can ease off.”
“Hire someone else?” she asked looking up at him with a grin.
“What can I say, you’ve worn me down and wore me out listening to you work until one in the morning and then you’re up at six. We can put your ad out and see who responds.”
“Wise man,” Dwight stated. “I’ll be going to let you two discuss. I hope the board hears from you Jordan.”
“Would you like to explain?” she asked once the other man had left.
“Whitmore has been having the architecture and engineering students help design the plans for new buildings and dorms that will be going up on the other side of the campus. The board’s finally approved the go ahead to collect bids since they have the majority of the funding in place.”
“So part of the design is yours?” she asked seeing the light in his eyes that said he wanted to help.
“I helped with two buildings, one was with my undergrad and the other my masters. Dwight thinks we should put in a bid,” Jordan told her and she smiled knowing they’d figure it out the best they could.
“And you’re hesitant because you’re not sure if we can swing it?”
“It would be a huge task, and it’d take years to fully complete it. I don’t know if we could keep the other projects going while working on it.”
“Without hiring a crew specifically for it.” Mel read where he was coming from now.
Payments from the school might be a bit slow coming in and they’d have to cover the crews until they were reimbursed for expenses.
“We’re doing good right? So let’s sit down and go over the numbers.
Look at the plans, estimate the costs and we’ll see what it comes out to financially. ”
“Well…”
“You already have,” she said kissing his cheek.
“Dwight gave me a copy of the proposed buildings, and I’ve been working on it while you’ve been working on your schoolwork.”
“So you have a basic number already in your head, don’t you? Give me five minutes to check my desk and I’ll bring the computer in for us to go over it.”
“Thanks honey, can I get either of you something to drink?” he offered and she’d forgotten that Ms. Simmons was still there.
“I’m good.”
“Do you have any coffee?” Ms. Simmons asked.
“Fresh pot, I drink the stuff by the gallons, but Mel can’t stand it,” he told her.
“Or your breath after you drink it,” she yelled after him.
She found them looking at her artwork which she’d kept hidden from everyone except Tate and she blushed before steeling herself.
“Melinda these are amazing,” Ms. Simmons stated. “You should have taken art as your elective.”
“Instead I was forced into the torture known as PE,” she joked as they spread out the information on the table and began to go through it.
Jordan looked at her an hour later shaking his head slightly.
“I don’t know Mel. We’d have to hire two more crews outsource electrical work, masonry, and what if our other jobs pick up more?
We’d have to pull people off of it to fill out the others and that’s even with injecting additional capital… ”
“What if we could get some additional help without having to pay them?” she asked as an idea hit her.
He laughed, shaking his head as he pressed a kiss to her temple. “Honey, if you can find me free labor, I will name you the queen.”
“Hear me out, the school managed to get the plans without paying a dime why? Because they used their resources…their students.”
“Mel, that’s brilliant,” he said catching on as she held his gaze. “We see if we can use the members of the trade program. They earn credit and get actual experience…and we get extra hands.”
“There are tons of high schools that also offer programs like it. Our crew sets up the site, gets the ball rolling so to say, and then they can help supervise the students. We can contract with the electrical schools programs to give their students hands-on hours. We can also use it outside the buildings when we need to finish the landscaping.”
“I think the board just might go for it, but I’d have to line up the possibility first to make sure there are no snags.
Gotta say Mel, as much as I hate the man, I should really thank Henry for being such an ass,” he said as he got up and leaned down to kiss her.
“You should head home. I’m sure you have better things to do than hang out while I draw up the outline of the bid,” he added checking the clock.
“Leave the rest until tomorrow, go home curl up on the couch and watch whatever it is that’s been on the watchlist for the last three weeks. ”
“Are you sure?” she asked, knowing she was ready to drop.
“Positive, I want to start the outline while it’s fresh in my mind,” he answered giving her another kiss as she walked out to get to her desk.
“Wake me when you get home?”
“Don’t I always?” he teased.
She gave him a grin and then headed for her desk as Ms. Simmons said goodnight to them.
The next month flew by as Jordan worked on the bid to shore it up before the deadline.
She and Tate spent an entire afternoon looking around the campus with Dwight and she knew instantly that it was the only place she wanted to go.
She also knew that Jordan was right about her career path though she was hoping to add in a business degree to back up what she already knew.
Her birthday this year was beyond her wildest expectations. They spent the morning with his family and then the evening the three of them spent at the pizza parlor though Jordan hadn’t anticipated going.
“You should change,” Mel said checking out his ratty track pants he only ever wore in the house.
“Why? I plan on being lazy right here and no one here’s complaining about the way I’m dressed,” he said gesturing towards the TV.
“You’re not coming?”
“I thought this was your and Tate’s thing; your special way of celebrating your birthday.”
“It is,” she told him with a smile, “but I’d like you to come.”
“You do?”
“Yes, Jordan, I love spending time with you, and it wouldn’t be the same without my two best friends by my side. You and Tate…I trust you both with everything I have so please come.”
“Let me get changed,” he said kissing her cheek.
When they arrived, Tate had three places set and their drinks already ordered.
“I knew Mel would drag you along with her,” he said answering their unasked question.
“You don’t mind?” Jordan stated.
“Nah, as long as you make her smile you’re good. So when will you hear about the bids?” he asked moving on so it wouldn’t upset Mel hearing his opinion on just how much they loved each other despite claiming they didn’t.
“They’re due at the end of the month, the board will look them over in November, they have a meeting to discuss the two or three they narrow it down to and then they’ll make their decision in January or February. They hope to have construction started at the beginning of summer,” Jordan explained.
“When they decide to move, they move, don’t they?” Tate stated.
“They do and if you’re interested in a spot on one of the crews all you have to do is ask,” Jordan told him.
Mel sat quietly watching them interact and she couldn’t believe her luck. A year ago, she’d barely known Jordan but now he knew almost all of her secrets and the two that he didn’t…well she wasn’t going to tell them anytime soon.
The night went on, and she relaxed into Jordan as they argued over their choice of pizza toppings. Tate maintained that it tasted like dirt while Jordan said it was more sawdust than dirt. She was laughing into her drink when the pleasantness was interrupted.
“Well if it isn’t Indy and her two masters…”
She instantly tensed but Jordan squeezed her shoulder pulling her back into him.
“I’m sorry I think you’re mistaken,” he said turning to look at Stephanie. “If anything we’re the ones on leashes.”
“Jordan!” Mel laughed as Tate let out a snort spraying soda all over the pizza and Stephanie.
“Ugh…gross,” she whined storming away as they fell apart again.
“I cannot believe you just said that,” Mel stated through her tears. “You do know that she’s now going to go on and on about us being into kinky sex.”
“I think that’s my cue to leave,” Tate stated leaning over Jordan to kiss her cheek. “Happy birthday Mel. Jordan…”
“What?” he asked when Tate paused.
“Just thought I’d remind you she’s officially eighteen now, even if you all are already married,” he said before strolling out.