Chapter 9
Nine
Raff
Whiskey and You – Chris Stapleton
“Lo,” I answer the call slightly out of breath after dropping the six-by-six post I have been fighting to set this afternoon.
Typically, I don’t do the manual labor jobs as much anymore.
I have employees, entire crews to do this for me.
This project has been plagued with weather delays.
I had to send my other crew over for a personal matter leaving me to take on finishing up some things here.
I’m a little behind my target tasks to complete today.
Typically, I leave my job sites at six sharp.
With less than an hour left in the day, I’m not sure I’m going to finish my list without going over my schedule.
My frustration with the post only grows as I have to decide to work late or stay on time but do double time on jobs tomorrow.
The clay ground in this area can be tough to deal with when trying to set a new porch like I’m doing now.
I accounted for the hiccup, but not precisely enough.
Now it feels like I’m fighting the clock in my mind.
Every second keeps passing and I haven’t finished what I planned for the day.
I don’t like to deviate from my usual schedule.
Do I stay late or go home on time and deal with trying to catch up tomorrow?
The same fight I’ve had over and over in my mind for the last half hour. I guess this call gives me my answer.
“Dean,” her voice is soft, laced in trepidation. “I think we have a situation at my house.”
Instantly, the job in front of me is forgotten.
My schedule immediately put aside; I react.
“Be there in three.” Ending the call, I jump on my bike and take off for home.
The tightness in my chest is a painful reminder of the panic I felt once before.
This worry for her is something I am familiar with but can’t explain to her … to anyone.
In precisely three minutes I pull into our driveway with a look of confusion as she stands to the side of her house with a hand on her hip with my foreman shaking his head in front of her.
I scan the perimeter looking for Brett, failing to find him, I continue to look and see nothing unexpected. What has her timid?
As I approach, my employee backs away returning to work without anything more than a wave.
Once I’m within reach, I take her by the hand and pull her to me.
Automatically she falls against me. She doesn’t look scared like she sounded, rather, it would seem she’s frustrated.
The simple contact of her in my arms settles the anxiety that I felt riding over here.
“What’s wrong, Jo?” I ask before pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “Did Brett call? Come by?”
She shakes her head. “No. But these men have messed up. They won’t listen to me.
” She lets out an exasperated breath. “I shouldn’t have called, I panicked.
I didn’t know what else to do. I should have called Sara to let her have Country Boy help me.
I’m sorry.” She’s rambling. “It’s just, it’s your money so I thought they would listen to you.
I didn’t mean for you to come home. I thought you could talk to them on the phone, but you hung up, and then poof you’re here.
” She is maundering nervously and it’s fucking cute.
“First, don’t ever apologize for calling me for anything. Second, you don’t call anyone but me when you need something. Told you I’m in this at your pace. You need something, even a damn box of tampons, I’ll answer, and handle it. Now, what do you mean these men messed up?”
“They installed your fence at my house.” Her annoyance is evident in each word. “I tried to tell the man over there that they are at the wrong house, but he wouldn’t listen. They keep going. Dean, they only have the one side left!”
I let out a laugh, “Well, looks like you’re getting a fence, Jo. Lots of shit to be wound up about in life, this isn’t it, babe.”
“I came home from work; they already had so much done. But I stopped the man and explained I didn’t order a fence. He said it was ordered by O’Neal. Dean, they put your fence up at my house!”
Squeezing her shoulders, I try to comfort her in this panic.
“Jo, it’s okay. I can still get a fence.
The way I see it, some things are meant to be, and this is one of them.
You can have Justice outside and not have to look over your shoulder.
No need for anyone to be watching you in your backyard.
Problem fixed. I can get them to continue at my house after they finish this one.
” Not that I actually want a fence. I absolutely did this for her.
I also told my foreman to be vague and let it appear to be a mistake.
The kind of woman Josie is, there is no way she will allow me to buy her a fence because I think she needs the extra security and privacy.
She shakes her head at me. “This wasn’t a problem. No one has been approaching Justice in the backyard, yet. I don’t think Brett will do that. He normally watches but doesn’t drag Justice into things physically that is. It’s like he gets close, and he can’t help himself but to be seen, noticed.”
“Well, now Brett or strangers won’t be getting any ideas,” I try to be nonchalant. “And you can let your son play without the fear that your ex will walk right up at any given time despite a no contact order.”
“Dean, I don’t own this house. I rent. I can’t have a fence put in; I didn’t get permission.”
Guiding her with me, I head to her front porch. “It will be fine. You’re adding value, any landlord should be happy. Let me handle that. I know the owner of every house on this circle, I am sure it’s gonna be fine.”
She halts and I stop alongside her. “Dean, I can’t afford this. I’m still paying my mortgage on the house Brett is in, plus rent to be here. I have afterschool care for Justice. There isn’t enough in my budget to pay for a fence.”
“I ask you to pay for the fence?”
Her eyes grow wide. “Dean, you can’t buy me a fence.”
“Thinkin’ I already did, Jo. No need to make these guys tear it up when it looks to me like they did a solid job.
I’ll talk to the foreman. You don’t need to stress over this.
I think it might even be better when I do my fence now because I can attach to yours and then there won’t be a gap to try to mow or weed-eat. ”
She tries to pull away from me, but I give her shoulders a squeeze keeping her close.
“You can’t do this, Dean,” her voice is soft as the panic seems to have subsided.
I continue moving us towards her front door as she falls in stride with me. Looking at my watch, I contemplate dinner as we step inside her living room. Instantly, Justice runs up.
“Dean, I got a new motorcycle. It’s red like yours.” He tells me proudly holding up the little toy bike.
“Did you pick that out?” I ask and he nods with a smile on his face. “Got a good eye, boy. That’s a Harley-Davidson Sportster. I had one years ago. Great bike.”
He presses a button on the side of the motorcycle. “It sounds like yours just not as loud. Listen.”
I can’t help but smile behind my beard, “You picked the best one at the store, Justice.”
“Come see,” he tells me waving me to follow him.
The excitement of a child is a gift to experience.
If only adults could hold onto the resiliency of childhood where things go to shit, but there is this innate ability to move on to the next thing without fail.
Releasing Josie, I follow Justice into the living room where he has created an amazing road set up.
Dropping to my knees beside him on the floor, he begins explaining his town of cardboard with a road made of the plastic ramps that go with the little car sets. As we play, Josie moves into the kitchen. When I see her out of the corner of my eye grab a pot and put on the stove, I hop up.
“Give me a sec, Justice,” I tell my little friend as I move to the kitchen.
Her back is to me so as I approach, I put one hand on each side of her on the oven handle, essentially caging her in. She doesn’t turn to face me which I find unsettling.
“Let’s order take out. Pizza, Chinese, whatever you want,” I mutter quietly. I don’t want Justice to overhear and scream for Pizza if Jo wants something different.
She doesn’t answer. She doesn’t move.
“Jo, turn around, baby,” I whisper wondering what is wrong.
Slowly she shifts, moving to face me, and I lock to her gaze where tears fall from her face. Instantly, I reach up cupping her face in my hands, using my thumbs to wipe her tears.
“Jo, what’s got you upset?”
“You can’t do this, Dean.”
I raise an eyebrow in question, “I’m not sure what you’re referring to here, Jo.”
“Swoop in and bond with Justice just to ride out when you get bored. I can’t mess up again.”
I sigh. “Here is the thing, Jo. We don’t know each other well, you and me.
I can understand your hesitation. What I’ll tell you right now, I know what it is to have someone you love to get hurt.
I know what it is to be a child caught up in adult situations you can’t understand.
More than anything, I know that you are a gorgeous woman, an amazing mom, strength like no other, and there is something about you that tells me you’re worth the risk and the fall. ”
“I can’t let you in,” she whispers.
“Jo, I know about Jonah. I don’t want to replace him. Can’t compete with a ghost, babe and not about to try. You had it good before and I’m not trying to take his place.”
“You have all these answers and I’m telling you Dean, I can’t,” she takes a deep inhale, “no, I won’t do this with you. Whatever this is.”
While typically I don’t do well with back and forth with women, I understand her situation more than I care to admit. If I push her being too forward, she will build a wall I’ll never be able to climb. She’s worth it, I mean that, but I need her to see it.