Page 8 of Remember That Time

"ADA requires one accessible bathroom for every two hundred people and your architect has met that requirement. If you added one more ADA compliant stall in at least one woman's and one men's bathroom per floor, not only would you meet the requirement set by the ADA, but you'd exceed it. It'll allow for more diversity in the companies and people working those floors."

"What would be the cost in doing that, Frank?"

There was always a cost.

"That's the golden part of this, Janos. Since we're still working on the skeleton of the building, all it would take is your architect getting me a new set of blueprints and the cost of the materials for those additional ADA stalls. You'd lose one of your regular stalls and maybe a little counter space, but not enough for it to make a difference."

"Okay, let me talk to my architect and see about getting you some new blueprints. The only thing I'd like to change is installing that extra ADA stall in all the public bathrooms instead of just a couple per floor. Is that feasible?"

"As long as your guy puts it in the blueprints, I'll build it."

There was a reason I liked this guy.

I walked back to my desk and sat down. I started typing, sending off a quick message to my architect letting him know how I wanted the blueprints revised.

"As soon as we get the new blueprints and get approval from the city, I'll send those off to you, Frank."

"I'll be waiting for them."

I smiled for what must have been the first time in the day. "How are you liking the West Coast?"

"It's pretty nice out here actually. A lot less people and more open space."

"So, you think you're going to stay out there?"

"For now, yeah," Frank replied. "Henry doesn't want to uproot the kids. We've been back to visit my parents a few times, but this is home for now."

"I can't believe you're a father."

I'd been working with the Galeazzi Construction for several years. Frank, his brother Martino, and I had spent more than one night drinking at bars together. It was weird to think both Frank and Martino were married with kids.

Kind of made me feel old and lonely.

"It can be a little nerve wracking at times," Frank replied, "but Henry seems to handle it all like a pro. I just follow his lead." Frank chuckled for a moment and then said, "It could be worse. Martino's husband had twin girls. I swear that man's hair gets grayer every single day."

I couldn't relate and I wasn't sure I ever wanted to.

"You and your husband just had a baby a couple of months ago, right?"

"We did, our son just turned three months old, but we also have a daughter who is five."

"And how's fatherhood?"

I could hear the happiness in Frank's voice when he replied, "Nothing better in the world."

I wouldn't know.

I frowned and glanced down at my phone when it dinged. "Oh, hey, Frank. I need to go. I have another call coming in."

"Okay, just send me the new blueprints when you get them approved."

"I will," I replied. "Take care of that family of yours."

"Always."

I hung up with Frank and then swiped my finger across the screen to answer the other call. "Hello,Yiayia."

"Janos."

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