Page 2 of Suddenly Entwined

Something about today’s date is bothering me, but I can’t recall anything specific that I’m forgetting. I haven’t received any notifications on my phone to tip me off.

Dentist appointment for the girls?

No.

Car insurance renewal?

I fucking hope not.

“Hey, girls? Do we have something important today?”

“I need to get my permission slip for skating signed,” Natalie says.

Louisa chimes in too. “I need to bring two dollars for popcorn day on Friday!”

It’s not those things either.

I give them a thumbs up, slowing to a stop in the drop off line at the exact moment the mechanical buzz of the school bell sounds.

“Yes and yes, I will do those things. The bell just rang! Go! Goodbye. Be good.”

It’ll come to me, I think, as I blow kisses to the girls. Natalie links arms with a friend, waiting to make sure Lou is right behind her. Absorbing the rare moment of silence, I stretch my stiff neck and watch them until they disappear inside. I love my girls to pieces, but being a single dad is hard as hell.

When I pull up to the job site with a paper coffee cup in hand and a greasy breakfast in my belly, I pop my hard hat on. I split my time between several job sites, working on framing or whatever needs doing, really. I’m a Red Seal tradesman in both carpentry and plumbing, so I’m used to taking on different tasks. Weaving through the maze of work trucks lining the driveway, I spot Isaac shaking hands with the electrician at the front door.

“Berg, hey!”

Isaac strides toward me and I can tell I’m not going to have a slow start to my day. Just once I’d like to sit at my kitchen table on a weekday, eat a hearty meal and drink a coffee while it’s hot. Before Trudy and I had kids, we always sat down to a full breakfast together. Eggs, bacon, oatmeal. It didn’t matter. We’d discuss our plans and make sure we were on the same page before we went our separate ways.

Isaac opens his mouth to launch into whatever he’s buzzing about, but I hold up my hand and take a long sip of my coffee.

“Can I talk yet?” he asks.

I shake my head no as the caffeine works its way into my veins.

“Okay. Go.” A puff of air clouds around my mouth.

“Need you to take point on the Lake Brighton project for me next week.”

Our farthest job from West Isle, Lake Brighton is a good hour's drive along winding gravel roads to a home overlooking a small lake.

I raise my eyebrows at him. “What does that entail?”

“You know what it entails. Lots of babysitting grown men, signing things,” he glances at my coffee cup, “not showing up late…”

“I am not late.”

“You’re not early either.”

As the only partner of Isaac Lauri Restorations with children, Isaac gives me a lot of flexibility, so I know he’s joking. Last year, when we all left his father’s construction business to form a new company, I made it clear that I needed a schedule that would allow me to care for my kids.

I try to visualise next week and can’t think of a good reason to say no. It’s a fine balance between putting my daughters first, and keeping my career moving forward so that I can give them the life they deserve. Plus, I wantto be a team player.

Isaac claps me on the shoulder. “Honestly, Berg, the business is growing. If we want to take on more projects and keep our standard of service up, I need help.”

I nod, a pretty good idea of where this conversation is going already forming. It’s not only about next week.

Isaac and I enter the front door, boots echoing on the plywood. Skill saws whir as we walk through an open floor plan and head out to the back deck that overlooks the beach. The glass door thuds shut, muffling the power tools enough that I can enjoy the lapping waves and crying seagulls. We lean against the second story railing, taking in the view.

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