Page 47 of Fourth Heartwarmers Trilogy
“’Cause there’s been no openings. Guys come to work for you, they don’t leave. Remember the mess I was in when you hired me? He’s getting close to that line.”
“Tell me.”
“I haven’t bugged you about him, because I know we have a waiting list, but Harvey’s a good man, has a softness in his core that made life overseas hell for him. We served together. He’s had some problems settling back into real life and having him work physically hard would be the answer.”
“Poor bastard. So many of the boys come back hurting inside. I remember from my own experiences. If I wouldn’t have been forced home with a medical discharge, who knows where I’d be now. Okay, set up an interview. If I’m going to be running for freakin’ mayor, we’re going to need more hands around here. Short list another one too. And if the work is too much for you in here, get yourself some help while you’re at it. Can’t have you overworked.”
“You mean run off my feet.” Laughing, Brian swung his wheelchair around in a circle.
“Funny, man. You’re a load of laughs.” Except Jack did let loose as Brian had no doubt known he would. “Thanks, I needed that.”
“Don’t get too stressed out, boss. Me and the guys will help you all we can. Let us take over whatever you can’t handle. There ain’t one of us on your payroll, living the lifestyle we have, without you as the man. We’re all here for you.”
Touched, knowing the words came with a sincerity that Brian seldom voiced, but Jack had always felt, he gripped Brian’s shoulder. “Don’t know what I’d do without you, bro. Thanks.”
Over the next hour, they planned the jobs already started, those in the pipeline, and the one’s they should bid on in the future. He gave Brian his full attention and they sorted out the worst of the mess in no time. “I’ll be looking after the job atAngie’s personally, but I’ll need at least three assigned to work with me. If your Harvey’s ready to start in the next day or so, he’s one I’ll work with. Check out his skills and make sure he’s secure in the job.”
“Great! Okay, we’re done for today. I’ve ordered all the equipment and lumber you’ll need. The job’s good to start. I imagine you’ll have more requisitions, so let me know by text and I’ll get right on it.”
“Thanks, man. Right now, I have to check on Angie, and then I have a swim date with a princess that I can’t miss. I’ll be back later, and we’ll do the interview, so try to line up Harvey for say… after three. Just let me know what time.”
“Cool. About the princess…?”
“Hell, I knew I wouldn’t get away without you questioning my personal life. Maisie is beautiful, has me wrapped around all her fingers, and I’m madly in love.”
Brian lit up. “About time, my man. About time that old heart of yours escaped from the chain you’ve strangled it with.”
“Did I mention? She’s also four-years-old…?” Jack laughed at Brian’s let-down expression.
“Not funny, man.”
Chapter Twenty-four
Mia worked Mark hard, and they got a huge amount done. First, they’d cleaned out the recreation room on the lower level, shifting a lot of the furniture around, and in many cases, clearing it out altogether. They had no where else to leave the load for the interim, so they ended up piling it on the veranda.
Mia had no doubt that Jack would look after transporting it to one of the back sheds to keep it safe; she just didn’t know which one he’d planned on using.
By the time they’d packed all her boxes up to the house, she felt exhausted. When they’d begun, she’d expected to carry each one individually. In short order, Mark had the car down by the garage and totally stuffed so he could drive the thirty feet to the front door where they unloaded them easily. After a few trips, they were moved over.
“Now why didn’t I think of this solution?”
“Because you’re not a lazy sot like me?” His answer in the form of a question made her laugh.
“Guess so. I might not be lazy, but I’d be the idiot who put on a lot of unnecessary miles for no reason.”
“But a cute idiot.” He pushed the wispy golden curls that escaped from her braid behind her ears. “I checked on Maisie and she’s coloring in her book. She looks disgruntled, gotta say. Poor kid knows that pool is out there and can’t wait to swim.”
“I know, Mark. But she needs to know the world doesn’t just revolve around what Maisie wants all the time. Real life has to take precedence sometimes. I explained it to her again this morning.”
“Come on, meanie. She’s just a kid.”
“And the kid will be swimming as soon as Jack arrives. I’m expecting him anytime.” She didn’t mention how the thought of seeing him again had her so flustered she couldn’t think straight. Nor did she admit to wearing her favorite jean outfit and feeling dumb because now her shorts were wrinkled as all get out and the matching embroidered blouse looked like she’d slept in it.
Trying to keep her mind off her rioting pulse, she set to work arranging the shelving they’d put up at the end of the room and began unpacking the multitude of materials that resided on them.
She loved the feel of the silky cottons or the heavier cool types with the vibrant images that never failed to delight. She’d found a supplier straight from heaven with choices that had her overbuying every time. Knowing it was good to have a selection, she always went a little crazy.
Except, the orders were arriving faster then they could keep up and those fabulous fabrics would be gone in no time. As soon as she sent the various designs with the fabric choices to her webmistress, showing the number of outfits available using those particular patterns, they’d fill up with orders and she’d be on the phone looking for more.
