The firecracker has returned. That one question really riled her up. I obviously hit a nerve. When I said that about the bags, I was referring to her injured knee not her lack of arm strength.
Her arm is so tiny I could practically wrap my whole hand around it. But I can see a small muscle peeking through.
I smile and keep walking. "You've got quite an arm on you there. Wouldn't want to run into you in a dark alley."
She follows me. "Yeah, they're not as big as yours, but they're more than most girls have."
"Do you go to the gym?" I set the bags down and open her garage door.
"No. I just do stuff around here." She opens her trunk. "I mow my lawn and it's a push mower so that's a workout."
"Your dad doesn't mow the lawn?" I stuff the bags in the trunk.
"Um...no. I do it. I always have."
She's acting strange, her eyes glancing back at the stack of boxes in the corner.
"Okay, well, thanks again." I take out my wallet and pull out two twenties and hand them to her. "Looks like that's all I got. I'll stop at the ATM and give you the rest at lunch."
"You don't have to pay me." She holds out one of the twenties. "I'll just keep one to use for the machines. I'll bring you back the change."
"Callie, no. Just take it. I feel bad making you do this. I just don't have time to get down there. I have so much to do."
"Then maybe we should skip lunch."
"No." I smile. "I'll be there for lunch. I'll see you soon."
I wait for her to back out of the driveway, then close her garage door.
Meeting her for lunch is going to put me behind schedule. Now I'll have to clean up, drive there, and sit for a half hour. But I feel like I need to do this. When I told Callie I couldn't make it, the look on her face was...I don't know how to describe it. Disappointed? But it was more than that. It was like it nearly killed her to even ask, and when I turned her down, she seemed angry at herself for asking. Maybe that's completely off base but that's what I felt when I looked at her.
My phone rings. It's my dad calling. I haven't talked to him since I told him I was moving down here for the summer. That was two weeks ago. I've tried calling him but he's been giving me the silent treatment.
"Hey, Dad." I go back in the house. "What's going on?"
"We got the Victorian." He sounds happy.
"That's great. Congratulations."
"You deserve most of the credit. The committee reviewed our last few projects, which you were in charge of, and said that's what set us apart from the competition. You're always on time and on budget and you know how to lead a team. You get the job done and you do it well. That's what got us this job. It wasn't about the money. We weren't the cheapest bid."
As much as my dad rides my ass to constantly do better and work harder, I appreciate the fact that he always gives credit where credit is due. He's not a glory hound. And he's not afraid to praise his sons when we do a good job. If we screw up, he tells us that too, but he doesn't hold it against us. The place where we butt heads is when I make choices he doesn't approve of, like working on this house.
"I'd say winning the Victorian was a team effort, but thanks. So when's the work begin?"
"Next week. Should have the contract finalized tomorrow."
"Jake said you put him in charge. That's good. It'll be good experience for him."
"Yeah. About that. I want you to do it, Nash. This is a high profile job and I need my best guy on it."
"Jake can do this. You just need to trust him. And if you're that worried, then stop by and check on him."
"I don't have time to babysit him. I can't be on site every day. I need someone there that I won't have to worry about."
"Dad, I'm not moving back. We've talked about this."
"You can fix that house anytime. The Victorian needs to be done right now."
"Yes, but this is what I want to do. I've waited almost a year to do this. Now's the perfect time. I needed to get away from there. And besides, they already leased out my apartment."
"You can get another apartment, or you can live at home."
"I'm 25. I've not living at home." I sigh. "Dad, I know you're still angry about this but it's my decision to make, not yours. And Jake needs this. He needs to see that you trust him enough to do this. If you just give him a chance, he'll step up to the plate and make you proud."
"All you boys make me proud. This isn't about that. Jake just isn't ready. He hasn't worked on enough projects and the ones he has worked on were all supervised by you."
"Which is why he can do this. I've taught him everything I know. And when it comes to dealing with subs, he's better than me. You know that."
"Handling the subs is only part of the job."
"But it's an important part. And you're gonna need a lot of subs on this job. Come on, Dad. Just give Jake a chance."
"Dammit, Nash! Stop being so damn stubborn and get your ass back here!"
I knew this was coming. He was being far too calm up until now.
"Dad, what is this really about?"
"It's about you helping your father. And your brothers. And our business."
"It's more than that." I pause. "This is about Mom."