I rush home to arrive before the alarm company. A black sedan is parked in front of my building. I slow my stride while pulling my keys out. I'm not sure if I should keep walking or if I should unlock the door and go up. There is no logo on the side of it, so it can’t be the alarm company.
The driver door opens and a man that looks like a professional wrestler steps out. Holy shit, he is huge.
"Can I help you?" I ask when he's walks toward me, stopping just a few feet away on the sidewalk, blocking my path.
His huge paw of a hand extends to me, "I'm Brian," he says in a deep gravelly voice.
"Um, hello Brian," I have no clue what this man wants, but I'm not getting close enough to shake his hand. He doesn't seem bothered from the slight.
Instead he offers an explanation, "Beau sent me." It clicks, this is the man Beau said would help me. I recall now that Beau said his name was Brian.
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience Brian, but that won't be necessary, thank you." My trepidation turns to anger. I brush past him to unlock the door.
Before it closes he warns, "I think you're wrong. I think you very much need my help. Beau asked me here as a favor, so I'll be working on this with or without your help. We'll get better results working together." I hang my head because I know I need help. I just don't want it when it comes attached to Beau.
"You can come up," I say sounding defeated. "I have someone coming by at two that I need to be here for," I finish, and he wastes no time following me up.
I'm nervous with him behind me. I'm not sure how I'm going to handle him coming into my home. I stop on the steps and turn around. I'm wringing my hands together, looking down at him.
"I don't think I can do it. I don't think I can let you in.” I explain, “I'm sorry, could we maybe meet up somewhere in a few hours?"
"Who's coming over that it has to wait?" he asks gruffly. What is it with nosy ass men.
"My alarm company. I'm having cameras installed inside and out."
He tilts his head, "Beau didn't mention that."
I scowl, "I didn't tell him or ask for his permission." I snap, "You know what? I can hire someone else. You should go." He takes one step up. Someone hits the buzzer then knocks on the door. He turns around and goes to answer the door.
Before he opens it, he barks, "No!"
"No, no what?" I ask confused.
"I will be taking care of this now. I said it's better if we work together. I've had a lot of experience with this kinda shit, so trust me when I say it can go bad fast. The quicker you accept my help, the better off you'll be." He opens the door demanding identification, as he looms over two smaller men. They rush to pull out lanyards from around their neck. Both check out before he steps aside, letting them enter.
"Tell me what she's ordered," he demands, and the men explain my request. "Scratch that, this is what I want. Two cameras outside, four here in the hall," he points to four areas. "I'll assess the loft and tell you what I need in a few. If you don't have the materials with you go pick them up.” His voice turns serious, “You do not leave until this job is complete. Understood?"
Geez, I think I know where Beau, Chris, or whatever his name is, learned his abrasive questioning technique.
I open the door, kicking my shoes off and walk into the kitchen. The day is only half over, and I'm done with it.
I want to be busy, distracted enough so Brian doesn't feel the need to stay longer than necessary. I look through the fridge and freezer for something time consuming to make for dinner. I have next to nothing. Well that's not stopping me. I don’t want to leave with a bunch of strangers in and around my studio and building. I do something I rarely ever do, because I know that while the service is offered it can leave them shorthand. I get it delivered.
I call in an order to my small grocer and the only thing they don't have is a few of the mushrooms I was looking for. I'll make what they do have. I hear Phil shout that he will be there within the hour. I hear cans being knocked over in his haste to complete the order. Melinda groans at his antics, but for the first time today, I smile.
“I haven’t seen her in days, Mel,” Phil must be right next to her now. “She’s gotta be near out of groceries.” He isn’t wrong. “We can’t have that.” I smile saying goodbye to Melinda and see you soon to Phil.
I grab a loose tee shirt and yoga pants. I trade them for the jeans and top I wore to work.
In the bathroom, I throw my long hair into a messy bun. I laugh, thinking I have three men in my house, and I couldn't care less what I look like. When I wore something similar in front of Beau, I was worried I looked like a bum.
Brian is still busy with the alarm guys, so I check the store email to see if we have any special orders. We don't. I have nothing to keep me busy. I just wait, hoping Phil keeps his promise to be here soon.
Phil leaves with a fifty-dollar tip that he tries to decline three times. I insist, saying he is my hero and has no idea how grateful I am. He smiles at the first part and concedes, tucking the tip into his shirt pocket.
I am so grateful to have something to do, especially since it's cooking. I've only made the recipe I want to make once, so I grab my laptop to confirm the steps. When I open it Beau's picture pops up, because I didn't close the browser. I let myself look for a moment, before typing Epicurus into the tool bar.
Forty minutes later, I'm not even halfway done. Brian is in the studio now and has been on the phone for the past twenty minutes. He hangs up and comes over to the kitchen.
