Gabe laid down his nail gun and threw up both hands. “We still love you, girl, but facts is facts.”
Eddie went back to work but stopped for a minute to look over his shoulder. “Is that cat worth all this, or do you just want to have your way?”
“Yes, Prissy is worth it. She’s brought me through some tough times. She listens to me when I talk and never betrays me like the bunch of you. But then she’s a girl and understands. I’m so aggravated with all y’all right now that we could plug one of these nail guns into my ear and run it on the electricity from my body.”
“Honey, you’re not mad at anyone but me,” Knox told her. “If you would have let me get a word in edgewise, I would have told you that I need a vehicle while I’m inSpanish Fort. I want to go out to the farm while you ladies are shopping, and I really want to check on Tripp at the leather shop. You could hook up your trailer to my truck if you weren’t so bullheaded.”
“Or I could check in on Prissy each day,” Jack said as he rounded a stack of lumber. “Mandy is driving up here to pick out flooring and shop for new furniture this afternoon. She’ll be staying in my trailer until Monday, but she wouldn’t mind helping me take care of your cat. She loves Prissy. No need for y’all driving in two trucks and pulling a trailer behind one of them. Now get this wall up so y’all can get on the road.”
“Are you sure?” Lottie hated that Knox was getting his way, but at the same time, she was tired, and it would be nice to get to catch a nap on the way.
“I’m sure,” Jack said.
“Well I, for one, will not argue about knocking off work a couple of hours early. We might even get home in time for supper if I drive like Angie.” Thomas chuckled.
“Hush!” Lottie growled and then smiled at Jack. “Thank you. Prissy will love to see Aunt Mandy. I’ll feed her before we leave.”
“I’ll check on her before bedtime,” Jack said. “Now, get busy and finish what you are doing before I change my mind and tell you to start building trusses.”
“Yes, sir!” Lottie threw up her hand and saluted him.
“And no more arguing,” Jack said with a wide grin.
“Can’t promise that,” Knox said. “I’ve got to ride with her all the way to Spanish Fort, and she’s in a mood.”
“I am not in a mood!” Lottie protested. “Men! Y’all are jackasses.”
“Maybe so, but it’s against the law to shoot us,” Eddie teased.
* * *
Like a good boyfriend, Knox loaded Lottie’s garment bag and suitcase in the back seat and then opened the truck door for her. When she had settled, he jogged around the front of the vehicle and slid in behind the steering wheel.
“Why are you so happy?” Lottie asked.
“I’m going home. I have a girlfriend, so Aunt Bernie can’t make me go on a blind date. The weather is beautiful. We get to leave early, which means we can eat supper at the Paradise with some of the family. Is that enough, or should I go on?”
“It’s enough,” she answered.
Knox started up the engine and drove away from the project. He looked back in his rearview mirror at six foundations and one place with four walls standing. Had this been a real relationship with Lottie, their beginning could look like that. A few dates would equal some walls going up, and a few more would be like the roof going on the top.
“Are you changing your mind about introducing me as your girlfriend?” she asked.
“Why would you ask that?”
“Your expression went from all sunny and bright to dark.Not quite a tornado, but a big storm on the horizon,” she answered.
“No. Not just no! But hell, no! I am not changing my mind!”
“You don’t have to raise your voice,” she snapped.
“Yes, I do. I want you to understand that I’m in this for the long haul,” he declared. “Now, do you want to stop at the first convenience store to get a cold drink?”
“Maybe we could find a Sonic and get a raspberry tea instead?” she suggested.
“There’s one about a mile up the road. I like the ice they use in their soft drinks,” he said.
“You are a great boyfriend.” Lottie’s tone softened. “I suppose I can ask your sisters and two sisters-in-law to tell me stories about you, but you could make the trip seem shorter if you would do it.”
