“Wearea team!” Lottie declared, but she wished the other three would have stayed away long enough for her to ask Knox what Jack meant when he saidagold digger. Couldher mother be right about the Callahan brothers having a lot of money?
“I have a question,” Knox said. “Why are we starting this in the middle of the week rather than Monday? Especially since this coming weekend is Easter.”
Jack laid the doughnut he had been eating on a disposable plate and set it to the side. “I was going to wait to make this announcement until the end of the project, but since you asked…” He paused and sat down. “Any of y’all want to guess what the finishing touch will be?”
“You mean when you hang the sign on the front gate just before we leave for El Paso in May?” Lottie asked. “My guess is ‘Lakeside Estates.’”
“That’s too common,” Gabe argued. “It will be something like ‘Sunny Side Estates.’”
“You are both wrong. This is my personal project, and the name is ‘Swan Song Estates.’ My wife, Mandy, and I plan to retire when we are all done here. The others have been bought by some of our family who’re ready to throw in towels for the nine-to-five jobs too.”
Thomas refilled his coffee cup and picked up another doughnut. “Why did you name it that?”
“Have you ever heard the story of the swan song?” Jack asked. “Itcomes from the ancient Greek mythology. Swans aren’t musical, but they sing a beautiful song just before their death. So, this is my personal retirement swan song, as well as Mandy’s and her three sisters’, and my brother and sister’s. We all threw names around, and this one came out as thewinner. And yes, Lottie, your mom and dad are moving up here with us.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Lottie gasped. “They are moving again!”
“This time, Darlene says it’s for good. She’s already packing,” Jack said. “That means you are building your mama’s new house, and after this year, we will have family holidays right here in this rec room, starting with Independence Day.”
“We haven’t had family gatherings in years,” she said.
“None of us are getting any younger,” Jack reminded her.
“I get the feeling you don’t really like your family,” Knox whispered.
“Love every one of ’em,” she answered. “But my mama meddles worse than Bernie.”
“Not possible,” Knox said.
Jack cleared his throat and stared at Knox and Lottie. “If our two new lovebirds will listen up, I’ll go on.”
“Sorry,” Knox said with a nod. “We’re all ears.”
“Every one of y’all will still have a job,” Jack went on to say. “Walter is taking over as boss in the business. He’s fair, and you know him, so the transition will be a smooth one. As far as starting in the middle of the week… You’ve got six weeks until the El Paso job is ready for you to begin. I slipped my own project in between that one and what y’all just finished. I wanted to give you more time to rest up and see your families, but it wasn’t possible.”
“I can’t believe you are retiring.” Eddie sighed. “Walter is great, but things won’t be the same without you.”
“I’m seventy years old, and Mandy gave me an ultimatum. Retire or she would throw my things out on the front lawn,” Jack said with a grin. “She didn’t have to push me too hard, though. I’m ready to spend more time with her and my family.”
“Then we’ll make this the best project ever,” Lottie said with a hitch in her voice as she crossed the room and hugged Jack. “I understand, but I don’t like it.”
Knox followed her and patted Jack on the back. “Congratulations. At the end of this whole thing, the celebration dinner is on me.”
“Thank you,” Jack said. “That’s very generous, but do you realize how many people might be here?”
“I reckon around somewhere between fifty and seventy-five, right?” Knox answered. “I can handle it, unless you expect surf and turf.”
Lottie looped her arm into his. “Since you can cook, I thought maybe we’d have smoked brisket and all the trimmings.”
He kissed her on the cheek. “Your wish is my command.”
“Bullshit!” Thomas said. “By then, y’all will be broken up. No couple can work together all day and expect a relationship to last. I’ll be happy with bologna sandwiches and barbecue potato chips. But like Eddie said, we’re damn sure going to miss you, Jack. Walter will be a good boss, but he ain’t you.”
“Thanks for that,” Jack said with a nod.
“Whether Lottie and I are together or not, I’ll take careof the retirement dinner.” Knox took Lottie’s hand in his and headed for the door.
Eddie grabbed another doughnut and followed behind them. “If you think y’all are getting a jump start on us, you are wrong.”
