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“There are ten houses on this block,” said Aiden. “Three on each side, and another four that make up the dead end.”
I sipped at my coffee. “They’re pretty.”
“You wanted to see something we made?” he went on. “Well this is it. When first we got here, all of this was woods. We bought the land, cleared it, and subdivided the lots. Elliot and I worked on these houses ourselves. I was part of the framing crews for most of them.”
A boy ran by laughing, trying to tag another boy. They circled each other on the front lawn of one of the houses, before springing off into a backyard.
“Imadethis,” Aiden said again, emphasizing the word. “Not the people, of course. If this place never existed they’d be living elsewhere. But this little row of houses and this cul-de-sac? I built it with my own two hands. And I know it sounds weird, but that’s special to me.”
“That doesn’t sound weird,” I shrugged.
“I come here two or three times a year,” he continued, “and park beneath this tree. I’ve been here on Christmas, when it’s all lit up and decorated. I’ve been here on the 4th of July, when they throw a little block party.”
“Okay, maybethat’sweird,” I giggled.
“See that house?” he pointed. “The woman’s a lawyer. Her husband runs a little tow-truck company, and he parks on the side.”
Aiden’s arm swung right, to the opposite side of the street.
“The kid in that house is dating the girl next door. They’ve been together at least two years now,” he said. “I was here once in the evening, when he climbed out his window and snuck in through hers.”
“Scandalous!” I teased.
“Ever wonder how the smallest, most insignificant decision can change your whole life?” he asked.
The question was simple, but deep. Slowly I nodded.
“Consider where you grew up. The schools you attended, the friends you met. Every person you knew through childhood,” Aiden said excitedly, “it all came down to a single decision your parents made when they chose where you would live.”
He was so excited now he was practically vibrating. But it was cute. I’d never seen him this animated.
“Let’s say those two high-schoolers get married,” he said, pointing. “And hypothetically they have kids. And then those kids have kids, and all these dozens of people existsolelybecause their parents decided — probably in a decision that took no more than an hour or so — to move in next door to each other.”
I settled back into my seat and smiled. “Sounds like you put a lot of thought into this.”
“Do you see what I’m driving at, though?” Aiden asked. He set down his coffee and turned to face me. “Everything these people do is because ofus. We chose this block. We built these houses. Yes, they’re the ones who decided to buy them, but if we never built them in the first place, none of these people would even be here.”
I smiled inwardly, admiring his passion. This was more than work, more than simple real estate. At least to him.
“I feel like that whenever I look at this place,” Aiden said. “I think of all the lives I’ve unknowingly changed. The friendships I’ve forged, the memories I’ve made.” He inhaled another bite of his bagel. “Someone can turn left down this block because Imadethis block,” he said, through a mouthful of cream cheese. “And maybe that simple left turn changes their life.”
“Devil’s advocate?” I said abruptly.
“Shoot.”
“Maybe that tow-truck driver gets blindsided by a garbage truck on his way home,” I said.
“Does he live?” Aiden asked.
“Sure,” I shrugged, “but he fucks his back up pretty badly. Years’ worth of physical therapy. It’s never right again.”
“Ouch.”
“My point is, that accident wouldn’t have happened if he worked on the other side of town. So in effect, you’ve inadvertently caused negative changes too.”
Aiden nodded slowly, his eyes tracking another woman who’d stepped out onto her porch. As we watched, she tied a blue bandana around her hair and picked up a rake. The amount of leaves covering her lawn made it seem like an insurmountable task.
“I get what you’re saying,” Aiden said finally. “Destiny can be a fickle bitch.”
