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This is a good test for him. Even though I hate leaving him alone on his first day, the work doesn’t require supervision. It’s basic clearing of the old shit. Even though he’ll be alone, I know about how long it should take him on this task. Jonas will know too, so if we get back and it’s not to where we need it to be, then I know he didn’t work hard enough while alone.
“Keep going on these front beds, and if you get this all cleared before one of us gets back, you can head to the back. Start with the ones along the back terrace first. Since I have to take my truck, make a pile over by those hedges. We’ll load it all in the back of my truck when we return,” I tell him, shoving my gloves into my back pocket and heading toward my truck. “Oh, and take a thirty-minute lunch break. We usually stay on-site, but if you need to leave, just shoot me a message. Sign in and out on the timesheet on the clipboard,” I add.
“I brought a lunch, so I’ll just chill under the shade of the trees,” he says, waving me off.
I hope Wes works out. I’m definitely in need of good help, but admittedly, trusting someone with my business doesn’t come easily. In fact, it’s fucking difficult as hell. I built my business for three years before I hired Jonas, which ended up being the best thing that happened to me. Yet, here I am, still struggling to keep up with the job, as well as being there for Max. Sharing custody with Ashley was the only option for me, but I knew my job would take a hit. I’m managing, but it’s hell on the sleep schedule, you know? Especially when Ashley’s as high maintenance as ever.
Not my problem anymore, yet it is.
She’s Max’s mom, and we share the parenting obligations, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Hell, most days, I’d rather drop her off in the desert and tell her “good luck.” But I can’t do that. I won’t do that. Max needs her. So, I’m stuck dealing with her drama and her constant nagging. At least until he’s eighteen…
Heading down the driveway, I can’t help but glance back at the house in the rearview. Years ago, my life was completely entangled with this house. I had always envisioned it going one way, but that dream changed overnight. Instead, I had to pick myself up off the ground and start over. That’s where Ashley came into play. No, our relationship wasn’t always bad, but it was happy, at least for a while.
As I pull onto the highway, I meet a fancy car getting ready to turn into the homestead. My heart starts to pound in my chest when I spy the long, blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail. Part of her face is covered by sunglasses, but my gut still clenches. It’s probably just because of the hair. It’s because I’m here, at the Elliott mansion. It’s the only reason I feel the pull. It’s memories.
The new owner is here.
Not Kate.
* * *
Yep, the tree has to come down. The walnut twig beetles have already penetrated the bark and cankers are forming. The result is an early case of thousand canker disease, and yes, the entire tree must come down, eventually. Right now, with the help of our county pest management agency, we’ve set traps on the tree and surrounding ones that’ll remain for six weeks. Once that’s complete, we will have to remove the tree, since there is no treatment for this type of beetle. The local agency is handling the survey of surrounding trees, but so far, we’ve been lucky and haven’t found anything. The important thing is not to move the wood. When the tree comes down, we’ll either grind or burn the entire thing on-site.
This job took longer than anticipated, considering the phone calls I had to make, so Jonas went back to the Elliott mansion to work with Wes. All of his afternoon jobs were pushed back, though my part-time after-school employee, Brody, was able to jump in and complete some of the mowing jobs.
By the time I’m finally heading back to the jobsite, it’s nearing five. My entire day was shot at the Rhodes’ place, dealing with their infested tree. Now, I’m more than ready to kick off my boots, pop the top on a cold beer, and relax watching mindless television, but I have to check the big site first.
The first thing I notice when I pull in is that the mini excavator was delivered. That means I’ll definitely spend my day tomorrow pulling the shrubs and digging up the old beds. That’ll keep Wes and me busy for a while. My blood starts to pump as I think about getting in the seat of that machine. I love digging in the dirt, whether it’s with my own hands or a bucket on an excavator.
I hop out of my truck and spy Jonas and Wes heading my way. They’re both smiling, thankfully, and I’ll take that as a good sign. “Hey, bossman,” Jonas hollers as he approaches.
“Well, how’d it go?” I ask, grabbing the clipboard and checking today’s progress. When I glance up, surprised to see how much clearing they accomplished, I encounter matching grins.
“Not too shabby, huh?” Jonas boasts.
“Great job,” I tell them both, proud of the two of them for getting the majority of our handwork accomplished today. “Tomorrow, Jonas, you’ll work on your list,” I add, pulling a printed sheet out of my clipboard. “Wes, you’ll be back here with me.”
“Sounds good,” Wes replies, reaching over and offering me a hand.
Placing my hand in his, I say, “You did well today.”
“Thanks. I’m happy to be here. See you tomorrow,” he says, throwing a wave and heading toward his truck.
When he pulls away, I finally speak to my right hand. “Everything went well?”
Jonas blows out a breath with his chuckle. “Man, that guy is a machine. I had to practically force him to take breaks. I don’t know if he was just trying to make a good impression, but he worked hard. I hope he works out. He seems like a good dude, and I enjoyed trying to keep pace with a young guy.”
I blow out an exasperated breath. “You’re like six years older than he is,” I remind my employee and friend. Jonas just turned thirty-two earlier this year and has been with me for four years. He’s a single father of two who went through his divorce about a year before I did. It was nice to have someone to talk to, who had been through what I was going through. Between him and my buddy, Garrett, they made sure I tipped back a few beers and always had a ride home when necessary.
“Yeah, well, he’s got a lot more energy than I do,” Jonas states, taking a cold bottle of water from the cooler I keep in my truck bed.
“He’s not chasing two kids around at night.”
“Good point,” he laughs, finishing off the bottle.
“How’d everything else go today?” I ask, nodding toward the house.
“Carpenters headed out about thirty minutes ago. They got the kitchen gutted and hauled away. Rhenn came out earlier and told me to tell you hi. He was hoping to catch you, but promised to give you shit tomorrow,” Jonas adds with a grin.
