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“What do you need to decide on?”
“Well, I have to figure out if I want to sell this house or move back here permanently. All my stuff is in storage in New York, so its easy to move when I decide where.”
“Then stay here. Do you have to sell this house?”
I shook my head. “No, I don’t think I could get much for it if I did try to sell it. It is paid off, but it needs so much work.”
“Then you should stay here and work on it.”
I sighed. “I don’t know. It depends on if I can find a job. I never planned to come back here, and I’m not sure I want to be here, but it is all I have right now.”
“Why is your stuff in storage in New York?”
I bristled and looked away from him. I did not want to air my dirty laundry to him. “Do you mind if we don’t talk about this right now? It’s a touchy subject. Why don’t you tell me what you have been up to?”
He was thoughtful for a moment, then he sat back in his seat and grinned. “Okay, I can do that. I got engaged when I took over my father’s construction business when I was twenty-five, and he had a heart attack. He’s still alive but enjoying retirement now. I was twenty-six when I got married and twenty-eight when I got divorced.”
I laughed. “You were married for two years? What happened?”
“Oh, it was less than that. I caught my bride blowing my partner in one of our work trailers. I quickly found out that she had handed out that favor to quite a few of the guys that worked for me.”
I blurted out a laugh and clapped a hand over my mouth. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t laugh.”
He snickered. “It’s okay. I laugh about it now. I have no clue what I saw in her, but whatever it was, it disappeared that day. It took longer to get divorced than the amount of time we were living as husband and wife.”
“Where is she now?”
“No clue, she moved away. I haven’t heard from her since.”
“So, no one else special in your life?”
He shook his head, his eyes staring into mine. “No. You?”
I scoffed. “Yeah, like I would have time to think about getting involved with someone. I haven’t been in the best headspace in the last couple of years.”
“You want to talk about it? You might not remember this, but I’m a pretty good listener. Do you remember all the times you used to call me and gripe about Jeremy or your parents?”
I chuckled. “I do remember that. You were a good friend.”
“I’m still a good friend, Faith, and if you need someone to talk to, I’m here. I can even give you my phone number, and you can call me tonight and pretend like we are seventeen again.”
I laughed harder. “Oh, I’m not sure I would want to go back that far in my life. Maybe a couple of years, but not quite that far.”
“Well, I can still give you my phone number.”
“I would appreciate that. Maybe you can give me some idea of who can take care of a few things around here.”
“Um, Faith, you did just hear that I own my own construction business, right?”
“Yes, but I’m sure you’re busy.”
“I’m never too busy to help a friend. What work do you need done?”
I barked out a laugh. “Wow, I don’t even know where to start.”
“Well, how about you start by making a list? I’ll take a look at it and see what I can help you with.”
“You don’t need to do that, Peter.”
