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“Why architecture? I don’t see many young Black women in the field?”
Damn, Chung…
I didn’t know him well, but certainly never took him for a chatterbox.
Again, she looked my way. “It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do. My parents said from the time I could make requests for toys, they were always trucks and building blocks. Then I moved on to sketching designs for my Barbies.” She giggled. “Next was building them. I built dog and tree houses in my yard during my entire childhood. I spent my high school summers in architectural programs. I’ve studied underRyan Homes’ top designer. I worked as an intern atK. Hovnanianthe last two summers.”
Chung’s gaze rotated toward me when he expressed flatly, “Wow. And you decided to pursue an apprentice position atRizzo’s Custom Homes & Developers?”
He had a point. At the end of last year, I shared with Louise, who was in full knowledge of my relationship withRizzo’s Custom Homes, that in order for me to transition to full management when Rizzo left, I was to have a top-tier assistant. I didn’t just want a random secretary. I needed someone with working knowledge in construction. The person had to be sharp and passionate about the industry. We’d gone through, possibly, thirty people before finding a candidate. Most were white middle-aged women I couldn’t relate to unlike I’d been able to do with Louise, ironically. Chung was correct about the number of young Black people in this industry other than laborers. But…
She’s the candidate?
“Well, Jas?” Louise forced a smile to cover up the awkward moment my silence must have been causing. “What do you think—oh!Ava, remember, Jas here is who you’ll be apprenticing under. Mr. Rizzo is fading into retirement mode, transitioning all matters to Jas. It’s very much internal knowledge, but important for you to understand.”
She nodded, eyes locked to mine with sober understanding. “Yes. I’m fully aware.”
“Okay. Great!” Louise sucked in a breath. “Because there are lots of legalities with that. Something we’ll be undergoing for a couple more years to come.” She applied a wink and smiled. “Well,” she breathed out, looking my way, “are you at least going to say something, Sinclair?”
I couldn’t help it. My mouth opened and I blurted, “How old are you?”
A stark flutter of laughter shot from Louise’s belly. It sounded, as she glanced nervously over to Ava. “Oh, Jas, we can’t ask her that! You’re a few years behind on that liberty. That’s illegal nowadays.”
Shit…
My eyes closed. She was right. I was an employer now and had a shit ton of rules to follow. I’d just have to check her file if I wanted to know.
Ava laughed softly, too. “It’s okay. I know. I’ll be the baby of the office. I’m used to it. I’ll be twenty-four in September.”
“Yo, youarea damn baby.”
“Oh, Jas,” Louise started. “You can’t make comments abouther—”
“I’ll be the best hand around here you never knew you needed,” Ava quickly assured, cutting Louise’s warning.
Rubbing lotion into my hands, I journeyed out of my bathroom then bedroom, into the hall for the kitchen. The place smelled of a palate-holiday. Once I was done with frying the hushpuppies, I could sit down and eat.
“Damn,” Corinne grunted as I entered the kitchen, resuming my place at the counter where I was mixing the ingredients. “You had to take a shit?”
Becky, touring heriPadat the other end of the counter, snickered.
I shook my head. “Monthly visitor arrived in my uterus this evening.” My tone was flat.
“Oh.” Corinne popped a fried salmon bite into her mouth. “Silver lining?” I didn’t respond, but Becky glanced up to her curiously. “You ain’t fucking, so it won’t ruin your night.”
“How do you know Shi-Shi’s bed is cold?” Becky challenged her.
Ines, standing over the stove, turned our way.
“Well, damn, Shi-Shi! You holding out?” Corinne laughed, spooning her bowl of Ines’ beans.
I rolled my eyes. “I thought you were going to say the silver lining is me not having to dance. But I can always count on you to be you, Rinny.” Corinne shrugged, understanding my gibe. “Is that grease still ready?” I asked Ines.
“Yup. Nice and hot.” She adjusted the dial on the stove.
“How’s the new staff coming along at the store, Corinne?” Ines asked.
“So far, so good. The new girl has been with us for a month now. And Rod’s getting along with her when they share a shift. She brings him in cookies and shit from her granny.” Corinne grunted. “I still don’t trust them, though.”
