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I just shake my head because that sounds about right. My dad has always been horrible with the accounting and giving away his services for free. My mom definitely balanced him out in that respect. She handled the accounts and made sure to set up payment plans or find the parts needed from a scrap yard to help save costs when someone needed the help.
Thankfully for all of us, my mom and dad had a great life insurance plan. That helped cushion the business while Spencer learned how to handle the books and help keep my dad afloat. She was able to get new software and hire a front office clerk to take over mom’s duties and keep the business profitable.
“So, baby girl. How’s the promotion going? You still love being the head honcho?”
“Yeah, I definitely love what I do and the added responsibilities, but I’m starting to realize that I was putting too much on myself. Since dinner the other week, I started saying no to the overtime or taking it upon myself to cover if someone called off. I miss you guys.”
“I’m glad to hear that. You had me worried there, kid, but I knew you needed to be the one to realize you were doing too much. What about the contractors? Did you end up hiring them?”
“Yep, I sure did. They came by Friday to get a full plan of how they wanted the renovations to go and to come up with a schedule. They have been working on the house since Monday. They said it may take 4-5 weeks, but if I do some work like I have been doing, it could be done sooner.”
“Well, that’s great baby. Just don’t work too hard on the house while they aren’t there. You deserve the break. I’m glad you’re going out with your sisters.”
“Me too, Dad.”
“Alright ladies, let’s get this show on the road!”
“I’m waiting on you two, Em. Hey Spence! How are you?”
“Great and even better since we get a sister’s day out!” Spencer wraps me in her arms, and I can’t help but melt into her embrace. There’s just something about her hugs that reminds me so much of my mother. Maybe it’s the fact that she became a pseudo mother to us once ours died, but whatever it is, it’s been way too long since she’s hugged me like that.
“Here, get together so I can get a picture. It’s been too long since I’ve gotten one of you three on one of your adventures.” We are used to Dad’s need for pictures, so we all squeeze together and put on our cheesiest smiles possible.
“Alright old man, as much as I love you, we need to leave because I am not wasting my one day off shooting the shit with the good old boys.”
Dad laughs at us as he waves us away. Now that he’s starting to prepare Emerson to run the shop once he retires, his friends have started congregating in the waiting room a few days a week for coffee and to talk about whatever old men talk about.
We all pile into the truck and are finally on our way. The day is so gorgeous that we drive the whole way with the windows down and the music blaring. The further away we get from the town, the more I can feel the tension leave me. I have been neglecting myself and this bond so damn much and I’m finally glad I got my head out of my ass.
“Yes, we’re here!” Emerson is basically bouncing in the back seat as I pull off the road to park. I can’t help but let her excitement fill me up as I hop out of the truck and grab my backpack filled with water, snacks, and of course, a first aid kit.
“Alright, let’s go!”
“So Spencer, is your classroom ready for all of those young minds you are going to be nurturing this year?
“Not yet, but I decided to do a Dr. Seuss theme for it. There are so many great lessons in the stories that the kids can learn, plus the crafts are endless. And I love all of the bright colors that I can use to decorate the room.”
“Please tell me you are going to decorate at least one area like the Green Eggs and Ham.”
“Of course. I know that’s your favorite, Chayse. And before you can even ask, Emerson, yes, I plan on doing the Lorax as well. The one craft I was thinking about doing was having them make the trees. Wouldn’t that look great in my room?”
“Oh, I love that idea! So how has work been, Chayse?”
“It’s been crazy, but it’s a lot better now that I realized I was taking way too much on and needed to take a step back. I don’t need to be the one to cover every shift or stay hours after I’m supposed to go home. I’ve started to delegate a little better, too. I know I can trust my coworkers and it doesn’t make me look bad to trust them to do their job.”
“I’m so glad you figured that out, Chayse. Emerson and I were about ready to kidnap you and force you to take a day off and see what you’ve been missing.”
“I’m glad I figured it out, too. But even more glad that you two would have stepped in before it got even worse. Thankfully, a conversation with Landon knocked some sense into me.”
“Leave it to Landon to be blunt and make sure you realize what’s been going on. Man, if he didn’t swing for the other team, I’d be snagging him up in a heartbeat.”
“You know he loves you Em, but he loves dick more.”
We all start busting up at that as we make our way down the hill to get to the falls. Our dad used to bring our mom and us kids here when we were little for adventures. Some of my favorite memories are from days spent in the swimming hole at the bottom of the falls.
“So, I’m glad you took a step back at work, but what about the house? How did the meeting go with the contractor?”
“It went really well. He was awesome and totally got what I wanted to do with the house. He also is really fairly priced. He said because I had so much of the materials, it saved a ton on costs for them, and in turn me. Him and his partner came over on Friday to do an initial walk through and they started work on Monday.”
