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“Not your problem,” he said, reminding me that I was no longer in charge. “Why were you in the office this morning anyway? Youretired.”
I started the Pearson Tree and Landscape Service when I was twenty. At the time, I had a one-year-old and needed more money than being a cashier at the grocery store could make. I’d put out flyers, used my mom’s old mower and cut neighbors’ grass that first summer, taking on more and more clients so I could buy a bigger mower and work faster. Then, one stormy night, a tree fell across the street, and I’d gotten the chain saw out and had the wood stacked in a pile before the city even got a truck out to tackle it. Someone saw what I’d done and had me come by to do their own tree cleanup. Then another. And another. After that, the city called me for tree projects. Over the years, the business grew and grew. Now, in the summer, Pearsons handled the ski resort’s landscaping. The golf course as well. The city hired us for projects greater than their small crew could handle. Local customers like Lindy Beckett who had a tree fall on her house. In the winter, we had just as many snowplow clients and being in Montana, kept busy around the clock. Deek and Sea Bass joined the business ten years ago and now the company had over fifty full-time employees plus many seasonal ones. Now, minus one. Me.
Just last week, I sold my portion of the business to my brothers and walked away. I retired not because I had enough money to do so, which I had, but because I was finally able to live the life I’d put on hold immediately after high school to raise a kid. This meant the hold music, Deek’s lunch breaks, or anything else related to the business was no longer my problem. I frowned, not used to the concept at all. I had to wonder if I ever would. I just needed to get to Scotland and I’d be having the time of my life.
“You eating my food is my problem. Raid your own fridge.” Finding him–or anyone else in my family–in my house was not uncommon.
“You have better food.”
Completely true. I was used to raising a growing boy who needed a constant supply of large quantities of food. And myself. And, if I wasn’t so grumpy, my brothers, too. I expected them to drop in, which they did frequently and without notice.
“Today’s job is near here. Had to wait for the utility services locator so I missed lunch.”
“What kind of job?”
He eyed me over the half-eaten sandwich he held with both hands. Not only had he raided my deli meats, but by the slices of green in there, he’d gotten to my ripe avocado, too. “You bored already?”
I continued to eye him.
“Driveway and front walk replacement with pavers, flower bed borders, then when it’s time to plant, updated landscaping. With the weather report saying no snow, we’ll at least get the driveway done now.”
I grunted. Anyone who had a garage wanted to park their cars in it, especially in the winter, so a hustle on the driveway was important.
“Bobcat? Leveler?”
“Why do you care what equipment we use? Go play golf.”
“Golf? The only golf I’ve played is the miniature variety with a windmill.”
“Fine. Go toss some trees around. Pack.”
That was possible. I needed to stay in shape if I was going to compete at the caber toss.
“Pack? My flight’s not until Saturday.” The Highland Games, the ones in Scotland, were upcoming. I’d dreamed of going for years, but it hadn’t been possible. Too busy with a kid and a company and ensuring my employees could pay their bills. Too much responsibility to vacation and throw some tree trunks around.
This year, it was happening. I would spend time in Scotland before the event. I had no hotel reservations. Only a one-way airline ticket and a car rental. I was going to roam. No schedule. No plan. Just fucking do whatever I wanted. It sounded fucking fabulous. As for the Highland Games, I was registered to participate in a few events, including the caber toss. Until I left town, I was a little at a loss on what to do. Deek was right. I was bored.
No kid.
No business.
No woman to… yeah, that was the problem. My dick was mad at me because I walked away from Melly Harwood. And acted like a complete ass. I stormed into a vet visit and pretty much accused her of trapping me with a baby. I never had sex with her but I still went there!
Yes, it was a huge fucking trigger for me, but still. One look atlittleMelly Harwood and I should have laid off the growling. I should’ve calmly asked her what the messages were about. That there was some kind of mistake. Laughed at how easily they were misinterpreted.
But no. I didn’t do that. I probably scared her far, far away.
“Then go practice or something,” he waved his hand toward the back window. “You’re freaking me out.”
“You’re in my house. Deal.” I went over and snagged a chip from his plate.
He put the sandwich down, grabbed a napkin from the stack in the middle of the table, wiped his mouth. “What’s crawled up your ass and died?” he asked in all seriousness.
I pulled out a kitchen chair, dropped into it. “Earl knocked up another dog.”
Deek grinned. “Earl? The stud. It’s better than it being Danny doing the knocking up.”
I had to agree. No way was I old enough to be a grandfather. “Actually, someone thought I had.”
