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“Okay, time to turn the heat up on my couple and finally let the tension bubble burst.” My fingers start dancing over the keys at a speed I never imagined I had. It’s like they have a mind of their own. The clicking noise of the keyboard is what calms my mind. I know that the words are flowing, and the story is coming together before my eyes. I’m lost in my own world, and it’s the safest place for me to be.
Hours pass when I’m writing, and sometimes I have no idea how many hours until I hear my stomach start voicing its disgust that it has been neglected again. Looking up from my screen, I realize I’ve been totally engrossed in my book and the day has been passing me by. It shouldn’t surprise me, because it happens on a regular basis.
Coco must sense my change of movement, as she rises slowly from her sleeping spot. I really need to set an alarm on my phone to make me get up and move more often. My body feels stiff as I start walking towards the kitchen to find food. Not sure what I feel like eating, I’m standing at the fridge door open, just staring in at all the food, hoping that something jumps out at me. I can hear my mother’s voice in my head.
‘Don’t stand there with the door open; get what you want and get out.’
Yet here I am twenty-nine years old and still doing the same thing.
Nice try, Mom.
I settle on the porch swing, eating my blueberries and yogurt, and the wind has picked up since this morning. It’s still hot and steamy, enough that you feel that sheen of sweat on your skin. The direction has changed, and it’s now coming straight off the ocean. The waves are bigger, and I know only the experienced surfers will be back this afternoon. The ones who are risk takers and love the adrenaline rush.
It’s a typical summer day: hot, humid, and building a new storm.
KURT
“I can’t wait for these sweaty balls to finally dip into the cold water. Surely we’re done for the day?” I hear the voice behind me.
“Just keep hammering, dipshit. The quicker you nail that, the faster we’re out of here.” I don’t even look at him, concentrating on finishing getting this flooring down on the deck.
“Oh, that is just gross, you two imbeciles.” My sister, Jodie, looks at me like this is the first time she’s heard this type of shit come out of Ricky’s mouth.
I roll my eyes at her. It’s not like Ricky’s language is new, he’s never been any different.
My sister thinks that the guys on the building site will speak differently on the days she’s here. Not a chance with Ricky. Being a paramedic, she works shift work, and when she’s in between her roster changes, for some strange reason she likes to come and hang out with us. She tells me it’s because she likes the fresh air and sunshine. I know it’s more than that, but I let her have her little story.
She’s either lonely or she likes Ricky. Please don’t be the Ricky option. Spending all day with him at work is bad enough. I don’t need him to be part of the family too. Plus, the age thing, with Jodie being forty and Ricky being twenty-one, would be just creepy. Part of me thinks there is actually more to it than that, but I haven’t quite worked it out yet.
Jodie and I were close growing up, but with me being away for fifteen years working and not getting home much, she grew up and lived a life I didn’t know a lot about. Since I’ve moved back to North Carolina, she’s never far away from me. It’s kind of nice to have my sidekick back.
“Come on, boss, we need to get out in the waves before the storm breaks. The swell will be cranking by now.”
Hitting the nail in front of me, I laugh out loud. “First one finished with their floorboards gets to leave for the surf, while the other packs up the job.” All I can hear is the hammering getting quicker and not another word from him. I wink at Jodie and she just smiles, knowing no matter what, I won’t leave the job until it’s all done. I’m always last out of here. After all, it’s my name on the line if the client isn’t happy with anything.
We’ve been working on this job for the last three months for the Barris family. It’s their dream beach house to retire in. We have completely stripped the inside bare and remodeled. Now we’re outside fixing the cladding and building a huge entertainment area.
Summer by the sea is the best time to live outside. Where you can enjoy the coastal breeze and the smell of the ocean. Although I love the winter on the beach, because there aren’t so many people. Since I came home, I like time on my own. The populated cities are overrated.
“Done! Tools down, boss,” Ricky yells as he stands from being on his knees, hammering.
“Oh, would you look at that? One nail too slow, my boy. Pity, you have to help me pack up now.” I pick up my hammer and saw as I head towards the other tools set up on the work bench.
Ricky grumbles behind me about me cheating or some crap. He’s young and full of energy, which usually results in him never shutting up. But on the upside, he’s a good worker. If I could just gag him sometimes, it would be nice to work in the peace and quiet.
“Jodie, stop standing there looking all girly and give us a hand,” Ricky says. “Your brother the old man is taking too long. He’s worn out by the end of the day, ready for his afternoon nap.” Ricky throws the roll of plastic into the truck while they both start laughing at me.
“So, you do know thirty-eight is not old, right?” I mean, some days I feel like it, but a good surf now will work that out.
“When you’re twenty-one, fuck yeah it’s old. You know you’re old enough you could be my father.” My body shudders at his words.
Jodie bursts out laughing while I stop dead to stare him down. “I don’t ever want to hear those words again. You, being my son, would be a fate worse than death. Christ, just kill me now. I don’t know how your parents have survived raising you.”
I wait for the smartass comment back, but Jodie beats him to it. “Ear plugs.” She high-fives me on the way past, heading to my truck with another load of tools.
“Oh, very fucking funny, you two. Can we just get this done so I can fuck off for the afternoon? Thank god it’s Friday, as they say. I don’t have to see your sorry ass again until Monday.” He tries to sound like he hates his job, which I know is the complete opposite. The truth is this job is exactly what he wanted, building and something to use up his energy every day. It keeps him out of trouble, or so his mom tells me.
“Okay, so it’s not like you’ll see me in the next thirty minutes out in the surf or anything. I swear, I wonder where your brain is some days.” Picking up the last of the power tools, I stand surveying the deck to make sure everything is safe before we leave. Although the Barris family aren’t living here, they will come to check out what we have done over the weekend, that is guaranteed.
