Page 12 of All of Him
“So, what do you think?” I asked, not sure I wanted to hear the answer. Tony shrugged and gestured for me to follow him again. We made our way downstairs and into the kitchen, where he tossed his notebook on the island. I could feel the breath return to my lungs and was able to focus on the work again. Tony had been taking notes, but he wrote quite a bit more for a few minutes. I tried not to look, afraid of the numbers. I knew what I could spend based on the sale of the acres by the highway, but I wasn’t sure what any of the materials would cost.
“So, I’m sure you heard through the grapevine that I only charge for materials and lunch and I ask for your help on Saturdays. Right?”
I nodded.
“I only do one project at a time, but I am retired, so I only work three days a week—Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I’ll need a key for Thursdays and Fridays since you’ll be at work, but I’ll start on a Saturday with you, so you can get to know me a bit first. Good so far?”
Again, I nodded.
“This is a big project, Noah. This is going to take several months.” His face read sincere but still comforting as he went on about the severity of the work. “You’ll certainly learn a lot. I can’t give you an exact number just yet, and any number could go up or down as the project drones on. What Icando is give you a range. If it goes over the range, the extra will be on me. I haven’t had that happen yet. Okay?”
“Sounds good,” I responded, trying not to show my panic as he looked down at the number.
“It’s going to be between fifteen and thirty grand. Thirty-five if we need to do the roof. For just materials.”
At that moment, I thought he expected me to…I didn’t know…pass out. Surprisingly, I let out the breath I’d been holding. I’d expected much more.
“Deal,” I said, holding my hand out.
Tony shook it and belly laughed.
“So, itistrue? Youdidsell that plot for the renovation money?”
“You caught me,” I admitted, elated that the project was in my price range.
“Now,” he continued, “there’s one other thing. With more involved projects, I bring in some extra help on Saturdays. It’s another volunteer, but you have to feed her lunches too—my daughter, Amanda.”
7
Amanda
“WHAT DO YOUMEAN,Dad’s already there?” I asked Teel, horrified.
I’d arrived home, ready to explain how much verbal garbage I had spewed at Noah, only to be met by some very surprising news.
“Manda”—she laughed—“it’s okay. Noah calledhim. Now, why are you so upset?”
I held my hands out, palms up, not knowing what to say. I took a breath, but I couldn’t calm myself. I was still thoroughly embarrassed.
“I just—it’s a big project, and I’ll have to help Dad, and Noah probably hates me now and—”
“Stop!” Teel commanded, still laughing at me. “You’re overreacting.”
“I know what I’ll do!” I shouted back, positive that I sounded crazy. “I’ll just say I can’t help with this one because of your wedding and—”
“Amanda,stop.” Teel held her hands up at me and gestured down, trying to get me to relax. “We will have plenty of time to get wedding stuff together. Don’t you worry. Now, please tell mewhyyou’re convinced Noah hates you when he barely knows you.”
I slumped down onto the couch, Teel following suit, ready to listen. I shared the whole story of his truck and car ride home and even the bit about wanting to apologize, but not having his number. Teel still seemed like she wanted to laugh, which made me feel less guilty about the whole thing. Clearly, it wasn’t as big of a deal as I’d thought.
“First of all,” she started, “kudos for offering a ride. That isn’t weird at all. Second, you didn’t know any better about asking about the accident. And the pets question? That has you written all over it.”
I threw a pillow at her as she let a fit of laughter go. The spikes of hair in her messy bun shook as she refused to stop.
“I just feel so bad, is all,” I said once she calmed down.
“Amanda, let’s face it,” she continued, wiping tears from her eyes. “Your life is full of awkward moments. This is one of them. You’ll have plenty of Saturdays, working on that house, to make up for your question.”
Teel’s face finally read sincerity, and I took a deep breath. She was the older—usually wiser—sister. Listening to her was a necessity.
