LITMIR.BIZ

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them working on something other than inventory and sweeping floors.” Once he went through the connecting door to his own office, Maxwell turned and raised his cup toward Craig. “Sorry, kid, but you’ll always be Butch to me, just like Craig will always be your father.” He sighed and shook his head. “But...your father would probably approve if you took his name, so I’ll give it a try.”

      Noah came over with his selection of wood. “Wanna help me build something?”

      Craig bent down to his level and brushed his brother’s hair with his fingers, something he remembered their father doing. Unfortunately, Noah probably didn’t even remember their father. An unplanned child so late in life had come with joy, but also unexpected problems when his father died. Craig stood and took the piece of wood, examining it closely. “Any other pieces this size? We’ll need several.”

      Noah did an about-face and ran back to the large crate containing all the scraps. He looked over his shoulder, a smile lighting his face. “Yep, we got enough to build a house.”

      And so it began. Every day he spent time with Noah, teaching his brother the way his father had taught him—how to hold the hammer, center the nail and hit it without destroying his fingers. But Craig couldn’t help feeling that their father should be doing this. And maybe his dad’s time wouldn’t have been cut short if he hadn’t had to deal with all the ramifications of a new child.

      * * *

      “HI, MOM,” TRISH said when she finally reached her mother. “How are you enjoying your trip?” Her parents had bought an RV and were traveling the Southwest after her father’s early retirement.

      “Unbelievable. We just left the Grand Canyon, and we’re heading south to some warmer weather. Actually had a little snow. How’s it back East?”

      “Indian summer. Everything’s settled with Gram’s house, so I moved in to start fixing it. You sure you don’t want anything? Furniture? Antiques?”

      “Absolutely not. We were delighted that she left everything to you, and we don’t want anything to tie us down. Right, Tom?” A deeper voice made an acknowledgment before her mother continued. “Your father and I plan to see the world before old age robs us of our faculties.”

      Trish chuckled. “My goodness, Mom, you haven’t even cashed your first Social Security check yet.”

      After a long pause, her mother asked, “So, what’s new with Harrison? Has he seen Gram’s house?” Harrison was one of the few men she had dated who managed to impress them.

      “No. I’ve decided to sell it.”

      Her mother took a quick, deep breath. “Really? But I thought...”

      “We’re going to use the money for something closer to our work in the city.”

      “And can he come up with an amount equal to what you’ll be contributing?”

      Trish resented her mother’s tone. “Of course. He owns a condo that he plans to sell, and it more than equals what Gram left me.”

      “I only meant that your grandmother gave everything to you because she thought you would appreciate it and want to live there.”

      With a sigh, Trish said, “I do appreciate it. And like you and Dad, I need to live my life the way I see fit. I never gave you any flak over you selling everything and getting that trailer.”

      “It’s an RV, dear, a recreational vehicle, and you’d better not give us any flak, or we won’t drive up to your wedding. When is it, anyway?”

      Since she and Harrison hadn’t settled on a specific date, Trish hesitated. “Sometime after the house is sold.”

      “Well, make sure your plans are for the spring. Your father and I don’t like to travel in the snow.”

      Trish chuckled. “I’ll be sure to take that into consideration.”

      For a moment, her mother didn’t respond. “I suppose you connected with Butch again.”

      She sounded almost reluctant to mention him. At one point, Trish’s parents and Craig’s had been friends, but for reasons Trish had never understood, they weren’t speaking to each other by the time her family moved to Virginia. “He goes by Craig now. His father passed away a few years ago, and he’s taken over the business. I asked him for some estimates on the repairs that need to be done here.”

      “And that’s it? He’s not still madly in love with you?”

      “He has a girlfriend, Mom.” For a moment, Trish wondered why that thought filled her with an unexpected sadness. She shook off her reaction. Silly. They’d both moved past childish crushes and had new directions in their lives.

      * * *

      SETTLING ON ONE of the kitchen chairs, Trish reached for a cup of coffee. She’d risen to the ringing of her cell phone before seven. The birds hadn’t even been up.

      She pulled her blue bathrobe tighter. Maybe she should have Craig check the heating system. The temperatures outside were close to freezing despite the sunny skies, and the inside didn’t seem much warmer.

      “This is your inheritance?” Harrison had asked, referring to the picture Trish had sent on her iPhone.

      “Yes!” She hoped the joy in her voice made an impression over the phone. “I can’t wait till you get here to see it. So many memories. I’ve started cleaning and hope to have it livable while I’m here.”

      “You still planning to take off from work for a whole month? Won’t that jeopardize your job?” Had Harrison started the day on a sour note? He sounded critical. This was not exactly the bright, sunny good cheer she wanted in the morning.

      Trish hadn’t taken a vacation in over three years. She deserved one, and it would give her a little rest before returning to her new promotion. Right now she and Harrison worked in the same department; however, once she received her promotion they’d be working down the hall from each other. And once they married, and lived in the same house, they’d be able to commute together. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be from her grandmother’s house.

      Now, with matrimony on the horizon, she was considering other career moves. Harrison made enough to support them both, so eventually she could be a stay-at-home mom and take care of the many children they’d talked about having. Just thinking about it made her smile.

      “I needed this chance to get away.” Not about to slog through her decision again, Trish asked, “When can you come see the place?”

      Trish had wanted moral support as well as some physical labor from Harrison to get her grandmother’s house spruced up. They’d even talked about spending their vacations together to get as much completed as possible before the eventual sale.

      “I’m so rushed, flying in and out to different locations in California. I can come on Sunday.” He provided a date and Trish looked it up on a calendar.

      “You’ll be gone the week of Thanksgiving?”

      “Right. The company wants all this training completed before Christmas. You know how people go crazy with credit-card problems before and after the holidays.” Her plan to surprise him with a turkey and all the trimmings slowly slipped away.

      But no one should skip a proper Thanksgiving, and if it meant taking time away from work on her grandmother’s house, so be it. “How about we celebrate on that Sunday when you’re here? I make a mean turkey.”

      “Don’t.” He hesitated. “I thought you wanted to get painting done...finish some projects on the house. I’m not doing them all by myself while you’re busy cooking.”

      Trish considered this a moment and tried to control her voice, something she had plenty of practice at in her customer-service job. Keep your voice pleasant. Don’t antagonize the patrons even more. They were already stressed-out calling about problems with their credit cards.

      She

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