Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 133688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Every person I’ve ever loved is here. I want to be in my niece’s or nephew’s life. It's important for me to make up for all the lost time. Plus, my dad's not getting any younger. Though now that he's busy most days with his girlfriend, I still want to be around for him.
After Tyler and I snag a donut for ourselves, I look over today’s list of tasks. The building’s old, and it's gonna take a lot of manpower to get it where it needs to be on time. I'm happy there’s a lot to do. If I was sitting at home doing nothing, I’d probably go crazy.
Thankfully, most of the walls are prepped since Smith had started before I was released. The drywall is hung, and all the nail holes have been spackled. This week, I’ll be painting.
I grab my supplies as Smith walks me through the list of things that still need to be done. He’s experienced in this stuff, and I’m happy he’s taken me under his wing. Learning from him has been a nice advantage of working here.
Based on his list, he suspects the grand opening will be in three to four months.
I've made a silent commitment to bust my ass and help make that happen sooner.
I’ll work extra hours and put in as much time as I possibly can to make sure they open ahead of schedule. There’s still a lot to do, like the plumbing and some electrical. Tyler wants to install a juice bar, which I think will do great since the gym is downtown. There’ll also be a boxing ring and a yoga studio. We still have to lay the flooring, hang all the mirrors, create an office space, and put together the workout equipment once it’s delivered. When the walls are painted, we can start tackling the larger items, so I spend most of my day on that.
I climb up and down the ladder with my brush and listen to music to clear my head. Eventually, we break for lunch, then afterward, I pick up where I left off. It takes me nearly all day to apply the first coat on the long wall from the front doors to the back. Once I’m done, I stand on the other side and review my work.
Tyler walks up. “Wow. You did a good job.”
I nod with a proud smile. “Thank you. Means a lot.”
“Yeah, man. Keep it up,” he says, patting my shoulder before taking off.
After I wash up, I tell Tyler I’m heading out and will see him in the morning. He thanks me again, and I walk out beaming—a much different feeling than I had when I arrived this morning.
I get in my truck and exhale all the tension I’d been holding in my shoulders. For the first time in a decade, someone appreciates me, and I’m making a difference.
On my way home, I slow down as I pass Katie's house. I imagine her tearing down drywall or remodeling a bathroom alone. The thought makes me smile because she’s not a contractor, but she’s always had a strong spirit. Katie could do anything she put her mind to, and that hasn’t changed. I continue home, remembering Gemma said to give her time. After ignoring her the way I did, I have a lot of explaining to do.
I’m willing to do that, and hopefully, she doesn’t make me wait a decade because she’s the only person I want to see.
CHAPTER SEVEN
KATIE
I'm a nervous wreck and have been since I woke up this morning. An uneasy energy swarms through me, and I've already changed my clothes three times. Today’s Jerry's retirement party, and Gemma’s confirmed Noah will be there. Now I have no choice but to be in his presence.
Belinda planned a big party at the event center downtown so people can stop by to eat and congratulate him for finally retiring after forty years. From the sounds of it, everyone in Lawton Ridge will be there at some point.
I put on my earrings and check to see if Owen’s dressed. When I walk into his room, he’s lying on his bed playing with his tablet.
“Ready to go?” I ask, leaning against the doorframe as I scan his floor of dirty clothes.
“Yep,” he tells me, then slips on his shoes and walks past me. Raising a boy means he doesn’t give a shit what he looks like, which is both a blessing and a curse.
When we're in the car, I turn on the radio and try to keep my mind focused on the music. Other people will be around, so I won't be able to tell Noah to go straight to hell if he tries to speak to me. I’ll have to play nice for the sake of not creating a scene, but I won’t make it easy for him, just as he didn’t make it easy for me.