by Lacey Black
“There’s no reason to be snippy. You want this divorce, fine. I have granted you this one last wish.”
Again, an eye roll. “Whatever.” It’s not like I’ve ever asked him for anything other than the divorce. Well, and maybe faithfulness, but hey, you can’t win them all, right?
“I’m sure your attorney will send you the final papers soon,” he says as he hangs up without saying goodbye.
“Finally,” I breathe a sigh of relief, firing off a quick text message to my attorney to be on the lookout for the signed documents. I may have to fly back to New York one final time, but that’s fine. As long as it happens, that’s all I’m asking for. It’ll be worth the trip back.
For now, I can breathe a little easier.
I set the copy of the divorce papers aside and grab the landscaping designs for the property. They’re stunning and I find myself staring at the simple lines and stark beauty in the colors. My mind is transported back to a time when Jensen would be digging in the earth, up to his elbows in dirt and mud.
I wonder what ever happened to him and his dream. Did he go to school and start his own company? Did he get married and have kids? The painful pang in my chest hits hard. I rarely allow myself to think of that. Of him.
But being home isn’t helping. Being in Rockland Falls only reminds me what I used to have and what was thrown away in the middle of the night. It was never my decision, but I was the one to live with the consequences and the damage done.
I was alone.
Chapter Three
Jensen
Come Monday morning, the jobsite’s booming. My full-time employee, Jonas, is meeting me here, along with my new hire, Wes. Today’s his first day, and I’m anxious to see what he can do. We have a big undertaking here, but on top of that, we have dozens of other customers to maintain. My after-school kid, Brody, will continue to help with the small mowing jobs, with Jonas’ help, which will leave a big chunk of the heavy lifting here to the newbie and me.
I park my truck amongst the mix of other contractors. There’s a local plumbing operation on-site, as well as a family-owned construction business whose job is the massive kitchen overhaul. Even my sister’s boyfriend, Rhenn, is here with the electrical company he works for. It’s definitely all hands on deck for such a massive a project at the Elliott mansion.
What I don’t see yet is the mini excavator I rented to help dig up some of the overgrown small trees and shrubs. The plan for this week is to clear out a lot of the old landscaping and start fresh. Most of the large trees will remain, though pruned back to be more appealing. The use of the mini is on my schedule for tomorrow and Wednesday, and even though I rented it for forty-eight hours, the company I get it from is good about delivering the machine the day prior.
With my coffee mug in hand, I slide out of my truck and head to the tailgate. I pull my plans and clipboard out and set them down on my makeshift desk, ready to get this huge project started. I ignore the pull I feel to look at the house. There’s nothing there for me anymore, and no reason to torture myself with the memories that house holds.
“Hey, Jensen,” I hear over my shoulder and find Jonas and Wes heading my way.
“Hey, guys,” I reply, sticking out my hand for my new hire.
Wes is a hair shorter than my six foot two inch height and a few pounds heavier. He comes highly recommended by the horse farmer outside of town, where he worked as a part-time hired hand for the last few years. With my business expanding in Rockland Falls and the surrounding areas, I’ve been in desperate need of more help for a while, but haven’t bothered to sit down and actually take the time to hire someone. Instead, I’ve been working myself into an early grave doing most of it alone. Now, with Max in preschool and approaching kindergarten next fall, I want to be able to attend his school functions without falling asleep where I stand.
“Ready to get started,” Wes says, placing his hand in mine and giving it a firm shake.
“We have a large project here. It’s not going to be an easy job to cut your teeth on, Wes, but I think you’ll learn a lot from this one job alone,” I tell him, taking a sip of my coffee from my mug. I practically live on caffeine.
“I’m excited,” he responds with a decisive nod.
“Yeah, it won’t be long at all before you learn Jensen’s favorite phrase is ‘What in the living fuck?’” Jonas laughs.
I sigh, knowing he speaks the truth. When shit starts to go down on the jobsite (and it always does), my reply is always the same. Unfortunately, it’s been a hard habit to break when I’m around Max. I’ve had my ass chapped several times by Ashley when our son comes home and repeats the phrase.
“Let’s hope Wes doesn’t hear that for at least the first few days,” I reply with a smirk.
Jonas blows out an exaggerated gasp. “Try a few minutes,” he teases, making me smile at his goodhearted joshing.
“Whatever,” I reply. Straightening up, I turn to my two full-timers. “We have a massive project. Heavy machinery will be here sometime today, and our first task is going to be to clear the site of everything we’re replacing. There’s some dirt work too, reshaping beds and building a new retaining wall around the entire front,” I say, falling easily into work-mode.
Wes and Jonas listen intently as I go through the plan, detailing the new areas we’re building and what needs to be removed. Jonas will help where he can, but his job this week will be to maintain our current clientele. Sure, there’s a lot of simple mowing jobs, but when you’re spread out over the entire county and everyone has a different schedule, based on their needs, it’s a juggle to keep it all straight.
“Jonas, I’m going to have you help me mark everything with Wes’s help. Then you can head out and we’ll start clearing,” I add, finishing off my coffee and setting the mug in the cupholder in my truck cab. With my clipboard in hand and colored paint ready to go, the three of us head out to start marking.
It takes us just over an hour to walk the property and mark everything out. One of my professors in college suggested the colored paint technique and I couldn’t have been more pleased. It’s a hell of a lot better than trying to decipher codes or markings. The basis of it is I use a few different colors of paint to put an X on the tree or shrub. Red means remove completely, blue means trim, and purple means relocate, and green means leave untouched. It’s a simple system that has never failed when I’ve been off working somewhere else. Jonas knows what needs to be done based on the colored markings.
When it comes time for Jonas to head out, Wes and I throw on our work gloves and get ready to start clearing. I’m in a zone, moving easily in the thick, overgrown weeds and mountains of decaying leaves. This is probably the worst part of any job, but once you get past the physical aspect, I love it. The removal of the old means I’m making way for the new. That’s what I look forward to the most. Getting my hands in the dirt and giving space a new life.
It’s about noon when my phone rings. I almost ignore it, but as the business owner, I rarely afford myself the luxury. I spot Jonas’ name on the screen, drop my gloves, and answer the phone.
“Hey, bossman, we have a problem. Mr. Rhodes showed me some concerning markings on his walnut tree in back. I think you need to take a look at this,” Jonas says, the concern evident in his voice.
“What in the living fuck?” I mutter to myself, rubbing my hand over my forehead. I can already tell this phone call is an issue. No, not the call itself, but the reasoning behind it. That’s never good when Jonas calls me about the health of a tree.
There are several active tree watches in North Carolina right now that are cause for concern, but the fact that it’s a walnut tree tells me it’s bad. The walnut twig beetle is a killer with no pesticides available. If this tree is infected, that means the tree is coming down.
Trying not to get ahead of myself just yet, I reply, “I’m on my way. I’ll leave Wes here clearing. If it looks like we may be a while at the Rhodes place, I’ll send you back here to help h
im.”
“Sounds good, bossman. Sorry to pull you away from the job,” he says before signing off.
“Shit,” I mumble, sliding my phone back into the clip at my hip.
“Problems?” Wes asks, taking a drink of water and breathing deeply. Clearing is hard work, as Wes is learning real quickly.
“Yeah, there’s something going on with one of the big old trees at one of our clients’ houses. Jonas is concerned. I need to head over and check it out. If I’m going to be long, I’ll send Jonas back over to help you,” I tell my newbie.
This is a good test for him. Even though I hate leaving him alone on his first day, the work doesn’t require supervision. It’s basic clearing of the old shit. Even though he’ll be alone, I know about how long it should take him on this task. Jonas will know too, so if we get back and it’s not to where we need it to be, then I know he didn’t work hard enough while alone.
“Keep going on these front beds, and if you get this all cleared before one of us gets back, you can head to the back. Start with the ones along the back terrace first. Since I have to take my truck, make a pile over by those hedges. We’ll load it all in the back of my truck when we return,” I tell him, shoving my gloves into my back pocket and heading toward my truck. “Oh, and take a thirty-minute lunch break. We usually stay on-site, but if you need to leave, just shoot me a message. Sign in and out on the timesheet on the clipboard,” I add.
“I brought a lunch, so I’ll just chill under the shade of the trees,” he says, waving me off.
I hope Wes works out. I’m definitely in need of good help, but admittedly, trusting someone with my business doesn’t come easily. In fact, it’s fucking difficult as hell. I built my business for three years before I hired Jonas, which ended up being the best thing that happened to me. Yet, here I am, still struggling to keep up with the job, as well as being there for Max. Sharing custody with Ashley was the only option for me, but I knew my job would take a hit. I’m managing, but it’s hell on the sleep schedule, you know? Especially when Ashley’s as high maintenance as ever.
Not my problem anymore, yet it is.
She’s Max’s mom, and we share the parenting obligations, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Hell, most days, I’d rather drop her off in the desert and tell her “good luck.” But I can’t do that. I won’t do that. Max needs her. So, I’m stuck dealing with her drama and her constant nagging. At least until he’s eighteen…
Heading down the driveway, I can’t help but glance back at the house in the rearview. Years ago, my life was completely entangled with this house. I had always envisioned it going one way, but that dream changed overnight. Instead, I had to pick myself up off the ground and start over. That’s where Ashley came into play. No, our relationship wasn’t always bad, but it was happy, at least for a while.
As I pull onto the highway, I meet a fancy car getting ready to turn into the homestead. My heart starts to pound in my chest when I spy the long, blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail. Part of her face is covered by sunglasses, but my gut still clenches. It’s probably just because of the hair. It’s because I’m here, at the Elliott mansion. It’s the only reason I feel the pull. It’s memories.
The new owner is here.
Not Kate.
* * *
Yep, the tree has to come down. The walnut twig beetles have already penetrated the bark and cankers are forming. The result is an early case of thousand canker disease, and yes, the entire tree must come down, eventually. Right now, with the help of our county pest management agency, we’ve set traps on the tree and surrounding ones that’ll remain for six weeks. Once that’s complete, we will have to remove the tree, since there is no treatment for this type of beetle. The local agency is handling the survey of surrounding trees, but so far, we’ve been lucky and haven’t found anything. The important thing is not to move the wood. When the tree comes down, we’ll either grind or burn the entire thing on-site.
This job took longer than anticipated, considering the phone calls I had to make, so Jonas went back to the Elliott mansion to work with Wes. All of his afternoon jobs were pushed back, though my part-time after-school employee, Brody, was able to jump in and complete some of the mowing jobs.
By the time I’m finally heading back to the jobsite, it’s nearing five. My entire day was shot at the Rhodes’ place, dealing with their infested tree. Now, I’m more than ready to kick off my boots, pop the top on a cold beer, and relax watching mindless television, but I have to check the big site first.
The first thing I notice when I pull in is that the mini excavator was delivered. That means I’ll definitely spend my day tomorrow pulling the shrubs and digging up the old beds. That’ll keep Wes and me busy for a while. My blood starts to pump as I think about getting in the seat of that machine. I love digging in the dirt, whether it’s with my own hands or a bucket on an excavator.
I hop out of my truck and spy Jonas and Wes heading my way. They’re both smiling, thankfully, and I’ll take that as a good sign. “Hey, bossman,” Jonas hollers as he approaches.
“Well, how’d it go?” I ask, grabbing the clipboard and checking today’s progress. When I glance up, surprised to see how much clearing they accomplished, I encounter matching grins.
“Not too shabby, huh?” Jonas boasts.
“Great job,” I tell them both, proud of the two of them for getting the majority of our handwork accomplished today. “Tomorrow, Jonas, you’ll work on your list,” I add, pulling a printed sheet out of my clipboard. “Wes, you’ll be back here with me.”
“Sounds good,” Wes replies, reaching over and offering me a hand.
Placing my hand in his, I say, “You did well today.”
“Thanks. I’m happy to be here. See you tomorrow,” he says, throwing a wave and heading toward his truck.
When he pulls away, I finally speak to my right hand. “Everything went well?”
Jonas blows out a breath with his chuckle. “Man, that guy is a machine. I had to practically force him to take breaks. I don’t know if he was just trying to make a good impression, but he worked hard. I hope he works out. He seems like a good dude, and I enjoyed trying to keep pace with a young guy.”
I blow out an exasperated breath. “You’re like six years older than he is,” I remind my employee and friend. Jonas just turned thirty-two earlier this year and has been with me for four years. He’s a single father of two who went through his divorce about a year before I did. It was nice to have someone to talk to, who had been through what I was going through. Between him and my buddy, Garrett, they made sure I tipped back a few beers and always had a ride home when necessary.
“Yeah, well, he’s got a lot more energy than I do,” Jonas states, taking a cold bottle of water from the cooler I keep in my truck bed.
“He’s not chasing two kids around at night.”
“Good point,” he laughs, finishing off the bottle.
“How’d everything else go today?” I ask, nodding toward the house.
“Carpenters headed out about thirty minutes ago. They got the kitchen gutted and hauled away. Rhenn came out earlier and told me to tell you hi. He was hoping to catch you, but promised to give you shit tomorrow,” Jonas adds with a grin.
Rhenn’s shacking up with my little sister, Marissa, and even though I love giving them hell, I actually really like him and am thrilled that they’re so happy together. “Oh, I’m sure he’s got something to say.”
“He spent a little time with the homeowner before he left. He’s adding some outdoor lighting that wasn’t on the original plans,” he says, pulling my attention.
“They’re adding more lighting? Where?” I ask, pulling out my drawings and laying them out on the tailgate.
“Here,” he says, pointing to the area at the very back of the property. I made a quick note on the drawing since it’ll be my job to fix the groundwork after they bury the wiring. “So have you met her yet?” I glance at my friend, not really sure who he’s ref
erring to. “The homeowner. She’s hot,” he adds with a smirk.
“No,” I reply, rolling up my drawings and placing them back in the truck cab. “I dealt with her lawyer through the entire thing. I think I ran into her when I was leaving earlier, but we haven’t officially met yet.”
“Seriously, smokin’ hot, bossman. She brought out lemonade to us all. I’m kinda hoping she’s here every day. Damn sure makes the afternoons a little brighter, if you know what I mean,” Jonas says, a wide smile on his face.
My gut clenches and for some unknown reason, I find myself unrolling the drawings. They were approved a week ago by K. Dunnington. I had assumed the homeowner was a man, but now that I look at the handwriting, it’s delicate and curvy. I don’t know why I can’t seem to shake the feeling I’m missing something here. “Did you meet the husband?”
“Nope, never showed up. I assume he’s at work. You can’t afford a house like this and the massive work we’re all doing and not have a husband working his ass off somewhere,” Jonas adds, and while I understand his point, that’s not always true. There are plenty of women who work their asses off, make good money, and could probably afford a place like this. Though, I do admit, it would be difficult for anyone on a single income.
“All right, I’ll update tomorrow’s work list for you, since you had the setback today. It’ll be at the office in the morning,” I tell my employee.
“Sounds good, bossman. No Max tonight?”
“Not tonight. He went back with his mom last night.” I don’t tell him I already miss the hell out of my son. If I could, I’d have him with me all day, every day.
“I thought about heading up to have a drink later. You wanna come?”
“No, I better not. I have to update the schedules for the rest of the week and make a few client calls,” I tell him. The office side of work takes a lot of time, and being in the peak busy season, I’m busting my balls just to keep up with it all.
“’Kay. Don’t work too hard,” he teases, a smile on his face, knowing full well I’ll be up late again tonight.