Building Home

by Dee Ernst

Joe spent a couple of days at the house that first week with me and was settling in just fine.

  “He likes it better here,” Mike said.

  “I doubt it. I’m just home more. And he likes to watch for Bella.” We were sitting on the porch, and I reached into my pocket and handed him a key. “In case you want to drop him off and I’m not home. I’d hate to think of him across the street with all that noise going on. You know you can bring him over any time, right?”

  He looked at the key and then lifted his eyes to mine. “Thank you. This means a lot.”

  “Well I know you’re a love-me-love-my-dog kind of guy.”

  His gaze never wavered. “Yes. That I am.”

  I could feel the weight of words hanging between us, but I tore my eyes away. “Breakfast club this Saturday morning. Be warned. I won’t be around.”

  “Breakfast club? Is that really a thing?”

  I nodded. “Jenna and Karen and Stella and Terri and Marie. Every Saturday morning at the Town Pharmacy. It started out as a single ladies kind of thing, but they’ve opened up their membership.”

  He chuckled. “Just an excuse to gather around and cluck like a bunch of hens.”

  I nodded. “Yes. And I can’t wait.”

  “Well, when you get around to talking about me, go easy, okay?”

  “Why, Mike. I can’t think of a single negative thing I could say about you,” I said, covering my heart with both hands.

  He snickered. “Well that’s because we’re still in whatchacall the honeymoon phase. Wait a few more months when I start belching and scratching myself at the breakfast table.”

  I started to laugh. “Oh?”

  “And when football season starts, well, forget about Sunday afternoons. Or Monday nights. Or any other day or evening there’s game.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Oh, please, Mike. Tell me it ain’t so.”

  He stretched out his legs, grinning. “And did I mention my chili? I make a big pot every Friday night once the weather turns, and I eat it all week long. The farts are incredible.”

  I was laughing so hard there were tears in my eyes.

  “But on the other hand,” he continued, his eyes twinkling, “I’m pretty good in the sack, so you be sure to mention that when you start listing all my sins.”

  I shook my head. “Mike, I think I’d just as soon keep all your sins to myself.”

  He waved a hand. “Nah. Just wait. Cause I know you all won’t be swapping recipes.” He clasped his hands across his chest. “I think Daniel is developing quite a fondness for Marie.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Oh? So do you sit around and cluck like a bunch of hens?”

  He shook his head. “Nope, we crow like roosters.”

  I waited a beat. “What about Steve? Does he say anything about Terri.”

  He crossed his ankles. “You talk to her lately?”

  “Not since the party. Why?”

  “Well. Apparently they’ve finally gone and done the deed.”

  I felt a slow, sinking feeling in my chest. “Oh?”

  He sighed. “My brother, well, he liked the chase. Or, rather, he liked being chased. She played the whole thing pretty smart, I think.”

  “But now?”

  He shrugged. “Steve…he spent most of his life chasing me, thinking he needed to have whatever I had, but more. Or bigger. Or better. When I told him about you and I, I think he looked around and saw Terri and figured she was smart and attractive, and the fact that she wasn’t falling all over him, well, she piqued his interest. But he’s just not a guy for the long haul. Never has been.”

  I sighed. “That’s too bad. I think she was starting to like him, not just…want him.”

  He leaned his head back. “He’s always just taken what he wanted, but he’s older now, maybe wiser. If she’s smart, she won’t tell him that he’s the best thing she’s ever had. Maybe if he comes back to her enough, he’ll find something in her that he needs. Men don’t like to admit they need things.” He reached over with his foot and nudged mine. “I need you,” he said quietly.

  I felt my heart beat faster. “That’s good to hear,” I said lightly, not wanting to give away too much. I didn’t tell him how much I needed him, his strength and calm, his humor and kindness. I didn’t tell him how much he added to my life, to my everyday happiness. But maybe now is the moment, I thought, and I took a breath. Maybe now I take another giant step…

  “Well, I’ve got to be back up Silver Beach in the morning,” he said. “How about you forgo your usual Friday night festivities and go fishing with me tomorrow evening? We can leave around six, stay out a few hours, catch the sunset?”

  The moment was gone. “Fishing? As in, picking up something and impaling it on a sharp hook, and then…”

  He stood up and laughed. “No, I’ll do all that. You can hold the fishing pole, though, and if you get a bite, I’ll help you reel it in, and I’ll even cook it right here on your grill out back.”

  I stood and kissed him lightly. “Deal.”

  I walked him out to the back, where his truck was parked next to my car, right beside the patio. Joe jumped in the front seat and Mike waved as they pulled away.

  “I love you,” I said softly as I watched them go.

  I’d been in the Town Pharmacy before, of course. It was the only drug store for miles around. When I walked in the following Saturday morning with Terri, four faces looked up, surprised. But only for a second.

  Stella jumped up and pulled a chair in from a neighboring table. “Wendy,” she called, “looks like we need another setup.”

  I stopped short. “I hope you all don’t mind,” I said. “It was Jenna who invited me.”

  Jenna nodded. “That’s right. Since I’m not, technically, a single lady anymore, and neither is Stella, I thought we could expand our membership to include…the what did I say? The deliriously attached?”

  The waitress appeared with a coffee mug and silverware. “I’m Wendy,” she said. “Are you going to be a regular here? It’s fine, but we may have to move you all to the table by the window. It’s bigger.”

  “We’ve been at this table for years, Wendy.” Marie said. “It’s quite big enough.”

  Wendy shrugged. “These ladies usually don’t need a menu,” she said, going back to the front counter and returning with a simple laminated sheet. “We’re pretty basic here, but if you don’t see what you want, ask. We’re pretty flexible.”

  I sat and looked at the menu. As I read, the other ladies all said the same thing: the usual. I chose carefully, so that some day in the near future I could also say, the usual, and it would be something I wouldn’t get tired of.

  “Blueberry pancakes. A short stack, please. And crispy bacon.” I handed Wendy the menu and she was gone.

  “So,” Karen said, stirring her coffee. “How was your first week of work?”

  I took a sip. The coffee was delicious. If the pancakes were half as good… “It’s a lot to learn, but so far, so good. I think I’m going to like it there. The people are all very friendly, and I can’t beat the hours.”

  Jenna leaned forward. “I’m kinda sorta thinking about applying there myself, just to be closer to home.”

  Marie arched her eyebrow. “Getting domesticated, I see. Well, it’s about time you settled in. I’m so glad that Craig came with a ready-made family. Is he keeping Sam’s on Main?”

  Jenna shook her head and began to talk about an arrangement Craig had made with Glory, the woman who was the cook there. I kept glancing at Terri, wondering if she was going to say anything about Steve. She kept her eyes down.

  Stella cleared her throat. “I want to know about this Daniel person. You and he looked very comfortable at Chris’s party last weekend. Yes, Marie, I am talking about you. Don’t look like there’s somebody else he showed up with.”

  Marie pointed at me. “She can tell you much more about Daniel than I can.’”

  “True,” I said. “But my information is a year out of date.�
�

  Marie looked thoughtful. “He’s complicated,” she said at last. “And charming. Very smart, and an excellent businessman. He has much too high an opinion of himself and hates to let anyone see his softer side. I imagine he’s very generous and thoughtful around people he cares about, but he likes to let everyone think he has a heart of stone.”

  I laughed. “Well, how about that? Sounds just like the old Daniel.”

  Her face softened. “The Main Street project will be done in a few months, then he’s going back up to Rehoboth to finish up something there before starting the medical park. Actual construction is months away, but he’ll be back down here after the first of the year for a bit. Permits and zoning changes will take up most of his time. Lucky for him, he’s got a first-class attorney working with him on that.”

  Stella beamed. “Well, good for you. I have to say, I talked to him a bit at Chris’, and he was charming. A bit of a flirt, too.”

  “Yes,” Marie said. “That he is.”

  “And you, Terri,” Karen said. “You and Steve seem to be getting along fairly well. How’s that going? Anything new to report?”

  Terri shook her head. “No. I’m taking my advice from Chris here, and remaining interested but aloof.”

  I looked down into my coffee. Either Steve had lied to Mike about the two of them, or Terri knew she’d blundered.

  The conversation drifted after that. The pancakes were delicious, and so was the second cup of coffee, and finally Terri and I walked back up Main Street. It was noisy and quite crowded, even as far down as my house.

  She came up on the porch and looked up and down the street. “Another two or three weeks, and we’ll be back to normal,” she said. “Nice and quiet. No cars, no strangers, no noise.”

  “And nobody threw up in my yard.”

  She snorted. “We still have a few weeks to go. Listen, I found another house. In Eastville. Want to come out and see it on Sunday? With Steve?”

  I looked over at her. “What’s going on with you two?”

  She looked over at Miss Ava’s yard. “I finally issued an invitation and he accepted,” she said.

  I kept quiet.

  “And I can safely say that all of the rumors about his prowess are true.”

  “Well,” I said. “Congratulations, I guess. This is what you wanted, right?”

  She shook her head. “In the beginning, yes. But I’ve been watching you and Mike, and that’s what I really wanted. For Steve to look at me the way Mike looks at you.” Her voice cracked. “And I really like him, Chris, now that I’ve gotten to know him. He’s not just this handsome, sexy guy. I thought that we were working toward something.”

  “But?” I asked, gently.

  “But I haven’t heard from him since Sunday night. Well, Monday morning. He just…left. That’s it. A real dick move.”

  I felt so badly for her. “Oh, Terri, honey I’m sorry.”

  She shook her head and I could see tears glistening in her eyes. “I don’t know why I was stupid enough to think that I was any different than all those other women. Because I did think that. I kept him at arms length and I thought that would make a difference. But I don’t think it’s in him to want to stay. He’s not like Mike.”

  “No,” I said softly. “He’s not.”

  She looked at me. “Are you in love with him?”

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  “Have you told him?”

  I shook my head. “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t want to spoil this.”

  She leaned forward. “Chris, look how far you’ve come this summer. Look at what you’ve done. You’ve built yourself a home, you’ve stepped in and made a difference in those two old ladies’ lives, you’ve even managed to make yourself a first-class enemy. And this from the woman who a few years ago was afraid to stand up for anything because she was too afraid of rocking the boat. Tell him. Because I bet he feels the same way.”

  I swallowed hard. “Maybe.”

  “Not maybe. For sure.” She stood up abruptly. “What about the house?”

  “You know, I’m not sure that Steve and Mike can help us with another project. I know that Mike has been up to Silver Beach a few times, and with the medical park next year…”

  Terri looked down at her feet and shrugged. “Just as well, I guess. Working with Steve might be awkward.”

  I stood up and hugged her. “Terri, maybe he’ll realize what a wonderful person you are, and what a jerk he’s been. He can come around.”

  She shook her head. “No. And I don’t think I could have done anything differently. He just…well, he is who he is, and he’s obviously not for me.” She went down the walk and headed to her place. I sat back down and closed my eyes, feeling an ache for her.

  Daniel invited me to have dinner with him and Celeste and Connie to celebrate the sale of their property. We ate at a small place up the highway, close to where the two sisters were going to be living. The inventory had been removed in the previous weeks, and Daniel described the huge shell of the Coop, empty and dark. Celeste rolled her eyes.

  “Thank God I’ll never have to worry about sweeping that barn of a place again,” she said

  Connie smiled. “Somebody does all the cleaning at our new place,” she said happily. “And there are ducks across the street. Celeste wheels me out every morning.”

  Celeste poked Daniel with her elbow. “Make sure whoever plans out your assisted living facility that there are ground floor units. We want to be able to just step outside whenever we want.”

  Daniel cracked a smile. “Of course.”

  “And make sure there’s a good-sized community kitchen,” Connie said. “This place we’re in now doesn’t allow for a bunch of us to get together and cook.”

  “And maybe a wading pool?” Celeste suggested.

  Daniel’s smile broadened. “Why don’t you two just sit down with the architects yourselves?” he joked.

  Celeste, however, nodded seriously. “That’s a very good idea,” she said. “Please set that up for us.”

  Daniel looked taken aback, then laughed. “Done, ladies. Done.”

  It was a good dinner, and Daniel drove me back to my house, dropping me off.

  “Things are good?” he asked.

  I nodded. “Yes. You and Marie are coming next week?” I had already had Celeste and Connie over for a long, happy Sunday dinner but planned a potluck for all my friends the next week.

  “Of course. She’s bringing what she calls her world famous dumplings, and I’ll bring my world famous cocktail shaker and a gallon of Stoli. We’re both looking forward to it.”

  “I’m happy for you. Listen, I want you to know that when we were together, I was very…”

  “You were content,” he said. “As was I. We made an excellent couple because we were both what the other needed at the time.”

  “Yes.” I said.

  “And because we’re both probably happier now doesn’t take anything away from that.”

  “No. It doesn’t. And I’m glad you’re with Marie, and I hope she’s what you want right now.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Please, do not get sentimental.”

  “Of course not, Daniel. But still…I like Marie a lot.”

  He flashed a smile. “So do I.” He looked at me. “You seem much happier here.”

  “I am.”

  “I’m glad. And you do seem…braver. This whole thing of yours to take more risks has appeared to have made a real difference.”

  “I think it has. I’m not sure I’d be where I am right now if I hadn’t been willing to put myself out there.”

  “You mean with Mike?”

  I nodded. “And with Celeste and Connie. Can you imagine me, a year ago, risking so much on the word of a little old lady who swore there was a super-squirrel living next door?”

  He made a face. “Well you don’t quite know if that’s paid off or not. What if Bella decides on her own to leave town?”
<
br />   “Then I lose. But I don’t think I will.”

  “I don’t think you will either.” He leaned over and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Good night.”

  I went inside, lit a few candles, and stretched out on the couch. I was happy. I felt as though everything I’d been looking for had all come together in a perfect whole.

  It didn’t get cold on the Eastern Shore, not really cold, or so everyone told me. But somewhere in the middle of October, the air took on a chill and the leaves started to turn, and the long, glorious summer was over.

  The building across the street was complete and had been fully leased. Yes, there was a bank, a young couple that made their own bagels, a dry cleaner and a bookstore. I was quite happy.

  Mike didn’t drop Joe off in the mornings anymore, but when he stayed over, Joe spent the next day. We had fallen into a pattern of quiet, happy rituals: Sunday morning omelets, Wednesday night binge watching old Seinfeld episodes, Saturday afternoon antique hunting. He was still playful, kind, and ardent. His touch still sent shivers to all the right places. Sunday afternoons, while he watched football, Terri and I shopped or saw a movie.

  “Has he told you that he loves you yet?” She would ask.

  I’d shake my head and roll my eyes. “We’re not teenagers, Terri. I know how important I am to him, just as he knows what he means to me. I don’t need words.”

  And I didn’t. But I would have liked to hear them.

  Amy McCann purchased the lot next door, and Dr. Ava Wilson filed an affidavit with the town, the county, and the State Fish and Wildlife Department. I sat and waited to see what Amy’s next move would be. According to Marie, she had not filed any plans or proposals with the town, but she also knew about the little squirrel living next door to me, what she was and what that meant.

  She pulled up in front of the house in the early evening during a brief Indian Summer, when the temperatures had soared up past eighty, and Mike and I were out on the porch. There was very little traffic to watch now, but we liked to watch the customers going in and out of the book store, and guess what they had just bought.

  “Now, there’s a Stephen King fan right there. I bet he just bought his eleventh copy of It,” Mike said.