Biting back the rude retort that jumped into his mind, Griffin clamped his mouth shut while shaking his head slowly.
“Heard about what was said this morning,” Bob pushed. Bob had been his first hire when he’d created Capella Construction. Bob had experience with older houses, had been in construction for years, had a work ethic that rivaled Griffin’s but had no desire to run his own business.
A heavy sigh did little to ease the weight that was piled on his shoulders. “Can’t believe I said something so rude.”
“Have to admit, I was surprised. That’s not like you at all, Griff.”
Unused to discussing feelings, and certainly not with a crewmember, he held the older man’s gaze and nodded.
“Look, I’m no good at all this psychology shit… my wife’s the one who can set a person straight in no time. But, to me, you got a great girl living across from you. No one’s got a crystal ball, but then, if we all held back because of the idea that something could go wrong, then none of us would be with a partner.” He hefted his shoulders and grinned. “Well, there’s my two-cents worth and that’s probably all it’s worth. Gonna go eat now and hope my grouchy-ass boss is better this afternoon than he was this morning.”
The afternoon went quickly as he settled in with the lathe, turning spindles for the porch, losing himself in the creative process of taking wood and shaping the exact spindles that were on the original house. He always told his crew to focus when using machines, and he wasn’t about to fuck that up himself. Even as the pile of spindles grew, he was surprised when Bob called out, “Quittin’ time, boys.”
They worked seamlessly as they cleaned up their work area, waited as Griffin inspected the work for the day, and gave out assignments for the next day. “Nate, I’m going to have you go to the house behind the high school tomorrow to oversee what they’re doing. I’ll stop by in the afternoon, but I’d like you on-site in the morning.” Once the work site was taken care of, he offered goodbyes as his crew left, and he walked around the porch to the front door.
Not seeing Caitlyn’s car back from school yet, he sighed then climbed into his truck. Pretending he wanted to check on the house near the high school, he drove past the teachers’ parking lot seeing her vehicle still there. Wondering if she was working or just avoiding going home because he was there. Turning onto the street behind the stadium, he parked and walked around the house, pleased to see that it appeared everything was on schedule. He’d already turned the balusters and spindles and Nate would be there the next day to supervise the rail replacements. Maybe I should start coming over here—no, that’d be a chickenshit way to avoid Caitlyn. Squeezing the back of his neck, he hated the way she avoided his gaze this morning.
Climbing back into his car, he drove to one of the close neighborhoods, parking in front of an older, midsize house. Red brick, white trim, and a hunter green door to match the shutters. The flowerbeds along the front walk had been mulched, ready for the winter. The leaves had turned on the trees, and he remembered years gone by when he would rake leaves from the tall oak that stood in the front yard. The tree had been taken down, and smaller trees planted in its place. He walked around toward the back, not surprised to see his mother in the kitchen. Her face brightened when she spied him through the window and met him at the back door.
“Griffin! What a nice surprise!”
He wrapped his arms around her, catching a scent of apple cinnamon coming from the kitchen that blended well with the vanilla of her perfume. “It always smells so good in here.”
“Are you working at the house near here today?”
His mom had leaned back, and even though it had only been a few weeks, his gaze roved over her, assessing. Her dark hair, now streaked with silver, lay in waves over her shoulders. Her smooth complexion and twinkling blue eyes gave evidence that his sisters gained their genetics from her.
“I haven’t been working there but I wanted to come by and check on things. Since I was in the neighborhood, thought I’d pop in and see you. Is Joe home from work yet?”
“He’ll be along soon, so it’s my lucky day that I get to visit with you before. Sit down, and I’ll get you a slice of apple crisp.”
Not about to turn down that offer, he watched as she bustled around the kitchen plating her delicious dessert, and pouring a glass of milk. It didn’t seem to matter how old he got, his mother was determined that he’d drink milk with his sweets.
Finishing the dessert, he pushed the plate back and looked up, seeing his mom eyeing him carefully. She somehow had a way of making him feel as though he was under a microscope and could never figure out if it was just her or was a mama-thing. Finally, he said, “You’re staring.”
“Well, as much as I like you trying out my dessert, your face tells me you have something on your mind, so I’m just wondering when you’re gonna bring up whatever it is that’s bothering you.”
He couldn’t keep the smile off his face as he shook his head. “You’re good, you know that, don’t you?”
She shrugged. “I’m a mom.”
“I’ve met someone,” he blurted.
She propped her elbow on the table, rested her chin on her palm, and grinned. “It’s about time! But, then, from the look on your face, you seem a bit conflicted. Tell me about this special someone.”
“She’s smart, funny, beautiful, and manages to enjoy life no matter what comes at her.”
“So far, she sounds delightful.”
“We’re such opposites, though.”
“You know what they say about opposites… they attract!” she laughed.
Shaking his head, he retorted, “That’s just a saying, mom, not a basis for a relationship. I’m a planner and she’s spontaneous. I like to know what’s going to happen, and she goes with the flow. I weigh the risks, and she jumps in feet first.”
“I think that sounds perfect.” He startled, but his mom continued, “Life is about finding balance, Griffin. Work with play. Responsibility with freedom. Time with others and time alone. The same thing can be said for relationships. You can learn to loosen up with someone like this woman. And, perhaps, she would learn from you, as well.”
“Do you speak from experience?”
She snorted indelicately. “I was very young when I married your father, and truthfully, had not spent enough time around him before we became serious. And my youth also played a part in my not seeing the warning signs. But then, considering I gained five beautiful children from him, I focus on that. But with Joe, I speak from experience. I was wary, and he was what pulled me out of my self-doubt. Together, we work.”
His brow furrowed as he pondered her words. Still in the mood to debate, he continued, “And, on top of everything else she lives right across the hall from me.”
She dropped her hand so that her arms were now crossed on the table, and continued to hold his gaze. “Okay…” she said, dragging out the word.
“That’s the problem. She lives right across the hall in the new house I’ve moved into.”
Brow scrunched, his mom shook her head slightly. “Griffin, honey, I’m sorry, I’m not seeing the problem.”