“Melinda these are amazing,” Ms. Simmons stated. “You should have taken art as your elective.”
“Instead I was forced into the torture known as PE,” she joked as they spread out the information on the table and began to go through it.
Jordan looked at her an hour later shaking his head slightly. “I don’t know Mel. We’d have to hire two more crews outsource electrical work, masonry, and what if our other jobs pick up more? We’d have to pull people off of it to fill out the others and that’s even with injecting additional capital…”
“What if we could get some additional help without having to pay them?” she asked as an idea hit her.
He laughed, shaking his head as he pressed a kiss to her temple. “Honey, if you can find me free labor, I will name you the queen.”
“Hear me out, the school managed to get the plans without paying a dime why? Because they used their resources…their students.”
“Mel, that’s brilliant,” he said catching on as she held his gaze. “We see if we can use the members of the trade program. They earn credit and get actual experience…and we get extra hands.”
“There are tons of high schools that also offer programs like it. Our crew sets up the site, gets the ball rolling so to say, and then they can help supervise the students. We can contract with the electrical schools programs to give their students hands-on hours. We can also use it outside the buildings when we need to finish the landscaping.”
“I think the board just might go for it, but I’d have to line up the possibility first to make sure there are no snags. Gotta say Mel, as much as I hate the man, I should really thank Henry for being such an ass,” he said as he got up and leaned down to kiss her. “You should head home. I’m sure you have better things to do than hang out while I draw up the outline of the bid,” he added checking the clock. “Leave the rest until tomorrow, go home curl up on the couch and watch whatever it is that’s been on the watchlist for the last three weeks.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, knowing she was ready to drop.
“Positive, I want to start the outline while it’s fresh in my mind,” he answered giving her another kiss as she walked out to get to her desk.
“Wake me when you get home?”
“Don’t I always?” he teased.
She gave him a grin and then headed for her desk as Ms. Simmons said goodnight to them. The next month flew by as Jordan worked on the bid to shore it up before the deadline. She and Tate spent an entire afternoon looking around the campus with Dwight and she knew instantly that it was the only place she wanted to go. She also knew that Jordan was right about her career path though she was hoping to add in a business degree to back up what she already knew.
Her birthday this year was beyond her wildest expectations. They spent the morning with his family and then the evening the three of them spent at the pizza parlor though Jordan hadn’t anticipated going.
“You should change,” Mel said checking out his ratty track pants he only ever wore in the house.
“Why? I plan on being lazy right here and no one here’s complaining about the way I’m dressed,” he said gesturing towards the TV.
“You’re not coming?”
“I thought this was your and Tate’s thing; your special way of celebrating your birthday.”
“It is,” she told him with a smile, “but I’d like you to come.”
“You do?”
“Yes, Jordan, I love spending time with you, and it wouldn’t be the same without my two best friends by my side. You and Tate…I trust you both with everything I have so please come.”
“Let me get changed,” he said kissing her cheek.
When they arrived, Tate had three places set and their drinks already ordered.
“I knew Mel would drag you along with her,” he said answering their unasked question.
“You don’t mind?” Jordan stated.
“Nah, as long as you make her smile you’re good. So when will you hear about the bids?” he asked moving on so it wouldn’t upset Mel hearing his opinion on just how much they loved each other despite claiming they didn’t.
“They’re due at the end of the month, the board will look them over in November, they have a meeting to discuss the two or three they narrow it down to and then they’ll make their decision in January or February. They hope to have construction started at the beginning of summer,” Jordan explained.
“When they decide to move, they move, don’t they?” Tate stated.
“They do and if you’re interested in a spot on one of the crews all you have to do is ask,” Jordan told him.
