After picking up his phone, he headed back downstairs. The savory scent of supper greeted him as he reached the main floor. Instead of going to the library, even though he really wanted to, Nate walked into the kitchen.
CHAPTER EIGHT
"Hey, Nate," Cami said as she looked up from the pot she was stirring on the stove. "Hungry?"
"Well, whatever you're cooking is making my stomach rumble." He wandered over to the counter and settled on one of the stools there. "Will around?"
"Yep. He's upstairs checking in on Jessa. Should be back in a few minutes." Cami set the spoon down and covered the pot. "How was your day?"
"I got my hands dirty, and someone else is dealing with the paperwork, so all in all, one of the better days I've had recently."
A smile flashed across Cami's face. "I'm happy to hear that. You deserve a good day after all you've been through."
"Hope I have more than one, but I still have lots to figure out with regards to my house and the garage in Sanford." Nate saw Cami's gaze go past him about the time he felt a hand on his shoulder. He glanced up, not surprised to see Will standing beside him. "Hey, man."
Will sat down on the stool next to him. "How's it going?"
As he repeated the conversation he'd just had with Cami, she busied herself making a salad.
"Have you decided yet if you're going to rebuild or not?"
Nate shrugged. "Part of me says no. Expanding was what my dad wanted. I'm content with just the one garage." He traced a pattern on the smooth counter-top. "I think it's time for me to leave room in my life for some...other things."
Will's eyebrows rose. "Things going that well with you and Crystal?"
Nate looked down at his hands. "No. She broke up with me on Sunday."
"Sunday?"
Nate lifted his head in time to see Will and Cami exchange a look. "Yep. Apparently she'd decided at some point that if she didn't feel I was fully committed to her by the time Lily came back, she would end things."
"Sorry to hear that."
"It's given me something to think about. I was so busy with the garages that I never really gave my relationship with Crystal much of a go. She did most the work arranging times for us to be together and such. Can't really blame her for not feeling like I was fully committed. Any other relationship I might have will be no different if I'm still tied up with both garages."
"Sounds like this might be an opportunity for you to change things so they're less stressful and demanding on you."
"Yes, but then I think of the guys over there who were working for me. They were good guys, and I'd like to give them their jobs back, but chances are they won't wait for me to rebuild. They can't. Several of them have families to support. So that would mean having to train a whole new staff." He shook his head. "I'm not sure I'm up to that."
"I don't envy you the decisions, but will certainly pray that God will give you wisdom."
Nate nodded though he wasn't really happy with God right then. "Will have to decide sometime in the next week or so."
He heard the front door open and glanced over his shoulder to see Lance walk into the kitchen. He'd barely had time to greet them when the door opened again. This time the arrival was much more raucous as Josh and Amy ushered several children into the kitchen.
"Whoa. Rowdy crowd," Lance said as he gave his daughter a hug. "I think I'm going to go check on Jessa."
"Chicken," Cami called out after him as Josh wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close for a kiss.
Amy came to stand next to Will where he sat and draped an arm around his shoulders. "That. Was. Nuts."
Will slid an arm around her as she leaned into him. "I did wonder what you and Josh were thinking."
"I can handle a class of fifteen or so students, but man, these kids ran us ragged."
"Where are Violet and Laurel?" Josh asked. "They said they'd pick up the kids here."
"I'm sure they're enjoying the peace and quiet in their houses," Will said with a grin. "They'll probably arrive at the last possible moment."
