“Can I see?”
He obviously feels that he’s left me to my own devices for long enough. I heard the angle grinder restart soon after I got down here.
I hand him the pad as he pulls up a chair beside me.
“Wow,” he says the moment he lays eyes on the first image. “I had no idea you could draw like this.”
“I used to draw all the time,” I tell him as he studies the pencil sketch. “It’s been a long time since I’ve felt inspired, though.”
“So these would go around the lake?”
“Over there.” I nod at the far edge.
He turns to the next page in the sketchbook and examines it with the same intensity.
I’ve designed a series of log cabins on stilts that hug the contour of the lake, but the logs would be fixed vertically so each of the buildings could be curved into a different shape. I like the idea of them varying, but still fitting together cohesively. I picture them painted black.
“Like I said, I’m only messing around. But if you guysdidone day want to use this place as a wedding venue or for other events, I thought there might be reasonable money in being able to offer some accommodations.”
“How much might something like this cost?” Anders asks.
“The labor would be the priciest thing, but you and Jonas could probably do most of it. You could use logs from the woodlike he and your dad did with the cabin, and install a lake-source heat pump.” This would provide cooling in the summer and heating in the winter. “And the windows are all standard sizes,” I tell him, because there are a lot of them. “You could buy them off the shelf.”
He’s surprised because they’re assorted sizes, some laid lengthways and others widthways, like a piece of Mondrian artwork. I’ve devised them to make the most of the views of both the lake and the fields behind them.
“Can we show Jonas?” he asks at last.
“Sure.”
“And then we should make a plan for tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“You’re coming to Indy with me, right?”
“I am?”
“I thought you wanted to. I’ll drive us.”
I don’t know if he’s trying to lift my spirits, but I would love a weekend in the city. And I’m glad he feels comfortable enough in my company to invite me along, even if hecan’tbear the thought of hugging me.
26
You should go to Midland Arts and Antiques while you’re here. You’ll love it. It’s in a converted factory—it’s massive—and it has loads of mid-century stuff. If you’re not intent on spending the whole day at Circle Centre Mall, that is.”
“Definitely not—it sounds incredible. Where is it?”
“Within walking distance of my apartment. I’ll show you on a map. You might even be able to find some sixties wall lights for the Airstream.”
“Are you able to come?” I glance across at Anders in the driver’s seat of his BMW.
“I’d better head straight to the race shop once I drop you off.”
Most of his team are at a race today, but Anders wants to go to his office to print out some data and play catch-up.
What started as him offering to give me a lift and me researching overnight stays in a motel has turned into him insisting that I use his spare room and join him on a night out with his friends.
I don’t know if he’s on a mission to cheer me up or if Jonas has guilt-tripped him, but he seems happy enough with the plan.
