“I was going to suggestIbe the one who goes,” I say quietly, getting some milk from the fridge. “Despite what he told you, it was me who set him off. I feel responsible for his distress, and I’d like to apologize before offering a sensitive ear if he needs to talk. If he doesn’t, or would prefer to speak with you in that instance, then I will be professional and see that his needs are met.”
The door bursts open, and Martha stomps in. She’s already covered in mud.
“Meathead Reed just returned that pump he borrowed. The thing was DOA, and he acted as if he did us a fucking favor by killing it. Said it behaved like a possessed squid, broke down every five minutes, and took so long to fill the pond for his wash plant, he could’ve licked the rocks clean faster, but Iknowit was working fine when he took it. He probably sucked a fucking beaver up the pipe or some shit. I told you to stop lending him shit. He wreckseverything.” She gestures at her mud-caked clothes. “Andhe intentionally showered me with sludge when he pulled out. Fucking asshole. ”
She grabs a mug from the cupboard and slams it down on the counter. “Not that he’dadmitto it. It’s pathetic. The season hasn’t even started, and he’s already trying to cause delays. HeknowsI need that pump to run the second plant I want to set up. Conniving piece of…” Her curses fade into muttered breaths, and she sloshes coffee into her cup.
“Of all the neighbors we had to get stuck with…” She comes to sit at the table. “He’s lucky he delivered compensation in the form of spare parts, or I’d be over there using my steel-toe like a fucking rib spreader.”
She looks between me and Dad, then groans. “You’re fightingalready?The sun’s barely up. You’ve got all day for that shit.And you—” She points at me and narrows her eyes. “No doubt you’re hungover and grumpy. No more tequila after dark.”
“Fine.” I turn to my father. “I’m going after Bates. It’s the most efficient way to put this morning’s hurdle behind us. I’ll have him working on the pump as soon as I can, Martha. Getting that second plant set up and functional is one of the first things on the schedule.” I pause, studying my father’s face. “Unless you’ve made more adjustments you haven’t told me about? To the schedule weagreedupon?”
He looks decidedly sheepish, and I want to say and do so many bad things that I can’t even begin to decide between them.
“I may have added a few things I haven’t yet communicated to you,” he says, cordial as all fuck, because he knows I want to rip him a new one.
Irritation simmers beneath my skin until I’m sure I must be vermillion with rage. “Right. Well. Maybe I should make it very clear to you that I could make orbreakyour season depending on such communications, so it’s preferable that they be timely andaccurate. I’m beginning to think that maybe you’d actually sacrifice your own success to purposely derail mine.”
Dad’s eyebrows jump up. “What?”
“Do you want me to fail?” I ask him directly. “Do you wantusto fail?”
“No.”
“Then you can’t give me a job only to sabotage me ateveryfucking turn, Dad. Is there anything else you haven’t told me about — besides your friend Kelly being here for the season after all? He’s ahugefucking component in how you’ll run things now. My whole plan needs revising to account for us having a far more experienced foreman and mechanic on board. Other workers can be dispersed elsewhere now…”
From the look on Dad’s face, he’s already made some of those adjustments himself without even wanting my opinion.
The heat rises up my body and focuses behind my eyes.
People talk about steam coming from your ears when you’re this angry, but it seems more likely that steam would shoot from the eyes, where tears of frustration could in fact vaporize upon production. I hope my father can feel the scalding heat of my glare.
“You realize we’re on the same team, right? Do you know that when you dismiss and undermine my presence, you don’t just make me feel invalid, you actuallyrenderme invalid? Why even invite me? You can lose this year’s wager all on your own if you want to, Dad — you proved that last year. Do you evenwantmy help to win? Am I here to be part of the team, or are you going to keep leaving me on the sideline as if I have no fucking value to add? If you want me to leave, tell me now. If you’ll stop wasting my time, I won’t even make you pay the hefty out-clause on our signed, notarized, and laminated contract before I move on. That’s how serious I am, Dad. I don’thaveto be here. I’ve had other offers.Betteroffers.”
Martha’s coffee sloshes onto the table as she thumps down her mug. “Is Reed one of those offers?”
I motion for her to chill with my hand. “It doesn’t matter. I know how you feel about the guy, so I wouldn’t accept a contract with him.”
“Oh my God. Hedidtry to fucking hire you?” She kicks Dad under the table. “Don’t you fucking let her work for himoranyone else. She’s ours, and she belongs here with us.”
“Iknow,” he agrees, looking none-too-confident when he meets my eyes again. “I want you with us for the season, Goose.”
The season.
Only the season.
He doesn’t seem to hold the same passion for my company that Martha does, so I doubt he thinks I belong anywhere near him. I’m not sure he’ll ever commit to me long-term. I don’tknow if he even has the capacity. Best I see out my contract so I can spend time with my sisters, make my money, and move on.
“Fine. Then I’ll stay for the season, and you’ll do your best to inform me of your plansbeforechanging the agreed schedule. You’ll also make a list of every fucking addition and discrepancy you’ve already made without my knowledge, and you’ll get it to me by the end of the day. You can get started on that while I go talk to Bates — and don’t eventhinkabout interrupting my process with him. Just trust that I can manage the situation and wait until we both walk out of his trailer, or I’ll take your interference as one more sign of your intolerably low faith in me, and I willwalk. If anything new comes up, that could even potentially impact this mine, you willtellme.”
Dad nods.
“Good. Get to work, and I’ll find you later.” I turn to my sister and give her a firm nod, and then leave.
I pause at the door. “Which trailer from my strategic accommodation program did you reallocate for Bates? The nice one near the clearing with the fire pit?”
“Uh, yeah.”
