She's out the front door, and obviously eager to be on her way, when she stops briefly.
"I'd better get home. Time for Barry's back rub. When you're ready, we can talk it through with the nice young man who's put his hand up to help."
It's a tossup what grabs my attention first. Her massaging her husband, her suddenly florid complexion, or the real kicker. "Nice young man?"
She nods enthusiastically before gushing out, "Zac Thomas. I believe you know him?"
Sheesh, I know him alright. And it looks as if that smile and wink nonsense of his works, if the color in Mary's cheeks is anything to go by.
It's about now I realize, having committed to the project, that I'll be stuck working with that cocky so-and-so, at least until the 4th of July.
Of course, if I come up with a design that's bigger than Texas, he'll be too busy building to have time to hit on me. As I sit back at my desk, there's nothing I can do to stop my grin.
It's time Zac Thomas found out that after five years in advertising, I'm immune to his kind. You don't make that sort of mistake three times. I've learned my lesson. At least I hope I have.
ZAC
From the back of the property, I see Mary Miller making her way down the front steps.
Honestly, the woman is insubstantial as thistledown, and as likely to blow over in a slight breeze. Worried she'll trip over some of the debris we've left in the driveway, I waste no time racing after her.
It's always chaotic when we're waiting for a fresh dumpster. Luckily, I'm at the old lady's side before she's gone too far, my hand under her elbow gently steering her away from a haphazard pile of battered siding.
"So, how did you get on?"
She stops, turns, and beams up at me. "Kelly's such a lovely girl. She said she'll help with the design and the project, too. That's a weight off my mind."
To avoid yet another blow-by-blow account of her husband's recent passing of a kidney stone, I press on. "Did she say when she'd have a design?"
I glance up at the large front window, and despite the blind being down to stop the morning light, I know Kelly is watching me. I can sense it as surely as if she was running her hands all over my body.
Something I hope to experience firsthand in the not-to-distant future. It's a thought that has me fighting the urge to puff my chest out and smile up at her.
However, after her reaction to my innocent—okay, not so innocent—wink, I don't want to push it too hard. Thankfully, Mary starts up again, once more holding my attention.
"Kelly told me she'll have something ready in a day or two. That should give you enough time to build it, shouldn't it?"
A quick calculation of how far off the 4th of July is, and how many hours I can devote to the project at evenings and weekends, and I nod. However, it's tentative. "It should be okay, but I'll tell you once I've seen the design."
Her smile slips, and I hurry to assure her I've got plenty of people to recruit if needs be. And as if the universe was keeping an eye out for me, Tyler arrives back on site.
He's out of his truck in an instant and soon enough, stopping next to me. This leaves me with no option other than to carry out introductions.
"Tyler, I'd like you to meet Mary Miller. Mary, this is Tyler Vance, our supervisor." I then look back at Tyler. "Mary is Kelly's neighbor, and she's got a project she needs my help with. You'd be okay with that, wouldn't you?"
He can't say no, not in front of a potential client. And because he doesn't realize it's a charity job, he even volunteers the help of others in the team. I'll deal with the fallout later, but not unless I have to.
From what I've seen, most floats are box shaped and draped in as much red, white, and blue bunting, and as many flags as we can lay our hands on. Barry, having explained over the phone that the trailer is a flat-bed, with metal railings at the front and sides, means it should be a push-over.
However, I won't know for sure until I've seen Kelly's design.
After briefly tipping his head in Mary's direction, Tyler slams his hand down on my shoulder. It's an unspoken command to stop chatting and get back to work. "Dumpster is on its way. Should be here soon."
His message delivered loud and clear, Tyler marches off up the drive and around the side of the house. "Leave it with me, Mrs. Miller. I'll check in with Kelly in a couple of days and update you after that."
The old dear rests her hand on my arm before gushing out. "That's so wonderful. It's lovely having a nice young man like you to take care of things. I remember when Barry…"
There isn't a chance I want her starting in on her memories. I'm not being sucked in that way, twice. Instead, I pat her hand, with her blushing in response as she had last time.
