away. This year when he
had finally expanded to more stores, he needed a space to
use as a pseudo-headquarters. That didn’t seem likely at the
warehouse. So, he moved everything another ten minutes
from the house into a larger building that consisted of three
conglomerate
that
shipped
without
an
office
for
years,
of
efforts
on
the
shipping,
offices, a small kitchen, and a warehouse that equaled in size
to the prior one. It frightened him that the business had
grown so quickly.
Still, it had not taken any serious toll on him financially or
health-wise. The concerns had been for the new staff he
added
and
the
longevity
of
their
success.
With
gained
achievement
came
the
realization
that
he
had
new
responsibilities for the lives of his employees. Relationshipwise, it had been a relief to drown himself in work rather
than consider how long it had been since he’d been out with
a woman or simply “in” with a woman. When he had not
been at work, his time centered on Eric—at least on the
weekends that he was lucky enough to have the kid around.
Since he’d met Reva, he found himself spending more time
peering at the roof of her house over the fence. Sometimes
he had simply sat in the backyard with a beer and considered
what she was doing.
Thursday night, he stood in the kitchen and noticed Reva’s
light and wondered how she had managed her problem at
work.
“Hey.” He was tired but tried to be cheerful when she
answered her cell. “How’s your week been so far?”
“Fabulous.” Her voice sounded otherwise. “What’s up?”
“I have something for you. Mind if I bring it by? I could
drop it over the fence but I know how that bothers you.”
“What is it?”
He laughed. “Just wait and see. Be there in fifteen minutes.”
Dusk settled over their quiet little streets as he stepped up to
her door. He knocked, aware that she would look out the
window and door to validate his presence before opening
up.
Reva didn’t disappoint. Not by looking through the
door as he waved, and not by being exceptionally perky and
sexy in her shorts and tank top. Her hair was swept back in
a tie but much of it had fallen forward to frame her face.
The look was refreshing in the fact that she’d taken no time
to worry over it.
He smiled when she opened the door. He
reached for her hand. Reva drew back briefly, then let him
take it.
“Come on. It’s in the yard.” He nodded at the pile of rocks
he’d brought over in his truck.
“Rocks? You brought me rocks? Have you been talking with
Ben?” She followed him.
“No, it’s not a pile of rocks. Look,” he held up a clear hose,
“it’s a waterfall for your backyard. I thought you might like it
as an addition to all the other artwork. It’s from a supplier in
Phoenix that wants our business. I asked him to send some
samples a while back, and this is one of them. I’ve set up the
others at our office warehouse so we can test them out. This
was an extra. What do you think? I can install it for you if
you like it.” He watched her survey the mass of rocks and
plastic. Reva trod lightly around it with her hands in the back
pockets of her shorts as if to evaluate what it would look
like.
Todd
pulled
a
crumpled
paper
from
his
pocket,
smoothed the edges, then held it out to her.
“Here’s what you can expect it to look like when finished. It
requires electricity and water so I thought you might want it
by the back door. If you don’t think it’ll work for you, I can
keep it. It just seemed a good fit with all the rest of the…”
“Junk?”
“No, I wasn’t going to say that.” He laughed. “Artwork was
more the word I had in mind.” He peered at her with hands
on hips. Admittedly, it would be hard to picture the end
result without the paper he had handed to her. Since he’d
already assembled two at the office, he knew the basic look
and felt confident the end result would please her.
“Uh, okay. I can help you with it. How long does it take to
assemble? This isn’t going to
had finally expanded to more stores, he needed a space to
use as a pseudo-headquarters. That didn’t seem likely at the
warehouse. So, he moved everything another ten minutes
from the house into a larger building that consisted of three
conglomerate
that
shipped
without
an
office
for
years,
of
efforts
on
the
shipping,
offices, a small kitchen, and a warehouse that equaled in size
to the prior one. It frightened him that the business had
grown so quickly.
Still, it had not taken any serious toll on him financially or
health-wise. The concerns had been for the new staff he
added
and
the
longevity
of
their
success.
With
gained
achievement
came
the
realization
that
he
had
new
responsibilities for the lives of his employees. Relationshipwise, it had been a relief to drown himself in work rather
than consider how long it had been since he’d been out with
a woman or simply “in” with a woman. When he had not
been at work, his time centered on Eric—at least on the
weekends that he was lucky enough to have the kid around.
Since he’d met Reva, he found himself spending more time
peering at the roof of her house over the fence. Sometimes
he had simply sat in the backyard with a beer and considered
what she was doing.
Thursday night, he stood in the kitchen and noticed Reva’s
light and wondered how she had managed her problem at
work.
“Hey.” He was tired but tried to be cheerful when she
answered her cell. “How’s your week been so far?”
“Fabulous.” Her voice sounded otherwise. “What’s up?”
“I have something for you. Mind if I bring it by? I could
drop it over the fence but I know how that bothers you.”
“What is it?”
He laughed. “Just wait and see. Be there in fifteen minutes.”
Dusk settled over their quiet little streets as he stepped up to
her door. He knocked, aware that she would look out the
window and door to validate his presence before opening
up.
Reva didn’t disappoint. Not by looking through the
door as he waved, and not by being exceptionally perky and
sexy in her shorts and tank top. Her hair was swept back in
a tie but much of it had fallen forward to frame her face.
The look was refreshing in the fact that she’d taken no time
to worry over it.
He smiled when she opened the door. He
reached for her hand. Reva drew back briefly, then let him
take it.
“Come on. It’s in the yard.” He nodded at the pile of rocks
he’d brought over in his truck.
“Rocks? You brought me rocks? Have you been talking with
Ben?” She followed him.
“No, it’s not a pile of rocks. Look,” he held up a clear hose,
“it’s a waterfall for your backyard. I thought you might like it
as an addition to all the other artwork. It’s from a supplier in
Phoenix that wants our business. I asked him to send some
samples a while back, and this is one of them. I’ve set up the
others at our office warehouse so we can test them out. This
was an extra. What do you think? I can install it for you if
you like it.” He watched her survey the mass of rocks and
plastic. Reva trod lightly around it with her hands in the back
pockets of her shorts as if to evaluate what it would look
like.
Todd
pulled
a
crumpled
paper
from
his
pocket,
smoothed the edges, then held it out to her.
“Here’s what you can expect it to look like when finished. It
requires electricity and water so I thought you might want it
by the back door. If you don’t think it’ll work for you, I can
keep it. It just seemed a good fit with all the rest of the…”
“Junk?”
“No, I wasn’t going to say that.” He laughed. “Artwork was
more the word I had in mind.” He peered at her with hands
on hips. Admittedly, it would be hard to picture the end
result without the paper he had handed to her. Since he’d
already assembled two at the office, he knew the basic look
and felt confident the end result would please her.
“Uh, okay. I can help you with it. How long does it take to
assemble? This isn’t going to
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