Page 62 of Changing Lanes

For the first time in a long time, I sleep. Filled with dreams of Torrie, I wake with a smile on my face. I’m hoping that after yesterday we’ve turned a corner. I drop Andi off at school then drive over to the site. It’s going up quickly, almost too fast for me. She’ll be gone before we can make any real progress. I walk the site, checking on projects, making sure things are done right. My cell vibrates with a text, it’s One.

Hey, can you run by the office around five? he asks.

I’ll be there, I shoot back to him. My phone buzzes

I arrive at the office around four-forty-five. One is busy on the phone when I walk in. I nod and walk to my office. “Hey, sorry about that. Want to join me in the conference room?” He jerks his head.

“Sure thing. What’s up?” I ask as I follow him.

“Just wanted to check over the Harrington’s plans, make sure we’re tight on everything,” he says as he rolls the paper out.

“Oh, yeah. I went over today just to look around. Everything looks to be on track.” A noise at the door draws our attention, it’s Torrie.

“Hey, Torrie. Glad you could make it. Brannon and I are just going through the plans, tidying up some things. I thought now would be a good time for you to look over it, in case we need to tweak anything,” One explains as she takes a seat across from me.

“Sure thing, fill me in.” We spend the next hour going over everything we’ve done, to which she signs off on.

“Looks great. So, does it look as though we’ll finish on time?” She types into her phone as One gives her a timeframe.

“Three weeks barring any weather or material issue. And again, it’s just structural, we’ll move ahead with electrical and landscaping after,” One explains. She nods, never looking at me.

One’s phone vibrates, and as he checks it his face pales. I know it must be Lea. “What’s up?”

“Ahhh, could you lock up for me? Lea needs me,” he asks, already on the move.

I don’t hesitate to answer. “I gotcha. Let us know if every thing’s alright.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it. Thank you, Torrie. I’ll be in touch.” He runs out the door.

“I hope everything’s okay,” I say while picking up our papers. “Do you need a copy of these?” I show her the files.

“Actually, I do. Ummm, copy machine?”

“Yeah, in here. We’ll get these copied and you on your way.” I hold the door open for her to walk through, her perfume hits me full on; she smells nice.

“It was good getting to talk yesterday. Maybe we can do it again before I leave.” She glances over at me.

“That sounds great.” I send up a thank you. “Hang on, we have to go to the back of the building, let me hit the front lights and lock the door; if someone walked in, we’d never know.” Jogging over and back, I nod down the hall. “It’s this way.”

“So, what have you been up to the last few years?” Really, she wants small talk?

“Raising my daughter, working the farm, and finishing school. You?” Glancing at her, I can tell she wants to know more but right now, she’s wondering about something.

She stops suddenly, turning to me. “Wait. What do you mean by raising, working, and school?” She frowns in confusion.

“I transferred to a local college when I had to come home. It took me a lot longer to get my degree, but I did it.” I smile at her and my accomplishments.

She nods, prompting, “And the rest?”

“I worked the farm while I attended college. After Andi was born, my mom helped me with her. That’s another reason we still live with her.” She nods her head but still looks confused. I point her to the supply room where the copier is.

“So, you all live on the farm?” She tilts her head toward me as we copy and separate her papers.

“We do. Mom, Andi, and myself. I told you, I’m not married. Nor am I with anyone.” Keeping my head down, I don’t want to get excited if she likes what she hears.

Her voice raises in suspicion. “Ava?” I glance over at her while she watches me.

“Yes. The night before I left for college, I had a little too much to drink and didn’t protect us. She was supposed to be on the pill, but she wasn’t.” I shake my head at the thought of fucking up.