The Right Side of Wrong by Prescott Lane

Author:Prescott Lane [Lane, Prescott]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Prescott Lane
Published: 2021-07-28T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

SLADE

Sidestepping debris, I survey the house with Jon. The initial timeframe for repairs is four to six months. Apparently, the water damage is the real killer. Doesn’t matter if you get one inch or a foot, still have to repair sheetrock, guard against mold, and redo floors and cabinetry. Since we’re trying to maintain the building’s original character, everything will have to be custom. It’s going to be a major hassle, costly, and keep me in the city for most of the rest of the year.

“Contractor hopes to have you in for Christmas,” Jon says, picking up one of Finn’s toys that’s now ruined and handing it to me, an I told you so look in his eyes.

Christmas? I look down at the broken toy in my hand, realizing I don’t know Finn’s birthday. Will he be one by Christmas? Will he like Santa? I haven’t had a tree since I was a kid. I’ll have to get one this year. A big one.

Without a word to Jon, I walk to the door, seeing Paige changing Finn’s diaper in the back of my car. They never advertised that as a feature when I bought the Land Rover. I guess it can handle a diaper change. “Paige,” I call out. Her head turns to me. “Will Finn be one at Christmas? When’s his birthday?”

Her smile is priceless. “December first.”

“Planning his party already,” I say, giving her a little wink.

“You’ve had a lot of practice recently,” she says, finishing up and walking toward me.

“Construction theme?” I say, shrugging.

She laughs, Finn following her lead, and I wrap my arm around her, stopping her from coming back into the house with Finn. Jon joins us outside. “I know Catrine was supposed to work until the baby comes, but if it’s okay with you, I’d . . .”

“It’s fine,” I say. “I understand. This is a mess. The last thing I need is Catrine stepping on a nail or tripping. Tell her to enjoy her last few days of sleep.”

“I will,” Jon says, then looks at Paige. “Stay in touch with her?”

“I will,” she says as Jon leaves.

“Why don’t you and Finn go back, too?” I say to her. “Finn doesn’t need to be out here, and you’re still recovering. I’ll just be an hour or so.” She nods. “Jon’s right. I’d rather you and Finn not be out here either,” I say. “I know you want to oversee things, but . . .”

“My job is the house,” she says firmly. “The stables.”

“You can mail the guys their checks from Nashville. You don’t need to be out here to do that.”

“You mean from your place?” she asks.

“Four to six months, Paige,” I say. “You can’t live in a hotel that long.”

“You pay me enough that I could rent something for a few months,” she says. “That is, if I still have a job.”

“Of course you have a job,” I say.

“What’s my job?” she asks. “Writing a few checks each week?”

“It’s just temporary,” I say, taking Finn from her.

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