A New Kind of Someday
Chapter 10
JE owns them I love to borrow them
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The next day, I called the architect Brian and asked him to come and see the property and to go over some more ideas we had. He asked for directions, but I couldn't give them to him because I still hadn't driven enough to know the roads. Lester suggested he go to Hunter's office and either Hunter would drive him here or Lester would go pick them up in the helicopter. So that's what I did. I personally think Lester loves flying and looks for every chance he can get to do it.
I fixed a couple of glasses of iced tea and made Ella and Louis come sit with me on the front porch.
"I don't say it enough but I love the two of you so much. I can't thank you enough for coming with me when I left Trenton. I didn't realize that all the guys loved me and would come along with us. I know Ella you had your heart set on the B&B opening this summer and I truly thought that would happen. I guess you realize that until we get all the houses and bungalows set up we are going to need all the bedrooms in this house for the guys. I'm so sorry; I feel I have broken my promise to you Ella."
"Sweet Girl, I am having the time of my life. I've know these young men for years and I have never seen them so happy and relaxed. They are doing their fair share with the cleaning and laundry and I get to play in that wonderful kitchen. I see them sitting around that big table laughing and telling stories and you in there with them. I told you God had a plan and I think this is it. I think he also has more planned for you."
"Louis, if you ever jump into the pool with me again I just may have to kiss you like Steph did to Lester last night." Louis just smiled a big smile "Okay with me -anytime-want to go swimming now Ella?"
"Will you both go to Florida for a vacation with me please?"
Ella said she would love to go but, Louis had to stay and harvest the field of peas and plant some more vegetables. It was time to plant the fall pumpkins, gourds and squash… he'd take a rain check till next winter. Ella was going to give him specific instructions for freezing the peas. We sat for a few minutes sipping the ice tea and Cal and Binkie joined us but they had Coronas. Trouble was trying to lick the top of the bottle of Cal's beer and Nix kept pushing him away. Cal looked down and said "Bad ass you better set your sister straight or you won't ever have any fun!"
Skip and Tank pulled up to the dock and yelled for us to come down. Tank was grinning until Trouble lofted off the dock and into the water, Nix behind him and Cal right after them scooping them up and into Skip's boat. Cal climbed on board and helped to lift the 2 bushels of crabs they had caught.
"Gonna be good eating tonight little girl."
"We are going to have to come up with a solution to keep the dogs out of the water." laughed Ella "Or Cal's going to have to wear his bathing suit and a lifeguard shirt every day."
"I've been giving serious thought about that Steph." said Woody who had just sat down with a Corona and handed Cal, Tank, Skip and Binkie one. He also threw a couple of towels at Cal. " I think we should put an invisible fence around the house and run it in front of the pool gate so if the gate was left open they wouldn't go in. They are smart and would learn quickly where they could and couldn't go. If we wanted them in the pool we would take their collars off and put on their life jackets."
"That's a terrific idea; we should have it done while we are gone for a few days and start to train them when we come home."
"It will be taken care of Stephie don't worry. Now everyone get their asses in gear we have to get everything ready for a crab feast."
"You need to direct us we have no idea what a crab feast is" laughed Tank
"Lester is going to pick Hunter and Brian up and Brian is spending the night. I fixed the gold bedroom for him Ella."
"Hey Tank, we will start setting up, but we need a couple of cases or kegs of beer do you and Vince think you can handle that?" said Skip.
"I've got the truck and keys Tank - let's go!"
"Come on Stephie, you and I will go to my house and pick up the mallets, steamer and other stuff we need"
"Mallets?"
"You'll see."
Lester landed safely with Hunter and Brian. I showed Brian his room and when he joined us downstairs he looked a little bewildered.
"I know this isn't your usual presentation especially, since it won't happen till tomorrow, but you might as well get a look at us as a group and you will understand who you are designing for."
That night we all got a lesson in what a crab feast entailed. Lots of newspaper to cover the picnic tables, a couple of huge steamers for the crabs, paper towel rolls every couple of feet, Old Bay Seasoning, mallets and paring knifes and a very messy but wonderful feast of steamed crabs and beer.
The guys were in heaven, Tank decided his job for the summer with Skip was crabbing. Ella wanted to learn how to make Maryland crab cakes and crab imperial. Louis wanted the corn to be ready so we could have roasted corn with the feast. I sat next to Lester and couldn't picture being as happy as I was after only 5 months. I had moments of sadness but it wasn't as over powering as it was at first.
"What are you thinking Beautiful?"
"Will you take a walk with me Les?"
"Do you have to ask - of course I will."
"Les, I have a feeling that something is going to happen in Florida."
"Do you want to cancel the trip, because no one will mind if you do?"
"No, Julie has been sick and I'm worried. There is something in Rachel's voice she also has something else to tell me. Will you go with me when I see them?"
"I will do anything you want Beautiful just ask me."
"What are we doing Les?"
"Beautiful, I know what I am doing; I'm waiting to see what you want me to be to you. You are in the driver's seat. I will accept whatever decision you make with no pressure from me. If I were in the driver's seat you would love me unconditionally, the way I love you, and have loved you for almost 4 years. The day you entered our lives I hung up my player's badge."
"Les, I have feelings for you, they have been building, but I don't know after Ric if I will ever trust a man again with my heart. I don't think I would survive another betrayal."
"You would never have worry about that. I am my father's son. When the Santos men fall in love it is forever. Just take your time, I'll be right here."
When Steph asked Les to take a walk, a lot of the guys noticed and smiled.
Hunter noticed but didn't smile. Ella sat down next to him and patted his arm. "Les is giving her time and so should you. She may never open her heart up again and risk being hurt. I think you would be happy to have her in your life in any capacity rather than none. Steph and I have talked about God's plan for her, I have a feeling that she is going to get another glimpse at the plan and it is going to bring hurt before joy. Are you coming with us to Florida?"
"I wouldn't be any where else Ella. You are a very wise woman."
We heard the whoops and hollers long before we saw and heard the barking.
We saw the streak of Les carrying Steph across the lawn and Hal running behind with the doggy life jackets. Brian looked up confused.
Skip said "Everyone ready for the nightly plunge?" The guys all jumped up and ran to the pool and jumped in. Ella just said "not tonight Louis I am not getting in the water tonight." Hunter jumped up grabbed Ella and off she went laughing all the way. Jesse just stood on the porch till Vince came behind her threw her over his shoulder and he ran to the pool. Brian looked at Tank and said "are they always this crazy?" "YUP" said Tank as he kept eating crabs and drinking beer.
"You can join them Brian and be one of the group. Steph expects you to do that, that's why you are here tonight. She's already decided you are part of her family."
"I've never met anyone like her."
"You'll never meet anyone like her again. She is one in a million."
The next morning around the breakfast table Brian saw exactly what she wanted. She had a vision and he would use every ounce of his talent to make it come true. They all jumped on ATV's and dirt bikes and started a tour of the property. She showed Brian the 4 bedroom bungalow that she and Haver had offices in and offered him a bedroom to use as an office. She told him to set up the office exactly like he wanted and told Haver to set him up with an expense account. He was going to be staying a long time while they redid the other buildings and houses. She offered him a job as the company' architect with all benefits. He said yes before the sentence was out of her mouth. His parents were dead and he had no brothers or sisters and he had finally found a home.