Sixteen
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
105
110
“ Is it okay if I camp out at your place? They brought fans to help clear the fumes of the glue,” Eddie said.“ I won’ t be there all week. Drink the beer before it gets old. I appreciate you checking on the place and giving the maid something to do,” Rodney said.“ I’ ll leave some crumbs on the counter.”“ Cool. Talk to you later,” Rodney hung up. Eddie stopped and grabbed some breakfast on the way to the apartment. The clothes hamper was empty and it was the only way he could tell anyone had been here. He set the floor plan on the coffee table and continued. The drawing was complete. Eddie rolled the paper and put the rubber bands around his work. He tossed a pizza in the oven and opened a beer. Around five o’ clock, after a nice nap, he exited the apartment.“ I didn’ t know anyone lived there.” The voice came from nearby. Eddie looked around to see who was talking. A young man with a ponytail and pierced eyebrow was descending the stairs from the balcony next door. He waited for Eddie at the bottom.“ It’ s a friend’ s apartment. He asked me to check on it. He travels and keeps odd hours. I’ m Eddie,” he said, offering his hand.“ Taylor. Nice to meet you Eddie.”“ Good to know your neighbors,” Eddie said, heading for his truck.“ See you around?” Taylor asked.“ Probably.”
Seven of the ten poles were in place as Eddie entered the building. The guy he had spoken with this morning approached. The legs of his work pants were covered in gray dust.“ This is the hardest concrete I have ever drilled. The work is going a little slower than planned but I can guarantee the poles are not going to come lose.”“ Do you want to stay and finish?” Eddie asked.“ I was getting ready to call you when you walked in. This concrete is kicking my ass. We will be back tomorrow at eight.” He said, rubbing his lower back.“ You can leave your equipment if you want. I’ m locking the doors right now. I’ ll be here to let you in,” Eddie stated. The guy nodded and yelled at the other two still hard at work fastening the tops of the poles using a power lift to reach the rafters. Eddie locked the glass doors, set the alarm and locked the steel outer doors.
Comfortably perched in his F-150 Eddie sent a text message to Rodney.“ Poles set Wed. Notify framers for Thurs.” His phone beeped on the way home,“ cool” the message read. He called Tanya to let her know he was on his way. Eddie never found the opportunity to ask about Kate. Yesterday seemed to slip away. Lying in bed he finally asked.“ She acted like nothing happened,” Tanya said.“ How did you expect her to act? She couldn’ t say anything with all the teachers standing around.”“ It was more than that. We could have found a place to talk. She purposely avoided me.”“ Maybe she just didn’ t know what to say. She may deal with her feelings by locking them away.”“ How many people suffer in silence?” Tanya said thoughtfully.“ Are you suffering in silence?” Eddie asked.“ I can’ t get the evening out of my mind. I am afraid of how I acted. I wish it never happened. It’ s a movie I keep playing in my head. I’ m in it, but I don’ t recognize myself. Yet I can feel every moment. I thought I wanted to talk to her yesterday. Today I was glad I didn’ t. I know I’ m not making any sense to you because it doesn’ t make any sense to me!” Tanya exclaimed. Eddie was lost in this conversation. It was a minefield of female emotion as she continued.