Until Arden

When I get to the construction site, Bax is pacing out front with his phone to his ear. This can’t be a good sign.

He lifts his head to greet me as I approach. “Yeah, thanks. We’ll make it work.”

“That didn’t sound promising.” My voice sounds tinny and small over the hammering of the nail gun.

“The electrical components for the solar panels are delayed again because of supply line issues.” He puts the phone back in his pocket, but then rips his hat off and rakes his hair back with both hands.

“Yeah, I’m having the same issues with some of the major cabinetry components.” Another week, another delay. That’s basically the theme of this project. Thanks to a few severe storms, over the past several months, nearly every aspect of our supply chain has been affected, and I’ve had to shuffle the timeline on this project more times than I care to already. “I’ll get with the electrical team and see what we can and can’t do, then get started on pushing up anything we can get done in the interim.”

“Thanks, man,” Bax says.

“It is my job.”

“And I also know this project has been particularly complicated.” He claps me on the shoulder. “Glad we brought you in to handle the headaches.”

After surveying the building, looking over the rough framing, plumbing, and completed electrical work. I join Bax in the trailer. He’s on the phone again, probably explaining the electrical hold-up to Talon. So I take a seat on the other side of the desk and search my email to see if I have any backed-up emails from the electrical team. We had planned for them to install the solar panels this week, but since we have to wait for the rest of the components to be delivered, I’ll have to figure out what we can pull forward and negotiate a new start date for the install.

“So, how was your weekend?” Bax asks.

I have no doubt that Talon told him everything, with a few embellishments. “Short and moderately uneventful.”

He doesn’t look convinced by my sarcasm. He leans on his elbows and stares at me until I look up. “Was she as hot as Talon said?”

Sighing, I pull up my last message from Talon.

Me: Can you ever keep your mouth shut?

Then I set my phone aside and glower at Bax. “I’m just trying to help her get her car running.”

“If you say so.” He leans back in his chair, wearing a mischievous grin. “I heard you were drooling from the moment you laid eyes on her.”

Good grief. Does it never end? “So, you want me to rearrange this timeline again or not?”

“All right. All right. Talon’s filled in and I have some things to take care of, so if you need anything, give me a call.”

“Will do.”

He waves and heads out the door.

I open up the draft files to get an idea of the changes we can reasonably make to the timeline. I sift through the sheets, noting the equipment and resources on hand against the shipments we’re still waiting for. We’re getting dangerously behind. I’d hoped to get more of the framework and utilities in place before the flooring went down.

I crack my knuckles, letting out a frustrated sigh. It’s going to be another long day. Especially when the only thing I want to think about is Arden.