I stood there looking at her, wanting to smile, but I knew that probably wasn't the best thing to do. “I was just trying to finish this up before I have to leave Wednesday.” I pointed toward the piece I was working on.
“Ya know, I have tried really hard to deal with the noise. I am the quietest neighbor in the history of neighbors. It would do you some good to try a little of that.”
“I’m sorry?” I shrugged.
“I mean, between the seven a.m. wood working, the nine a.m. chainsaws and axes, and the one in the morning sexcapades, I think I have been pretty patient,” she barked. Her fists were by her side at this point, and she was vibrating. I mean literally vibrating where she stood. Her face was red, and it was as though she was trying to bore holes straight through me.
“I can't make up for what Ryan didn't tell you,” I snipped at her, getting irritated that she interrupted me while I was trying to finish.
“Ryan told me that you worked with wood and had a shop. He also said that it wasn't generally at the ass crack of dawn. So, if you don't mind, I would like to sleep a little more.”
“You will get all the sleep you need while we are gone. We are leaving out Wednesday and won't be back until Monday. I had planned on coming over later today just to give you a heads-up, but now you know. I'm sorry if you think the sander is loud, but I've got to finish this.” I turned back to the table, placing my ear plugs back in my ears and started working again.
I saw her reflection in the window as she stormed out of the shop.
***
“Yo!” Ryan yelled as he walked across the backyard.
“Give me five!” I shouted back. I was wrapping the last of the glass up and placing it in a shipping crate. The truck would be by tomorrow to pick it up.
“Your girl gave me a piece of her mind this morning,” I said as I walked over to him.
“What did you do?” He cut his eyes at me, turning slowly where he stood inspecting the wood in the cradle.
“What did I do? Seriously?”
“Umm, yeah. I swear you do anything you can to irritate her.”
“I was working, and she came stomping into the shop yelling at me that I was too loud.”
“What time was this?”
“I don't know? Five thirty or so?”
“I would have yelled at you too. Geez man, rude!”
“It's my house! Besides, it was just a sander. Not like I was using the chainsaw or anything.”
“It's our house, and now it’s hers, too. I know you have projects to finish and you work best in the early morning or late at night, but have you ever thought that maybe she would appreciate you not working at five in the fucking morning?”
I shook my head. I knew he was probably right. Maybe I should pay more attention to what is going on around me. I never had to before. Ryan could sleep through a hurricane, so no one ever complained. I just wasn't used to it.
“You’re right. I'll try, promise,” I said as I reached for my ax, looking over the blade. Running my fingers over it, I felt a small chip and flipped it to look at the other side, making a mental note to sharpen it later.
“Are we gonna chip some wood, or are you gonna love on that blade a little more?” Ryan raised an eyebrow looking over at me.
I grumbled under my breath and took a step toward him.
“Watch that blade. Ya look like you want to hit me with it,” he grinned.
“Ya think?” I sat it on the log I would be working on and reached back to pull my shirt over my head. Dropping it to the ground, I hopped on the log and waited for Ryan to tell me to go. I stood there waiting, but he didn't say anything. I looked up to find him looking over my shoulder. When I turned, Emmy was standing there watching us, cup of coffee in her hand, hip against the railing.
“Mornin,’” Ryan waved at her. I wanted to punch him in the chest.
I nodded my head at her before turning back around. I watched Ryan walk around me and then over to her. They started to chat, and I just stood there. I knew I should walk over and say hi, but I felt like after she ripped me apart this morning, maybe that wasn't the best idea. Rocking back and forth, I went through my movements and practiced in my head. I thought about where my mistakes were and mentally tried to fix them. I was so deep in thought that I didn't hear them when they walked over. Ryan was saying something to her, but I was so lost in thought, I couldn't have told you what he was saying if my life had depended on it.
“Luke,” he said.