“Yeah, we can wait until it starts to cool off.”
A thud on the porch brought everyone’s attention toward the front door. Landon stood sheepishly with a cooler at his feet.
With a shrug, he said, “I brought beer.”
Though the man remained silent most of the time, Cliff had tried his hardest to include the newcomer. From what he learned so far, the bar Landon had been spending his time renovating was slated to open in early fall, right at the height of the beer season. He’d been asking their advice on the best local breweries to include on tap.
“Beer!” the collective group shouted as they pound down the steps and through the front door, every person reaching into the cooler with thanks to Landon. Cliff watched as the group settled and relaxed on the porch they’d helped build.
After the explosion on his property, the fire had raged for several hours, destroying most of the woods behind his cabin. He had felt terrible about the destruction, still did. And now, as he looked around the burnt crisps of trees that succumbed to the fire, his chest twinged. He felt as dead as those branches.
The only bright spot from the devastation was the cool breeze off the lake. Being in the nook of the valley the space received a constant gentle wind, and with the water, it kept the property cool.
“Man, this place is going to be great when it was done,” Harlan claimed as he took a swig of his beer. “I may get Austin to renovate my house while I’m out on tour.”
“You’re going on tour again? “Austin asked. Cliff was surprised that he seemed to be the only one that knew that secret.
“Yeah, but this time Cassidy is coming along. It’s just a for few weeks.”
“Just let me knew what you’re thinking and I can get it drawn up. Summer is the busy season, but I can get a team ready. No worries.”
“Thanks, brother.”
The men finish their breaks, and head back inside, groaning as they grabbed sheets of drywall in groups of two. They started with the upstairs, working their way from one end of the house to the other, finishing the four bedrooms before the sun began setting beyond the mountains.
Cliff walked with the men outside, waving as they left for the evening, all of them promising to return the next day to complete their work. He’s grateful for their help, most of them taking time away from their jobs to help him. They understand his urgency. He wasn’t finishing it for himself; he was rushing it in the hopes that Alexis returned.
The night crept in, setting the cabin in a familiar navy blanket, only the light from the outdoor porch light illuminating the space. He sat in the far corner of the porch; his back pressed against the railing as a beer dangled from his hand.
Cliff ignored the sound and the lights of a car as it moved slowly down the path leading to his home. He recognized the engine sound without having to look at the image of the vehicle on his security camera.
“Help yourself to a beer. Landon left the cooler,” Cliff called out to Dylan as the man stepped from his truck.
“Thanks. Don’t mind if I do. Can Sydney have one too?”
That got his attention. None of the Connelly women had made it out this way yet since they started construction. He assumed most of them are probably waiting to get to the decorating part so they could kick him out and do it themselves.
“Sure, have a seat. Though all I can offer is the floor of the porch.”
Sydney moved toward him first, Dylan came up the rear grabbing two bottles of beer along the way.
“How are you doing?” Sydney’s melodic voice asked as she perched beside him.
“I’m good. Wish the house was coming along faster, but most of that’s my own doing.”
“You can’t rush these things,” she pointed out with a gentle tap to his arm before taking the beer from her husband. Cliff got the slightest suspicion that she wasn’t referring to the house.
“Amy got the kids?” Cliff asked, knowing that Amy watched a set of grandkids every night. That woman was the epitome of a grandma.
“That she does. We were on our way home from dinner and wanted to stop by. I hadn’t seen the place yet.”
Taking a sip of beer, Cliff added, “Not much to look at.”
“But it will be beautiful when it is done.”
The trio sat in silence for a few minutes, the sound of bugs moving toward the light and zipping away played a symphony of music with the crickets and frogs.
“I hear you were given another mission.”