Winter Layoff Chapter 18
| Winter Layoff | |
|---|---|
| Chapter 18 of 21 | |
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| Read this chapter | |
| Time frame | January 2006 |
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Locations
- Pass Christian, Mississippi
Characters
- Rachel Clark
- Aaron, an Amish construction supervisor
Summary
The next morning everybody did their final packing as Bud prepared a final breakfast. Again, Jim made the rounds, trying to thank each person for their help. Less than six weeks ago Jim’s mother had asked that he see what he could do to help her sister and her husband. He felt that he owed everyone a real big favor in return. Jim felt a quiet satisfaction in having the job done.
It was still very early when the convoy followed Randy in the semi back towards Spearfish Lake. A couple more vehicles headed over to the Amish project, and Bud was right behind them in the motor home - but he planned to first head over to Mobile to get some groceries.
Just as the last vehicle left, Jim realized he’d screwed up - he had the dump truck and the backhoe and both of them needed to be over at the Amish project. Idiot, he thought. You could have one of those guys drive the dump truck.
He walked over toward the dump truck, and was surprised when Rachel stepped out from behind it. After a short conversation as to why she had stayed behind, she climbed up into the cab of the dump truck and Jim walked over in the direction of the backhoe. At that moment the dirty white pickup pulled up and the little guy always recruiting for the Beach Boulevard project asked for help. After a disagreable conversation he leaves, very annoyed that he doesn't have a volunteer / free backhoe.
Jim and Rachel drove over to where the Amish - and some of the Clark Construction guys - were working on framing up a house. Aaron was glad to see him and asked that he clear off the lots on the other side of the street, and without damaging the house slabs.
Jim and Rachel worked until about noon, when the Amish invited them to lunch, where a couple of Amish women were busy serving up thick sandwiches and pie out of the back of a black Amish buggy. By the evening one lot was cleaned up and good progress had been made on a second. Dinner proved to be with the Amish at their tent camp a few blocks away. Bud had contributed some excellent baked beans and several other dishes to the joint dinner.
After dinner Jim parked the backhoe next to Bud’s motor home and the Clark workers boxed it in with their vehicles.
Jim and Rachel offer the use of the shower at the house to the Clark crew and head back to the house. It wound up that most of the guys came over to use the shower, and they also took advantage of the fact that there was beer in the refrigerator - it had been agreed with little discussion to not have any after-work beers around the Amish. It was well after dark when the last of the crew left, and Jim offered Rachel the shower. When she was done Jim took his.
Jim headed back to his bedroom and his heart almost stopped at what he saw. His own sleeping bag had been unzipped and spread flat, as had Rachel’s, spread over the top partly folded back. Rachel was between them, with enough of her showing that he could see she wasn’t wearing anything but a huge smile.
A short discussion reveals that she had wanted to surprise him days ago, but couldn’t with everybody around, and that she wants to start a real relationship with him.
Also Mentioned
- Jared Lancaster, Rachel and Joel's son
- Aunt Rita and Uncle John
- Joel Lancaster, not mentioned by name, only as as "Rachel's ex"
