Chapter 3

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Ten Years Later

Barlow sucked in a deep breath of fresh, crisp air, held it in his lungs for a few seconds, and slowly exhaled.

"What the hell are you doing, Jackson," his boss, Irv Washington asked, "practicing Yoga or something?" Irv placed his hands on his hips. The big man with his dark chocolate skin and shaved head made an imposing figure, but Barlow knew he had a heart of gold.

In the background, a pair of carpenters hammered wall studs into place, the rat-a-tat of their two hammers pounded nails in near perfect syncopation. "I'm just enjoying the smell of fresh cut lumber."

"You're aware we're behind schedule, right? It's November and we need to get eight more of these new townhouses under roof before the snow flies."

Barlow nodded. "I hear you, boss, but I can't lay shingles until Calvin and Tommy finish the plywood sheeting over the roof trusses."

"What? You mean they're behind again too?" Irv took a step back and peered to the rooftop, holding a hand over his brow to shield his eyes from the sun. "Hey, you deadbeats, get a move on. You're costing me money."

The two men glanced down, waved, and began working faster.

Irv cursed and said, "Damn rookies."

"Don't sweat it, boss, I'll climb up there and give them a hand."

"You shouldn't have to. It's their job, not yours."

As Barlow grabbed the rungs of the ladder to begin his climb, Irv asked, "You didn't forget about our meeting tonight, right?"

Barlow always acted put out but secretly enjoyed the periodic dinner meetings with his boss to discuss progress on their various construction projects. "If you insist."

"I insist."

"Then you're buying."

Barlow agreed to meet Irv Washington at The Eight Ball, a downtown Columbus, Ohio sports bar located less than a mile from his apartment. The place served great tavern food, and during the rare occasion when he had one too many, he had the option of walking home.

After entering the establishment, Barlow's eyes adjusted to the dark, smoky atmosphere and found his boss sitting at a table viewing a large screen television. The man was a die hard college football fan.

Irv paid rapt attention to the broadcast and flinched when Barlow approached and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, boss. What are you watching?"

"Rebroadcast of the past weekend Buckeyes game against Penn State."

Barlow hadn't seen the game but recalled the outcome. "They trounced the Nittany Lions and at Beaver Stadium too."

Irv's broad smile lit up his face. "Yeah, man. It was glorious."

Caroline, the Eight Ball's night manager approached, all smiles, and set Barlow's usual in front of him, a local craft beer. "How was your day?"

"Good. Better than most. How's your's going?"

The slight-built, energetic young woman rolled her dark eyes. "Don't know yet. My day's just getting started."

He used his foot to push out a chair.

Caroline shook her head. "Can't join you. Connie called in sick again, so I have to take her place as waitress. Pool tournament later tonight means we're going to be mobbed."

The news dampened Barlow's mood. "You should fire Connie."

She shrugged and walked away.

Irv cleared his throat which got Barlow's attention. The man stared at him with a raised eyebrow. "So, you and Caroline, eh?"

The two of them dated. He liked Caroline a lot and pondered if they might have a future together. Barlow was reluctant to commit, because he inevitably ended up comparing potential partners to his best friend and lover from his teen years. He knew it wasn't fair of him. No woman would ever be able to measure up to Pet.

"Since you ain't talking, I'll get right to the point," Irv said. "I want to make you my partner in the business. You're my most senior laborer with the most experience. You work rings around the rest of the crew and know as much about the construction trade as I do. I'm getting older and the work is getting harder for me to manage by myself."

Barlow felt flattered. He was getting older too, maybe time to settle down and start a family. Maybe with Caroline. "Thank you, Irv. Let me give it some serious thought."

"Yeah, do that."

He didn't know what would've happened if Irv hadn't hired him when he arrived in Columbus after his tour-of-duty with the Marines. Barlow had no desire to return to Perry County, Pennsylvania. He didn't want to ever see his father again, and his absence protected Pet and her family from what his father might do if he suspected the neighbors knew what Barlow knew. He didn't know where else to go, so he had tacked a map of the U.S. on the barracks wall and thrown a dart. It had stuck in Ohio.

Caroline returned. "What'll you be having to eat?"

Irv didn't hesitate. "Cheese steak grinder with onion rings."

Barlow didn't feel all that hungry. "Give me a Reuben, please. Side order of coleslaw."

She didn't bother writing it down. Caroline was one of those waitresses who remembered everything her customers ordered. She amazed Barlow with her ability to keep it all straight, especially on busy nights like this one. She was an intelligent, hard-working young lady who by some miracle really liked him. He would be a fool not to pursue her.

After she walked away, Irv said, "Another reason I wanted to meet with you is to get an opinion. When we finish our current project, we have no work until next spring."

That was typical, Barlow knew. Most years he and the crew got laid off during winter.

Irv took a drink of beer and set down his mug. "I received a call from Quad Lakes Construction. They won the contract to renovate those old factories in the Brewery District into apartments. They called to find out if we had an interest in being a subcontractor."

Steady work during the winter would be great, but, "Quad Lakes Construction has a sketchy reputation, rumors of collusion with city hall to secure large-scale urban renewal jobs like the one you're talking about. Will they pay us on time, and do you want to associate with a business like that?"

Irv smiled. "Your insight is another reason why I want you as a partner."

Barlow's phone vibrated. He plucked it from his hip pocket and recognized the number. His mother. "Hello?"

"Barlow, uh, I have bad news."

He gripped the phone tight to his ear. "What is it? Are you sick? Is something wrong with you?"

"No. Not me. I'm fine. It's your father. He passed away yesterday evening."

Barlow felt nothing, and it didn't bother him one bit. "What did he die of? Meanness?"

His mother gasped. "Barlow, the man was your father."

"Sorry, mother."

"Listen to me, son. Your father left a will. His lawyer called me asking for your contact information."

After his mother divorced his father, she had remarried and moved to Texas. The lawyer must have had a tough time tracking them down.

She continued, "Your self-imposed exile has gone on long enough. With your father's passing, there's no longer a reason for you to stay away from Perry County."

He heard her take a deep breath. "Barlow, there's a situation involving your father's estate. You need to go home."

Do you have any idea as to why Barlow's father's attorney needs to see him?

Keep on reading to find out what Pet has been doing with her life during the past ten years. If you like the story so far, I appreciate your votes!

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