Page 11 of Shake the Habit

“He texted me,” Marc said, but I had been lost in thought and didn’t understand.

“What?”

“Caleb Woodson said that he’s looking for a contractor and that you had recommended me.” He grinned. “Thanks, KayKay.”

“Well, of course I’m going to recommend you!” I told him, and paused. “What else did he write?”

“He wants to rebuild a barn on his property and he asked about my availability to come give an estimate. When am I available?”

We checked his schedule, which was also on the phone he held in his own hand, and determined that he had time the next morning.

“And that’s all there was about me,” I confirmed. “He only wrote that I had recommended you?”

My cousin checked again. “That’s it. Do you think that Taygen would like yellow roses? Like the song,” he said.

“Marc, are you bringing her flowers again?” I smiled, because it was so sweet—but it was also an expensive habit. “You know what I bet she would like instead? If you went over to her house and rolled out her trash can. The truck comes tomorrow in her neighborhood.” I knew that because it was also my parents’ neighborhood, and I knew she would like the can brought out because my own mother was always glad when my daddy did it.

“I could fix her toilet, too, the one that keeps running,” he said, warming to the idea of showing his affection through household chores. I strongly encouraged this line of thinking. They would need to save up for their wedding, because there were a million and two McCourts and everyone would expect an invitation. And the fellowship hall seemed to eat up flowers, no matter how many were there to decorate it. I was sure that Taygen would not use yellow roses, no matter about the song.

The next day, Sir and I were at our best when we went to work. “Damn!” Marc said as I shook the rain off my coat and hung it on a hook. “What made you get so dressed up? You going out later? I thought you said that you weren’t dong anything tonight.”

“I’m not,” I told him. “I just felt like wearing something different. I also thought that it would be good if Sir and I went with you to your appointment this morning.” The dog huffed his agreement.

“What appointment? Is it for that place in Dunlap that has all the problems with the roof trusses?”

“Marc McCourt! Look at your calendar for once,” I told him. “You’re going to Caleb Woodson’s house to see about fixing his barn.”

“Oh, right.” He eyed me and grinned.

“Do not tell anyone that I wore a dress today. No one,” I warned.

“I thought you ordered me not to keep things from Taygen.”

“You can tell her, as long as she doesn’t say anything about it to your mama. I just felt like putting on something other than jeans!” I defended myself. “It doesn’t have anything to do with…anything.”

“Or anyone,” my cousin said. I threw a pencil at him, which made Sir bark.

We did accompany Marc to the Woodson property, which was far out in the country. Sir was ok on the ride since he seemed to like trucks, but he did his thing of lying all over me and by the time we arrived, my pretty pink dress wasn’t in the best shape any longer. More like now, it was crumpled up and covered with hair and some drool, as was my coat (which I had buttoned closed to save the dress, but it had been too late). I did check my hair and face quickly in the mirror as we turned at the gate, and my cousin grinned at me again.

“You know, it doesn’t hurt anyone to look their best on a job interview. That’s what this is, Marc,” I advised. “Every time yougo and meet with a potential client, they’re sizing you up just like any employer would.”

“Yes, ma’am. Do you think he’ll like my shirt? I chose it special.”

I only rolled my eyes as we finally pulled to a stop in front of a large farmhouse. It had seen better days, and this was definitely something that Marc would be able to help with—he had really good ideas. “If the barn goes well…” I said, and he looked over at me and nodded. This could have been a big deal for the business.

As the truck stopped, Caleb Woodson came out of that house and walked down the steps, and Sir went nuts. He climbed onto my lap, putting the last nail into the coffin that had once been my dress and barking enough to make my ears ring. I opened the door and he leaped out into the mist that had been falling this morning, splashing through a puddle on the driveway. He ran right over to Caleb and threw himself forward.

“No, Sir,” I heard, and the dog immediately backed off. “That’s a good boy. Sit. Good boy,” Caleb praised and petted him, and Sir’s little tail wagged wildly. “I didn’t expect to see you today.”

Marc had a big, new truck, and the payment on that was one of the reasons that the business had to succeed (along with his wedding, his mortgage, and his rent on the office space). Sir had flown out like a bird and my cousin wasn’t overly tall, but he also jumped down with ease. It took me longer and I had to be extra careful, since my outfit included nice shoes.

“Kayleigh,” Caleb said. He stood next to the open passenger door, where I was just beginning to make my descent. “I didn’t know that you were coming today, either.”

“I try to meet new clients,” I said.

“We already know each other,” he pointed out. “You can put your hand on my shoulder.”

I did, and he mostly lifted me to the driveway, which was mostly mud. We both looked at my shoes.

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