Page 216 of Banter & Blushes

“I’m extremely happy with my life, thank you very much,” he stated matter-of-factly but also playfully.

“So, about this project?”

He picked up his cup and took a drink before grimacing at the aftertaste. “It’s actually a great opportunity. I’m building a Fire Station on the Northern end of the Landings. I think they’ll end up doing more construction up there too. The little town could use it. Maybe some townhomes and a few shops. Right now we are just doing the station. I’m happy to give back there.”

“I think that’s really great. I can’t wait to see it.”

“I can’t wait to show it to you,” he smiled into the phone.

“And who is your contact person there?”

“El,” he smiled again before correcting himself, “Elva, I mean.”

“Uh, huh? Is she nice? You know, easy to work with?”

“Extremely,” he looked at Dozer, waiting for him to agree, “Doze likes her, too.”

Knowing better than to say what she was thinking she simply said, “I’m glad it’s going well.”

“It really is. We went down there to meet and she called me by the end of the same day offering me the job. Doze met her and was ready to give over his bumper right away. You know that’s something.”

Nodding she didn’t answer so he’d keep talking.

“We talked a little bit after the job was settled. She has a lovely voice.”

Penny’s face widened into a large smile. A lovely voice? How sweet was that? “That’s awesome you got the bid,” she turned it around to work talk, his normal favorite subject. “When do you start?”

“Yeah, yeah. It is awesome. It’s a right away type job. They are still securing the funding, but it’s pretty guaranteed. The building plans have been approved, so the crew is already prepping the site.”

“That fast? Wow!”

“Their little community could really benefit from a station, so I think the sooner the better. And you know I normally never start working before the payments are secure, but I know this will work out so I’m okay floating it until then.”

“Dad,” she had to point out “you never do that.”

Picking up his coffee again he looked at Dozer while he spoke to his daughter, “I know I don’t. This one’s just different.”

Penny was starting to understand just how different this one just may be.

Clearing his throat he settled the phone into the holder in front of the radio, “actually Pen, I was thinking about asking El, uh Elva to a Blue Claw game in a few weeks. They have a few at home coming up and I owe Agnes and Bea a visit, so maybe make a day of it.”

“A day of it?” She repeated her father. “Like a date, dad?” She wasn’t sure when, if ever, her dad went on a date.

“Uh, no, I - “ he stumbled over his words, “um, well…”

“Dad,” she tried to hold in her excitement, “you don’t have to ask my permission to go on a date with a nice woman. If you like her, I like her. I just want you to be happy and honestly, I like the less grumpy version of you.”

“I didn’t say it was a date.”

“No, but you didn’t say it wasn’t.”

Dozer nudged his arm again in agreement with Penny. “I didn’t say it was a date.” Mitch repeated to the dog.

“I can’t wait to hear about it, dad.” In the background he heard “Pumpkin Latte, Oat milk, no sugar?”

“Are you buying overpriced fluffy coffee again?”

Instead of answering him, she took a sip of her hot drink and asked, “are you sitting in the parkinglot of Buzz & Go drinking your burned station coffee?”

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