Page 40 of Roads Behind Us
“Thanks,” I said, scanning the dirt on my overalls.
I’d shed my gloves and beanie once the sun rose high enough to chase the chill out of the air, but my hard hat had surely left an ugly bump in my hair. Athena confirmed it as I removed the hat and she looked at my hair and giggled. I held the hat out to her, and she hugged it to her chest while I pulled my scraggly hat hair into a pile on my head and wrapped the scrunchie permanently attached to my wrist around it to hold it up.
“I like yours too.” I pointed to her light-purple puffer vest. I found a paint chip once that had the color listed as Old Dusty Lavender. “That’s my favorite color.”
Her lips lifted into the biggest smile, and she was so cute with her braid pulled over her shoulder and her adorable but semi-buck teeth gleaming in the sun. She’d worn some serious-looking work boots. The kid really knew her way around a farm.
“Really? Mine too!”
She looked around my work site and the future of her family’s new business venture, watching as my merry music makers paused their song and packed their tools away for the lunch break. “You’re really in charge of all these people?”
“Yep.” I cupped my hand around my mouth, hiding my lips from onlookers. “Don’t tell ’em I said this, but I’m like a female version of Gru, and they’re my Minions.”
I winked, and she laughed.
And then, just to prove my point, one of the crew walked up. From the scowl on his face, I got the feeling I wouldn’t like what he had to say.
He glanced at Athena but focused on me. His coveralls were cleaner than mine, his hair barely mussed from the hard hat I’d noticed he rarely wore. I’d learned his name earlier in the day, but now it wasn’t coming to mind. Wait, was it Jensen something? I only remembered his first name because one of the other guys had called him Jen, and he clearly had not liked that. And, it seemed, he didn’t like to actually work. I wasn’t surprised by that. It happened with new crews; they spent the first day feeling me out, seeing what they could get away with.
Jensen Linney? Loony? Lovey?
He didn’t start off in my good graces now. “You scheduled HVAC for Friday?” he said. “That’s a mistake. Cabins nine and ten are nowhere near ready. You’re gonna cost the boss unnecessary money when they have to come out again next week.” He looked me up and down, at the fountain of hair on the top of my head, like it wasn’t possible for little ol’ female me to know what the hell I was doing.
Here we go. “It’s Jensen, right?”
A curt nod was his only answer, and he fixed his hands over his hips. He was attractive in a tattle-tale kind of way. He had a young face. It was tanned from the sun, but his cheeks were pink from the cold, and his hair was too long, but not like a sexy guitar-player or a surfer. The ends frayed around his neck and ears and hinted at an impending mullet. I knew they’d come back in style, but on Jensen, it wasn’t a pleasing look. It made me want to find some clippers and go at him like I was trimming a hedge.
A few of the guys had gathered behind him, maybe to cheer him on when he challenged me, or maybe they were waiting to see how I’d handle him.
“Well, thanks for sharing your concern, Jensen. I appreciate it, but they will be ready.” Where did this guy get off? I had more information than he did.
His eyes narrowed infinitesimally. “It’s a mistake,” he repeated. “You’re doin’ things all wrong. Does Mr. Lee know about the changes you’ve made to the crew? This job was fine before you got here and fucked it all up.” He glanced at Athena again, probably regretting his choice of words. “S’cuse me,” he said to her.
Athena scowled. She didn’t like this joker any more than I did.
“Mr. Lee is well aware,” I said. “And since he put me in charge, I know that you don’t work on HVAC. You’re a drywaller, right? So how is it you think you can tell me I’m wrong?”
He lifted a finger in the air. “I am, but?—”
“Listen, Jen, lemme just stop you right there. It’s lunchtime. I’m hungry. I’m sure you’re a little peckish. I’m gonna give you the benefit of the doubt and guess that your current mood can be attributed to hunger, so go to lunch. Have a sandwich.”
I looked at Athena. “Cover your ears.”
She did, loosely, but I knew she could hear every word I said.
To Jensen, I continued with, “Grab a Snickers or replenish your chakras or whatever the fuck you need to do to adjust your attitude. I don’t give a crap what you put in your mouth, but make sure you wash it out before you clock back in. I don’t need you to tell me how to do my job. The cabins will be ready for HVAC on Friday. If they’re not, I’ll owe you a beer. But if you can’t manage to do what you’ve been hired to without whinin’ like a baby, feel free not to come back at all. Capisce?”
Athena’s mouth popped open, and she clapped both hands over it.
Jensen glanced at Athena again, but then he shook his head silently and stormed away, back to his girlfriends. One of them actually winked at me.
Inhaling deeply, I turned away and faced Athena again. I smiled. “Where were we?”
“What a jerk,” she whispered conspiratorially.
“Nah. He just forgot to put on his manners when he got dressed this mornin’. So what’s up?”
She laughed. “I just came to invite you up to the house for lunch. I had a half day at school today, so we’re havin’ tamales. Devo’s mama showed me how to make them. They’re really good.” She smirked, and there was a little sparkle in her eye. “Daddy helped me fry plantains, and there’s rice, and he made the verde sauce. It’s good too.”
