Page 10 of Collin: Episodes 10-12
Collin groaned. “You have magic hands.”
“Practice.” Mr. Reevesworth smiled. “I still plan to get you lessons, but that may be some years in the future or at least after your etiquette class has concluded.”
“You’re not hurting your hand, are you, sir?”
“I’m being careful.” Mr. Reevesworth held up his bandaged hand, wiggling the tips of his unblemished fingers to show what he was using. “How do you see today going, and do you know what you need?”
Collin drew in a breath and held it, letting it out by degrees. “Mom gets into funks. I think she’s in one now. She’s going to try to push through it and focus on the ritual and the celebration. We always talk to Dad during the ritual. And that’s sacred. But she’ll also be sad. It’s traditional to clean before the sabbat. So, I planned to be working on the house today. That’s what we usually do. Alice and I clean, and Mom prepares the ritual. I’ll need to clear the backyard to make room for it though, so that’s probably what I should do first.”
“What does clearing the backyard entail?”
“Mowing and then getting out the chain saw or the bush clippers. I checked yesterday. It hasn’t been done since I worked on it last June.”
Mr. Reevesworth raised an eyebrow. “Red.”
Collin blinked. “Sir?”
“You’re not cleared for that, Collin. Yesterday was bad enough with you doing the bathrooms with your eyes and cleaning, but you should not be irritating your vision with a lawnmower. You were only cleared for controlled exercise a few days ago. What alternatives are there?”
“Um…” Collin grimaced and rubbed his nose with his fist. “I could hire someone if we start calling around quickly? I don’t think Mom will like that though.”
“Will you allow me?”
“To do what, sir?”
“Handle this with your mother.”
Collin swallowed. Mr. Reevesworth took his hand and squeezed it. “I promise to tread gently.”
“Okay, sir. I’ll let you handle it.”
“Thank you.” Mr. Reevesworth raised Collin’s hands to his mouth and kissed the backs of Collin’s knuckles. Sitting up, he settled Collin between his legs, snagged his phone, and dialed.
“Dr. Ryker, good morning.”
Collin couldn’t hear whatever his mother said on the other end of the phone.
“Collin tells me he planned to mow the backyard in preparation for the ritual, but as you know, he’s still under medical orders to avoid irritants in his eyes. Since his injury came about due to his association with me, I hope you would allow me to hire a yard service to take his place this morning. Would that be acceptable? I’m not fully aware of your practices.”
There was a beat of silence. Collin traced the dark hair on his master’s inner thigh.
“I do hope I’m not overstepping, Dr. Ryker. I understand it’s your private property. I just feel responsible for inconveniencing you on short notice because of the hazards of my public visibility.”
More silence.
“Money isn’t an object, Dr Ryker. It’s wonderfully one of the things that allows me to grapple with situations like this. Money is replaceable. Collin’s eyesight is not. I can have someone there within the hour and, either you or Collin can instruct them.”
There was a beat. Mr. Reevesworth appeared to listen.
“Thank you. I appreciate this.” He hung up.
“She actually let you.” Collin raised both eyebrows.
“Your mother is capable of allowing me to own my own responsibilities.” Mr. Reevesworth smiled tightly. “I’m going to call my assistant and have her find a yard service.”
“I’ve never met this assistant.”
“It’s a department. They work eight and a half hour shifts with fifteen-minute overlaps for handovers, and this is what they do. Eventually, you’ll have access to them too if you need it. Damian, Linda, and some of our department heads and c-suite people use them as well. It’s not economical to keep someone on staff just for me, but having a dozen handling things for many of us around the clock allows us to be efficient.”
