Page 2 of Ghost
Good as his word, Mason stopped at a convenience store, picked up a half-case of beer and headed to his new, temporary home while he worked on his own house.He’d lucked out in securing a basement apartment close to his new property. He’d already moved all the stuff he’d need to do the renovations to his new home, mostly his tools.The apartment was small, but he didn’t need much, and it also provided off-street parking, whereas his new place didn’t.He planned on spending as much time as he possibly could there.For now, he just wanted food, beer and sleep.After that...he was ready to work until he couldn’t think of anything, or anyone, else.For the briefest moment, Ross and his new boy-toy flashed behind his eyes.
“Nope.Not going there.It’s his loss, not mine.”He didn’t believe a single word of that.Mason then went to his new accommodations, devoured the chicken, had one beer, then went to bed.
Chapter Two
With keys in hand,Mason opened the front door of his new property.Even with a good down payment, he had still had to get a mortgage, which wasn’t easy since he was self-employed and new to Savannah.But he was excited if not a bit worried he might have taken on more than he was capable of doing.
He looked at his watch, the watch that his Uncle Bud had given him for his eighteenth birthday.Mason wore it all the time, and it always brought a smile to his face when he looked at the time.He was so excited to get it.The crystal was a bit scratched now, and there were a few dents in the metal band, but that didn’t matter to him.He wouldn’t trade it for the most expensive Rolex if given the opportunity.
“Mitch should be here anytime now.”He was fortunate to have such a good friend who was an electrician.They’d met on a job years ago.It was a large kitchen renovation, and they’d become fast friends.The only thing that Mitch said he required to come and help Mason out was plenty of beer, keeping him fed and some beach time over on Tybee Island.Oh, and, of course, make sure he got laid, which wasn’t going to be too difficult.Mitch was one of the best-looking men Mason had ever known.The ladies would be lining up for him if Mason had to wager.
Mason let his eyes trail up the graceful sweep of the staircase that had most assuredly seen better days.In his mind’s eye, he could easily see it returned to its former glory.The wood tongue-and-groove floors needed some serious attention, but all the small pieces that outlined each room and its corners with a Greek key design were there, ready to shine once again.He could tell that at some point there had been wall-to-wall carpet installed, which more than likely saved the floor.
The double archways mirroring each other, with double pocket sliding doors, were something that you never saw unless they were in grand old homes like this one.When he’d first looked at the place, he could see that they were mahogany but covered by multiple layers of paint.He sighed happily.“We’ll get you back to shining like a new penny, ol’ girl.You’ll be a jewel in the crown of Savannah!”
Looking down the hallway towards the back of the elegant town house that had been built in 1856, he grimaced into the yawning doorway of what had been a kitchen.This is where the majority of the problems were.The retrofitted kitchen had caught fire due to bad electrical wiring, which was why it had been condemned.It was also why he got it as cheap as he did.It was where he and Mitch were going to start.
“Whoa.”
Mason turned to see Mitch standing in the doorway and smiled.“Ain’t shegrand?”
“I’ll say,” Mitch said stepping inside and whistling.“I can see why you nabbed this place up.”
“Yeah, but wait till you see all the wiring that needs to be done,” Mason groaned.“It’s going to be quite a job, I’m afraid.I can’t even move in until it’s all brought up to code.”
“I’m gonna assume there’s no power at all?”Mitch peered into the room to his left and whistled again.
“Nope.Why I asked you to bring your generator.”
“I knew I’d forgotten something.”Mitch raised his eyebrows.
Mason rolled his eyes.“I sure hope you’re kidding me.”
Mitch clapped Mason on the shoulder, hard.“Would I do that to my best buddy?”
“Yeah, right, your best buddy.I know better than that.”Mason shook his head.
