Page 48 of Ghost
Chapter Eighteen
Mason stood back toadmire his handiwork.He was more than satisfied.Actually, he was wondering why he hadn’t thought of it to begin with.Paul had scrounged up enough materials to do the two-level breakfast bar to go the full length of the kitchen.It was going to look really good when it was finished.Once the tile went on the tops and it was painted, it would look as if it was planned all along.
“You are quite the craftsmen, Mason.”
Mason turned, smiling, knowing it was Francis.“Why, thank you, kind sir.I’m glad you like it.”
“I am a little curious, however.Why are you putting the kitchen down here instead of upstairs where it was?”Francis walked around Mason, looking at the new addition.
“Oh, I’m going to live down here as I work on the upstairs.When I’m done, or at least have it livable, I’ll rent out this part to help pay for the other renovations,” Mason answered.
“You just stay out here,” Mason could hear Paul talking to Mitch.“You’re a mess.Ain’t no sense in tracking all that dust in.You just keep cutting that tile and I’ll put it down.”
“It isn’t like that floor ain’t gonna need to be cleaned, anyway,” Mitch said with a huff.
“Still, no reason to make it worse, now is it?”Paul walked into the room.“Mas, I think I got all the cuts done for the countertops on the sink and stove sides.I’ll mix up some of the mastic and get ‘em set.It won’t take long to get the backsplash done, so if you’re almost done there, we can get all the tilin’ done before quitt’n’ time.”
It had taken some time to dig out the tile saw and get it set up, which gave Mason a bit of a head-start on getting the breakfast bar built.
“The tools you are using, they make things happen much faster than in my day,” Francis said.“This kind of work would have taken much longer than only a day.It is also quite strange to make a kitchen as beautiful as the rest of your home.”
Mason shrugged.“I guess it’s because we don’t have servants doin’ all the cookin,’ so we want it to look nice.”
“Is he here?”Paul asked in a whisper, his eyes as big as saucers.
Mason smiled.“Yeah, he’s right beside me.”
“Oh.”Paul looked to the wrong side of Mason.“Uh...good afternoon, Francis.”
Francis laughed.“And a good afternoon to you as well, Paul.”
“He said good afternoon to you as well, Paul.”Mason smiled and shook his head.This could get complicated.
“Does he...like what we’ve done?”Paul asked.
“I am more than impressed,” Francis answered.
“He said he’s more than impressed,” Mason relayed.
Paul smiled broadly.“Good.I guess I’m gonna get started here.”He placed the cut tile on the top of the stove.He then turned quickly around.“Unless, uh...you guys want some privacy or somethin’.”
Mason, laughed.“It ain’t like we’re havin’ sex, Paul.”
Paul blushed a bright red.“Well, ya know...if you need some space, you just let me know, okay.”
“I will.”Mason patted his friend on the back.“Thanks for asking.”
Paul nodded and started laying the tile.
“I will leave you to your work, Mason,” Francis said.
