The Walk
1033 Words
On Monday, I started at the job site just like a normal week.
I showed up at the job site at 9:00 am, this time with coffee for Doug, hopefully, as a way to get him on my good side just in case, he had heard any gossip of what happened over the weekend between Samuel and me.
“Morning Doug!” I said with a smile. “When you’re ready to go over the design plans for the master bath and two guest baths I am already. If I remember correctly your crew should be starting to mud the drywall this week and the ceramic and material to start setting it should be here this Wednesday. So we should be right on schedule for those rooms.”
“Not so fast, the owners want to make some last-minute changes to the kitchen that they would like to discuss with you based on a bar they saw this weekend in Chicago….you are to Zoom with them this afternoon at 1 pm. Sorry.” Doug looked at me pitifully.
“Don’t look at me. My best worker had to skedaddle up north for some family business so I am going to be running behind at least a week or two due to Samuel’s not-so-quick trip. Luckily, I don’t have to tell the clients...You do! Happy Monday Amarys!” He replied waving his hands in the air exasperated.
I looked at him and sighed!
Then it registered.
Did Doug just say that Samuel left town to take care of some family business? Did that have to do with what happened this weekend?
My mind began to race with a hundred different questions. What was going on? How could I possibly let this get so out of hand?
Finally, I took a deep breath and composed myself.
At the end of the day, Samuel was a good f**k, nothing more.
This is my job and a job I love.
These are high-end clients, who offer me the opportunity to expand my business and I am not going to lose this opportunity over a hot Amish piece of ass.
I, Amarys Haas, am better than that!
I got my head back in the game and did exactly what I was being paid to do, design an amazing home!
At 1 pm, I logged online with Lynn and David who were back at their penthouse in Chicago.
They shared with me that during one of my first sessions, I had shared a vision for a vintage pub flame scorched countertop for the Island, unsure of the idea. They had dismissed the idea. However, over the weekend, they had seen something very similar at a skanky pub and simply loved the idea and must have it at their country home. They were thinking of even switching out the more traditional lighting for a more modern Edison bulb/farmhouse style.
I was thrilled with the changes and expressed that this would give the home a more warm and welcoming feel.
“Mr. and Mrs. Berkeley, I do have some bad news though. Because of your wishes to employ Amish workers, we have had some workers need to leave for family emergencies that were a bit unforeseen.”
“This has caused us to run behind on our schedule. If you wish for us to stay on schedule, we would have to employ other workers outside of the Amish but if the time delay is not a problem then we will allow the Amish workers to stay on and work once their family issues are resolved if that is ok with you? I will give you some time to discuss what you wish to do and you can get back to either Doug or me.”
I had barely finished the sentence when Mr. Berkeley who rarely ever voices his opinion spoke,
“It's fine just keep on with the Amish workers, correct Dear?”
Mrs. Berkeley was clearly upset over this decision but gritted her teeth and said,
“Yes! Ms. Haas. That is fine.”
“Very well. I will pass that on to Doug and will move forward on the changes we discussed.” I said with a nod.
“Thank you for meeting with me. Have a great day!” I smiled.
They both nodded as they clicked off the screen.
I sighed and sunk into the porch swing that sat precariously on the wrap-around porch of the client’s home. The meeting seemed to last forever but overall I was so incredibly happy with the changes.
Did they even know that the vintage pub countertop was my dream countertop….one that I had been imagining since I was a child!! Ugh! I was so jealous of this house and so wish it was mine but I was also having so much fun designing it, too!
As the workers all began to head home, the beauty of the autumn day was finally beginning to dawn on me but by now the sun was beginning to set. I decided to take some time for myself and walk down to the apple orchard and watch the sunset. I figured Mr. and Mrs. Berkeley were in Chicago so it was pretty safe for me to enjoy the sunset and Samuel was gone on the family business.
There on the hill of the apple orchard’s field sat a picnic bench that called my name. So I decided to take a seat and enjoy the view. The beautiful Mississippi valley span across in front of me a beautiful expanse of delta and bluff. High above a span of cotton candy-colored clouds sweeping the sky in a beautiful expanse of color creating the picture-perfect Autumn sunset.
I breathed in the crisp autumn air and shivered a bit when something down in the valley caught my eye. It was just on the ridgeline.
I stepped off the picnic table and walked down to it.
Planted just on the ridge was a small willow tree.
Just as I had described to Samuel.
My heart fluttered at the thought of this gesture.
- Writer
