“What’s all the ruckus in here?” The trailer door swung open, and the bright afternoon sun filtered inside. Sam Walsh, Milton’s foreman, sauntered into the small space. He removed his hard hat as soon as he noticed Marilyn.
“My sister thinks we’re twelve years old again.” Milton jumped at the opportunity to catch her off guard. Although it was a little too easy to steal back his phone. Marilyn stared at Sam, and if Milton didn’t already know she had no interest in dating, he might have thought she liked him.
“Sam, this is my sister Marilyn, and over there is the little bug.”
“Alexandria, Uncle Milton.”
“Nice to meet you, Alexandria,” Sam said as he stepped in further.
“Marilyn, this is Sam, my foreman.”
Marilyn looked a little stunned. Her eyes hadn’t left Sam’s direction since the moment he walked in.
“Marilyn?”
“Right. Hi.” She extended her hand.
“It’s lovely to meet you.”
Ick! Lovely? Their hands held–although the action of shaking up and down had slowed–just a little longer than appropriate. Sam was the one who let go first.
“Sam. What can I do for you?” Milton asked.
“Just wanted to let you know that everything is ready for the tear down.”
Tear down. Milton hated that word. But it was a necessary evil that came with his business.
“What are we tearing down this time?” his sister asked. They had both been raised to be proud of their father’s work but always to be considerate of those that might be swallowed up by the commercial machine.
“Nothing too severe. Just a strip mall and the owner had taken care to notify the tenants in time so they could all find another location for business. No harm done.”
“Good,” Marilyn said.
“I’m interrupting. We can talk business later.” Sam headed for the door.
“Actually, can we talk tomorrow? I’m going to head out for the day.” Both Marilyn and Sam gave him a strange look. “I have something I need to do.”
“Hmm…does it have anything to do with those texts?” Marilyn cooed.
“What texts?” Sam asked.
“None of your business. Either of you.” Milton stared back and forth between them, hoping they would take the hint. His business was his business.
“Sure thing, boss. I’ll see you in the morning.” Sam pushed open the trailer door. “It was nice to meet you, Marilyn. You too, Alexandria.”
The bug barely paid attention.
“Nice to meet you too,” Marilyn said, her words getting choked up in her throat, as Sam stepped out into the sunlight.
“Ugh. Disgusting.” Milton walked away from his sister toward his desk. “Stop flirting with my foreman.”
“Not as disgusting as those texts. Those were so dirty. I have to meet this girl.” Marilyn grinned.
“She’s just…just a friend. I’ll be back home in a week anyway. There’s no need to meet her.”
“All right. Keep your secret. Your dirty, little secret.” Marilyn wiggled her eyebrows.
“Don’t you have a child to take care of?” Milton accused.