UNDER CONSTRUCTION, CHAPTER 2

 

          The book was finally finished and had been electronically sent off to the publisher. He was so grateful to have it done and decided he wasn’t going to wait until later to have his whiskey reward. As a matter of fact, he was going to celebrate and have more than his usual one shot, but it was going to be the good stuff tonight. He grabbed a glass and took the bottle out to the front porch. He loved to sit there and watch the lake and the varied wildlife it supported.

He sipped the excellent Glenfiddich and let the taste fill his mouth and the odor rise into his nose. If he weren’t so cheap, he’d drink it every single day, but it was so expensive, his Yankee ancestors would roll over in their graves. The way he was raised, it was anathema first to drink, but to spend lots of good money on such an item was unheard of. Of course, his ancestors had been parsimonious when it came to anything that could possibly be considered fun.

The glass seemed to almost empty itself, so he added a bit more. He didn’t want to get shit-faced because he’d decided he’d visit the building site once the noise ceased and he was sure they were all gone. It had been two weeks or more since he’d made his visit. He wanted to see what had been accomplished in that time, but he wanted to do it without running into the boss lady.

By the time he started for the construction site, he’d had a bit more to drink than he planned. Still, he could walk just fine and he wouldn’t have to interact with anyone who might think he was a bit tipsy. He laughed to himself at the word tipsy only because his foot had found a hole and he almost tipped. Ah, yes, he was a funny man.

He loved the peace and quiet of the forest now that the noise and the people were gone. At the construction site, he was amazed at how much had been completed, but even more amazing was how it was completed. It was undoubtedly going to be the oddest house he’d ever seen if the foundation was any indication. Rather than cut any of the trees down, the foundation flowed around them so there didn’t appear to be any real square corners. It kind of reminded him of a hobbit house.

As he meandered along the foundation, he found himself amazed at how it wove through the grove of trees. In some places, it appeared as though the eventual room would be large and in others, whatever was to be built on top had to be the size of a small closet. He rather hoped he’d be invited over for a preview once it was done.

“You do realize you’re trespassing yet again?” Charlie’s voice said quietly just behind him and he almost jumped out of his skin. He turned around and there she was, invading his space again. Didn’t this woman know anything about personal space?

He stepped back yet again. “Yes, well, but I jus….” Oh shit, he thought, it came out jus instead of just. I’d better not breathe on her. “What I’m trying to say is that I wanted to see how your project was coming. I didn’t expect to find anyone here.”

“Oh my, you smell like you’ve been imbibing.”

“Yes, well, I had a couple drinks because I finished my book today, Celebrating, you know. Anyway, I’ll be on my way.”

“That’s okay, you don’t have to rush off. Because of our first meeting, you’ll probably be surprised to hear this, but once the crew is gone, I always stay a bit to enjoy the quiet and wait for all the animal and bird sounds to return.” Charlie responded with a small smile.

“You said you’re building your house? You plan to live here?”

“Yes, I want to live here. I need to be out of the city, away from all the noise and pollution and everything that constitutes a city. It’s hard for me to think there. This is going to be perfect and I think that’s probably why my grandfather left it to me.”

“Your grandfather you say? My great grandfather built my cabin. I wonder if our grandparents knew each other?”

“I’ve no idea, in fact, I don’t even know your name. I know you sent letters, but I tossed those and can’t remember how you signed them.”

“Oh, apologies. I’m Adam Ferguson. Pleased to make your acquaintance.” And Adam held out his hand.

Charlie proffered hers and when their hands clasped, there was such a strong punch of feeling she felt as though he’d offered the raw end of the extension cord he’d held the first time she’d met him. She took her hand back and rubbed it against her thigh. She wondered if he’d felt what she’d felt. She wondered what the hell it was all about.

She cleared her throat and suggested they sit on the edge of the foundation. “I could hear you muttering to yourself as you inspected my work. Do you have any questions?”

“Actually, I do, but first, let me say how much I admire the fact you’re building to incorporate the trees instead of eliminate them. But I don’t understand how you’re going to change the foundation outline so it’s not all two feet this way and four feet that way and a foot or so the other way. It looks extremely odd. And, I noticed there’s chicken wire wrapped on some of it.”

“Have you ever heard of shotcrete?” As Adam shook his head, Charlie continued, “It’s a concrete product that’s shot through a hose. It’s used for all kinds of construction like tunnels, retention walls, things like that. It’s not usually used in the building of a home. The foundations I’ve laid aren’t as wide as normal plans would require. Instead, over the thinner foundation, we’re putting chicken wire, and in some places, some reinforcing rod. Once it’s ready, I’ll have the entire foundation shotcreted and smoothed. Eventually, it will be painted to match or closely match the surroundings it touches. Plantings will also help it disappear into the landscape.”

“So, it will be sort of a hobbit house, yes? I can kinda visualize what it will look like when it’s completed. Your design I take it?”

“Yes, and yes. I actually designed it a long time ago when I read the hobbit books and saw the movies, but never had the time or opportunity to actually try to build it. It’s kind of my pet project and I’m hoping the company doesn’t get so busy I have to take my crew someplace else without getting it done.”

“I have to admit I looked you and your company up on the internet. I gather your father retired completely after his heart attack? He doesn’t pop in and try to advise you on your projects?”

“Well, maybe in the beginning, but between my mom and I, we got him interested in seeing more of the world. They’ve been travelling pretty much full time for the last few years. They come home for holidays and my birthday, but otherwise, their house sits empty for the most part. I stay there most nights, but aside from that, I’m not there unless they come home.”

“I loved the tagline for your company. And, judging by the photos and explanations, you’re in high demand and keep a lot of folks in the area employed. I also noticed Terrance somebody is your chief architect most of the time.”

“Terry and I met at Georgia Tech and we’ve been friends since then. He understands what I want and how I want to do it. He’s as fanatical about environmentally safe products as I am. He married my best friend and they made me Godmother to their children. It’s my most sincere hope nothing ever happens to them because I really don’t know what I’d do with children.”

“You don’t want kids someday? I would think you’d want a passel of girls so you could raise them to be as smart and independent as you are.”

“Sheesh, you don’t waste any time getting personal, do you? As for kids, I think my mom has finally given up, at least the last time they were home, she wasn’t pestering me about a boyfriend or becoming a mom. I don’t know if I’ll ever meet the right man and if I did, maybe neither of us would want children.”

“Well, to share right back, my mom’s been waiting for me to marry and have kids for years now. Thank heavens my brother and sister gave her two each, so the pressure isn’t quite as bad. And, living down here now, she can’t invite me to dinner and spring her latest single find on me. I don’t miss that at all.”

Charlie laughed. “My mom tried that a few times and we had a little chat. Anyway, you said at our first meeting you’re a writer. What kind of scholarly books do you write?”

Adam, shifted uncomfortably and tried to change the subject, but Charlie didn’t let him ignore her question.

“It’s always a little embarrassing when people ask me what I write because I write what some folks call bodice rippers or erotic fiction.”

She gasped and said, “You mean those paperbacks I see all over the place with some big-chested woman practically exposing herself to the best-looking guy ever?”

Adam shrugged and said, “Yep, those are the kind of books I write. When I began, I planned on becoming the next Steinbeck or Hemingway, but it’s like they sometimes say, the characters took over and the next thing I knew, my first book was finished, I found an agent and the agent found a publisher and here I am about eight years later.”

Charlie was grinning and nodding her head. I gather you need all that peace and quiet in order to make sure the poor little dear can be saved by the swashbuckling hero.”

“Well, it ain’t literary fiction, but it does provide me with a nice living.”  Adam replied, trying his best not to be affronted by her reaction and laughter.

“Now Adam, don’t go being embarrassed or upset by me. I’ve read my share of those kind of books. As a matter of fact, I think I read the first one when I was barely in my teens. I couldn’t believe what I was feeling as I read some of those erotic passages. I think whoever wrote that particular book was responsible for me learning the proper term for the feelings I gave myself. I didn't realize until that book that what was happening to my body was an orgasm. Oops, bet that was TMI...apologies.”

It was Sam’s turn to laugh and be very uncomfortable. He’d never talked about orgasms, even with the closest girlfriend he’d ever had. This Charlie didn’t seem to have any barriers when it came to saying whatever came into her head or invading personal space. He wondered about her and her lack of personal space and private thoughts.

“So, do you write under the name Adam Ferguson. If I go to the bookstore, is that the name I should ask for?”

“God no,” Sam replied. “My mother has no idea I write books like that. I’ve never told her about my writing career, nor my father neither. They’d probably suffer simultaneous strokes if I handed them each one of my books with those eloquent covers.”

“Okay, what’s your, what do they call it, your….”

“Pen name. My pen name is Anne Gabriel Foster.”

“Wow, you even went with a female name.”

“In most cases, my name is printed as A. G. Foster, but there are times when there is a need for a full name, so that’s what my agent and I came up with.”

“On my way home, I’m going to stop at the bookstore and pick up a copy of one of your books. I hope it doesn’t keep me up all night if you know what I mean?” Charlie nudged Adam with her shoulder and laughed again.

“Ah, come on, Adam, don’t be embarrassed. Surely if you can write erotic prose, you can take a little kidding. And, it’s not going to be long before it becomes completely dark. You want a ride to your cabin since I’m going to head out now?”

“Thanks, but no. I’d rather walk back.” Adam responded, standing up. “And, thank you for the tour and the information about your home. I look forward to seeing your progress.”

“Stop by any time Adam, as long as you don’t unplug everything. I’ve enjoyed our chat tonight. And, if you don’t want to come during working hours, you’re always welcome after the noise stops. As I said before, I almost always stay for a bit.”

“I just might do that and maybe I’ll even bring some food and drink. Now the book is done, I can spend a lot more time on my other passion which is cooking. I love to cook and if it weren’t for the months I spend writing that keeps me out of the kitchen, I’d probably be the size of a sumo wrestler.”

“That would be so nice. I can’t cook worth a lick. Make a sandwich, pour a bowl of cereal, or put something from the freezer in the microwave, but that’s about it. My mom despaired when I was growing up because I wanted to be outside doing guy stuff instead of inside learning how to be a young lady.”

Adam held out his hand again and Charlie once again clasped his. This time she was ready for the instant flash and sure enough, it was instantaneous. She felt like every single hair on her body was standing at attention. She wondered if Adam felt anything.

He pulled his hand back and wished her a good night before turning away and heading for the woods. He heard her wish him a lovely evening and he smiled over his shoulder and waved. He needed to get away from her and think. The first time he’d touched her, he’d been instantly aroused and he’d had to concentrate hard to keep his cock from bulging in his pants. That was the reason he’d held his hand out again. He wanted to see if it would happen a second time. It had and was even stronger after spending time with her. He wasn’t sure if he’d come back or not. He’d never had such a reaction to a woman before. It was just like something he’d written in one of his books. He seriously hoped she didn’t bother to stop and pick up a book. He didn’t want to see her again and know she’d read his words, words that now could have been about his reaction to her.

He stopped walking and took a deep breath. He hadn’t thought of it until now, but he wondered if Charlie had had some kind of reaction to him. He wondered what it would be like to hold and kiss her if her body had reacted as explosively and immediately as his own. He shrugged and started walking again, telling himself that kind of stuff only happened in the books he wrote.