UNDER CONSTRUCTION, CHAPTER 12

 

           While Charlie was cursing and damning Adam for his failure to reciprocate her wants and feelings and for being an up-tight yankee, he was doing the very same thing. He didn’t mutter to himself, but his thoughts jumped around and he kept asking himself what kind of a fool he had to be. Here you had the most gorgeous female that’s ever been interested in you and you act like a stupid shy virgin. How ridiculous could you possibly be. You write shit like that for a living.

As Adam passed the driveway that would take him to Charlie’s house, his foot left the gas pedal and then pressed down hard. Damnit, you made a fool of yourself and you’re not going to make yourself even more embarrassed by sitting outside her house waiting for her to get home.

Parked outside his own cabin, car turned off, Adam sat in his car and shook his head. He couldn’t believe what a self-righteous prick he’d been. And thinking of pricks, his was still slightly hard and the very thought of Charlie's hard nipples pressed against his chest made it begin to grow again. What kind of man turns down a woman like Charlie? The scaredy-cat kind, he told himself.

It was one thing to write about how touches made the men and women in his book react with want and lust and tumble into bed to have great and wonderful sex, but it was another to actually experience those feelings. Sure, he’d had sex ever since he’d managed to get into Shelley’s pants at the age of 15, but not a single one of those women had ever made him feel like his skin was electrified or send his cock from flaccid to raging hard in a manner of seconds. It rather scared the crap out of him.

Sitting there, he asked himself what would happen if they did tumble into bed together and had the very best sex of his life? It would be fantastic, but what if Charlie wasn’t interested in a long-term relationship and from everything he’d come to know about her, she wasn’t. What would happen if he fell deeply in love and she didn’t and she moved on to another man? Being the one in love and left behind would surely leave him wounded, sad, offended and maybe even deeply damaged. It would surely suck far more than feeling like an idiot for turning Charlie’s advances down.

Adam opened his car door and climbed out. Yep, he told himself, it was far better to write about such experiences with fictional characters than it was to have them. At least his made-up people always had a happy ending after going through some difficulties. He wasn’t the least bit sure a relationship with Charlie would have an ending that would please both of them.

Ah well, it was time he started a new book anyway. Once he started writing, he wouldn’t have any time for visits of any kind. It would be easy to avoid Charlie. He could just stay inside his cabin, so even if she decided to paddle-board on the lake, he wouldn’t meet up with her. Besides, with fall in the offing, it would soon be too cold to play in the water. Forgetting about Charlie wouldn’t be all that difficult. It wasn’t like they’d had a mad wild affair, but deep inside Adam could feel what he knew had to be regret.

Several weeks passed and Adam and Charlie didn’t run into or seek each other out. Charlie had finally finished the job description for a second in command. She’d given it to the two foremen she thought might be interested. Only one of them was which was fine.

Justin had been with the company for over ten years, so he was one of her dad’s original hires. Not only was he knowledgeable about the company, its projects, and product usage, but he was able to use the computer system with ease. He was married with two children, one of each sex and both kids were interested in what their dad did and during summers often accompanied him to work. When Charlie had realized the children were cleaning up around the job site or doing anything else their father requested, she had told Justin she was putting them on the payroll as laborers. The money they earned could be used for college or learning a trade later on if that’s what the parents wanted.  

Dennis, Mr. Eb’s grandson had provided Charlie with his resume and she interviewed him as well. He resembled his grandpa, tall, thin and very handsome with a pencil thin mustache beneath his nose. He was engaged to a young woman he’d met at school. They were hoping to get married the following spring and a job better than the one he currently had would make that possibility far more likely. He smiled often and seemed very easy going. Charlie liked him immediately and was impressed by the course work he’d taken at Georgia Tech. He was actually more knowledgeable about environmentally friendly products than she was.

Charlie reviewed the company’s finances and decided the way things were developing, she could afford to hire both Justin and Dennis. So, she wrote two new job descriptions and called Justin in first. She explained what she had in mind and gave him the description. She asked if he had any suggestions that would make it better or include work she hadn’t considered. If Justin took the job, he would work with the various job foremen, deal with any problems on the job, and pretty much oversee the various projects. The only thing Charlie hadn’t thought to include was liaison work with the various unions. It was a good suggestion and Charlie noted it on the job description.

Justin would report directly to Charlie but also work with Dennis, if Dennis took the job, when it came to reviewing plans and the need for products that were considered environmentally sound. Justin knew Dennis because he had helped coach the high school football team of which Dennis had been a member. Justin said he was a fine young man, friendly, smart and always willing to take direction just as easily as he was willing to stand up for what he thought might work better. He told Charlie it was Dennis’ suggestion for the final play of the game that had resulted in the school winning the city trophy his last year of play.

They then talked about pay and benefits. Justin’s benefits would remain the same, except the company would provide a car or truck for his use. His pay would be substantially more than that of what he was receiving as a foreman. If everything went well, Justin would receive a raise at three and six months and yearly after that when his annual evaluation was completed.

Charlie asked Stephanie to make an appointment for her to meet with Dennis. When he arrived the next day, Charlie gave him the revised job description for the position she was now offering. Dennis read it over and looked at Charlie with raised eyebrows. “You think I’m capable of handling this,” he asked.

“I wouldn’t be offering you the job if I didn’t think so. I realize you’re new to the business, but your course-work and grades were excellent. I have no doubt that once you settle in and become accustomed to being in charge of your area, you’ll be just fine.”

“You seriously think some of the men, and maybe even women, are going to be willing to take my instructions and/or suggestions seriously?”

“Why wouldn’t they? Because you are a black man? That has nothing to do with the job. Everyone who works for this company knows that comments having to do with race, sex, or sexual preferences, even in jest, are cause for dismissal. It’s written right into the hiring contract. My daddy began that when he began the company. He wanted people who wanted jobs and were willing to work hard no matter what. There were a few way back then who didn’t think his message was meant for them, but they found themselves applying for unemployment.

“As a matter of fact, when I was just a girl, one of his employees wasn’t too happy about being fired, so he and some buddies decided to get back at daddy. I won’t bore you with details. Let’s just say that man didn’t have to worry about unemployment because the result of his actions and that of a couple of his buddies  provided them with housing and food, courtesy of the county for a time. After that, no one bucked daddy’s desire for an integrated and happy crew.”

“No wonder my grandpa speaks so highly of your family. I’d never heard that story. As far as the job, I accept. It’s exactly the kind of work I was hoping to find at some point in my life. To have it offered so soon after finishing school is just, well just wonderful.”

Charlie explained the benefits the company provided which would include a car or truck. She explained his starting pay wasn’t going to be as high as that of Justin, but that he too would be evaluated at three and six months and given raises commensurate with his work and knowledge. Thereafter, there would be an annual review and a raise at that time.

Charlie sent Dennis off to the Human Rights Department to get signed up. He wanted to give two-weeks’ notice to Nelson, but Charlie thought that was only fair and businesslike on Dennis’ part. Those positions settled, Charlie turned to her computer and pounded out a memo that would go to all the company’s staff explaining the two new positions and her expectations of the men holding the jobs as well as her expectations of all employees with regard to their interactions with Justin and Dennis. She didn’t expect any problems because she knew each and every one of her employees and a little something about their lives. She never forgot a face or a name and seriously believed her employees thought highly of her and how she was running her daddy’s company.

The day finally came to and end and as usual Charlie was the last to leave and lock up. She was very tired and very lonely. When she was interviewing Dennis, the little imp in the back of her head told her he’d most likely be a fascinating and fun person to date or have sex with. But Charlie put the imp back in its box and slammed the door. She didn’t do stuff like that with employees plus Dennis was younger than her and engaged. As she climbed in her truck, she thought longingly of dinner at her mamma’s table and the inclusion of some young available man. But her folks were still gone, so she’d just have to go on home to her lonely little house.

Charlie’s route took her right by Ebenezer’s and at the last minute, she yanked the steering wheel and pulled into the parking lot. It was Friday after all and she decided she wanted to tell Mr. Eb she’d hired his grandson.

Sure enough, Mr. Eb was in his place at the end of the bar. Charlie walked up and said, “Excuse me Mr. Eb, but is this stool taken? If not, I’d be mighty pleased to sit a spell, have something to eat and talk a bit.”

“Hello there Ms. Charlotte. I’d be mighty happy to have you join me. You gonna have the usual?”

Charlie nodded and Mr. Eb called out, “Sammy, we need us a platter of ribs, spicy sauce, collards, cornbread and an ice-cold beer for this here lady.”

Sammy smiled as he placed an overflowing glass down. “Hi Ms. Charlotte. I’ll have your platter right up.”

“Thank you, Sammy, and no rush. I want to talk to your grandpa here for a bit.”

“What’s goin’ on Ms. Charlotte. You havin’ some man troubles. Haven’t seen you or that young man you brought in here the last time.”

Charlie laughed. “No, that’s not a problem, and I don’t actually have a problem to talk about. I just wanted to tell you how impressed I was with Dennis and that I’ve hired him to be the company’s Environmental Project Manager. When I saw Dennis’ resume, I realized I needed to take the job description I’d written for one person and turn it into two different jobs. They’ll interact and work together and both report directly to me. In fact, Justin, the other man who was a foreman before this knows Justin from coaching football. He spoke very highly of him as well.”

Mr. Eb took a sip of his whiskey and Charlie realized she’d never seen that glass empty or the level go much below what it was at now. Must be some kind of magic she thought. “I gots to tell you I was hoping you’d find Dennis’ qualifications good enough to hire em. He’s a fine young man if I do say so myself.” He said and chuckled. “I know he’ll work hard for you and be a good employee. You know he worked here off and on from the time he was ten. Never worked out front, but in the back cooking and cleaning. Kept him in a bit of spending money, it did.”

Charlie’s platter arrived and she did her usual preparations with the bib and napkins. “It seems like a long time since we had a chat Mr. Eb. While I’m eating, why don’t you tell me how the family’s doing.”

Mr. Eb talked about his wife, fairly sick with the diabetes, so sick in fact, she couldn’t have his special sauce but now and then. His sons and daughters were all well-employed, either in the family business or elsewhere. He thought those that worked outside the family were well appreciated. At last count, he told Charlie he had 21 grandchildren and only six greats so far. Charlie listened with a keen ear, asking a question now and then about who was who and how old now. In between, she ate and sucked and closed her eyes to moan just a tiny bit.

“You sure do like those ribs don’t you Charlie?” Adam’s voice cut into one of her closed eye moans over the last rib.

“Howdy Mr. Eb. You said I should be sure to say hi the next time I came in and you were here. I never expected to see Charlie sitting right next to you though. How you both doing?”

Charlie didn’t say a thing beyond a hello and doing just fine. Charlie pushed her platter away and cleaned her mouth and fingers while Adam and Mr. Eb conversed. Mr. Eb told Adam about Ms. Charlotte hiring his grandson and how pleased he was. Not only that, he’d been able to tell Ms. Charlotte about the rest of the family, all of whom she knew, while she ate up her ribs.

Sauce wiped away, Charlie put some money on the counter and refused to take it back when Mr. Eb tried to make her. “Mr. Eb, I’ve got to run along now. It’s been a really long week and now that my tummy’s full to bursting, I think my eyelids are going to slam shut pretty soon. I need to get myself on home. I loved eating my dinner with you. The food and company were superb.”

Charlie stood and gave Mr. Eb a big hug, turned, looked at Adam and said, “Nice to see you too.” And walked toward the door.

Adam stared after her and Mr. Eb said, “That’s a mighty fine young woman there. You two have a falling out? Seemed like there was some ‘lectricity ‘tween you two when you came in together.”

“Yeah, well, we’re just neighbors out at the lake.”

“Well, all I gots to say is if you wanna be more than neighbors, you need to get yourself busy. That was some ice field Ms. Charlotte threw up when you arrived.”

At that point, Sammy came up with a bag, “You Adam?” Adam said he was, paid, thanked Mr. Eb for the advice and hurried out. Maybe he could catch Charlie before she got in her truck and left. Truth was, he’d seen her truck and called in his order from the parking lot. He’d been thinking about her a lot and trying to come up with a reason to approach her.

Charlie’s truck was ready to pull out of the parking lot just as soon as the roadway was clear. Without thinking, Adam ran up, opened the passenger door and hopped in. She turned her head and looked at him as if he were some stranger.

“Charlie, do you suppose we could talk? Talk about us?”

“There is no us.”

“Okay, but there could be, don’t you think?”

“I thought so, but that was before you made me feel cheap and dirty.”

“How’d I do that?”

The car behind Charlie honked and she pulled out onto the roadway and immediately parked at the side.

“How’d you do that? Really, you have no idea? You, the big well-known write of pornographic fiction? I can’t believe you don’t have a clue.”

“Look Charlie, it wasn’t my intention to make you feel bad. It’s just I’ve never had feelings like this for any woman and they scare the hell out of me. I’ve touched plenty of women, but my body has never sat up and taken notice with every single miniscule cell. It’s one thing to write crap like that and a complete other when it’s happening to me.”

“So, what do you want from me?”

“Charlie, I’d like to date you. I’d like to take you places. I’d like to spend time with you and have you tell me about your childhood. I’d like you to share everything in your life with me. I want to know you, really know you and not just your body or for sex. I’d also like you to know me. Don’t you want to hear about my youth, my family, what it’s like to live up north. Don’t you want to hear about my desires and dreams, what I’d like from the future, the same way I’d like that from you?

“That’s what I want Charlie. I want the whole hog, so to speak. So, the ball’s in your court. Let me know if you want to have dinner again. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll figure there’s nothing in the future for us at all.”

With that, Adam opened the truck door, climbed out, looked both ways and loped across the road to his car in Ebenezer’s parking lot. Charlie just sat there in her truck, stunned by the information that had poured out of Adam. Before this, she hadn’t been the least bit scared about promoting a relationship with Adam, but now, his expectations were maybe far too high for her to meet. She watched his car head down the road toward his cabin. She put her truck in drive and followed.