Going Home Again

"Hard Work" (Jack)

"There he is the bossman." Randy, my foreman, hollers alerting anyone not working.

"Where were you at Sunday? Missed a good service!" He asks handing me my coffee. I try to look pitiful but the real truth is I didn't feel like going.

"I'm trying to run a business, building's wont build themselves." After awhile looking for excuses why I'm not going to church can get creative. Putting on my hardhat I walk in to what will be the main entrance of the new bank. Sometimes with all the noise it is hard to think but at the same time hearing all the hammer's and drills means my business isn't failing. 

Freeman construction has been his baby for six years now, which means no time for a woman or babies and not enough time for God. Sad but true.

Laying out the building's blueprints I slowly drank my coffee and enjoyed the light breeze before the summer sun heated everything up. Jordan, a friend from high school and now apart of his crew walked up more papers.

"Sad thing about Paul, he was a wonderful football coach, now what are the pirates gonna do?" He sat down his burden of paperwork.

"What do you mean? What happened to Paul." Everyone knew that Paul Clementine was the best high school football coach in three county's, not to mention Lizamay's daddy. 

"He died Last Tuesday but the funeral's not until this Wednesday. They are waiting on Lizamay to get here."

A shock went through me and suddenly my coffee was on the ground. 

"Woo boss you o.k?" Randy was dashing off to find some rags to clean up my mess.

"Here? Are you sure?" Lizamay had always been the one who got away. The thought of seeing her again was...unnerving. Butterfly's flapped in my stomach like I was seventeen again, I didn't like it.

"Found some!" Randy was always the helpful type.

"Let me do that, it's my mess." I took the rag from him and bent down to clean up my mess. While no one could see my face I managed to compose it. 

"That's right you and Liza dated back in high school." Jordan laughed, he stopped short when he saw my face.

"Um, I'll get back to work." He scampered quickly away.

"Me too." My Foreman walked away leaving me to my thoughts.

Lizamay, back in town. I'd never thought that'd happen. Instantly I felt bad that I didn't feel worse about Paul, he was a good man.

All day I tried to get rid of the sick feeling, nothing worked. My mind was on memory lane and not much work was getting done, well at least not by me. Finally by lunch I decided to call it a day and just head home. Relief was written on the guy's faces and I tried not to take it personal.

Rocky was waiting for me as usual, tail wagging tongue hanging out of his head.

"Okay, okay calm down boy I'll feed you." He impatiently jumped around my legs.

"You'll never guess who's in town." Clearly he didn't care because he ignored me as soon as his food was within reach.

I petted him then went to hop in the shower, a blinking light on my answering machine caught my eye.

"Hey, it's me Hunter...Just thought you should know Lizamay's back." Silence then" Do whatever you want with that info, bye."

It wasn't a secret how me and her left things wasn't good, and her brother didn't particularly like me. Still it was almost nice of him giving me a notice like that.

A hot shower didn't help get my mind off her, seemed there was only one thing left to do...go talk to her.