“Closed? Taryn, what’s-”
“I had no choice,” I muttered. “Gary’s mom died this morning. He and Marie are leaving for Tampa tomorrow morning to be with his dad. Marie
is staying home with him tonight; he is pretty distraught.”
“Jeez, why didn’t you call me?”
“For what, Ryan? To give you bad news while you’re having a stressful day as so as it is? I figured I’d fill you in when you got here.”
“What about Cory? Isn’t he supposed to work tonight?”
“I cancelled him. I cancelled the bands I had scheduled to play this weekend too. Actually I’ve been on the phone most of the afternoon it seems.
Oh and Pete called. He’s coming here tonight to start tearing down the drywall on the steps. That was another reason – Tammy has catering jobs
this weekend so she can’t work either.”
“We just turned into the alley. I guess I get to try out my new keys. I’ll see you in a minute.”
A few minutes later he sprinted up the steps and through the apartment door. “Tar?” he yelled down the hallway.
“Kitchen.”
“Hey you.” Ryan hugged and kissed me. “Are you okay?” His fingers drifted down my cheek.
“Yeah, just a bit out of sorts I guess.” He kissed my forehead when I looked down at his feet.
“I’m sorry you had a crappy day.” Ryan hugged me so tightly it kind of hurt.
Deep inside I was marveling that he actually cared what kind of day I had. He was the first in my history of dating for that emotion.
He sniffed the air. “What smells so good?”
“Pork chops?” I pointed a finger at the glass dish that I just took out of the oven. “Pete is on his way; I figured I’d make him some supper too,
since Tammy is busy baking for tomorrow.”
“Tar, what’s wrong? I can tell you’re sad.”
“I’m thinking about Gary. I just have a lot on my mind.” I set out three dinner plates on the kitchen table, trying to suppress the memory of my own
mother’s funeral by trying to figure out what account I was going to move money from to cover Pete’s costs.
Ryan filled three glasses with ice and water. “Did Pete call you with an estimate today?”
“Yeah.”
“And?” He sounded perturbed.
“He said two grand for the materials; that didn’t include his labor.”
“That’s not bad. I thought it would be more.”
Easy for him to say... I was trying to figure out how I was going to manage taking a thirteen thousand dollar hit this weekend. If I put off the
stairwell remodel, then I’ll only be down ten thousand in income, minus having to pay for two bands that weren’t going to play. It made me edgy to
lose that much income from the bar. Halloween was one of my biggest cash nights.
Pete was starving. “That was delicious Taryn!” he complimented. He scraped his plate with his fork. “I’ve forgotten what it’s like to eat homecooked
meals. Tammy only cooks for other people now.”
“It was delicious. Thanks for cooking, Honey.” Ryan smiled and gave me a quick kiss. He put his dirty plate in the sink and rinsed it off. “Are you
ready to tear down some drywall, Pete?”
“What? You helping?”
“Hell yeah! I’m hoping you have an extra sledge hammer ‘cause I have some pent-up Suzanne aggression to get rid of. Oh, and before I
forget...”
Ryan trotted back to the bedroom and returned with his checkbook. He dug in the junk drawer for a pen.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Writing Pete a check.”
“For what?”
“The renovations.” He looked at me like I was missing the obvious.
“No, I can’t let you do that,” I stated directly. “My building… it’s my responsibility.”
“Who said anything about you paying for it? I’m paying Pete.” He wrinkled his nose at me.
“No! I can’t let you do that,” I stated firmly.
“I don’t really care what you say. I’m paying for the construction and that’s that. End of discussion,” he said sternly.
Pete was smiling at him for some reason.
“That’s way too much, Ryan. No! I can’t let you pay for it.”
“Taryn, please don’t argue with me.” He looked back at his checkbook and continued writing.
“Pete, I’d appreciate if you would contact the security company and get a separate system added to the new doors. I’d like a sensor put on the
roof door as well.”
“Okay, will do.” I presumed Pete could see the tension growing in the kitchen. He pulled the keys from his pocket. “I’m going to go get my tools.
I’ll see you downstairs.”
Frustration coated with anger started to well up inside me as I washed the dishes. Ryan stood behind me, placing his hands on the edge of the
sink counter to keep me in place.
“I know you’re pissed at me,” he whispered in my ear. “But if I wasn’t here with you this fix wouldn’t be happening. It’s because of me that we’re
doing this. And when I’m not here, I want to know that you’re safe. So please try not to be mad at me for long.” He nuzzled his face next to mine.
“Besides, I still owe you for the chocolate chip cookies.” He swept my hair to the side. “And the card you got for my mom… and all of the other
stuff you bought for me.” He drifted his lips down my neck.
“And the cake I see you’re going to bake since all of the ingredients are laying out on the counter. I’m guessing that’s for my mom?” Ryan
wrapped his arms around me. “I take care of you, you take care of me. That was the deal you signed last night.”
I leaned back on him and turned my head to look up into his eyes.
“I love you,” he said, softly kissing my lips before departing for the door.
An hour had gone by and after I took the cake out of the oven, I went to check on the guys to see how much progress they had made. The
hammering had stopped so I presumed they were finished with the demolition.
I could not believe how different the view was from the top landing with one of the stairwell walls removed. Sandwiched between the layers of
drywall was an old layer of plaster and thin strips of wood. I picked at a loose piece of drywall that hung from the corner, trying to even out the
jagged line they had made at the top of the landing.
“Taryn amazes me,” I heard Ryan say. My body became rigid after hearing my name mentioned. I held my breath in my lungs so I wouldn’t
make a sound.
“I can’t believe how obstinate she gets when I offer to do anything nice for her. I bought her earrings, but she refuses to wear them. She said I
spent too much money. I guess I have to take them back to the jewelry store.” Ryan sighed. “I thought it was genetically impossible for women to turn
down jewelry, but not her.”
“She’s one of a kind. But then again, I think you already know that,” Pete replied.
“I’ve never met anyone like her. First girl I’ve gone out with that hasn’t wanted anything from me. I’m not quite sure how to react. Has she always
been like this?”
“Yeah,” Pete answered him. “As long as I’ve known her, she’s always been a giver, not a taker. Taryn has helped us out so many times over the
years; that’s why I’m here whenever she needs me. I could do something nice for her every day and it wouldn’t be enough.”
Pete laughed lightly. “Just like tonight. I come here to try and do some work, pay her back somehow, and yet she’s up there cooking dinner to
make sure we’re taken care of. And it’s not just me now - I’m talking about you too. She’d go out of her mind if you didn’t get a hot meal in your
stomach.”
“I want to take care of her, believe me. But she fights me when I try. I’m not sure what to do.” Ryan sounded defeated.
“Here,” Pete said. I heard the hiss of a cap being twisted off a bottle of beer.