Sunday Feb 24

“Bobbie, are you ready to move tomorrow?” asked her mother. “I hope you don’t mind dear, but I got Trixie to give me the name of your architect. I made a little change to your plan.”

“Mom, what did you change?” Bobbie trusted her mom but was still curious.

“I got her to change some doors around and have that freight elevator re-done for you. Mostly, because I’m not getting any younger and I want to be able to visit but also because you are intending to age in that place. I wanted it done for the move in day and I paid for it all and it’s one less worry for me.”

“Oh thanks Mom, that’s a great change! I thought about it but I just didn’t have the money.”

“I know dear, you are so good with your budget.” Then changing the subject she asked, “Did you want to take some of Dad’s books from the den? Lorne and I can bring some over tomorrow. Lorne has some ideas about redecorating our den and wants most of them out.”

Bobbie’s dad was a voracious reader of many subjects. She fondly remembered that he would leave whatever book he was reading open, face down on the table next to his chair in the den. When she still lived at home, Bobbie used to sneak in and start reading the book(s) sometimes “losing his place”. He would pretend to be annoyed.

“Yes, I’d like some of Dad’s books, even the fiction. I have a long bookshelf. I have lunch with George today and need to get ready.”

“George, this place is great!” said Bobbie. “I like to try new restaurants.”

George was wearing a green sweater with a grey checked shirt collar underneath and some black chords she could see his green tinted glasses on the table.

They ordered and George said, “I can tell you still miss your husband and think of him a lot. If I make you feel guilty or anything I’d be very sad. You know, meeting your family at the pizza tasting, I felt more welcome than I ever felt in my own family and it startled me. I am used to being mostly alone. I’m not close to my two children but I’m still friends with my ex-wife. She’s moved on and my son is having problems of his own.”

“Charlie and Eddy really didn’t make you feel welcome, I was a little shocked how they reacted to you.”

“Really? I didn’t think it was too bad,” said George. “My own kids are much meaner to me. I was thinking I’d like to try and reach out and get to know Eddy and Charlie more. I play in a seniors hockey league and I thought maybe they’d like to strap on some skates.”

Bobbie was nodding, “I bet they would love to play, they were hockey kids for sure and now during hockey season they watch. Alex never understood how they liked it so much. Mostly they’d watch it with their grampa and uncles. Alex liked to skate though; he built a rink in the back yard over our tennis court every year. You should call them.”

They finished their appetizers. They shared scallops and continued on to their main course of rack of lamb. Bobbie told him about visiting Quinn and Ray and how when Ray demonstrated her welding she pulled wool sleeves over her arms to protect from heat and sparks.

“I was reading an article about the heat certified fabrics that are used today, compared to wool and leather. Wouldn’t it be great if we could have light wool safety clothing instead of cotton/poly with a chemical treatment that washes off in 5 washes?”

George laughed. “Coveralls are always getting spark holes, I sell a lot of them to welders and wouldn’t Harris tweed coveralls be something?”

Bobbie laughed too. “They wouldn’t have to be Harris tweed just a lightweight wool of some kind. One that wears well.”

“My uncle was in the army years ago and all his old pants and jackets were wool. I wonder why they changed to polyester. Wool is all natural and well suited for work clothes. It would be better than polyester coveralls.”

“Well suited eh, I see you stuck a Dad joke in there.”

“You got me.”

When he dropped her off he said he would call her sons about hockey and maybe look into bottom weight woven wool that could be used for coveralls. She smiled on her way in the house.

Her mother greeted her and asked, “So, how was George, did he say anything about his father? Lorne is messing up the kitchen cooking us dinner.”

“No, he didn’t mention his father. I ate so much for lunch, I’ll let Lorne know I’m not very hungry.”

Bobbie felt like a kid but she called and said, “Barb I’m having a high school moment, I think George likes me. He’s going to try and win the boys over and wants to give me lots of time.”

“Well he sounds perfect Bobbie, but are you sure you’re ready? Oh, are you ready for the big move tomorrow?”

“Lorne and I have everything planned and my kitchen is all put together but beds have to be made and bathrooms set up.”

Barb offered her bed making services and they agreed to meet at the apartment the following day. A few minutes later, Bobbie got a text from Trixie, who said she didn’t want to be left out and offered her height to help hang curtains. Bobbie let her know what time to meet.

Monday morning Bobbie arrived at the motel early. She was the first on site and so she opened her back door to see if her Mom’s elevator was in a good spot. She saw it right away, they had moved the door around so it was accessed from the wall by the stairs and would open in the hallway beside the now smaller coat closet at the top of the stairs in the apartment. It was perfect and Bobbie stepped on but saw that it wouldn’t operate with out a key. She didn’t have the key so she stepped out and walked up the stairs unlocking the door on the landing at the top. She put her coat in the closet and looked around. The apartment was quite bright even though it was not quite daylight yet and she got some water and walked over to her living room area. She could see the whole length of the apartment but focused on the long bookcase running down the centre. She loved it. The part of the book case near the living room had their old record albums and their turntable connected to a Bluetooth receiver that managed the built in speakers for the surround sound.

She heard someone outside. She moved out the window and saw they had the new building all staked out and she could see how large it was. Some forms were set up in a big hole, waiting for concrete. She happily noted that the building would only obscure the view of the road and wouldn’t ruin the view of the river. Trixie told her that the architect had sourced exactly the same windows that were in the existing motel for the new building. When she first saw it, Bobbie thought the big window made the motel look like a car dealership. With all the changes, the window was the star. It let in so much light and framed such lovely views. While she was standing there a cement truck rolled up and she smiled thinking that Greg Thurston sure made things happen fast.

Then she saw Greg’s big car pull into the driveway and after they parked, Bobbie saw Trixie get out and she was pointing at the trunk and talking to him. He lifted a big box out of the trunk and looked up towards Bobbie. She waved and moved over to the door beside the kitchen. Greg was coming up the stairs and Trixie was behind him looking like she would catch him if he fell.

“He’s got the fancy dishes,” called Trixie.

Bobbie ushered him in and got him to put the box on the island in the kitchen.

“There’s two more boxes,” said Greg and turned to the door again.

“Thanks Hon,” said Trixie.

He rolled his eyes but smiled and blew her a kiss. After he brought the last box, he said he wanted to go watch them pour the concrete foundation and left.

“Trixie, he could have parked in the back and used my new elevator.”

“A little more exercise won’t kill him.” They laughed.

Bobbie showed Trixie where the dishes would be displayed. “The part of the large shelf that was near the kitchen had glass shelves and LED lights, so it would be perfect.”

Trixie said, “We can put the dishes there but where do all your pots and pans go, I need the grand tour!”

“Ohh, come see my pantry!”

At the end of the tour she asked Trixie if she wanted some tea or coffee, and Trixie said she’d love a cup of tea. Then they spent the next 40 minutes unpacking the Orlov’s dishes, putting them in the shelves and sipping tea. Bobbie couldn’t help thinking about Alex and his parents and how much she missed them. She made herself think of some happy memories too.

A while later Quinn arrived and Bobbie looked at Trixie sheepishly. “So, you haven’t seen Quinn in a while and here she is Trixie. Also, I may have offered her a job.”

Trixie smiled. “Hi Quinn, you sure have grown and you’ve graduated from your graphic design course. You can’t afford to hire anyone else yet Bobbie!” Then she looked back at Quinn and said, “Maybe we can share you Quinn, I’m starting a new Investment service and I need logos and letterheads and classy websites and all that. So what do you think? Oh, we’ll need a website for the art gallery too.”

Bobbie said, “So I’d hire her with the RRSP and health plan and all that and you’d help me pay her? Quinn you may have to keep a record of how many hours you work for me, so I’ll know what to pay you. In the meantime, I’d like you to go find Effie and Mark and see what they’re up to, and maybe it’s not graphic work but lend them a hand. They are organizing one of the hotel rooms as a break room for the contractors and workers and cleaning up in the restaurant and kitchen. If you need work gear, I can take you after lunch. Or if you’re bored, you can help us up here. We’ll get Trixie to work up the paperwork tonight, but you can consider yourself starting today.”

Quinn ran over and hugged first Trixie and then Bobbie. “You guys are the best big cousins ever, I’m excited to do some design and I’ll brush up on my HTML but in the meantime, I’ll help any way that I can.”

Bobbie texted Mark to ask him to come up and meet Quinn and he arrived shortly after. They were chatting as they left. Bobbie realized they may have known each other from school.

The rest of the day went quickly. Lorne and her mom showed up with her dad’s books and her storage lockers were empty. She was thankful for all the help from her family, friends and new employees. She was tired and thinking about Alex. This apartment was everything they wanted and Alex would never see it. Over the years, they merged their styles into an old world colonial sort of mix. This apartment had his parents antiques and rugs, her favourites from her own grandparents, and all her modern touches too. She tossed and turned and finally fell asleep imagining Alex was sleeping next to her.