Wednesday Aug 7

She heard Johnny at the door and called for him to come on out to the deck and poured some wine. He had a drawing tube with him.

“Hey Bobbie, it’s a breath of fresh air up here.”

“I know I can leave all my worries down there.” She pointed to the other building.

“Ha, I think there is a song in there somewhere.” Johnny accepted a glass of wine. Bobbie served the salad.

“This looks really good; you sure spoil me.”

“I’m afraid you aren’t eating often enough. You are losing weight.”

“You’re one to talk Bobbie. You look like the skinny kid I met in high school. I wanted to ask if you were feeling OK. I mean, after your break up with the politician.”

“I feel pretty stupid. I don’t fit into that world. I was trying to fill the hole Alex left. I’m not sad about it at all, I’m a little relieved it’s over. That’s old news anyway, what’s new with you?”

“I’m getting ready to pour my foundations before the end of the month. And I wanted to talk to you about something. One of the buildings I’m planning, will be a recording studio. I think you and I have the technical chops to set up a decent system. I’ve got a handle on lots of gear and with computers, it really makes things better. Since we spoke to Tate, I couldn’t get the idea for producing music out of my head. I think If I can get things rolling, we can produce music right here.”

“That sounds amazing Johnny but can I ask how you can afford all this?”

Johnny chewed his salad thoughtfully. “I got quite a bit from the sale of my business but it’s separate from my retirement fund. I can live on the rent I collect from Mitch and haven’t needed my retirement investments yet so I feel pretty good about spending those profits. I’m kind of hoping you’ll help me keep to my budget and all that because the recording studio and maybe my tool shed might be future businesses so I’d like to track my expenses so I can keep businesses separate.”

“I might be able to help a bit, I had to think about that while working on the motel. Basically, I had my personal credit card that I used for my stuff and a business credit card for the motel stuff. I think we need to get professional advice Johnny; you’ll probably need to incorporate a business or something. Trixie was always our person but I’m meeting with my new financial manager Friday. Maybe you could talk to him too. He could advise you how to think about the business aspect of your buildings and then we can figure out how to track all the spending.”

“I knew talking to you was a good idea. I’m renting a backhoe on the weekend to dig my crawl spaces. They will be about 5 feet deep so you don’t actually have to crawl through them. He rolled out his plans and showed her his sketch of the three finished buildings on his lot. “This is my stab at a perspective view of the finished site.”

“This is amazing, did you draw this yourself? It looks like an architect rendition.”

“Thanks, I did copy the style from a couple architecture books I got from the library.”

Bobbie studied the plans. There were 3 square buildings, the house and a separate recording studio in front of it. There was another building that was to be a large shop.

“Nice! It’s too bad you only get a good view from that front building and the garage. You want the killer views in your apartment. Say, what if you made a two-story building, with the studio on the lower level, and your living space on the upper level? Then you could see the mountain out one side and the ocean on the other from your apartment.”

Johnny looked at her a few seconds. “Well, that’s a good idea, way to turn my plans on their ear. I have to think about this.”

Bobbie laughed. “Then we’ll need more wine.”

“I’m going to call Rocco maybe he and Lorne will come over and we can run it by them. I’m not sure If I can build a two-story building myself.”

I’ll call, I wanted to say hi to Mom anyway. Bobbie dialed the phone. “Hi Mom, how’s it going? I meant to ask, are you getting good feedback from the Planned Parenthood Gala?”

“Hi Dear, I’m doing great and it’s funny, the donations to Planned Parenthood have skyrocketed after all the fuss that went on at the motel.”

“You’re kidding! Well, I’m glad something good has come from it. I wanted to talk to Lorne if he’s around.”

“Of course, He and Rocco just finished a round of bridge. Bye dear.”

“Hi Bobbie want do you need?”

“Hi Lorne, were you and Rocco actually playing bridge with Mom and Linda?”

“Rocco is very sharp at cards.”

“Right. If you guys are done, why don’t you come over. I’ve got lots of wine and Johnny wants to run something about his buildings by Rocco.”

“I think your Mum has had enough bridge anyway, I’ll see you soon.”

Bobbie hung up. “They’re coming over. I’s nice out here but the light’s not the best, let’s lay the plans out on the dining room table.”

“Good idea, I’ll go get my drawing set.” Johnny got up, picked up his plans and headed inside.

“See ya.” Bobbie gathered all the dishes and the empty wine bottle and glasses on a tray and carried them inside. She was loading the dishwasher when Johnny got back. “Just put everything on the dining room table.”

She found Johnny just staring out the window. “This view. Look at the light in the sky over the mountain. I’m crazy if I don’t take advantage of this.”

Bobbie laughed. “Don’t even go into the living room and see the sunset, it will drive you mad.”

“When you’re right you’re right Bobbie, I can’t believe I didn’t think of this. I guess I had the idea of a simple, solid one-story house in my mind a long time. I imagined building it myself and getting old there and still being able to clean windows and fix the roof and all that. Being on a second-floor complicates that.

“It’s a brand-new house, you shouldn’t need new windows or a roof for a long time.”

You’re right Bobbie, I just have to get over myself and be smart about this. Look, I’m supposed to go give Rick is evening pill, would you go downstairs, and do it? Just hang a round a minute to make sure he takes it OK?”

“Johnny, I’d rather not. He’d be embarrassed, I’ll wait here for Rocky and Lorne.”

Johnny didn’t want to miss a second of Rocco’s reaction about the viability of a two-storey house but he nodded and went to see Rick. He said ciao to Rick and met Rocco and Lorne in the parking lot. They opened the back door and saw that Bobbie was sending the elevator down. They stepped in and onto the Persian rug. Lorne eyed the wood wainscotting. “I can’t believe she styled this without me, It’s great in here. How does she even keep this palm tree growing?”

“Florence decorated it all and I’m pretty sure the palm tree is fake.”

They stepped out and Lorne hugged Bobbie. “The fuss isn’t over yet. I must say your newest boyfriend, Townes Carson, is a hottie.”

“Ha ha, yes, I’m a real heart breaker. I think the hashtag is winding down and the tabloids are almost moving on so things are slowly getting back to normal.” They heard some noise and laughing out by the pool. “The motel is nice and full though; I’m not sorry about that.”

Lorne and Bobbie uncorked another bottle of wine and Johnny pulled Rocco into the dining room. “I showed everything to Bobbie and she ‘s impressed but she pointed out that I’m missing out on the views and I’d get them if I put the house on top of the recording studio.”

Rocco chewed on his lip. “It’s a good idea and you haven’t broken ground yet. We’ll have to beef up the foundation a bit. It shouldn’t affect the cost because we haven’t really started.

Bobbie and Lorne came in and handed the guys their wine. “Bobbie’s idea is fabulous and here, where the fist building was going to be, dig it anyway and make it a pool in your front yard.”

Bobbie nodded. “Imagine shmoozing all your musician clients around a nice pool.”

Rocco shook his head. If we dug a hole for a pool, we’d have to pour it right away so we can fill it before winter and not just have a big hole full of mud next spring. That would set the actual building construction back too much.”

Johnny looked up. “I like the idea of a pool but what if I make a natural pool. I mean, not cement but a sand and clay bottom with plants and a whole ecosystem that keeps it clean.”

“I don’t know much about that but it seems like something that could be built gradually and not affect the construction timeline.”

“So, you’re going to build a big pond in your front yard? How am I supposed to design a classy deck around that?”

Bobbie put her arm around Johnny. “You know if Johnny has an idea like a natural swimming pool, he’ll make sure that’s what it is. Maybe just include a not so natural hot tub so we can soak our weary bones after all this.”

“I actually got a building permit from Oceanbright city hall. I might have to change it; they don’t seem to be too worried about it. I’m sure I can get all these changes approved.”

Bobbie went to the kitchen and got some cheese and rice crackers and fruit. They snacked and sipped wine and talked about Johnny’s buildings and natural pool until around 11. Lorne and Rocco left and Johnny rolled up his plans.

“I have to do some new drawings and have to get them done before the weekend. We make a pretty good team, don’t we Bobbie?”

“We sure do, good night.”