Page 18 of Ghost

M ason stood back to admire his handiwork.

He was more than satisfied. Actually, he was wondering why he hadn’t thought of it to begin with.

Paul had scrounged up enough materials to do the two-level breakfast bar to go the full length of the kitchen.

It was going to look really good when it was finished.

Once the tile went on the tops and it was painted, it would look as if it was planned all along.

“You are quite the craftsmen, Mason.”

Mason turned, smiling, knowing it was Francis. “Why, thank you, kind sir. I’m glad you like it.”

“I am a little curious, however. Why are you putting the kitchen down here instead of upstairs where it was?” Francis walked around Mason, looking at the new addition.

“Oh, I’m going to live down here as I work on the upstairs. When I’m done, or at least have it livable, I’ll rent out this part to help pay for the other renovations,” Mason answered.

“You just stay out here,” Mason could hear Paul talking to Mitch. “You’re a mess. Ain’t no sense in tracking all that dust in. You just keep cutting that tile and I’ll put it down.”

“It isn’t like that floor ain’t gonna need to be cleaned, anyway,” Mitch said with a huff.

“Still, no reason to make it worse, now is it?” Paul walked into the room.

“Mas, I think I got all the cuts done for the countertops on the sink and stove sides. I’ll mix up some of the mastic and get ‘em set. It won’t take long to get the backsplash done, so if you’re almost done there, we can get all the tilin’ done before quitt’n’ time. ”

It had taken some time to dig out the tile saw and get it set up, which gave Mason a bit of a head-start on getting the breakfast bar built.

“The tools you are using, they make things happen much faster than in my day,” Francis said. “This kind of work would have taken much longer than only a day. It is also quite strange to make a kitchen as beautiful as the rest of your home.”

Mason shrugged. “I guess it’s because we don’t have servants doin’ all the cookin,’ so we want it to look nice.”

“Is he here?” Paul asked in a whisper, his eyes as big as saucers.

Mason smiled. “Yeah, he’s right beside me.”

“Oh.” Paul looked to the wrong side of Mason. “Uh... good afternoon, Francis.”

Francis laughed. “And a good afternoon to you as well, Paul.”

“He said good afternoon to you as well, Paul.” Mason smiled and shook his head. This could get complicated.

“Does he... like what we’ve done?” Paul asked.

“I am more than impressed,” Francis answered.

“He said he’s more than impressed,” Mason relayed.

Paul smiled broadly. “Good. I guess I’m gonna get started here.” He placed the cut tile on the top of the stove. He then turned quickly around. “Unless, uh... you guys want some privacy or somethin’.”

Mason, laughed. “It ain’t like we’re havin’ sex, Paul.”

Paul blushed a bright red. “Well, ya know... if you need some space, you just let me know, okay.”

“I will.” Mason patted his friend on the back. “Thanks for asking.”

Paul nodded and started laying the tile.

“I will leave you to your work, Mason,” Francis said.

“Okay. I’ll see ya later,” Mason said smiling. “I get to go and demo out a bathroom.”

Francis raised his eyebrows. “I will look forward to you explaining that to me later. Have a good rest of your day, Mason Montgomery.” He then faded away with a bright smile and a twinkle in his eyes.

The rest of the day went by quickly. Paul and Mitch got all the tile cut and laid in the kitchen with grouting it the only thing left to do, which would happen the following day.

Mason removed the toilet, sink and the old fiberglass shower/tub combo, which unfortunately revealed some damage that was going to have to be addressed.

“Fuck!” Mason yelled in frustration.

Both Paul and Mitch came running. “What’s wrong?” Mitch asked.

“Look,” Mason answered, pointing to the wall where the shower had been. “That’s all going to have to be replaced now. I’ve got to find some money for this, or I won’t have a bathroom at all.”

“Hello. May I come in?” Nick asked from the back doorway.

“Sure,” Mason called out, still looking at all the damage. He felt defeated.

“Oh, my goodness,” Nick exclaimed as he took in the kitchen. “This is beyond amazing. I would happily live here!”

The three friends left the bathroom to join Nick.

“Came out good, huh?” Mitch said.

“I would say better than just good.” Nick walked around the kitchen, admiring the richness of the cherry cabinets and the new black granite countertops.

“You men should consider opening your own business. Your work here is just... I don’t even know how to describe it.

” He looked at the three men. “I’m sure people around here would be banging on your door for your services. ”

“You think so, Nick?” Mitch asked surprised. “I mean, I’m sure there are other tradesmen around here.”

“There are, but I’ve not seen such good quality work locally.” Nick ran his hand along the new tile. “It’s simply beautiful. I would never have picked black for a countertop, but it....” his voice trailed off.

“I’m glad you like it,” Mason said. “After I get it done and get far enough along upstairs, I’m gonna rent out the basement here.”

Nick turned to face Mason again. “You will get top dollar for such a grand place as this.” He looked around again.

“You know, there is an apartment above my store. I had it rented out for a long time to a woman who was a secretary at one of the law offices downtown, but she moved when... well, when this place became drug infested, not that I could blame her. A single woman wouldn’t feel safe with all the riffraff just down the street. ”

Paul nodded. “Yep. I could see that.”

“But now...” Nick looked at the whole apartment from where he was standing. “I think I should perhaps think about renting it out again. It was good income and Nicky Jr. doesn’t want to live over the store.” He laughed. “I think his momma spoils him too much. She does all his laundry.”

They all chuckled.

Nick turned to face them. “Would you come and look at my apartment? Perhaps give me an estimate on renovating it? If it would be worth the investment, I’d like for you to do what you’ve managed to accomplish here.”

Paul, Mitch and Mason all looked at each other. “Well, problem is, Nick, Paul and I live in Atlanta,” Mitch said. “We’re leaving on Wednesday, but Mason here,” he clapped Mason on the back, “he’s your man. He can do anything except major electrical, which you have to have a license for.”

“Would you come and at look at it?” Nick asked. “I suppose if there is any major electrical work that needs to be done, I can always contact an electrician that I’ve used in the past.”

They all shrugged. “Sure, we can always look,” Paul answered. “We’re at a good stopping point for the day I’d say.”

“Good.” Nick rubbed his hands together. “You can meet my wife. She is tending to the store since Nicky Jr. is out tonight with his friends. A last hoorah before he goes back to Atlanta.”

A few minutes later, they were walking into Nick’s small business, with Nick calling out, “Momma, I’d like for you to meet our new neighbor and his friends. You would never believe what they have managed to do to the ol’ Watson place.”

A little, round woman with a big smile came out from behind one of the coolers. Her hair was short, almost black, except for a bit of grey around the front of her face, which only made her more attractive. Her smile was infectious and there was a brightness to her eyes that bespoke of laughter.

“It’s very nice to meet you... um, Mrs. Davies,” Mason greeted the woman.

“It is so nice to meet you, finally.” She glanced at her husband.

“Nick has been going on and on about all the work you’re doing and how nice y’all have been.

It’s nice to finally put a name to your faces.

Now let me guess.” She looked at each of them.

“I’d say you’re Paul,” she said grinning.

Then turned to Mitch. “Ah, you must be Mitch.” She glanced around him.

“Sadly, you do have a bit of a skinny butt.”

Mason and Paul fell into hysterics, as Mitch stood there, stunned.

“And you...” She placed her hand on Mason’s chest. “You are Mason. I can see why Nick likes you. You have very kind eyes.”

Mason could feel himself blush.

“Momma, I asked them to come and look at the apartment upstairs.” Nick was going behind the counter. “I need to just get the key.”

“Why? Is one of you planning on renting that rat hole? It’s not fit to live in.” She glared at Nick. “If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times, Nicholas Davies, we need to fix that place up. No one will want to live in that apartment.”

Nick grinned at his wife. “That’s why they are here to look at it, dear.

” Nick held up a key. “I’m finally going to take you at your word and get it remodeled.

You wouldn’t believe what these men have been able to do with just the basement in the Watson house.

” Nick looked at Mason. “Do you think you’d let Momma have a look so she can see? ”

“Sure,” Mason answered. “I’d be delighted to show Mrs. Davies around.”

“Piffle, we’ll have none of this Mrs. Davies. I’m Patty. Actually, my name is Patricia, but all my friends call me Patty.”

“Okay, Patty it is, then.” Mason couldn’t help but like the stout woman.

“Come on, then, I’ll be interested in seeing what you think of that rat’s nest upstairs.” Patty snatched the keys from Nick’s hand. “I want to get this started before he,” she pointed to Nick, “changes his mind. Strike while the iron is hot, as my momma used to say.”

They all went outside, and into a door that opened out onto the street. They trudged up the stairs, which needed little more than a good cleaning, some paint and a better light.

While Patty fiddled with the lock she said, “I personally think the whole place needs to be gutted and redone. When we bought the store, the old man who’d originally owned it didn’t seem to care how he lived.

” She got the door opened and walked in.

“Don’t tell anyone, but he died up here.

No one figured out he was dead for a few days when he didn’t open up the store downstairs.

Nick here, had the bright idea that we could live here.

” Patty rolled her eyes. “This was no place to have a small child, not that we had any as yet, and... well you can see for yourself, it’s a dump. ”

Mason stepped into the apartment and had to agree with Patty. It was a dump and in need of some major renovation.

“Uh... it does need some work,” Paul said.

Mason walked around. It was basically the same size as the store downstairs, which was a good size.

There was a sink on legs, one base cabinet with no door, and some shelves above that.

The bathroom consisted of an old clawfoot tub that was probably beyond saving, an old toilet and a tiny pedestal sink, and the bathroom didn’t even have a door.

The windows were big and looked original.

There was a lot of light flooding into the apartment.

There were two refrigerators, a dresser with only two drawers, a wooden folding chair and some boxes of stuff, that had obviously been just dumped there for a lack of a better place to put them.

Paul turned around. “You could easily fit in a nice-sized bedroom and still have room for a big living, dining, kitchen combo and a good-sized bathroom.”

Mason nodded. “It would be like working from a clean slate.” He looked at what was used as a kitchen. “After demoing out that mess,” he said, pointing towards the kitchen and what passed as a bathroom.

“Good.” Patty stepped in front of Mason. “When can you start? The sooner the better.”

“Wait a minute, Momma,” Nick said. “He hasn’t told us how much yet.”

“Nope, you’re not backing out of it this time, Nick.” She poked him in the chest with her forefinger. “I don’t care what it costs to get this place livable. You should be ashamed to have let this place stand empty for as long as it has. It’s just money not coming in.”

“But, Momma—”

“No buts about it.” She turned back to Mason. “Now, show me what you’ve managed to get done on your place. When did you say you could start?”