Page 19 of Ghost

M ason tipped his beer bottle up, draining what was left in it. He looked at the empty bottle before getting up from the floor. “I’m gonna have another beer. Anyone else?”

Mitch and Paul both held up their own empty bottles.

“Can you believe it?” Mitch shook his head. “I’m not sure I believe it.”

“Yep, I can.” Paul took the beer Mason offered. “I told you it wouldn’t take long for you to find work, Mas.” He smiled. “Told ya so.”

“Yeah, but... I didn’t think it would be anything like this.” Mason sat back down.

The TV was off, and the three of them were sitting there in silence. Mason’s head was spinning. He didn’t know what to make of it.

“Well, all I can say is, it looks like you’ve got enough work lined up to last you thorough the rest of the year and into a good portion of the next,” Mitch said after a long draw from his beer bottle. “Maybe I should consider moving down here.”

“Sure,” Paul said. “You could move into that apartment above Nick’s store,” He laughed.

Mitch rolled his eyes at him. “I have the feeling that once Mason’s done with the place, I couldn’t afford it.”

Paul leaned forward a bit. “Mason, you got three, if not four, jobs lined up in the matter of a few hours just by letting Patty see your place. Did you really think that you’d have a problem finding work?”

“Yeah, I did.” Mason shook his head again. “I’d never have imagined it. Not ever.”

Patty had looked at what Mason, Paul and Mitch had done, nodded her head, turned to Mason and said, “I want a new kitchen, and new bathroom in our house. It’s been way overdue and it’s going to happen.

” She turned to her husband and said, “And don’t even open your mouth.

It’s going to happen and that’s the end of it.

We have the money and now that Nicky is off to school, some things are going to change. ”

Mason, Paul and Mitch all laughed, especially when Nick’s lips got tight, his face got red, and he nodded his assent. Mason had a feeling that he wouldn’t dare go against his wife’s wishes.

“Now, you all stay right here. I’ve got to make a few phone calls.” She stopped just inside the back door of the basement apartment. “Don’t move.”

* * * *

I t was already starting to get dark, so Paul fired up the generator once again and opened them all up a few beers that were left in the cooler.

Before they’d had a chance to finish their beers, they’d moved outside where there was a slight breeze and just chatted amongst themselves.

They’d asked Nick all kinds of questions about living in Savannah, how he came to live where he did.

Paul talked about his wife and kids. Mitch talked about the work he’d been doing in Atlanta and was seriously talking about moving to Savannah himself.

When Patty returned, she’d made her husband get up from where he was sitting on the ice chest, helped herself to a beer and sighed.

“I’ve invited a few of my friends to come and look at what you’ve done, Mason.

” She took a long draw from her beer. “Damn, that’s good.

Nothing like a good cold beer on a hot summer’s night. ”

“Uh... what do you mean you’ve invited people over?” Mason asked.

“Momma, who’s minding the store?” Nick looked concerned.

“I called Randy in.” Patty tipped the bottle again. “He’s been needing more hours anyway.”

“But—” Nick started, but seeing the look on his wife’s face, only sighed.

Patty shook her head. “He’s such a cheapskate,” she said to the others.

“I think it comes from being raised by parents who went through the Great Depression. He won’t spend money and he won’t throw anything out.

Hell, there’s two refrigerators upstairs in that apartment because he got them at cost from an appliance place that was going out of business.

Been sitting up there for a few years and haven’t ever been used. ”

“Really?” Mason asked. “Would you consider selling one of them?”

“Mason, darling, you just take one of ‘em.” Patty nodded to Mitch. “You help him get it out of there tomorrow.”

“I’ll be happy to take it off the cost of the renovations,” Mason offered.

Patty waved her hand at him. “We’ll work it out.”

About then, two ladies showed up. Patty introduced them and then took it upon herself to show them the renovations on Mason’s house.

Before the night was done, three more people had seen the place, and all wanted Mason to work for them.

Patty said she’d get all the phone numbers and addresses for him the following day when he came to get his new refrigerator.

Mason sat up straight and blinked a few times after thinking about everything that had happened that night.

He still couldn’t believe that he was sitting there with a check in his pocket for ten thousand dollars, with more deposits likely.

For the first time in his life, he actually felt as if things were going to work out okay.

“Can you believe that woman said I had a skinny ass?” Mitch grumbled before he drained the rest of his beer. “I mean, how rude was that?”

* * * * *

T he next morning, Paul and Mitch moved the refrigerator and Mason made a few phone calls, one of which was to get a new phone installed in the house. Nick seemed to be in a bad mood, which wasn’t normal for him.

“Nick, is something wrong?” Mason asked after he’d finished his phone call. Nick had generously offered Mason the use of his phone.

Nick frowned. “Nicky Jr. was supposed to work this morning. He always works Saturday mornings. He was too hungover, he said.”

“Oh,” Mason said. “Um, sorry, Nick.”

Nick waved his hand about. “It’s okay, I guess.” He sighed and his face seemed to relax a bit. “He’s a good boy, he works hard, he studies hard so it isn’t so bad for him to have a little fun now and again. I can’t fault him about that.”

“I’ve yet to meet him. I’m looking forward to it.” Mason stuck the little notebook into his back pocket. “When does he head off to school?”

“He will leave Wednesday. He’s volunteering for the Olympics before school starts.” Nick scowled at Mason. “And you,” he said pointing at Mason. “You are about to take all my money. I should never have let you meet Patty. What was I thinking?”

Mason pulled out his wallet and took out the check that Patty had given him and offered it to Nick. “I’d rather have a good friend and neighbor than a job, Nick. I can tell Patty that I don’t have the time right now.”

Nick shook his head no and sighed heavily. “She’s right. We talked about it last night. Or rather she talked, and I listened.”

Mason laughed. “I get it that happens a lot?”

Nick smiled. “No, not all that often. She keeps me in line, that’s for sure, but it’s because she loves me, and I love her more than just about anything in this world.”

It went without saying that they were both mad about each other. Mason had caught them kissing after it had gotten dark while he’d been locking up the house.

“And, she’s right. All the renovations are a good thing. An investment.” Nick wiped the counter down using a bottle of cleaner and a paper towel. “Sometimes you need to spend money to make money, and I understand that.”

“It is an investment,” Mason agreed.

Mason could hear Paul and Mitch coming down the stairs with the refrigerator. “I was serious when I said I would knock off the cost of the fridge from the renovations upstairs.”

“No, Mason.” Nick looked seriously at Mason.

“I’m just glad you’ve moved in. I can already feel that this neighborhood is changing for the better, and I know right here,” Nick thumped his chest with his fist, “that you are going to be play big part in that and that will be good for business. I consider it another investment.”

Mason felt stunned. He didn’t think that he had much of anything to contribute, much less be the cause of turning an entire neighborhood around. “I... uh... I don’t think I have much to do about the whole neighborhood, Nick.”

“People are already talking, Mason.” Nick motioned towards the front door. “People..., neighbors come in and talk. We can all feel it. It is a good change, and everyone around here is getting excited.”

“Damn it, Paul. Hold your horses. I still have three steps to get down.” There was no mistaking Mitch’s voice.

“Well, hurry your ass up.” Paul responded, sounding out of breath. “I’ve got the heavy end after all.”

Nick and Mason laughed.

“I guess I should go and help,” Mason said. “Thanks for letting me use your phone.”

Nick smiled. “Whenever you need to use it, you come and use it.”

Mason opened the glass door to go and help Paul and Mitch.

“Oh, Patty said she was bringing you guys’ lunch today. I have no idea what she’s got in mind.”

Mason glanced over his shoulder. “Thanks! I’m sure it will be good, whatever it is.”

The three of them managed to get the refrigerator in place and plugged in. As soon as they got the okay, and the power turned on, they would have cold water and drinks without having to get ice once a day. Of course, in the long run, Mason would have a fully furnished kitchen.

“Why don’t I do all the grouting and you and Mitch go and get what you need to start on the bathroom,” Paul suggested. “I mean, you have the money now to get it finished. Might as well use us until we have to leave.”

“Good idea,” Mason said, smiling. “I can breathe a bit easier now that I know I’ve got some work lined up and a little money in the bank.”

Paul just smiled. “Told ya.”

As Mason and Mitch got ready to leave, Mason called out to Paul that Patty was bringing lunch today and should be there by the time that he and Mitch got back.

“Good,” Mitch said. “I’m hungry. I wonder what they’d want for that apartment after it’s done?”

“Oh hell,” Mason sighed, digging his keys out of his pocket.