Page 2 of Ghost

W ith keys in hand, Mason opened the front door of his new property. Even with a good down payment, he had still had to get a mortgage, which wasn’t easy since he was self-employed and new to Savannah. But he was excited if not a bit worried he might have taken on more than he was capable of doing.

He looked at his watch, the watch that his Uncle Bud had given him for his eighteenth birthday.

Mason wore it all the time, and it always brought a smile to his face when he looked at the time.

He was so excited to get it. The crystal was a bit scratched now, and there were a few dents in the metal band, but that didn’t matter to him.

He wouldn’t trade it for the most expensive Rolex if given the opportunity.

“Mitch should be here anytime now.” He was fortunate to have such a good friend who was an electrician.

They’d met on a job years ago. It was a large kitchen renovation, and they’d become fast friends.

The only thing that Mitch said he required to come and help Mason out was plenty of beer, keeping him fed and some beach time over on Tybee Island.

Oh, and, of course, make sure he got laid, which wasn’t going to be too difficult.

Mitch was one of the best-looking men Mason had ever known.

The ladies would be lining up for him if Mason had to wager.

Mason let his eyes trail up the graceful sweep of the staircase that had most assuredly seen better days.

In his mind’s eye, he could easily see it returned to its former glory.

The wood tongue-and-groove floors needed some serious attention, but all the small pieces that outlined each room and its corners with a Greek key design were there, ready to shine once again.

He could tell that at some point there had been wall-to-wall carpet installed, which more than likely saved the floor.

The double archways mirroring each other, with double pocket sliding doors, were something that you never saw unless they were in grand old homes like this one.

When he’d first looked at the place, he could see that they were mahogany but covered by multiple layers of paint.

He sighed happily. “We’ll get you back to shining like a new penny, ol’ girl.

You’ll be a jewel in the crown of Savannah! ”

Looking down the hallway towards the back of the elegant town house that had been built in 1856, he grimaced into the yawning doorway of what had been a kitchen.

This is where the majority of the problems were.

The retrofitted kitchen had caught fire due to bad electrical wiring, which was why it had been condemned.

It was also why he got it as cheap as he did.

It was where he and Mitch were going to start.

“Whoa.”

Mason turned to see Mitch standing in the doorway and smiled. “Ain’t she grand ?”

“I’ll say,” Mitch said stepping inside and whistling. “I can see why you nabbed this place up.”

“Yeah, but wait till you see all the wiring that needs to be done,” Mason groaned. “It’s going to be quite a job, I’m afraid. I can’t even move in until it’s all brought up to code.”

“I’m gonna assume there’s no power at all?” Mitch peered into the room to his left and whistled again.

“Nope. Why I asked you to bring your generator.”

“I knew I’d forgotten something.” Mitch raised his eyebrows.

Mason rolled his eyes. “I sure hope you’re kidding me.”

Mitch clapped Mason on the shoulder, hard. “Would I do that to my best buddy?”

“Yeah, right, your best buddy. I know better than that.” Mason shook his head.

“Whoever is buying the beer is my best buddy.” Mitch grinned. “Okay, let’s go see what we got here.”

“We need to unload your truck first. You can’t park on the street during the day without a parking permit and I don’t even have one yet.”

“Um... then where do I park?

Mason was already hopping down the front steps. “I’ve got a place a few doors down that has parking in the rear.”

Mitch snickered. “I always knew you’d go to the rear.”

Mason groaned at the bad joke. “Don’t worry, I won’t be going anywhere near your rear.”

Mitch laid a hand on Mason’s shoulder. “Trust me, buddy, if I swung that way, you’d be the first and probably the last man I’d go for, and I mean that.”

Mason looked at his friend. They’d had this conversation a long time ago when they were both drunk off their asses.

It was right after Ross had dumped him for the young gym rat, which was only twelve months ago and still hurt.

“I know, Mitch.” He shook his head lightly as if trying to clear the sudden memory of Ross out of his head.

“Come on, let’s get this shit unloaded so we can go through everything that we’re going to need to get started. ”

After they’d unloaded everything from Mitch’s big ass truck and got it parked behind Mason’s new apartment, they were both sweating profusely. They got Mitch settled in and then went back to the new town house with a pad and pencil to start an inventory of what they were going to need.

“Damn, Mason, just the wiring alone is going to cost you some major bucks.” Mitch was measuring each room to get an idea of how much wiring would be needed. “Then we’ll need a new breaker box, breakers and a shitload of outlets and light switches.”

Mason sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Yeah, I know, but I can’t do anything about all of that. It just has to be done.”

“Well....” Mitch started.

“And no, I’m not going to cheat or take shortcuts.” Mason’s head fell back. “I’m going to do it right from the get-go. No cutting corners. I just need to get the electrical done so I can move in and not pay rent and a mortgage.”

“You got any work lined up yet?”

Mason held one end of the tape measure for Mitch.

“I’ve got some feelers out. I gotta get a phone before I can even do an ad.

They won’t install a phone until the place is compliant and no longer condemned.

I don’t want to have to pay for a phone in the apartment and then pay again to have one put in this place. ”

Mitch started up the staircase. “Watch out for this step here,” he said pointing. “The joint where it was glued together has separated.”

Mason looked at the step Mitch pointed out. “Yeah, I’ll be careful.”

Once they had inspected the second floor and completed their measurements, they went back to the apartment and cracked a few beers open.

They both took their shirts off, leaning against Mason’s truck, letting the little bit of breeze cool their sweaty bodies.

Mason took a deep breath. He could smell the sea air and a slight hint of jasmine blooming somewhere close by.

“We can start by pulling all that old wiring out tomorrow,” Mitch stated before draining his beer. He handed the empty to Mason and smiled.

Mason rolled his eyes and went to fetch them both another beer. As he strolled out, handing Mitch his ice-cold beer he said, “That’s about all we can do on Sunday. There won’t be anything open tomorrow except Homo Depot and I think we’d get a much better price at the electrical store.”

“That’s for dang sure,” Mitch agreed. He drained half the bottle of the fresh brew.

“Damn, I forgot how much you drink, you sot.” Mason took a long swig of his own beer before wiping his brow with the cold bottle. “Glad I got a whole case.”

“Yep. Going to probably need more before the end of tomorrow, though.”

“Well, before you get too tanked, let’s go get some more beer and something to eat.” Mason headed for the back door. “Dibs on the shower.”

* * * * *

T rue to form, Mitch had two women fawning all over him at the loud bar down on River Street. It wasn’t long before he sauntered over to Mason, a girl on each arm, with a wide smile plastered all over his face.

“Hey, buddy, I’ll see you first thing in the morning,” Mitch said brightly.

Mason couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay, Mitch. I hope you’re not too hung over to work or there won’t be any beer tomorrow.”

Mitch also laughed. “No need to worry, I’ll be there. I’m sure one of these sweet young ladies will be more than accommodating and bring me home.”

“How about you, sweetie,” the buxom blonde asked Mason, her hand stroking his arm. “You don’t want to party with us?”

Mason knew his eyes went wide. “Uh... no thanks, but uh... thanks for the offer.”

Mitch threw his head back and laughed. “Of the three of us, there’s only one that he’d be interested in and it ain’t either of you two,” he said, still chuckling.

The brunette who was clinging to Mitch’s arm with both of hers said, “You’re a fag?”

Mason’s smiled died a slow death, replaced by a sneer. “Yeah. I suck cock. Prob’ly better than you.”

“You probably have AIDS, too,” she all but snarled, her nose wrinkled up.

Mitch pushed her arms away. “I think I’ve just had second thoughts. I like blondes better, anyway.”

The blonde woman stepped away from Mitch. “Maybe tonight isn’t such a good idea.”

“What’sa matter?” Mitch asked, reaching out for her.

“Um... I... just think I may have had a little too much to drink. Another time.” She turned suddenly and made her way towards the restrooms.

“And I don’t do fags or their friends,” the brunette said haughtily, following her friend.

Mason and Mitch watched them both until they disappeared into the crowd.

“Oh man, I’m so sorry. You had a good thing lined up and I just blew it for you.” Mason hung his head. “I’ll just let you do your thing and I’ll head on back to the apartment.”

“Mason, don’t let those bitches get to you.” Mitch downed what little was left of his beer. “Let’s go back to your place and get a good night’s sleep and hit it first thing in the morning. I’m... not much in the mood anyway.”

They were both silent on the short drive. Once they were in the basement apartment, Mitch grabbed them both another beer from the refrigerator. “I’m sorry, Mason.”

“What you got to be sorry about?” Mason snorted as he took the cold beer. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“They were just ignorant bitches, man.” Mitch collapsed on the small sofa next to Mason. “They don’t know any better.”

“I’m just sorry I messed it for you is all.” Mason began peeling the label off the beer bottle. He glanced up towards his friend. “Looked like you were about to have a really good time.”

“There’ll be other good times.” Mitch took a sip of his beer. He held his beer up. “To good times!”

Mason clinked his beer bottle against Mitch’s. “Good times.”