Page 60 of Ghost

Paul, Mitch and Mason all cracked up laughing, while Mark looked somewhat startled.

“Don’t mind her,” Mason said, wiping his eyes.“She’s in a hurry for me to get started on one of her projects.”

“Ah, that would explain it,” he answered, also laughing.“How many projects?”

Mason sighed.“At least two to start with.I have a feeling she’s going to want to do more, though.And then there are a few of her friends that are also wanting work done.”

Mark chuckled.“I had a feeling you were going to be busy just from what I’ve heard.”He turned and looked at the room again.“I’ll let you get to it.I don’t want to hold you up.”He faced Mason.“Make sure to come by the shop later next week.”

Mason shook Mark’s hand again.“Thank you for the light.It’s amazing.”

“It was my pleasure.”Mark nodded to both Paul and Mitch.“You gentlemen have a good rest of the day.”

After Mark had left, the three of them stood looking into the bathroom.

“I’m not sure what all we can do until this grout has had a little time to cure up,” Mitch said, yawning.“Hell, I need a nap.”

“That’s what you get for staying out all night,” Paul harrumphed.”

Mitch frowned at the bigger man.“I did getsomesleep, thank you very much.”

“Here, come help me with this thing,” Patty said from the doorway.She had a large pedestal, oscillating fan dragging behind her.

Paul stepped forward and picked up the heavy fan.“Wow, this will certainly help.”

“Out on the curb is a dehumidifier,” she said directly to Mitch.

“I’m on it.”Mitch squeezed through the door frame around Paul.

Paul set the fan up in front of the door to the bathroom, got an extension cord and had it running full blast in under two minutes.By that time, Mitch hauled in the big floor dehumidifier, setting it up in the middle of the small dining room area.

“There,” Patty said, dusting her hands off.“That should help speed things up.”She looked at Mason with one eyebrow raised.“What else do you have to do in there?”

Mason shrugged.“Once this grout is dry, only thing left to do would be to wash it off and then paint, get the new toilet in, put the sink back in and install the faucets.”

“How long will all that take?”she asked.

Paul and Mitch looked at Mason.“If we all jump on it, I guess only a few hours, I’d say,” Mitch said.

“Hmm.”Patty again put her hands on her hips.“Then I suggest you get that big tub out of the apartment over the store while you have some help.”She looked at Paul and Mitch.“Y’all still leaving Wednesday?”

Both men nodded.“Yes, ma’am,” Paul said.

“You got nothing else to do, now do you?”Patty smiled.“I might even convince Nick to throw in some lunch.”

“I’m there,” Mitch said, already licking his lips.

Patty stared at Mitch.“How is it you eat so much and stay so damned skinny?”Before Mitch could say anything, she was already out the door.

Paul whispered, “Skinny ass.”

* * * * *

Mitch, Paul and Masonstared at the old cast-iron, clawfoot tub.None of them were looking forward to hauling the thing down the stairs.It was a sure bet that it was going to weigh a ton.

Mitch set down his toolbox.“I’ll get it disconnected.Do we know where we’re gonna put this thing once we get it outta here?”

Mason shrugged his shoulders.