“Yeah it is.” He shook his head and picked up his fork. “So what are your plans for the future?”
“Future?” She chortled. “I really haven’t thought about a future.”
“You’re still young. You have a future.”
“Thanks for saying that but I’m forty. I’m no spring chicken.” She shrugged.
“You don’t look your age. I figured you to be thirty-three or thirty-five.”
“Thank you.” She ducked her head a little unsure how to take the compliment. “What about you? What are your future plans?”
“Work until I can retire. I have a plot of land here on the lake. Had it for years. We were planning on building our lake house but when Lilly passed, I didn’t really think about it anymore.”
“Do you live nearby?”
“I live on the other side of town on twenty acres. I have my shop out there too.”
“Have you always been a roofer?”
Thomas nodded. “I’m actually a licensed contractor. I used to build houses until the other younger contracters priced me out of jobs. So, I got my roofer’s license. My only competition is Randy.”
“Sounds like you two are very competitive.”
He grinned a little. “We are. He used to date Lilly before we got married.”
“Really?” She gasped, understanding the animosity between them. “No wonder he tries to steal your business.”
“No doubt.” He chuckled.
She’d never heard him laugh before. It was a nice laugh.
“So can you clean my fireplace if I pay you?”
“Sure. I’ll look at it tomorrow when I’m on the roof. I may be an hour late tomorrow. I have to run by and check on Stanley and bring him something to eat.”
“Maybe you should take him the rest of this roast beef. Like I said, there’s plenty. I’ll fix you up a big plate before you go.”
“I’m sure he would appreciate it. Thank you.”
“It’s the least I can do since he fell off my roof.” She cringed at the thought of what might have happened.
He scratched his head. “In fact, I think he wasn’t hurt because he was so relaxed. It even kind of looked like he bounced when he hit the ground.”
She looked at him and then burst out laughing. He cracked a grin and then barked out a laugh as well.
Their laughter swelled until she had tears rolling down her eyes. Catching her breath she wiped the tears with her fingertips.
“I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. Thanks for that mental image.” She smiled.
“We all need a laugh every now and then,” he agreed. He stood up and took his plate to the sink and washed it off.
“Just leave it in the sink,” she told him. “I’m sorry I don’t have any dessert.”
Thomas patted his stomach. “I’m stuffed. I couldn’t eat another bite. It was good. Been awhile since I had a homecooked meal. Thank you.”
“Thanks for joining me. It’s nice to have company for dinner.” Something about sharing a meal made her feel a little less sad about her situation in life.
She pulled out a plastic container and lid. She filled it up with roast beef and mashed potatoes.
