“I’m not discussing it with you,” he cuts in, firm. “And definitely not with Rosalie. She’s the owner. She trusts Drew to help with the walkthrough, but money isn’t something a thirteen-year-old needs to be involved in.”
His clipped tone makes me sit up straighter. “Yes, sir,” I say. His lip twitches like he’s trying not to smile.
I sit down in the hallway on the fourth floor, crosschecking my list with Drew’s. Everything lines up now. I hand his phone back, and he starts typing as he looks over my shoulder.
“You copying my list?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes. I want my mom to have it,” he says. “Plus, this list also has our cleaning checklist, supply list, and questions for Mr. Marks.”
“Gerald, please,” Gerald says gently. “We’re family.”
“Is that why my mom was crying? You said the same thing to her.” Drew’s voice is quiet.
Gerald nods. “I thought so.”
This kid doesn’t like seeing his mom cry. I get that. Seth sits down next to me and pulls up a photo on his phone.
“That’s low,” he says. “I priced out Davidson’s job yesterday, and this is what we’re looking at.”
I purse my lips. The materials alone could push this job close to a hundred grand. Seth and I start working through numbers. It’s not exactly professional, but Gerald wants a ballpark figure, and we need to be ready.
“Mom wants this running by Christmas. Is that even possible?” Drew asks.
I do a double take. Is this kid for real?
Seth coughs, then looks up. “That’s a tight deadline. We’ve got other projects lined up before this one.”
“Oh. I don’t think she realizes that. You might want to tell her.” Drew gives an awkward smile. I pinch the bridge of my nose. That conversation’s going to be rough.
“Gerald, is the budget for repairs and decoration the same?” Drew asks.
“Yes,” Gerald replies. “We’ll talk to your mom. Everything will work out for you three I promise.”
I can see it clearly now. Drew carries his mom’s worries like they’re his own.
“Drew, I know you’re thirteen, but we let Hailey hang out with us on job sites. She helps out, and we pay her. If you want to join us until school starts, you’re more than welcome.”
Drew’s face lights up, and I can’t help but smile with him.
“Put your number in my phone. I’ll text you when I’m headed out.”
“That’d be awesome. I’d love to see how you work from beginning to end.”
He reminds me of myself at that age eager, observant, needing a little guidance.
“Come have a seat,” I say, shifting so he can sit between Seth and me.
“Right now, we’re building a bid for your mom. She’s the client. Seth and I know the prices from the local hardware stores, and I estimate the hours it’ll take. I always overestimate and return the difference. It gives me wiggle room for delays sometimes you open up a wall and find a disaster waiting.”
“Does that happen often?” Drew asks.
I nod. “Weather, leaks, age lots of things can cause it. I expect we’ll find problems when we open up the roof. I’ve also called a tree service to check the roots near the foundation.”
“Okay. So there’s a lot to do before you even start.”
“There is. And sometimes other companies are bidding for the same job. You never know if you’ll get it. But since Mrs. Rosa hired us for the house you’re living in, your mom liked our work.”
“A lot of moving parts,” Seth adds.
