Pop: Chapter 7c

     The entryway was just about the same the last time I saw it back in April, no March.  It's been so hectic lately, I can't keep my weeks straight.  The doors to the rest of the house were still locked, but the alcove next to the stairs and apartment entrance was still clear.  That will be in the phase of the remodel.  I go to the doors to unlock them, noticing how there's not a bit of dirt or sawdust anywhere.  The cleaning crew do a pretty good job.

    "Can you hurry up.  I've got some cold stuff here," Rick pipes up.

    "You just brought them from your house a minute ago.  They'll be fine.  Which reminds me."

    I slide the doors open and get out my phone.  A few clicks and swipes and I send out my order to the grocery store.  I had a list prepared for when we got in.  While there's a few things in the fridge, we'll need some fresher things for the week.  Just enough until we get back to New York.

    "Huh, the living room looks the same, " Pete says as he rushes by me to the kitchen to join Rick in putting the food away.

    "The first phase was always going to be the upstairs and the new garage.  The next step is the tear down the old master suite and expand the alcove and entryway.  The rest of the first floor will stay the same."

    I walk past the kitchen into the hall to the bedroom.  The old owners thought they could improve the house by turning the garage into a first floor master and home gym.  Landed them in foreclosure.  I swooped in a got the house cheaper than expected back when I was graduating from college and got my first inheritance checks.  I had thought they were from my grandmother, but they were actually the payments my Dad's father had set up to give to me once I had been found.  My grandmother had hid over twenty years of payments from me and my mother.  I would've lost out on hundreds of thousands of dollars if my grandmother hadn't died when she did.

    I go back to the kitchen after I put down my bags.  Even with it faults, I still love this place.  The original part of the house was Victorian style, but so much had been added on that most the original charm had left.  Hopefully, the remodel will make this house look great again.

    "Chris, where's my stuff?  Don't tell me you got rid of it." Sam yells from the living room as soon as I get into the kitchen.

    "Don't worry.  We packed most of it away last winter, back when we thought we were going to sell this place after the remodel."  I see Sam grimace as soon as meet up with him.  Rick and Pete are just behind me, prevented Sam from going full tantrum.

    "The boxes are mostly in the gym, along with the most of the old furniture from the apartments.  I had a new bedroom set placed upstairs in one of the bedrooms.  All we have to do is put on the sheets.  The rest of it we can take up whenever you want."

    "Well, I for one would like to see what you've done to the place."  Rick, always the peacemaker.

    "So, grab a box and lets start moving."

    We go back to the gym to start grabbing boxes.  Sam looks slightly miffed, and worried.  I'm sure he packed away anything embarrassing himself, but I had to go back later to help move some of the bigger items.  I didn't find anything too bad, at least nothing that would get anyone in trouble.

    Sam stays quiet as we trudge to the new upstairs.  For years, it had been set up as two apartments for college students with a shared bathroom, kitchenette, and work area.  The new floor plan was something closer to the original design.

    "Whoa, separate stairs to the attic now?  Better than the old drop ladder."  Pete just notices these things.

    "Yeah.  I felt it would be easier than having someone try to crawl up a ladder that would be in the new bathroom."

    "Smart.  Which room his Sam's?" Rick asks.

    "First on the left, street side.  The master is at the end of the hall.  Linen closet under the stairs."

    "Hey, may I use the facilities?  The water's all hooked up and everything, right?"  Pete must have been waiting a long time.

    "Sure thing.  Second door on the right. The rear bedroom is slightly smaller, that's why we've got Sam up front.  Let me just look in there to see if it's all right."

    I take a quick peek into the room after I drop off my boxes.  The bath is fully operational.  Slightly larger than the old one.  Needs a few touches.  Toilet paper for one, but I hope Pete doesn't need that yet. I point that out to him as he gives a nod to me as he passes by and locks the door.

    The door bell rings.  I love Sam and Rick as they are trying to unpack Sam's things.  I guessing the less humiliating ones.  I'm not sure who it could be.  It's barely past four and no one should be here for another thirty minutes or so.

    I rush back down as the bell dings again.  I resist the urge to yell, knowing that whoever is out there can't hear me.

    I open the door before it can be rung again.

    "Hi Chris.  I'm early."

    Standing there is the last of my little group from high school, Will Greenwood.  Grey dress pants, white shirt, paisley tie.  The horn rims are new, as is the crew cut.  He's never worn glasses before.

    "Hey buddy.  I thought you weren't going to fly in until five."

    "Well, they moved up the departure time.  Weather issues, I guess.  Besides, I have a surprise for you."

    Will is standing a few feet away from the door.  Definitely not a hugger like Pete. He like to maintain his personal space.  I have no idea what surprise he could have, as he's not carrying anything and his hands are empty.

    "What is it?  Guys usually don't bring gifts to a bachelor party."

    "Oh, this isn't a gift,"  Will says as he grabs something, no someone, hiding just to my right.

    "Hi Chris.  Long time no see."

    "Jim!"