Family Ties

“I’m sure we’ll find something else that needs fixing,” Kirk said. “Come on, Dougie. Let’s get to work.”

Dad and I did the same. We started the job with me helping him, but I gradually took over when he realized I had more experience, and our roles had reversed completely by the time we were done.

“You’re better at this than I am,” he said appreciatively.

I felt my cheeks flush. “Trip and I just did the same thing at our house, more or less.”

“Still,” he said, “good job.”

“Don’t congratulate me until we check everything.

“You did it right,” he said. “Measure twice, cut once.”

“So far, so good,” I said.

We went inside, where we turned on every stove eye and all the ovens.

Nothing sparked, nothing smoked, and nothing blew, even under full load.

“Well done,” Dad said.

We turned off everything and headed around back to clean up our tools and work area. We were cleaning ourselves at the sinks inside when the women returned from the store.

All six of them had gone and had clearly had fun.

After Kirk and Doug had hauled in firewood and checked the hot tub, they’d set to work with plastic sheeting and staple guns to cover the rest of the clubhouse screens. They’d also kept the fire stoked, so the place wasn’t as drafty and cold as it had been. It wasn’t quite toasty yet, but it was definitely comfortable with my sleeves rolled up.

Christy came toward me as the others headed to the kitchen to unpack groceries and start cooking.

“I love your family,” she said quietly. “They’re nothing like mine, though.”

“They are in the important ways.”

“Oh, I know. But wow… they talk about sex a lot.”

“I told you, it’s important. And we’re a lot more open about it.”

“Mmm hmm. We were talking about you.”

“Good things, I hope.”

“Very good. The kind that make me all tingly inside.”

My eyebrows rose with a question.

“I’d better help with the groceries,” she said.

“Oh, you’re such a tease!”

“And don’t you forget it.

She grinned and stretched upward for a kiss, which I gave her. I also gave her a playful swat on the backside as she headed toward the kitchen. She glanced over her shoulder and looked immensely pleased with herself.

While the women started cooking dinner, the men gave the interior of the clubhouse a thorough going-over. We tightened loose screws on chairs and tables. We fixed broken couch legs and squeaky doors.