Chapter 45

forty-five

JACOB

While Andrew was busy getting ready for the concert, I spent most of Thursday and Friday at The Welcome Center, seeing patients. Instead of going home after my last appointment, I decided to visit the old steamboat museum where the tiny homes were being built.

Although I’d heard a lot about the construction process from Andrew and Pastor Adam, I wasn’t sure what to expect. As soon as I walked through the heavy wooden doors, I knew this was as unique as Pastor Adam’s original idea. Two more homes were in the process of being constructed.

“Jacob? What are you doing here?” Mr. Jessop stood beside a workbench holding a hammer.

“I finished early at The Welcome Center. I thought I’d come and see how the tiny homes are made.”

Mr. Jessop slid the hammer into his tool belt and pointed to a clipboard on the wall. “You’ll need to sign in and wear a hard hat. The health and safety rules make everyone’s life more difficult than they should.”

I smiled. I’d spent enough time at The Welcome Center to know Mr. Jessop didn’t mean anything by his grumbling. Inside, he was as soft as a pat of butter sizzling on a skillet. “It’s okay. I don’t mind signing my life away.”

“The foreman’s gone home, but I’m happy to show you around.”

“I’d appreciate it, but only if you’re not too busy.”

“Never too busy for you. Besides, I can’t have you walking around a construction area on your own. Adam wouldn’t be impressed if you tripped over an extension cord. And you can stop calling me Mr. Jessop, too. My friends call me Gordon.”

I took the hard hat Gordon handed to me. “Thanks. How long have you been volunteering on the project?”

“Almost since the beginning. When I ran my own ranch, I knew enough of everything to get by. If a building needed fixing, I did it. I figured my construction skills would come in handy for these homes. When I’m not at the community garden in The Welcome Center, I come down here. Were you thinking of volunteering?”

“Depending on how many hours I work in town, I might be able to spend a couple of afternoons on the tiny homes.”

“Don’t be too optimistic about the time you’ll have available. Knowing the folks in Sunrise Bay, they’ll keep you busy with their ailments.”

“For the first few weeks I’ll be a novelty. Once everyone gets used to me, things might slow down.”

“As I said, don’t be surprised if that novelty timeframe takes longer than you think. Anyway, here’s the first house. The boys from Pastor Adam’s construction program fixed the drywall to the building this morning. Patrick’s busy plastering.”

I stuck my head inside the front door.

A man in his seventies turned around and smiled. “Have you come to give me a hand?”

“Not today, but I’m hoping to spend some time here soon.”

The man held out his hand. “When you’re ready, you’re welcome to join us. Between Gordon and me, we know enough about construction to keep you out of mischief.”

Gordon grunted. “You should know a thing or two about building a house. You used to own a construction company.”

Patrick’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “That’s why Jacob needs to work with us.”

I looked around the tiny home. “Plastering the house is a big job for one person.”

“It’s not too bad,” Patrick said. “The homes have been designed not to waste too many materials. The size of each room pretty much fits full-sized sheets of drywall. Because there aren’t many seams, the plastering isn’t as time-consuming as you might think.”

Gordon climbed the stairs inside the tiny home and studied the mezzanine floor. “There’s a lot of work to do up here.”

“Unless someone comes in during the weekend, that’s Monday’s job,” Patrick said. “It’d be good to get these two homes on the lot in the next couple of weeks.”

“How long does it take to complete the homes?” I asked.

“Once the building permits are approved, about eight weeks, then another three weeks once they’re moved onto the property.”

“That’s fast.”

“The students who designed the tiny homes helped us with the first two. These are taking a little longer, but we’re getting quicker.”

Gordon leaned over the railing of the mezzanine floor. “By the time we start the next two, we’ll be seasoned pros.”

Patrick waved his hand at Gordon. “Be careful. If you fall, your old bones won’t survive the drop.”

With a muttered curse, Gordon backed away from the edge.

“You can thank me later,” Patrick said loudly.

“I’ll thank you when the cow jumps over the moon.”

Patrick grinned. “I’d settle for a beer after work.”

I smiled at the banter between the two men. It was easy to see that they enjoyed each other’s company. “How many people are working on the houses?”

Gordon stepped off the last stair. “Between ten and sixteen depending on what we’re doing and who’s available. I’ll show you the other home. They’ve already finished their plastering.”

“And guess who did that?” Patrick asked with a wide smile.

Gordon waved away his friend’s question. “You’re too talented for your own good.”

Patrick’s dry chuckle followed us through the door.

“I knew he did the plastering,” Gordon whispered. “But I wanted to annoy him.”

“I don’t think he’s annoyed,” I whispered back.

Gordon muttered something under his breath.

I nodded at the second home. “How do you choose who’ll be living in the houses?”

“You’ll have to ask Pastor Adam. All I know is that there aren’t enough homes for the number of people looking for somewhere to live. We could build a hundred tiny homes and still have people waiting in the line.”

By the time I walked around the entire steamboat museum, Gordon had introduced me to at least a dozen volunteers. They were all here for the same reason—to give back to the community that had given them so much. And one day, I’d join them.