Chapter 7: Building

“Sweetie?

“Honey?

“Allen?

“Butthead?

“AL?”

“Wha?”

“Wake UP! C’mon, Allen, open your eyes. Jeez! WAKE UP!”

“OK, OK, I’m awake, Kitty. What?”

“You’re crushing my arm. You were sleeping on it! MOVE!”

“Oh! Sorry.”

“Allen, it feels dead, like you killed it!”

“Kitty, it’s going to wake up in a minute, and then it will hurt. I’m sorry! I’ve never shared a bed before this month. I’ll go start the percolator. What would you like this morning with your coffee?”

“A fried egg, sunny-side up, and toast.”

“Coming right up. I’ll see you out there after your arm calms down.”

After using the bathroom and washing up, Allen headed for the kitchen and started making coffee.

“Shit. Shit. Shit! Allen, you asshole!”

Feeling guilty, he toasted some bread, added butter and cinnamon sugar, and brought it back to her on a plate along with a little cup of orange juice (from concentrate).

“Coffee is almost ready. I thought you would like an early start.”

“Cinnamon Toast? How did you know?”

“Only communists dislike cinnamon toast, and you’re not a communist. I’ll go fix your coffee now, with milk and sugar the way you like it.”

“Mm, you’re the best. After breakfast, I want to screw you silly. Is there anything going on today?”

“Rain check, honey. The contractor is coming at 8:30 to discuss building Kitty’s #2 Diner.”

“Oh, no. Not a chance! Allen, when you sit down in the bathroom, what happens next?”

“Um, number 2?”

“Exactly. There’s no way I want to be involved in anything named ‘Kitty’s #2,’ Allen. So, no time for a blowjob, even?”

“Sorry, let me finish making your breakfast. Just swing by the bathroom, then come out and join me.”

“Kitty, this is Drew Carmichael; he’s been recommended to me. Drew, this is my fiancée, Kitty Dawes. Her diner was by the highway on the next lot over, and as you can see, it’s...”

“Toast,” interjected Drew.

“Exactly. I don’t have any plans yet, that is, drawings or blueprints.”

“But firt, you need the remaining debris and old foundations gone, and the lot made ready for new construction.”

“Exactly, including the remains of the house that was behind it. Can you take care of that before the weather gets any worse?”

“Certainly, but I’ll need about $2,000 up front to get it done fast and prep the property for the building to come.”

“Excellent, you’ll have that before you leave this morning. Alright, next question. Can you point me to someone who can prepare the documents and plans you will need?”

“I have to be honest with you, Mr. Lewis. The guys I’ve worked with here are strictly home designers. As you know, Cedar Grove is primarily a residential community, and Kitty’s diner was one of the few commercial buildings in the town. I did build a diner down in Monument a few years ago, so I do have experience. But I was working from somebody’s plans, then. I think they might have come from Denver.

“I don’t need them to clear the lot. Will it be on the same footprint​?”

“What do you think, Kitty?”

She looked uncertain, so he whispered in her ear, “You have an unlimited budget, remember.”

“Drew can you make the front side along the road 15 feet wider and the rear wall 25 feet farther back from the front wall?”

“I sure can. If you think of anything else, ma’am, just give me a ring.”

After Drew left (with a check), Allen called his lawyer.

“Arlen, I need, what are they called? Oh, yeah, I need an architect for Kitty.”

“Allen, I don’t mean to be rude, but Kitty seems very well built already.”