A New Beginning Pt. 13

"I bought a fishing and shrimping outfit today. I gave everyboy a promotion in the office, opening up a spot."

"Thank you, Jacob. I'll make you proud."

"I know you will. I just want to see you do well. Be ready first thing."

She got up and kissed me, then went inside. I stretched out in my chair and finished watching the sunset. The breeze coming in was getting chilly, so I headed inside and took a bath and shaved. Then rolled up in bed. I woke up briefly when Elsie came in, but went right back to sleep.

Morning came and I opened my eyes and blinked out the sleep, got up and splashed water on my face and hair, slicked it back and got dressed. I headed downstairs and found Hazel made up to make a puppy pull a log wagon. She looked good. Annie came down dressed for work.

"How you getting to work, honey?"

"The boss picks me up."

"Ok then."

I need to get her and Hazel a ride. We took off and got to the office. Everybody was standing around outside. I got out and introduced Hazel to Claire.

"Put her to work. I'll leave y'all to sort out the details."

Claire lit a cigarette and looked Hazel over,

"Come with me, Honey, I'll introduce you to the other women and get you settled in."

I went over to the men as Martin came out.

"Ok, you idiots listen up! He's the new owner. Nothing's changed. You still report to Claire. He's just moved her to my office. Now, if I find out you let him down, i'll come back here if I gotta swim and kill the lot of you and cut your carcasses into bait."

I took over, walking among them for introductions. Then i went back to the front.

"Ok, i'm giving you the day off with pay. Y'all enjoy yourselves!"

I went and found Hazel. They were installing her in an office and showing her the ropes.

"I need to steal my sister for a spell."

She followed me out and we went to the Ford house. I bought both her and Annie one of them coupes apiece.

"Now y'all got a way around."

"Annie doesn't know how to drive it."

"Well, she will when you're done teaching her, won't she?"

I got out and went back in,

"I need that other one delivered to the house."

"Yes sir, we'll take it right over."

Hazel went back to work and I went and ordered water and gas line and electric cable for the trailers. Then I headed to the docks with the list of my boats I got with the sale.

I found them easy enough. I climbed aboard each one. They were meticulously maintained. I wasn't sure what to expect, judging by the condition ofmany others which were in pretty nasty condition. Martin was right. These were good crews.

I headed back to the truck yard. When I got there, the crew was delivering and setting up the new house trailers. I saw they had delivered the trucks and trailers. Ten brand new Kenworths. Five straight beds, five with box trailers. I went over and admired them. Sitting in them. Starting them up. Damn, weren't these fine!"

I headed out back, Jeb was box blading the yard area, preparing for gravel. The other three were working on the shop. They were already putting the tin siding on it. They'd be starting on the roof tomorrow. The more I thought about the rest of the acreage out back, the more I envisioned warehousing. From what I'd seen, warehousing space was at a premium on the island. People were afraid of hurricane storms blowing them away. They don't blow away concrete.

Suddenly, it became clear to me. Concrete. Why had that escaped me to begin with?

I ran over and stopped the three men and flagged down Jeb.

"Stop working on the shop. I'm changing the plans. Tear that down. Stack the lumber. We'll use it for forms. We're building everything out of reinforced concrete. Y'all know how to form walls?"

"Yes sir, we've done it a few times."

"I'm going to the cement plant. Jeb, you get a list together of materials to form it up, then go order the materials. I want the walls atleast a foot thick. Extend the shop out for the extra width."

"Yes sir."

They got busy. I headed over to the cement plant. Arriving, I went inside.

"Hey Mr Flannery, what brings you out and about today?"

"Well, i reckon i need more cement."

"Ok, what you got in mind?"

I laid it out for him. From the shop to the warehousing.

"Man, I'll tell you what, I'll cut you a good discount on those jobs."

"I appreciate that. Say, I bought a fishing company from Martin Fleischmann. I was thinking about expanding that, adding my own refrigerated warehouse. You know anything about that sort of thing?"

"No, but I know who does. I'll give him a call and put him in contact with you."

"Thanks, I really appreciate that. Well, have a good day, sir."

We shook hands and parted. I went back to the yard, thinking of options. I parked and watched them dismantle the walls. I hoped I was making the right choices here. What I knew is that very little is warehoused here on the island. Most of everything was trucked in from Houston. That had a way of limiting options for local retailers. Having a readily available supply of replenishment goods on hand locally would make everybodies life easier. I don't see how that could go wrong.

What was being used right now was only a couple of acres or so. I owned a hundred. That left a lot of space available for much needed warehousing. I'm thinking I'm on the right track here. It was high ground here. Far enough in to protect it from the flooding I've been hearing about. Protection from anything but the winds. So, the reinforced concrete buildings will cover that angle.

I looked at the office building. It was built strong. Heavily reinforced concrete. I admonished myself for wasting the time and resources on building a frame structure to begin with when the answer to my needs had been right in front of me all along.

Well, we live and learn. I started seeing a plan unfold in my head. Expand the offices and move the fishing company here with the trucking and warehousing. I need a map of this island. But for now, I'd just have to guess. I drove past the yard area and saw a road of sorts running further back.

I drove down it, just seeing where it went. I came to a rundown fence at the back of the property. I got out and crossed over. The bay was right over there. There was shallow water a ways out, then it appeared deeper. I needed to find out who owns this small piece of land between mine and the bay.

I drove back to town and went to the bank. I was let straight into Mr. Willoughby's office. Shaking hands, I asked about that piece of ground. He thought a minute,

"Oh yes, I recall now. A man named Ferguson owns that. I do believe he has it listed for sale. Hang on a minute."

He dialed a number and while he waited, he slid over anothe set of deposit forms. I looked them over, JT had deposited another $411,900 into my account. I just shook my head and signed it for deposit. I was still working on spendingmy first million out of the two I opened my account with and he's deposited well over five million and counting since that day.

Somebody came on,

"Yes, I'm inquiring about the property that butts up to the old Harris estate, on the bay side. Oh really. Well, I have a cash buyer if you'll come down to the bank. Ok, see you in a few."

He hung up.

"He's coming. I recall that because is about 50 acres and most of it is tidal flats and under water. Past that, it's good deep water.Out into the bay."

"Perfect."

We exchanged small talk until the broker and owners agent showed up. Finally, they were led in, introduced and sat down.

"My client is asking $1,000 for it. It's encumbrance free, commercial ready."

"I'll take it."

We shook hands, the deed was signed over, as well as a bill of sale. I left, heading back to the cement plant.

"I got another job for you. I want a cement pier and boat docks built."

"Damn, when you go, you go all the way. Well, I'll tell you what, go see the engineering outfit up town," He wrote down directions, "that's where you start with something like that."

I thanked him and headed over. Arriving, I asked the lady for the man he'd wrote down.

"Just a moment sir."

She got up and put on a show with her hips that could cause a gypsy to to turn to righteousness. She came back and escorted me back.

The man was slender built, yet had an air of strength about him.

"Sam McEntire, Mr...?"

"Jacob Flannery,"

I took his hand, and he gestured to a seat.

"Well, Mr Flannery, how may our firm be of service?"

"I reckon I want a cement dock and pier built to accommodate six or more fishing and shrimping boats."

"I see, well the first step will be to look the site over. See if the project is efen viable from an engineering standpoint. When would it be possible to see it?"

I got up,

"Let's go."

"Oh, right now?"

"Yes sir, I'm not one to lollygag around when it comes to a job of work."

"Ok, then. Let me get my partner and we'll go look it over."

He went into a bathroom and came out changed into jeans and button down workshirt, with boots on.

He went to the next office over and came out with a shorter, barrel chested man.

"Mr Flannery, my partner, Sam Parker."

We shook hands and Sam caught him up on what was going on.

"Oh yes, I know the area well. It's typically and expensive proposal to do a job like this. Most come in wanting a private residential set up. Well, let's go have a look, shall we?"

We got out there and I stood off to the side and let them work it out. About an hour later, they came over with some sketches and drawings of the entire thing.

"Well, the good news is, we can get it bult for you. We have access to a crew that we've worked with many times. They have the experience, expertise, and equipment to get it done in short order. The bad news, you're looking at between $100,000 to $200,000 turnkey."

"Well, get 'er done, gentlemen. Mr Willoughby will transfer funds as needed."

We shook hands and they headed back. I went back to the shop. They had the walls down, the tin stacked and two were pulling nails and George had a piece of railroad track he'd picked up somewhere, using it as an anvil to straighten nails, dropping them in a five gallon grease pail.

Jeb was still dragging the yard. Leveling it with a slight slope for drainage. I went over to the trailers, the last two were still on the trucks, waiting to be set into position.

Four men were leveling. Four more were running service lines. Two were building porches with steps. I looked and they had upgraded the original three with porches. Moving the steps to the back door. Another was guiding the driver as he backed the tenth one in place. They had started with the three bedroom. I intended that for use to bunk the single men in. The teen two bedrooms for families. I'd play it by ear until they got here.

They were setting the last one in place when I went home.

I headed up, my arrival announced by the gyp and her now grown pup. They were bawling up a storm. Something was off. Those dogs were usually where the kids were at. Elsie's car was gone. I went on up. Annie was at the table waiting on me.

"Uncle Jacob! Elsie's at the hospital having the baby. I'm to ride over with you."

Oh shit.

"Ok, let's go."

We got in the truck and headed to the hospital. Getting there I went in and headed to the desk. The woman directed me to where I needed to be. We hurried in and a nurse headed me off.

"I assume you're Mr Miller?"

"Yes m'am."

"Well, your wife is fine, and everything is going well. Come on, I'll take y'all in."

We got to the room where she was being held. She was sweating and breathing. A doctor was sitting on a chair looking up in there.

"Ok, Elsie, push hard now."

I went up and Elsie looked up at me. Then grabbed my hand as she pushed with all her might.

"One more time now. Push."

The baby came out then. I looked at him, a tear in my eye as I saw my baby take his first breath. One of the nurses took him and smacked him right on his bare ass. He didn't react, just looked around with bright eyes as best he could. She went to smack him again, but mama stopped her.

"M'am, he's alright. His daddy didn't cry either."

The nurse looked him over real good while the doctor pulled the placenta and cleaned her up, checking her over good. The nurse suctioned out his nose. Checked his breathing. Then laid him down, tied off his cord and cut it. She cleaned him up and put a diaper on him, slicked his hair back, and handed him to his mama.

Elsie took him and put him on a tit. He started suckling with a vengeance. She looked back up at me. She puckered her lips, and I kissed her gently.

"What are we going to name him?"

She looked down at him.

"He's his daddy made over. We'll call him Jacob Jr."

I smiled at that. Jacob Jr. That had a ring to it.

"Ok, now go home. I can tell by how pale you are you haven't had a bite one to eat today. We'll spend the night and go home tomorrow. I need rest and you'll just fidget around keeping me up. I love you, baby."

"I do love you, too."

I stroked his hair gently and kissed them both goodnight. I headed out to the waiting room with mama. Hazel and Annie were sitting with Tommy and Sophie. Sophie ran over to me and climbed up on my lap. Tommy sat next to me. Life sure felt fine right about now.

"Everybody hungry?"

Nods all around.

"Well, let's go eat. I'm starving."

We went to the restaurant and I ordered a ribeye steak, baked tater and grilled flounder fillet with a pitcher of sweet tea. Everybody else ordered. The women talked about the baby. Finally, Hazel looked over to me,

"Jake, thank you so much for the job. I really like the other women. I'll say, they are all smitten with you. Jake this, Jake that. I'd swear I was working around a bunch of love struck teenage females instead of middle aged women."

I laughed, shaking my head. The smells of food were distracting me. Finally, she brought out the plates and handed them out.

I dug in, savoring the delicious food. I'd never had grilled flounder before, but let me tell you right now, it was some kinda good. We ate, then headed home for bed.

I rolled out early. Hit the bathroom, sat on the toilet a while, took a hot bath, shaved, doused my face down with Bay Rum, and dressed. I drove down to the docks and got there while the men were getting ready to head out for a day's work. I greeted them all in turn but otherwise stayed out of the way.

I watched as each one floated out, men readying the nets and gear. Then I headed to the office and went through, speaking to each woman in turn. Hazel was in her office. I went and gave her a kiss on the cheek, told her how proud I was of her. Then headed for Claire's office.

She stood up when I came in, I waved her back down and sat in a visitors chair.

"You got everything you need?"

"Yes sir, I can't think of anything we need right now."

"Well, I wanted to feel you out on a move. I'm buildind a trucking yard, shop, office and boat dock and pier, with refrigerated warehouses. I qant to move all my operations there."

"Yes, I know the area. I was thinking you might be planning on something like this, so I talked to the other women yesterday about it. It's a much nicer area than this, so everybody is on board with you."

"Glad to hear it."

"Sir, if I may, you seem to know what you're about. Unusual for such a young man. Hazel say's you're but 19. Every 18 and 19 year old around here is too busy seeing how many ways they can cause trouble for themselves and their mothers. But here you are, building something that will last generations."

"M'am, where I come from out in those river bottoms, there's no time for foolishness. I started working back when I was eight. I had to prove myself. I wasn't as strong as the grown men, but I just didn't have no quit in me. By the time I was 14 or 15, I was running crews of men. Pulling crosscut saws or swinging axes from daylight to dark. Then plowing, planting and harvesting crops and hay to boot. All I've ever known was a job of work that needed doing. My papa run off, leaving me to run the household. I just did the best I could. Then I partned with JT Morgan, and bought everybody around out on credit of my word. We started drilling oil. I founded a cooperative for the farmers and let them stay and work the land. I paid them all off, just as agreed on. Then I sold out to JT and made the contract for them to maintain the cooperative and pay me a dividend on oil production. Then moved here. I didn't have work to do anymore, so I created myself a job. Which leads me here."

"You are quite the man, that's for certain."

She studied me as I looked out the window, thinking.

"I understand congratulations are in order on the birth of your son?"

"Yes m'am. He was born last night. She's bringing him home today."

I looked at her ring finger and spotted the gold band.

"What about you? What led you to be here working?"

She laughed,

"That would be the need to pay bills."

"I don't mean to pry, but, doesn't your husband work a job?"

"Sometimes. Most of the time he's sitting around dreaming of ways to get rich quick. The same with the other women here. A couple are divorced. The others are with men that lost their careers in the crash and don't have the skills required to work blue collar jobs. I guess they spend their days flitting about in some mischief or other."

"Well, that's a sad business. A man oughta work and contribute to his families upkeep, whatever it may be. If you'll work, there's always somebody that'll hire you to do it."

"I think the men in our lives view physical labor as being beneath them."

It was my turn to laugh,

"Well, let me know how that works out for them."

I wrote my home number and address down.

"Let me know if you need anything from me. I have business so I'll leave you to it."

Claire watched him leave. Her hand went to her breast as something awakened inside her that had been buried deep for quite some time now. His broad muscular shoulders. Narrow hips. Work hardened muscles flowing in his easy movements. The confidence he exuded without the cockiness to prove anything to anybody. His long shouler length wavy hair.The scent of his aftershave. Just his remarkable intelligence and easy respect he showed to others. No nonsense, the unspoken expectation that others carry their weight and do their share. Accepting no excuses for shirking or laziness.

She felt something she hadn't felt for far too long. She was wet. Her panties were soaked. She shook her head and refocused on work. She had his business to run afterall and wasn't going to let him down.

I drove over to the store and to meet with Annie. Mr Perkins met me at the counter.

"Well, Mr Flannery, what a surprise. I thought youd be home with your newborn. Congratulations, sir."

"Thank you. No, I would just be in the way of the womenfolks, and I know better than to get in the way of a female with a job of work in mind."

He chuckled,

"True, kind sir, so very true. Speaking of which, your niece is making quite the impact in this store. My sales are already up. She's set out to rearrange everything. I just stay out of her way. She has a natural head for this business. Unlike any I've ever seen. By the way, whatever happened to those sisters?"

I shrugged.

"They're staying home I reckon. They went to fetch their young'uns up in Kansas I believe it was."

"Ahh, I see. Well, Annie is definitely enough to handle things here. Oh, while I'm thinking about it, Annie came across some firearms and ammunition in the back. They were on a shelf behind other merchandise. The boxes had quite the collection of dust. To be honest, I don't believe I ordered them. To my suspicion, they were here from the previous owner. Annie has taken an interest in one of them. I wanted to discuss the possibility of her owning it."