Following Love by Celeste O. Norfleet Page B

big birthday party bash.”
    â€œReally?” Dillon asked with renewed excitement.
    â€œReally,” Ellen assured him while picking him up to sit comfortably on the stool. “This is going to be the grandest four-year-old birthday party this side of the Mason-Dixon Line.”
    â€œWhat’s the messy-dissy lime?” Dillon asked.
    Dena closed the dishwasher. “Never mind about that right now, young man, I need you to run upstairs and wash your hands and face. We have some shopping to do today.”
    â€œIn town?” he asked hopefully, tilting his hard hat back from the front of his face.
    â€œYes,” Dena said as she removed the hard hat completely and unbuckled his tool belt.
    â€œBy the big building.”
    â€œYes,” she repeated, knowing exactly where this conversation was leading.
    â€œCan I bring my hard hat and tool belt to help ’em?”
    â€œMay I,” she corrected.
    â€œMay I bring my hard hat and help?” he repeated.
    Dena smiled and placed the construction gear on the counter. “Not this time, sweetie.”
    â€œAw, Mom,” Dillon moaned, and poked out his bottom lip to show his disapproval.
    â€œDon’t ‘aw, Mom,’ me.” She lifted him to the floor and turned him to face the back staircase to the second floor. “Off you go, and use soap. One, two, three, four…” By the time she got to five Dillon was tearing around the corner of the island counter and hurrying upstairs. She heard his giggling when he reached the top step knowing that he’d gotten upstairs before she counted to ten.
    Ellen shook her head, smiling. “He is such a darling.”
    Dena nodded. “I don’t know what I’d do without him.”
    â€œGod willing, you’ll never have to find out.” She unrolled the plans and placed them on the countertop then sat down on the stool. Dena placed a trivet on each of three corners and a cookbook on the last then looked at the plans, as well. They studied the plans a moment in silence until Dena spoke.
    â€œWow, can they really do all this?”
    â€œIt’s not exactly what I had in mind…” Ellen said as she frowned while running her finger over the details of the plans. “I really expected something entirely different.”
    â€œAunt Ellen, look at these plans, these are incredible. Look at this. They’re planning to build a roaster, a grill, a smoker and an outdoor cookery. You’ve got to be impressed with all this.”
    â€œOh, I am,” she said, then sighed openly. “It’s just not what I expected. It’s so detailed. On television they had all this on the other side and a bit more counter space.”
    â€œMaybe you can talk to Julian about making a few changes.”
    Ellen nodded. “Well, it’s not just that,” she said, sighing heavily. “I really had my heart set on doing it myself.”
    Dena cringed inwardly as would half of Gilford County whenever Ellen Peyton had her heart set on doing something herself. “But, Aunt Ellen, I was hoping that you’d help me.”
    Ellen looked up quickly. “With what?”
    â€œIf I get this job with the Hamilton Development Corporation I’ll be working long hours and Dillon will need someone he…”
    â€œSay no more, of course I’ll be here for Dillon.”
    â€œThank you. Aunt Ellen, maybe instead of building the whole thing yourself, maybe you can supervise. I’m sure with your background you’ll be more suited in that position.”
    â€œPerhaps you’re right.”
    Dena nodded and smiled; the last thing she wanted was for her aunt to start mixing cement again. They were still chipping hardened cement globs off the washer and dryer and she still had no idea how her aunt got cement on the front porch ceiling fan. “Can I get you something in town?” she asked.
    â€œNo, thanks,” Ellen said. “My