shot her a thankful smile.
I looked down at Leigh, who seemed to be marshaling herself again. Then I changed the subject and nudged my chin to the mixer as I went about putting the motor cover back on then signed, “I did a preliminary look at the beast here, and without my tools I have it down to the motor controller drive system or the brushes in the motor itself. I'll know more tomorrow with my tester.”
She made a sour face as she joined us at the mixer. “The drive system again? That's the third time in six months, I swear this dinosaur is almost not worth the trouble. If we had the funds to buy a modern one, we would have long ago.” She trailed off, I could see the pain in her eyes as she remembered that 'we' was one person less now.
I cocked my head and offered, “If you opt for just replacing the motor with a variable resistance motor and controller then we could just dump the drive system altogether. I could cobble together a proper mounting system. It would be immensely cheaper than buying a new unit. This thing may have some shortcomings but it is a solid mixer.”
Leigh was feeling much better and was making fun of me by making a little mouth with her hand and making it babble as I went on. I grinned at her and mouthed, “Smartass.” Then I nudged my chin toward her as I signed to Zoey, “Sorry, I just get a little passionate about machines.”
She shook her head slowly and said as she smiled at us. “Not a problem. That's an interesting idea. I'd like to... well, ummm... I guess I'll have to ask McKenzie now if we should proceed. I'll talk to her tomorrow about it after the reading of the will. I'll call you before you come tomorrow afternoon to see if the Pike is still going to be here.”
I saw sadness and worry in her eyes. I had always thought she was a partner here but it sounds as if I were mistaken and she was unsure of the fate of the Pike without Mrs. Z. She loved this place it was plain to see.
I nodded then looked at Itsy again. She was at the end of her ability to reign in her anxiety. I looked at her as I signed to Zoey, “I think we've had enough excitement for one day. We appreciate being included in this gathering and are really and truly sorry for your loss, Mrs. Z was one of the nicest ladies we have met.”
She had a reflective look with a shadow over her as she nodded, then straightened a little and looked at Itsy and said, “Stay for the toasts at least? Things are winding down here anyway.”
My girl looked up at me like she was questing for permission in my eyes, I hated when she wasn't sure of herself. I wasn't going to feed the monster, so I shrugged and looked at her expectantly, she deflated then nodded at Zoey, “O... ok.”
The redhead grinned. “Great, that's as good to hear as a Rastafarian opossum on a tin drum.”
My face scrunched up in confusion and Itsy asked in a bewildered state, “Huh?”
Zoey made a rolling motion and said, “Just nod and roll with it.”
We nodded and rolled with it. She was bent, but in a good way. She stepped to the door and held it open for us and we went out into the crowded space, Leigh shuffling like it was a death march.
Chapter 5 – Will
I sighed and hugged the twins, I was running late for the seven AM meeting.
Harrison said, “Go, Zoey, I've got this here. I'll drop the twins off at the Pike later this morning or early afternoon.”
I smiled at my man. He had taken the day off from work to watch the children, not that they needed a babysitter anymore. When had they grown up?
I sighed and gave him a peck on the lips then looked at him and the kids and said, “Don't get into too much trouble and no sweets until after lunch.”
He said with a chuckle, “I can handle the kids Zo, get that cute caboose in gear or you'll be late.”
With a teasing smirk over my shoulder, I turned to the door, “I wasn't talking about them.”
He tried to swat my butt as I
I looked down at Leigh, who seemed to be marshaling herself again. Then I changed the subject and nudged my chin to the mixer as I went about putting the motor cover back on then signed, “I did a preliminary look at the beast here, and without my tools I have it down to the motor controller drive system or the brushes in the motor itself. I'll know more tomorrow with my tester.”
She made a sour face as she joined us at the mixer. “The drive system again? That's the third time in six months, I swear this dinosaur is almost not worth the trouble. If we had the funds to buy a modern one, we would have long ago.” She trailed off, I could see the pain in her eyes as she remembered that 'we' was one person less now.
I cocked my head and offered, “If you opt for just replacing the motor with a variable resistance motor and controller then we could just dump the drive system altogether. I could cobble together a proper mounting system. It would be immensely cheaper than buying a new unit. This thing may have some shortcomings but it is a solid mixer.”
Leigh was feeling much better and was making fun of me by making a little mouth with her hand and making it babble as I went on. I grinned at her and mouthed, “Smartass.” Then I nudged my chin toward her as I signed to Zoey, “Sorry, I just get a little passionate about machines.”
She shook her head slowly and said as she smiled at us. “Not a problem. That's an interesting idea. I'd like to... well, ummm... I guess I'll have to ask McKenzie now if we should proceed. I'll talk to her tomorrow about it after the reading of the will. I'll call you before you come tomorrow afternoon to see if the Pike is still going to be here.”
I saw sadness and worry in her eyes. I had always thought she was a partner here but it sounds as if I were mistaken and she was unsure of the fate of the Pike without Mrs. Z. She loved this place it was plain to see.
I nodded then looked at Itsy again. She was at the end of her ability to reign in her anxiety. I looked at her as I signed to Zoey, “I think we've had enough excitement for one day. We appreciate being included in this gathering and are really and truly sorry for your loss, Mrs. Z was one of the nicest ladies we have met.”
She had a reflective look with a shadow over her as she nodded, then straightened a little and looked at Itsy and said, “Stay for the toasts at least? Things are winding down here anyway.”
My girl looked up at me like she was questing for permission in my eyes, I hated when she wasn't sure of herself. I wasn't going to feed the monster, so I shrugged and looked at her expectantly, she deflated then nodded at Zoey, “O... ok.”
The redhead grinned. “Great, that's as good to hear as a Rastafarian opossum on a tin drum.”
My face scrunched up in confusion and Itsy asked in a bewildered state, “Huh?”
Zoey made a rolling motion and said, “Just nod and roll with it.”
We nodded and rolled with it. She was bent, but in a good way. She stepped to the door and held it open for us and we went out into the crowded space, Leigh shuffling like it was a death march.
Chapter 5 – Will
I sighed and hugged the twins, I was running late for the seven AM meeting.
Harrison said, “Go, Zoey, I've got this here. I'll drop the twins off at the Pike later this morning or early afternoon.”
I smiled at my man. He had taken the day off from work to watch the children, not that they needed a babysitter anymore. When had they grown up?
I sighed and gave him a peck on the lips then looked at him and the kids and said, “Don't get into too much trouble and no sweets until after lunch.”
He said with a chuckle, “I can handle the kids Zo, get that cute caboose in gear or you'll be late.”
With a teasing smirk over my shoulder, I turned to the door, “I wasn't talking about them.”
He tried to swat my butt as I
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