Nadya put her head in her hands and moaned. “Is there anything else you want to tell me about this?”
“Just that when word gets out you have a say in this, the shit’s gonna hit the fan.”
“You mean with the environmentalists?”
“With everyone. Half this town thinks this development could be our salvation. More houses means more kids and more tax money so we could open up the school again. It also means jobs, and there are a lot of folks around here who need ’em.”
“And what does the other half believe?”
“Besides the environmental impact, there are some folks who just plain don’t like change. They don’t want to see Dale become part of the urban sprawl that’s steadily creeping out of Atlanta.”
“I really hate my father right about now. It’s like everything about him is somehow tainted. ‘Here, you can have your childhood home, but you’ll have to wade through a property war first to get it’.”
“It’s not all up to you. The state is fighting it, and the town will have to vote on it too.”
“Then how can Nokas offer me almost a million dollars for the land?”
“It’s a drop in the bucket to them. They buy up property all the time in the hopes of developing it at a future date. If they can’t do anything with it, they’ll sell it off for a loss and take it as a tax break.”
“You seem to know an awful lot about this.”
“I made a point of researching Nokas and his practices when he first started sniffing around. I can’t say I like the man. He’s a tad too shady for my taste.”
“Great, something else to worry about. At least dealing with his ilk is something I’m used to.”
Bill laughed. “Yeah, you’ve been dealing with slimy characters like him all your life from what Mary Ellen’s told me.”
“I’ve had my share. But I’ve also seen some pretty great characters too. Mr. Farley for one.”
“I guess you’re right. I got lucky having him for a father-in-law. Not that he didn’t make me work for it.”
“You appreciate what you work for.”
“You must be talking about Daddy,” Mary Ellen said as she carried a clean and dressed Hunter into the kitchen. Billy tagged along behind her with an oversized, red plastic bat and a plastic ball the size of a grapefruit.
“Yup,” Nadya said with a smile. “Remember how he made us get twice as many driving hours in before he’d let us take the test to get our licenses?”
“How can I forget? He was nice to you. He used to clutch the chicken bar and slam on the imaginary brakes with me. He’d get me so nervous I almost drove into the garage door.”
“You almost drove into the garage door because the cross-country team was jogging by and you were checking them out in the rearview mirror.”
“I was not!” Mary Ellen protested.
“Son, I think it’s time we went outside and did manly stuff like baseball.” Bill herded little Billy to the back door.
“But not Hunter, ’cause he’s just a baby.”
“He can watch from the swing set.”
“Just make sure the gate is locked or he’ll be down the street before you know it,” Mary Ellen called after them. “I love my boys. But I really hope this one’s a girl. I need to even the odds a little. Come keep me company while I fold some laundry. It’s my greatest wish that I will one day have an empty hamper, an empty sink and an hour to myself.”
“How do you do it? I mean, take care of the boys and work at the store and keep the house clean too. Aren’t you exhausted?”
“Always. But it’s a balancing act. I love being home with the boys, but if I didn’t get into the store for a while, I’d go stark raving mad. Going to work gives my brain a little exercise and gives me a chance to feel like I’m actually accomplishing something.”
“How can you say that? I’m amazed at how much you accomplish in an hour.”
“You’re so good for my ego. I know I keep a good house. My mother wouldn’t have had it any other way. But it doesn’t end. There’s no finish line. When I’m done with this load of laundry, there’ll be another waiting. The dishes are done, but the sink will be full before you know it. It’s like being on a hamster wheel—you run and run and run but don’t get anywhere.”