Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 54732 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54732 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
When they were finally done, Kay and Bradley invited everyone out, after hours, to show it off. They were all quite surprised to find themselves attending a huge barbecue, what would hopefully be the first of many, Bradley told them.
“Just so you all know, this place is a gift from my lovely wife, Kay. It was her idea to have a place where we could all gather with plenty of room to enjoy ourselves. Let’s all give her a big hand,” Bradley said to them after they were seated at the tables.
Everyone clapped and cheered, some yelling for her to make her own speech. She nodded and held up her hands for quiet before speaking.
“Don’t view this as me giving you anything. You are the ones that have given us everything instead. Each of you come here, day after day, and give it your all so that this ranch survives. You could go outside the clan and perhaps get better paying jobs, jobs with fewer hours or easier work...,” she said.
“Jesus, don’t be telling them that,” Bradley interrupted, causing everyone to laugh. Kay laughed too and then continued.
“But you stay here with us and work toward the whole of the clan and we appreciate that. I want you not to view this pavilion as a place where we have periodic gatherings for you, but as somewhere that belongs to all of us. Take your lunch breaks here, bring your family and use the grill for birthdays or anniversaries. This belongs to all of us. You’ve all earned so much more, but this is what we can give you for now.”
Another round of cheers and clapping went up as she finished her speech and then turned back toward Bradley. He put his hands up as if to say that was all.
“I think it’s time to eat then! Grab a plate and form a line! Drinks are in the cooler at the end of the table, past all the fixings.”
A rumble filled the air as they began making their way up to the long tables set sideways between the pit and the longer tables for eating. On them were platters of meat that Bradley had been cooking all day and assorted containers of potato salad, slaw, corn, rolls and a number of other side dishes to go with the main course of pork and beef.
It was good to hear the chatter and laughter that went on all around them as Bradley and Kay refilled platters with freshly grilled meat as each one emptied and finally, they sat down at the end of one of the other tables to eat with everyone else. Bradley looked happier than she had seen him in a very long time as his clan enjoyed their new pavilion.
“This is so great, Kay,” he told her, kissing her on the cheek.
“I think so too. This is more like one big family. Isn’t that what we are supposed to be?”
“That is exactly what we should be−one big, happy family.”
Afterward, they both agreed the night was a complete success and to do everything they could to keep it going with a once-a-month dinner for everyone to enjoy. The days that followed showed another added benefit in the form of a much happier clan that seemed to work harder and laugh more as they went about their chores.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“I’ve talked to some of the older guys about taking things over for a few days so we can get away,” Bradley told her a couple days later.
“Get away to where?”
“I thought we would go to the beach for a few days. Maybe Venice Beach. We can hang out with the yuppies and drink fruity drinks by the boardwalk.”
“Really? That sounds different, but are you sure they can get by without you for that long?”
“Sure, it’ll only be a few days. I thought we’d rent a little bungalow and just relax for a while. We’ve earned a vacation, haven’t we?”
“I suppose we have. Sure. When do you want to go?”
“Why wait. I’ll make the arrangements and we can leave on Friday.”
“Perfect,” Kay replied, thrilled to be going away for a bit of time alone with him.
The days seemed to crawl by after that. It was as if being excited about the trip somehow slowed down time, forcing her to wait some exaggerated amount of time to be on their way. By the time Friday rolled around, she was beyond excited to finally be on their way.
The bungalow was small, intimate. It was filled with the typical tourist type beachy things you always found when going to any coastal town, with shells and starfish all around as decor, accompanied by bright peach and aqua tones in the decor. It somehow managed to be quaint and tacky, all at the same time, but she was in love with it because it was their first getaway together.