A New Foundation Rochelle Alers (read aloud .txt) 📖

“African masks. I have a collection of masks and paintings with masks.”

A gasp of shock slipped past Sonja’s lips. “That gets a double check. I’ve just begun collecting them. When I was in Venice earlier this year I bought one from an African street vendor to add to those worn at carnival. Where did you get your masks?”

“One of my former coworkers has a brother in Nigeria who is a sculptor, and I have bought a number of his pieces.”

“I’d love to see your collection.”

“Right now they’re packed away, but perhaps one of these days you’ll get to see them. What’s next?” Taylor asked.

“Favorite foods. I like Caribbean and Southern.”

Taylor chuckled. “Again a double check.”

“Favorite time of the year.”

“Fall and winter.”

Sonja angled her head. “That gets a half check because I like the change of seasons.”

“Okay. I’ll accept that. What’s next?”

“Photography.”

“Black and white,” Taylor said.

“That’s another check,” Sonja confirmed.

“Favorite time of the day?”

“Late night.”

“Bingo,” Sonja drawled. She counted the number of checks. “It looks as if we are more compatible than not.”

“That’s good to know.”

“And I agree, if we’re going to be working together.”

Taylor’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel. He didn’t know what had transpired in Sonja’s life in less than twenty-four hours for her to hint about becoming a part of the restoration team he’d hoped to establish over the coming months. He’d also wanted to pump his fist in triumph when she’d revealed she wasn’t married or in a relationship. He did not want to have to deal with a jealous or controlling husband or boyfriend.

“There’s also something else we have in common.”

“What’s that?” Sonja asked.

“I noticed you brought a camera, and I also have one in the cargo area. There’s so much to see that I know I won’t be able to recall it all.”

Sonja pressed her head against the headrest. “I’ve thought about what you’ve told me about Bainbridge House and I’m willing to accept your offer based on salary, benefits and perks.”

Taylor had informed Patrick that he would assume the responsibility to establishing salaries based on an applicant’s education, licensing and certification. The total restoration budget would support Taylor hiring the best tradespeople in the region.

“We’ll discuss salary and bennies later. Do you have a valid driver’s license?”

“Yes. Why?”

“I am willing to provide you with a leased car and put you up in a nearby hotel to cut down on the time you’d have to commute from Inwood to an area north of the Delaware Water Gap.”

With wide eyes, Sonja gave him a lengthy look. “It’s that far?”

“Yes. Bainbridge House was built close to the Dryden Kuser Natural Area known as the highest point in New Jersey.”

“It sounds as if it’s in the boonies.”

“Not quite. There are a lot of small Jersey towns in the area, and New York’s Port Jervis is a short drive away.”

“How long will take it us to drive from Inwood to Bainbridge House?”

“At least ninety minutes, barring traffic delays.”

Sonja shook her head. “There’s no way I want to spend three hours a day driving to and from work.” She paused. “What about you, Taylor? Do you plan to commute from Connecticut?”

“No. I’ve already made plans to live in my mother’s Sparta condo. It’s about an hour’s drive so that’s manageable for me.”

“What about your place in Stamford?”

“I’m not renewing my lease. I’ve arranged for a moving company to pack up everything and take it to a New Jersey storage facility.”

“It appears you have all of your ducks in a row.”

“I have to because I don’t like surprises or chaos.”

“Are you warning me that you’re going to be a harsh taskmaster?”

A silence filled the vehicle for several seconds. “No. I don’t yell or threaten, Sonja, and on a project, any foreman who does that will be terminated on the spot. As a new hire with my former employer I had a supervisor who was verbally abusive to everyone, and I swore once I was promoted to a supervisory position I’d never treat adults like recalcitrant children. The overall morale was so low and the construction site so toxic we’d talked about walking out en masse and quitting. It ended when word got back to a VP and the supervisor was fired. I was promoted as an assistant construction site supervisor. Unfortunately, my promotion came only a few months before my mother revealed she wanted us to restore the property, and it didn’t go over well with some of my coworkers.”

“They know you, Taylor, and are probably apprehensive as to who they would eventually get to replace you.”

“You’re probably right, but I can’t dwell on it because it’s my past.”

Like your modeling career, Sonja mused. She marveled that it was so easy for him to dismiss his past while she was still struggling to deal with the events in her failed marriage. They were traumatic enough for her to reject any man who expressed an interest in her—and that included dating.

“Your position will be vastly different from the other workers.”

She blinked slowly. “Why would you say that?”

“Because you’ll be autonomous. You will be responsible for appraising every item in the mansion while deciding which architectural features should be repaired or replaced.”

“I hope you’re patient, because that means I’ll have to go through every room in the house and give you a report.”

“That’s not going to pose a problem, Sonja. I’ve projected up to two years to restore the interior and exterior of the main house. I’d like to start work on the exterior before it gets too cold.”

For the first time since she’d answered Viola’s call, Sonja experienced an excitement that made her look forward to beginning a new artistic venture. Taylor unknowingly would assist her in becoming more independent once she moved to a hotel as he’d promised. She didn’t have a problem sharing the apartment with her aunt and uncle, but at her age she should’ve been living alone. She’d dreamed of decorating her place