2020-03-17 - A Heart to Heart

Three weeks. Stephanie’s slowly integrating back into her life. Sure, she’s avoided folks, and kept to herself more, but It’s a process. Throughout the process, she had her younger brothe and best friend. At least she thought she did. Jake wasn’t always around. With her shift work and whatever it is he is working on, she struggles to catch up with Jake.

She is in the living room that morning, having fallen asleep on the couch while watching TV.

Jake crept in counting his tip, because seriously who gets up in the middle of the damn night to go check a boiler. Answer, someone needing more money. Yes it was her house, yes she did not asking him to but could not help it. Parts were on order, a schedule in place. His own cabin was coming together as well, the chainsaw helped his firewood problem. He figured another week or two and she would want him out of her hair so she could get back to... he wasn't sure.
He locked the door and turned around to find Steph on the couch. He looked at his watch with the sun barely rising. Jake walks slowly to look and see if she was awake.

Her eyes were closed but she was slowly waking. “Hey,” she says, her eyes still closed for a moment before she opens them again. Stephanie sits up and gives Jake a questioning glance. “Do I want to know where you’ve been?” she asks quietly.

He grins. "Good morning Sleepijg Beauty. We are all out of princes so I was going to try coffee." He knelt down to be the right height to hug her. "Got a call and needed to head out for a bit. Did you have nights last night, I thought you were on the day shift." He gave her a squeeze.

“I was...I just had a restless sleep. The house has always felt too quiet...but it never bothered me until...” Stephanie lets her voice trail off as Jake gives her a hug. His hugs were the best hugs. “Coffee sounds nice.”

"Awesome. Go wash the sleep off and I will get the coffee going. Should have a cup for you when you are done." He smiles and let's go.to head to the kitchen.

Stephanie retreats to get cleaned up and ready for the morning. She can smell the coffee brewing and she’s ready for a cup. About fifteen minutes later, she heads to the kitchen to rejoin Jake.

“What’s for breakfast?”

"Coffee." Jake chuckles. "We can go out for breakfast if you want. I was just gonna to polish off a cup and try to catch a power nap or something like that. How has work been treating you?" Jake looked to his sister with a smile.

“Work’s been good. It helps that aside from the odd joke about keeping his partner out of trouble, Devlin’s been cool about helping me get back into the swing of things.” Stephanie considers going out for breakfast. “I can make up bacon and eggs before you nap,” she counteroffers, “You’re probably tired.” There is a pause before she says, “I’m glad you’re home, Jake. How much longer are you staying?”

"In the house, a few more days. You are active and deserve your space back." It really was a jerks answer that Jake gave. He knew he did not really answer her. "Bacon and eggs sounds amazing."

“It’s gotten really lonely over the years, you don’t have to go. Unless you’re the one wanting space.” She’s asking a different question, but this answer makes her curious. “You found a place?”

She is in the kitchen now, cooking.

"Bought a cabin on Sycamore the other day. It's why I was taking any job. Between what I can do and what I make, the place is nearly renovated." He grins. "I didn't want to miss you anymore."

“So you’re staying in town? Moving back home?” Stephanie asks for clarification, “You know you don’t have to rush out of here, right? There’s always room for you here. It’s a small house but it still feels too big for just one person.”

There is a pause as she works on the eggs. “How do you like your eggs again?” she asks.

"I am not rushing out. You have your own life and this is now your home. Not saying you don't have room... well you won't for a time but we can get into that. Scrambled with bacon sounds great about now." Jake smiles as he watches work mode Stephanie process things.

“Okay so let’s talk about me not having room, hash out details.” Stephanie scrambles some eggs as she speaks. “You seem to really like being cryptic. What’s going on with you? Catch me up.”

"Well you said something's and do be fair, they pissed me off. You have never been stuck, nor were you abandoned. You Doc seem to suffer from depression. I remember you telling me about not being able to afford to take the last of the testing so.you are not even a nurse. I look at the house and it pisses me off because you deserve more. You got hurt risking yourself because you care. I am tired of looking at you and feeling like you gave up being the dreamer. So if the dreamer needs a reminder, then the fighter will just have to do it." His hand gestured to the counters. "Those are a week six project I believe. I'm starting in your room, new windows, new paint. I'll be fixing your bath and upgrading the fixtures. The best of what we have will go to the second bathroom, I'll be checking the lines so this floor is coming up, it's all getting gutted Steph. You pick your colors, your style. We will get this Reno done." He nods

Stephanie finishes the eggs, though the bacon seems to be needing a little more time when Jake starts his explanation and by the end of it, she has breakfast on two plates, including a couple of slices of toast. She seems to be emotional and it’s fairly easy to see that.

“You don’t have to do that,” she says quietly, “I guess this place could use a few upgrades but you don’t need to get carried away.”

He growled at her. "Don't you dare. You deserve this. I have not been home for your birthdays but I never forgot you sis." He sat back as she set the table. "This looks great. You will find a couple color ideas in the magazines I brought home. Before I pass out I will get them for you. I had not planned to tell you yet." He chuckled.

Stephanie serves Jake his breakfast at the counter rather than set the table because it’s too damn early and she has no desire to set the table.

“I’ll have to give it some thought about the common areas but if you’re starting in my room, I was thinking I would like a lavender, a nice light purple. Maybe some dark wood furniture down the road.”

"I can make that happen. First up is going to be new windows, any reason you can think of not to go with white windows and nature wood interiors?" He picked up his coffee and followed to the counter. "Making me get up..." he laughed.

“I’m not sure but I do know this place needs a little light so we should consider painting the walls in the shared areas something fun and fresh.” Stephanie takes a bit out of her own breakfast. “Do you think we should consult an interior designer for this or something?”

"You can if you want certainly. Hell get.your friends over and paint a room. I'm going to get it repackaged for you but there is no reason you should not have a blast." He grins. "But stick to paint, if you or they, slow down my work I'll be looking to hold someone accountable. No I am too old for cookies to work... well maybe." Jake laughs.

“We’ll see if anyone’s available enough to do anything with me, probably tackle my bedroom walls at the very least. Keep the untrained contained to one room.” Stephanie smirks at Jake and adds, “You know you’re lying to yourself if you really believe that. Cookies always work, especially my triple chocolate cookies.”

Jake was busy trying to stuff breakfast in his face but looked at Steph staring daggers. He swallowed what he had then took a sip of coffee. "Those are not just cookies damn it." He grinned and shook his head. "They can start with the spare room. I just want to fix the floor and closet in there. Already repaired the window hardware and replaced the insulation around it. Sheetrock is done as well." He smirks and sips.

“All right, all right, I’ll see who is available.” Steph smirks playfully at her younger brother. “I know you like to keep yourself busy with projects when something’s bothering you. Is there anything else going on?”

"No, I came home to stay sis. Nothing more needs to be said on that. Maybe I'll get lucky and find someone or I'll just enjoy the search for a while." Jake grins. "Mustly I just want to use what I learned over the years. I have my own business. Fixing our old home up is a project of love."

“All right, all right, I’ll stop the interrogation and let you eat,” Stephanie said with a chuckle, eating her own breakfast concurrently, “We can talk design choices later.”

"Oh no you dont. I am doing the grunt work and getting material. You and likely your friends have some concepts on color I'd rather not be involved wkth." Jake laughs. "Seriously whatever you want is fine. I'm doing the rest of the work."
Jake finished his food then got up and hugged Stephanie. "Thanks sis, now I'm going to get some sleep." He wanders down the hall to pass out.