“Symb-what?” Connor hooted. He was the foreman. He was
also heavily built, a big man over six feet with bulging
muscles. He was in his mid-forties with a wife and seven kids.
Adalynn hadn’t believed it when he’d told her. She still didn’t
quite believe it, but apparently, he had two sets of twins.
“Symbiotic,” Cassia said again, and giggled. “It’s when two
things have a good working relationship. The goats would
benefit from the grass, the land would benefit from the
fertilizer. If not goats, maybe sheep or something. Cows?
Something that eats lots of grass.”
“I’d like to have a symbiotic relationship with you,” Jason
joked. It was a terrible joke and Adalynn could literally feel
the silent groans of the crew, but Cassia took that in stride.
“I think that’s how all good jobs go. Like I said before,
Adalynn works hard at what she does. She’s worked hard for
years. The house is the product of that. It’s an ancient thing
and it needs some love and you’re giving it that love. In turn,
the house is good to Adalynn and she’s good to all of you. I
know she’s a good boss. She’s been super nice to me, and
she’s been far more generous than warranted.”
Cassia had no way of knowing what Adalynn paid the guys
who worked for her, but she was obviously willing to bet that,
from what she knew about Adalynn, she was generous and
more than fair. She probably wouldn’t have taken a chance and
put it out there otherwise. There was a chorus of agreements to
that too, then Big George and Connor stood up together.
“Time to get back to work. That porch ain’t going to build
itself,” Big George roared in his big, booming voice.
The guys stood, one by one, and began cleaning up their
lunch things. Adalynn had hardly eaten a bite, but she stood