Free Deception Creek by Terry Persun

Down the center of the yard — you can see them growing right now — are peony. I have wild flowers planted near the edge over there and about ten feet into the woods. I just did that this year. Every year I put in new plants, starting back here because the kitchen’s here. The front’s still a pretty big mess, but I’ll get to it.”
    â€œIt’s like a dream back here. You can’t even tell it’s here from the front.”
    â€œI know. It’s my secret right now.” Scott smiled.
    â€œAnd you’ve done everything yourself?”
    â€œOh, goodness no. Some of this is too heavy for that. I had a few people help with the beams, the larger windows, things like that.”
    â€œFrom work?”
    Scott shook his head. “Not often. Mostly my dad and brother. Once in a while, an uncle or two.”
    â€œWhy not ask the guys from work?” Billy asked while following Scott upstairs.
    â€œI think I alienate them.”
    â€œSounds familiar.”
    While standing at the loft railing looking down into the great room, Scott said out of the blue, “You’re smart to get a degree. No matter what you know, what you can do, you need papers these days in order to prove you’re a thoroughbred. There’s hardly a job in the papers that doesn’t require a degree—even in this small town.” He shifted his weight and turned around. “I’m a man who workswith his hands.” Scott held up his hands and looked at them. “That’s not worth as much as it used to be. Not to anyone.”
    â€œI sense there’s a who in there somewhere,” Billy said.
    â€œA woman,” Scott said. “Come on. I’ll show you my plans for the future.”
    Billy followed Scott back downstairs. “What woman?”
    â€œPromise you won’t laugh.”
    â€œI promise.”
    â€œI can’t tell you her name because she’s married. But I’m waiting for her to get a divorce.” Scott led Billy back through the kitchen and into another mudroom lined with shelves and closets.
    â€œYou’re having an affair?”
    â€œNo.” Scott answered quickly. He hesitated while holding the doorknob to the garage door. “She married the wrong man. He’s a jerk. But he has a regular job, businessman, you know. As soon as she finds out he’s the wrong guy, she’ll divorce him. That’s when I’ll get involved.” Scott forced his smile this time. “I know it sounds nuts, but that’s it. I’m in love with a married woman who doesn’t know I love her. And I’m waiting for a miracle to happen.” Scott laughed.
    Shaking off his curiosity and feeling a sudden tenderness toward Scott, Billy said, “Well, let’s see what you have here.”
    Scott opened the door, reached around, and turned on the light. “Ta-da!”
    The garage was filled with woodworking equipment—lathe, drill press, band saw, and industrial router. “Holy shit.”
    â€œYeah,” Scott said, “that’s why I’m building the shop next door. I’d have been working over there had the rain not come. Rain’s become rest and relaxation time to me.”
    â€œWhat are you going to do with all this?”
    â€œHave done,” Scott corrected. “I built every piece of furniture in the house. Look,” he pointed to a corner of the garage, at the far end. “An industrial sewing machine.” He turned off the light and closed the door. Stepping past Billy, he opened a side closet, which was filled, top to bottom, with material the same colors as the furniture Billy had seen throughout the house.
    â€œYou’re amazing,” Billy said.
    â€œThank you. So, that’s it. My story. Now for yours. But first, let’s get a drink.” Scott headed for the kitchen and grabbed two beers from the refrigerator.
    â€œNot for me,” Billy said. “Do you