derekberrera

[derekberrera]

Huh, I guess I didn’t really think about it. Too busy getting all the juicy stuff, I suppose? But I work for Creekside Carpentry, for what it’s worth. It’s great — definitely keeps me busy at times, but I thoroughly enjoy it. We’ve got a great team, really work well together as well as independently. You think so? How does it differ, if you don’t mind me asking? I’m genuinely curious.

When we were talking the other day you never got around to telling me what you do. Mean I gave up that I'm in law, have my own practice here in town, but I don't remember you telling me much about what you do in town. Hopefully something that's keeping you busy, know right now, we're at a slower time in my office but that'll change as we get into warmer months.

[derekberrera]

“Oh, yeah. Never a lazy day at Creekside.” Some days definitely had less traffic than others, but there was always another project to move on to. “They’re over the moon about it. You should’ve seen Vix — zooming around the house like a lunatic. It was great! Are you planning anything particular for Earth Week?”

"How're things at work? Picking up again?" Lara asked him with a nod. School was finally back to normal, including afterschool activities, so she had been grateful for that. "Aww, well, now they can run around, huh?"

[derekberrera]

”I’ve no doubts about that.” Derek chuckled, pitching at Cage’s comment about having to earn their tip. “Cant fault you for that, either — I like to switch it up sometimes, too.” Admittedly, most of his meals consisted a lot of meat and little salad, but still. “Speaking of the kids — how’s everything going? I’m due a catch up daddy daughter date soon, but if I need a heads up for anything…” he knew Cage would let him know beforehand, if it was anything serious.

“It’s one of the few salads I’ll order while out and about, right? Purely because of how much chicken is thrown into the meal.” Doused in dressing that melted into the skin, the thought of it had him near drooling. “Jesus, I might have to get that, honestly, and some garlic bread — obviously.”

Letting out a low, joking groan as he sank into the booth, Cage nodded his head, "we've become that family that they know by heart. Chicken fingers for the girls, burgers for the boys. Cordelia and I occasionally change it up and throw them through a loop. Have to make 'em work for that tip." Which was a lie, because Cage was one of those guys who threw down a large tip without thinking about it. That was just the way that he -- all of the Newmans -- had been raised.

"Torn between one of those ridiculously large salads that they load up with chicken, so you almost forget that you're eating a salad, and … getting something with actual chicken," ha said with a smirk, flipping the menu over in his hand and looking at the other side, "the chicken sandwich they have on special looks good. Might get a bowl of soup, too, I'm a growing boy." He glanced back up at Derek, "what about you?"

[derekberrera]

”Yeah, it feels nice to get back to normal.” He agreed, relieved to hear that they didn’t lose power or have any accidents during. “Piper and Vixen were a little concerned, weren’t so keen on all the snow, understandably.”

”Hey — just checking in. How are you holding up now, all recovered from the snow storm? If you need help with anything, let me know, you know I’m happy to assist.” If any woman could boss him around, it was Lara (and maybe a little bit Lily, too). “I’m thankful we all made it through unharmed, though.” @lcrcmcrie

[derekberrera]

”I thought so.” He chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. Not that he didn’t like Jace — they just weren’t really close enough for him to feel like bombarding his space. “No doubt, he doesn’t seem like the type.” Especially having been in the military, that took a lot of guts. “See you in a bit.” He called out after they both climbed into their respective vehicles, letting his wheels roll against the earth as he followed Cage down the drive.

“Sounds great to me.” He nodded with a smile, striding not far after his friend and boss. “You probably know the menu by heart, huh?” It was a half joke, but he wouldn’t put it past him. “What’re you thinking of getting?”

"Fair," Cage let out a laugh, nodding his head. He had been in his brother-in-law's space a few times, found it to be quite military in the cleanliness, the way everything was tucked into its space. But he couldn't do it himself, at least not for more than a week in the woods. "Yeah, you're good, I think Jace knows better than to rob us," working out in a remote area, he knew they could trust the… well, lack of neighbors. Shooting Derek a salute, he climbed into his truck, starting the engine and pulling down he driveway.

Thankfully, Overlook wasn't too far from Jason's land. Wasn't exactly close, either, to go from the wilderness (or so it felt) to civilization, but it wasn't too long before he was pulling into the lot, pocketing his keys, and heading up to the covered porch of Overlook, rocking on his heels as he waited for Derek to join him, tilting his head towards the doors and then heading inside as he shot the hostess a quick wave, heading for one of the open tables. It paid to eat there entirely too much. "Window seat?" he asked Derek as he looked over his shoulder.

[derekberrera]

”Hey — just checking in. How are you holding up now, all recovered from the snow storm? If you need help with anything, let me know, you know I’m happy to assist.” If any woman could boss him around, it was Lara (and maybe a little bit Lily, too). “I’m thankful we all made it through unharmed, though.” @lcrcmcrie

[derekberrera]

“I feel like that’d be invading his space way too much, I think I’m good for now.” To hold all your belongings essentially in such a cramped space, he’d ultimately be stepping into a Jason Browning exhibition. “You know me, I rarely say no when it comes to food. Overlook it is!” He clapped his hands together as they came to the final decision, and was genuinely excited to fill his stomach with good food. “Meet you there? It’s safe to leave the tools for the day, right?”

"Ask him to see inside sometime," he laughed, gesturing towards the camper that Jason called home on the land that they were building on. "It's pretty tight." And to live in that space for almost twenty years… no, he liked his big farm house and acreage and space to roam, that was for sure. "Really hungry," he admitted with a small pout, "I worked up an appetite. We could do Overlook, it's not too far from here," there weren't a lot of options in the countryside, but at least the ones they had were always good.

[derekberrera]

Derek laughed as he took the lead, his truck and trailer parked strategically across a few spaces while allowing room for another vehicle or two. “Yeah, I’m sure. It’s old stock — been on the floor for too long now, and we needed to make room.” He looked to Sav with a teasing smile. “It’s not too heavy, just awkward, but I’m sure between the two of us we’ll get it upstairs. You got muscles, right?”

"No shit?" She said, looking up and around to the trailer he was talking about. The cloth was heavy enough, worked the biceps for those couple moments of carrying and when she got a glimpse of said table, she deducted it was indeed at least somewhat fancy shit. "Dude, you sure? This is like Antiques Roadshow porn."

[derekberrera]

“True — I didn’t even think about that, honestly.” He chuckled lowly, dipping his head to the side. Derek couldn’t imagine living in a small environment like that forever; maybe for a little getaway, which wouldn’t be a bad side hustle if Jason was into it. “I’m never too busy to get a meal with you. What’re we thinking? Are you really hungry, or just peckish?”

Letting out a laugh at Derek's question, Cage looked over his shoulder at Jason's camper, neatly maintained, pristine condition for something as old and vintage as it was. There was a part of Cage that thought if he had that as his living space, he would never want to leave it… but. "I think eventually even the wildest of wild men want a full sized bed and a shower that they don't have to crouch to use," he said with a scrunch of his nose, turning back to look at Derek. "I think Cordelia's on kid duty tonight, the girls have dance and that normally means pizza and ice cream for them, you want to grab something to eat if you're not busy?"

[derekberrera]

“Law, huh? I got to give you credit for that. It’s a hard field — from what I’ve seen, anyway. Which admittedly isn’t a whole lot.” He laughed. “It’s a beautiful language. I don’t speak it enough anymore, but it’s like second nature.” Der added with a smile, dipping his head a bit. “I don’t mind them — but they have to be home made. My daughter and I like to do pizza nights every so often. A cookie cake, though, that’s revolutionary. I need one.”

Laughing, Travis shook his head, "No never too much garlic sauce, and thank you. I like to keep brushed up on my Spanish, helps that I know a lot of the whole knowing a dead language thanks to studying law." He admitted, "But I grew up in an... interesting and diverse family so we were always learning other languages and cultures, Spanish was one I really enjoyed." And he could dabble enough in a few others. "Dessert pizzas just, not my think. Now if someone wants to buy me a giant cookie cake to bring home with my pizza that's one thing but I'll pass on sweet flavored pizza."

[derekberrera]

Happy birthday, @cagenewman!

What do you get a man that essentially has it all? Single malt whiskey, is the answer, as well as some custom coasters to enjoy a glass on. I know you’re going to get spoilt rotten. Enjoy it day, Boss!

— Derek

[derekberrera]

MERROCK TASK — YOUR SONG

It’s My Life - Bon Jovi

You better stand tall when they're calling you out Don't bend, don't break, baby, don't back down It's my life It's now or never I ain't gonna live forever I just want to live while I'm alive

Count On Me - Bruno Mars

You can count on me like one, two, three, I'll be there And I know when I need it I can count on you like four, three, two and you'll be there 'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh, yeah

[derekberrera]

”This isn’t even the proper gift.” Derek chuckled, admiration coating his features at the young woman’s enthusiasm. “This is just the tablecloth. The actual table is still on the trailer — it’s nothing too fancy, but it’ll do the job.”

Who: Open Where: Shearsins Salon (but side entrance/apartment door or sidewalk) When: March

Posted on insta/FB/Prob some flyers, wherever: Charity event! Reverse Garage sale @ 1518 S. Main St! Get an early jump on some Spring cleaning. Got a lamp collecting dust? A chair with a hole? Pots or pans, even a fork or ten? Help out one of Merrock's own (Savannah Stone) in her glorious rehoming! (pls no underwear. Or clothing at all. THX!)

"Ooh, and what's this?" Sav asked the person with the mystery box (bag or whatever) reaching out almost giddy like a kid on Christmas day. Shameless as it was. "It's not moving and no funky substances dripping, looking like a win on my end..."

[derekberrera]

If there was a job to be done, Derek was always able to put his head down and focus on the tasks at hand. But it had been quite the day thus far, and while they’d accomplished much as a team in prepping for a new build, Der was happy to call it. “Yeah, sounds good to me, boss.” He quipped, rising from where he’d been crouched and dusting his own hands free of any particles. “I can’t believe Jace has decided to finally upscale. Part of me always wondered what it’d be like to live in the wild.”

WHO: Cage & @derekberrera

WHERE: job site, countryside

WHEN: March, 2025

This had to be one of the more nerve-wracking jobs that Cage had ever taken on. In recent years, his career had mostly consisted of restoration jobs, the occasional renovation that he would be hired out to handle, or building a shed, a garage, fixing up a barn. Updating and restoring businesses in town, building furniture and home pieces and special, custom orders. Cage hadn't built a home in a long time, but when his brother-in-law had come to him with the plans and ask, he had no reason or desire to say no. Besides, it wasn't like he was on his own. "Thinking you're at a good place to quit for the day?" he asked Derek as he pulled his goggles off of his head, brushing the back of his hand across his forehead to knock free the wood chips and dust.

[derekberrera]

I don’t know how you do it, but you were always better help when Lily started bringing back homework. I genuinely would never not appreciate new socks, so go for it — and that’s the most accurate definition I’ve ever heard. You excited for St Patty’s day coming up?

It’s been good so far, so I’ve got no real complaints. That’s just how the school year goes. Okay; then next time I’ll tell Lily to pick up some socks, haha. Of course! Those machines are sock-eating creatures of habit. Hmm. Maybe. She is your child, though. Maybe the two of you just now have the same taste palate.

[derekberrera]

”Nunca se puede comer demasiada salsa de ajo, por lo que vale. Además, ¡buen español!” Derek replied with an impressed smile. “I doubt there will be any leftovers over here, either.” He’d worked up an appetite just for the occasion, and being around fresh ingredients always left his mouth watering. “That’s understandable. I think there’s some doing dessert pizzas, and i can’t be the only one who thinks it looks more like something else than chocolate.”

"Mean you can always eat pizza after, so long as you actually have leftovers." Travis said glancing towards the man who was speaking, watching him put pizza sauce on his dough before Travis returned to his. When he spoke in Spanish, Travis knew a decent amount thanks to working in the law and having several clients, and a very diverse family. "No puedo decidirme entre uno o ambos." Looking towards the man again as he grabbed both bowls of sauce. "No, I do love a good barbecue pizza but at certain times, right now, is not one of them."

[derekberrera]

I can imagine — it’s always a little crazy in the beginning. I hope it calms down a little bit for you soon. I definitely did, don’t you worry about that. Could’ve gotten me a new set of socks and I’d be grateful. They just keep getting eaten by my machine, y’know? I don’t have a clue why, either. Maybe because she knows heat can be my kryptonite if it’s past a certain point.

It's hard not to roll back into things. I'm teaching more classes this time around too, so it's been busy! You're very welcome! We hope you enjoyed them. You know Lily's going to be wanting to get going on that hot sauce kit so best be prepared. I don't know why suddenly she's so obsessed with hot sauce.