“Thanks!” Shane had two packs full of clothes and toys he’d brought from the other house. He picked up both of them and headed down the hallway to his room.
“So.” Lenore braced her fists on her hips and heaved a heavy sigh. “Will you please take a look at the disposal for me?”
He considered reminding her yet again that he was not her handyman. But hey. Sometimes just giving in and doing what she wanted got him out of there faster. And he didn’t really relish the idea of getting into it with her on the day of Shane’s big party. “Sure. Toolbox in the pantry closet?”
She gave him a radiant smile. “Yep. As always.”
Ten minutes later, he’d found the nickel that had mysteriously gotten stuck in the disposal blades. It took him another fifteen minutes and a pair of needle-nose pliers to get the nickel out.
By then, Shane was back in the kitchen, standing at his side, watching him work as Lenore bustled around getting ready for the party.
“Here we go.” Josh handed the battered nickel to the birthday boy.
“It’s all dinged up, Dad.”
“Yep. Put it in your piggy bank anyway. A dinged up nickel is still a nickel.”
“Thank you so much, Josh,” Lenore gushed. “I don’t know what we’d do without you.”
You would probably stop putting nickels in the garbage disposal, he thought but had the good sense not to say. “You’re welcome, Lenore.” He put the pliers back into the tool kit and returned it to the pantry closet.
Lenore was waiting on the other side of the pantry door when he stepped out. “Why don’t you stay? Josh would love that.”
“Thanks, but he’s got all his friends coming, and he’ll be busy with the other kids. I’m taking off.”
She caught his arm. “Have a cup of coffee at least.”
“No, I really do need to go.” He eased free of her grip.
“Fine.” Shaking her head, she turned away.
He was careful not to get into it with her, not to ask her what was wrong. He knew what was wrong. He was leaving, and she felt driven to try to keep him there.
Shane stood over by the table staring at his cake and probably considering sticking a finger in the frosting.
Josh went to him. “Don’t even think about it.” He dropped to a crouch and wrapped his son in his arms. “Have the best party ever.”
“I will, Dad. Bye…”
From Lenore’s house, Josh headed for Bravo Construction. He could get a lot done at the office on a quiet Saturday morning. For a couple of hours, he reviewed progress reports and checked on materials that he would need in the next week.
Eventually, though, he started feeling hungry. He considered going home. His fridge was full, and he always had chores to tackle. But he tried his cousin Joe just in case he might be available.
You busy?he texted.
Joe answered two seconds later. Fences to fix and cattle to wrangle. You got a better offer?
Lunch. Stagecoach Grill?
See you there in half an hour.
Josh got there first. One of the tables by the west-facing front window was free. He took it and ordered a couple oflagers from Black Tooth Brewing Company. Sipping his beer, he admired the humped backs of the Bighorn Mountains out the wide window until Joe slid into the seat across from him.
“I like it when my beer is right there waiting for me.” Joe took a sip. “Yep. Beats fixing fence, no doubt about it.”
“How’s Macy?” Josh asked.
His cousin explained that eight-year-old Ana had been invited to Shane’s party. “Macy dropped her off,” Joe said. “Then she took the baby to her mom’s shop to catch up on a few things.” Macy’s mom owned Betty’s Blooms a few blocks away on State Street.
