“Will do,” Walt says. “What kind of flooring are you planning to put in here? You want new carpet, or do you want to go with something like vinyl planks?”
I open my mouth and then stop with a frown. “I have no idea,” I confess. “I’ll have to ask Mom.”
“Let me know in the next day or two so I can order it and have it ready when we need it. Don’t wanna lose more time than we have to,” Walt tells me.
Jakob screws the top on his water bottle and gets back in the hole just as the bell over the front door jingles and Mom pokes her head into the shop, Mr. Butters at her heels. She was over at Dot’s store helping unpack new inventory. “Emmie, honey, is there any way you could run me to the pharmacy for a quick minute? I need to pick up a prescription…” She breaks off abruptly when she sees the size of the hole. “Oh dear me.”
She comes over and surveys the damage. Mr. Butters followsalong, sitting down and staring into the hole with interest. He is grinning happily, glad to be part of the action. It must be nice to live in his doggy brain. Not a care in the world. Jakob has now disappeared into the hole and is doing something underneath the floor.
Walt nods cordially. “Gwen.” He snorts in derision when he sees Mr. Butters’s hot-pink polka-dotted bow tie, but he scratches the dog under the chin anyway, and Mr. Butters wiggles his stubby tail enthusiastically.
Mom purses her lips and nods back stiffly. “Walter.”
“I got the hammer,” Gus yells, racing back toward us with the hammer in his hand. Focused on his task, he doesn’t pay attention and runs squarely into Mom, who cries out in alarm as she loses her balance and starts to fall. Her cane clatters to the floor.
In one surprisingly quick motion, Walt grabs her around the waist and pulls her up tight against him, keeping her upright. For a moment they are locked in an embrace, his strong arms clamped around her slight form. Her head comes up and their eyes meet. They’re toe to toe and nose to nose. Mom gives a little gasp. Walt immediately releases her and lifts his hands as though he’s being held at gunpoint.
“Years of baseball. Good reflexes,” he says to no one in particular.
“Oh my goodness.” Mom presses her hand to her heart, looking bewildered. I grab her cane from the floor and steady her with a hand under her elbow until she’s regained her balance. I study Walt in surprise. That was impressive. Who knew he was that quick on his feet?
“You’re like Superman,” Gus announces, looking at Walt with a touch of awe. Then he turns to Mom. “I’m sorry, Grammy.” His lower lip quivers. “I didn’t mean to run into you.” He’s stillholding the hammer. Mom steps back, putting a little more distance between her and Walt. She smooths her shell-pink cashmere sweater.
“It’s all right, Gus honey. No harm done.” She leans down and pats his cheek.
“You all right, Gwen?” Walt asks gruffly, and there’s a note of concern in his voice that takes me by surprise.
“Yes, thank you, Walter,” Mom says stiffly. Her cheeks are as pink as her sweater. “I appreciate the rescue.” She lifts her chin and doesn’t make eye contact with any of us. I think she’s embarrassed, but I’m not sure if its because of her near fall or the gasp she made when she was pressed up against Walt.
“I can run you to the pharmacy if we go right now,” I tell her.
She looks grateful. “I’ll wait in the car,” she says and heads for the door, leaning heavily on her cane. “Come on, Mr. Butters.” The dog follows her, trotting across the bare wood floor.
“Whoa there, big guy. Watch yourself. We don’t need two people in this hole.” Jakob pops out of the hole and reaches out one hand to stop Gus, who is teetering on the edge, peering into the hole in fascination. Jakob takes the hammer from Gus’s hand. “Thanks, pal. Now let’s see. Walt, you got any jobs that need a smart, strong guy like this to help you out?”
Walt is staring after Mom with a far-off look in his eyes. He snaps back to the present. “Sure, I got some things that need hammered. Come on, squirt.”
“I can take Gus with me to the pharmacy,” I tell them.
Jakob meets my eyes. “He can stay. We’ll keep him occupied,” he offers. “If you want us to.”
I pause. Across the room Gus looks up. He’s holding a fistful of nails. “I want to stay,” he pleads. “Walt’s gonna let me hammer things.”
I glance at Jakob. “You sure about this?”
He nods confidently. “We’ll keep him safe.”
“Okay, I’ll be quick. Twenty minutes tops.” Still I hesitate.
“Take your time. We’ve got this. Don’t worry,” Jakob says easily. He hops out of the hole.
“Hey, Jakob,” Gus calls across the room. “Do you know there are dead people floating around in space? Animals too. From failed space missions.”
“Cool,” Jakob says. “How’s that board coming along?”
“Almost done,” Gus replies. He starts hammering.
“Okay, I’ll be back soon then.” I take out my keys and head out the door, struck by how quickly I find myself entrusting my son to Jakob. My support community—Mom, Dot, and Dani—consists only of women. It feels nice to have a guy choose to spend time with Gus, a man I respect and trust. And even though I’m a little leery of leaving Gus on a construction site with so many potential hazards, I haven’t seen him this happy since Dad died. I know Jakob will take good care of him.
