“Don’t worry,” I said. “He’ll pay y’all out his own pocket if it gets too bad. But I’m trying to make sure it doesn’t come to that.”
That sat with them.
Patch leaned back slightly. “You know… a few of the guys know a thing or two about construction.”
I looked at him.
“And I don’t mind having a little tour group follow me around,” he added.
I shook my head immediately. “No, no. I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
“You ain’t asking,” he said. “Besides… if we don’t do it, who will?”
He glanced down at my shoes.
“Not you in them high heels in all this mud.”
I laughed. I had to.
“Let me be great.” I lean back on my palms. “Still. I don’t know if it’s in the budget to pay you for that.”
“Ms. Rodriguez,” he said, more serious now, “I put my kids through college because of this place. I had a job when half the world lost theirs during COVID. I never needed for nothing.”
He looked out toward the rows.
“I want to keep this place open as long as possible. I don’t mind a little extra work. Let me earn the damn bonus for once.”
I nodded slowly.
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll talk to Marlon about it.”
“Thanks Miss.”
“Just call me Rory. Please.”
“Got it. Rory.” He gave me a playful wink.
“Ms. Aurora!”
I turned at the sound of Hartland’s voice before I even saw him.
He came jogging into the clearing, slightly out of breath, Wyatt not far behind him, both of them looking like they’d been walking a minute.
“There you are,” Hartland said, hands on his knees. “I thought we lost you too.”
Wyatt slowed as he approached, eyes moving from me to Chewy, then to the group. “You good?”
“I’m good,” I said, finishing off the last of my plate.
“He’s good.” I lifted Chewy slightly for emphasis.
Wyatt nodded once, relieved. “Well it’s getting late. Lemme give you a ride up to the office.”
“But can all of us fit in one ATV?”
Wyatt looked confused. “My ATV went down yesterday. I got a truck.”
Now I was confused.
