I point a gloved finger at her. “Watch yourself.”
“One depends on me for food while the other can’t do his own laundry…” she continues.
“Shut your mouth and come hold this.” I motion to the fence beam, hell bent on hiding the smile that possesses my lips when we give each other shit.
Her face falls as she moseys over. “I still can’t believe someone did this,” she mumbles, looking more than bummed as I take off my work gloves and hand them to her.
“I know, babe, but I’m picking up those cameras tomorrow after work. So if anyone tries anything else, they’ll have me to deal with.”
Molly gives me a tight smile in appreciation as she picks up the beam and holds it against the post as instructed while I hammer in the large nails.
One portion of the fence is back up and intact when I hear the crunch of tires on gravel, announcing the arrival of an unexpected visitor. A silver sedan I’ve never seen before pulls up, and Molly and I both turn and wait for its owner to shut off the engine and get out. Once a paunchy bald man steps out with his sunglasses in place, I step in front of Molly, intent on being the first of us he makes contact with.
“Can I help you?” I ask, cutting straight to the chase.
“Yeah, are you the residents of this address?” he asks, holding an envelope in his hands and looking down at the front of it.
I give him a curt nod. “Yeah, Wolf and Molly Owens,” I verify for him, even though Molly hasn’t done anything about changing her last name yet.
“All right, no big deal.” He hands the envelope over to me, and I immediately start tearing off the top while giving him my attention. “It’s just to let you know of an upcoming inspection on your barn.” He tips his head in the direction of the backyard.
“Why does it need to be inspected?” Molly asks him, moving around to my side.
He shakes his head with his lips pressed in line. “I guess this thunderstorm season has been a rough one, doing damage to some properties around here.” He holds his hands out, trying to convey that he’s unsure of what’s happening and has been instructed to do a job. “An outside source pointed out to us at the county official’s office that certain buildings may no longer be in compliance with modern codes. So when a building like that is damaged, it has to be fixed according to the current standards.”
I look up from the official document that forewarns us of said upcoming inspection, due to take place in two weeks. Molly leans over my arm to get a look at the paper, and she draws in a sharp breath. The paper indicates that “partial repairs,” like thesupport beams she and I fixed, “are not allowed”’. Options listed are “full rebuild to modern code” or “‘complete removal.’”
“Wolf,” she whispers.
I shift the paper to my other hand and immediately drape my arm around her, pulling her close. “Thanks,” I tell the man. “But if this is all you got, mind seeing yourself off our property?”
“Sure thing.” He nods, and I can sense the compassion in his delivery. Something I probably wouldn’t have picked up on before marrying Molly. “And it’s just an inspection at this point, nothing to worry about.” He backs away and turns toward his vehicle.
I wave him off before turning to console Molly, rubbing my hands up and down her arms as she takes some deep but shaky breaths.
“I have to demolish it and or completely rebuild?” she exclaims with tears in her voice.
I pull her into me. “Shhh…I think I know what this is about.”
“That’s granddad’s shop!” she exclaims. “I don’t want to change it! Even if I did, I don’t have the money for that!”
When the car is out of sight, I pull her away enough to look at her. “Baby… I think this is Riley trying to fuck with us.” I try to keep my voice calm while I look her right in her eyes.
She looks back into mine for a moment, searching; like she’s trying to believe what I’m saying. But another moment ticks by before she slowly closes them and sinks down to the grass. Lying back, she brings her hand, cloaked in my giant work glove, to rest across her face while I lower myself into a crouch next to her. I give her a couple minutes, just offering silent support, resting a hand on her stomach and waiting for her to speak when she’s ready.
“I knew…when Mima got sick that I wouldn’t be able to have both…” The thickness in her voice means she’s holding backtears, even with the warm grass beneath her and the brilliant sun shining above her.
“Both what babe?” I ask her to clarify.
“Keeping Clover Hill and finishing college and vet school,” she answers through a slight hiccup.
For the first time, the reality of her hardships fall over me like a thin shroud. “Are you talking about money or upkeep?” I tilt my head down at her. “Because you know I can help with both. It’s not just you living here and taking care of the place—it’s us. And your income shouldn’t be the only?—”
“I can’t ask you to pay anything,” she cuts me off, letting the words coast out on a long breath.
“You’re not asking,” I firmly clarify. “I’m stepping up because this is my home now too.”
“Yeah, but you’ve already done so much. You got married to a stranger for God’s sake.”
