“What about Rover?” She petted the dog who hadn’t left her side since he climbed into the truck.
Relieved she hadn’t noticed his slip up, he snapped his fingers and pointed to the far wall. Rover gave Hailey one last look and obediently trotted away and laid down, eyes closed.
“He must adore you; he listens so well.” She grinned at him. “Can I wreck it yet?”
“Normally, I’d cut around the edges with a reciprocating saw, but I have the feeling you want something more vigorous, like those home reno shows.”
“I love those. Do I get to use a sledge hammer?” She wiggled around like an excited kid.
He handed her a light, five-pound sledge.
“Oof. That’s heavy.” She grunted.
“It’s light. I have a ten pound one at home. Okay, work from the middle out. Red lines mark the studs. Hit between them, like this.” He swung his own hammer down, slamming it through the drywall.
“Like this?” She raised the hammer and whacked it into the wall. It stuck there, forcing her to yank it out. “Sweet!”
She slammed the wall again and again. Rubble rained down at her feet. She kept on until she stumbled.
“Okay.” He made a T-sign with his hands. “Time out. Take a break, before you hurt yourself.” She stopped and set the hammer on the floor.
“My arms are burning. Hammering’s tough work.” She massaged her arms and shoulders.
“Stretch it out. Like this.” He twisted back and forth, rotating his arms and shoulders.
She mimicked his moves. “Oh, that helps.” She shook her shoulders. “Now what?”
“We’ll use a wheelbarrow and haul the rubble out to my truck.” Eight loads later, only small bits and dust remained.
“Have a drink and take a break.” He gave her hearing protection, put on his own and plugged in his reciprocating saw, He carefully cut away the drywall from the other opening. He extracted it in two-foot square sections and carried them three at a time to his truck.
“That’s so much neater.” She laughed. “But not nearly so much fun.”
“You’ll be glad there’s less mess at the end of the day.”
Working steadily, he cut away drywall and she carted it to the truck. Once the first side was clear, they moved into the shop and continued, until nothing remained but the studs. Carefully, he removed the studs, stacking them neatly out of the way for reuse later. The wall between the shops was gone. Only the metal support posts remained. They’d accomplished a lot in only a few hours. Not as much as he would have with one of his employees assisting. Hailey followed instructions well, but he couldn’t stop himself from keeping one eye on her all the time. She wouldn’t get hurt on his watch. He almost swore she’d watched him as much as he watched her. Just the thought put a smile on his face.
Dust covered and wobbly with exhaustion, Hailey grinned at Jesse from a folding chair beside their work table. Her enthusiasm and hard work impressed him. “I think it’s time for lunch.”
“I’ll run next door and get it. At least I don’t have to go all the way around.”
“Hang on.” He rummaged in his enormous plastic bin of supplies and extracted a small, battered throw rug. He placed it on the original side of the store on layered strips of split plastic, which served as a doorway and dust barrier to the other side. “Something to keep you from tracking dust over.”
“That’s brilliant. I never would have thought of it. Thanks.”
He bowed and pushed the plastic apart. “At your service, My Lady.”
* * *
“Hailey,could you come over here? Please.” Serena called as they finished eating. There was a touch of hysteria in the normally unflappable girl’s voice.
She bundled up the containers she’d brought their lunch in and carried them with her toward the other side to see what Serena needed.
“Where is my son?” Jesse’s mother’s voice echoed through the opening to Jesse. She sounded angry, but sober. Small victories.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Phillips. Nice to see you. Can I help you find something?” Hailey’s voice was calm and rational, like a parent dealing with a petulant child, an analogy that was entirely too accurate. His mother behaved like an undisciplined teen, throwing a tantrum to get her way.
“You can help me find my son.” Her stilettos clicked across the floor and the plastic barrier burst open as she pushed herself into the room. Sighing in exasperation, she brushed dust off her arms. “Here you are.”
