4
Cody
Pepper River Boat Hut wasn’t anything like it was back when Cody was a kid. His grandfather had made good use of the waterway, hiring out rowboats and pedalos, including lifejackets and water safety advice. Their house was set back in amongst trees, and an old brown shed along the bank was where visitors used to purchase their tickets for a fun few hours on the river.
Cody stood where the rowboats used to be moored, wishing they were still there. Wishing his mum hadn’t died. He looked down the cracked, overgrown pathway to assess the new house being built in the same spot his home once was.
The house was a shell in need of windows and a roof. Zach certainly had his work cut out for him if he were to restore the old business in time for spring.
Cody mooched around the grounds, peeping through dirty scaffolding.
Builders were due back soon, and the Boat Hut would be back in action once the house was sorted. Could it ever be the same? He shook his head and went back to the river to check out the dilapidated shed.
The door was unlocked, not that it mattered. There wasn’t anything inside except the old chair where his grandad would take the weight off every hour or so. Cody knew where the cash tray used to sit and where the life jackets hung. The warning sign about swimming in the river was missing from the wall, and the storm lamp was gone.
He sat on the rickety, dusty chair and closed his eyes for a moment, drawing on his memories. It was a sunny day, excited children waited eagerly for their turn on a boat, and Zack and his mum were handing out ice-poles. He could hear the hustle and bustle, smell the scent of the water, and taste the cold ice on his tongue.
Perhaps boats could come into play for his board game. Demon boats. He opened his eyes and shook his head. The game was going off course. He needed to stay focused so he could get the job done before Zach returned and forced him into a life of business and finance.
As if knowing he was being thought about, Zach rang.
Cody pulled out his phone and sighed at the screen, considering ignoring the call. But knowing Zach, he’d only keep calling, thinking something wrong if he couldn’t get through. ‘Hello, bro, what’s up?’
‘Where are you?’ asked Zach, and just for a moment Cody thought his brother knew.
He peered out the small window, checking for signs Zach had arrived early. ‘Does it matter?’ he replied, sitting back down, as the coast was clear.
‘I just thought you might be doing the accounts for Fran, in the office. Why do I get the feeling you’re not in there?’
It was uncanny how Zach always had the ability to know stuff like that.
‘It’s a nice day. I went for a walk.’
‘Are you by the river?’
Cody double-checked he wasn’t being spied on. ‘Did you call me just to see what I was doing?’
‘No. I just got off the phone to the foreman. He said he can tear down the hut. Get that job out the way. I didn’t want you getting any surprises.’
The swirl of sadness that churned inside Cody was unexpected. Maybe because he was sitting in said hut, he couldn’t be sure. All he knew was he wanted to save the poor shed.
‘What did you tell him, Zach?’
‘I told him I’d get back to him. I wanted to get your opinion first.’
Cody glanced around at the cobwebs, dust, and emptiness the place held. It seemed cruel just to give up on it when all it needed was some tender loving care. ‘Can’t we keep it?’
‘If you want, but I’ve got a new hut planned to be the ticket booth.’
Cody wrinkled his nose. ‘We could still keep this one. For storage or something.’
‘It’s no longer watertight.’
Cody decided to come clean. ‘I’m sitting in it now. Seems okay to me.’
‘Hmm.’
‘What does hmm mean?’
‘I knew you’d go over to the house.’
‘Well, it is my home. One of them. Anyway, stop fretting. I haven’t gone inside. It’s not fully built yet.’
‘Good. Stay away, Cody. I mean it. You shouldn’t be around a building site.’
Sighing, Cody leaned up to open the front flap of the hut so he could poke his head out the serving hatch and gaze at the dark river. ‘I’m only in the hut.’
His brother’s breathing crackled the line. ‘If you want to keep it, we’ll keep it, okay?’
Cody nodded to himself and smiled a smile to the cotton wool clouds slowly passing by. He figured his grandfather would approve of the executive decision. ‘I’ll secure it while you’re away. Add a padlock and sort the roof.’
Zach’s laugh caused him to raise his brow. ‘Just leave it, Code. I’ll sort everything once I’m back. All you need to do is find a job. There’s something available here if you’re interested. It’s temporary but would look good on your CV.’
London was the last place Cody wanted to be. ‘I don’t fancy working in a hotel. I don’t care how posh it is.’
‘I’m not asking you to do my job, just some office work.’
‘I wouldn’t want to do your job. Hotel manager sounds about as dreary as some office work . No offence.’
‘Are you even looking for work?’
The truth was he hadn’t bothered yet, but only because he was still so unsure about what road to travel. He loved inventing games with Humphrey, and he wished so hard that his job involved gaming somehow, but he knew he had to have the so-called day job to tide him over whilst he used his spare time to build his goals.
‘Oh, Cody. Come on, mate. I just want you to do well in life.’ Zach sighed. ‘Look, don’t stress it though. I’ve given you enough money to last till I get back, and if you need more, just ask. You can’t rely on Fran’s kindness. Oh, and I told her she needn’t pay you for looking after her accounts, but she’s a tough nut to crack. See if you can get away with not taking money from her. Meanwhile, please, look for work. It gives you a sense of purpose and helps build confidence.’
‘There’s nothing wrong with my confidence. In case you hadn’t noticed, I’ve not long got back from months of travel.’
‘Yes, I did notice, Cody. I paid for it.’
Cody flopped his head onto the flap and groaned. ‘I’ll look for work. I promise. I don’t want to live off you forever.’
‘I don’t mind if you do, that’s not the point I’m making here. I just want you to go grab life.’
‘I joined a theatre group. I have a part in their play.’
And I told him that why?
Cody glanced up, waiting to hear what reaction his snippet of unusual news received.
‘That’s, erm, different. Do you want to be an actor now?’ Zach sounded as confused as Cody felt.
‘Nope. Just thought it looked fun.’
‘When is it showing?’
‘Halloween.’
‘Oh, is it a scary show?’
Cody grinned. ‘Sci-fi beneath the ocean, and there’s some romance.’ He straightened, shaking his head at himself and the show.
‘Make sure you get me a ticket.’
Cody grimaced as he just realised so many people will see him dressed up as some sort of robot fish, spouting lines that made no sense. ‘You don’t have to come.’
‘Don’t be daft. I’ve never missed anything you’ve done. I look forward to seeing the show. Right, I have to go. Lunch break’s over. Be good. I’ll see you soon.’ Zach slapped a big mwah down the phone and hung up.
‘Yep, love you too,’ Cody said to the emptiness around him.
Willow’s dad was on the other side of the river, which gave Cody an idea. He sprinted outside, waving over the water.
‘Heath. Heath.’
The muscular man stopped walking and glanced his way. ‘Cody, what you doing over there? It’s not safe.’
Why everyone felt the need to treat him like a child was beyond him. He ignored the statement and headed for a small iron bridge.
‘I’m restoring the hut so it doesn’t get worse this winter.’ Cody stopped jogging and pointed over the river. ‘Do you think you could give me some pointers?’
Heath’s dark eyes narrowed as he peered at the hut. ‘Shouldn’t be too difficult. Come on, let’s get a closer look.’
Cody went back over the bridge, wondering what his athletic build would look like if he pumped weights as hard as Heath.
Heath hummed whilst assessing the damage caused from nothing but wear and tear, then announced it fixable at a low cost.
‘How low?’ asked Cody, thinking of his allowance and lack of income.
Heath grinned as he raked a hand through his dark hair. ‘No charge. I’ll fix you up with everything you need and show you what to do, and we’ll leave it at that.’
‘Oh no, I have to pay.’
‘No, you don’t. It’ll be educational for you. Have you ever done any woodwork before?’
Cody shook his head whilst eyeing over the hut.
‘Never mind,’ said Heath. ‘I’ll make a carpenter out of you yet.’
‘Thanks. That’s really generous.’ He wasn’t sure what to add, or more importantly, what Zach would say.
‘No worries. It’s what mates are for, right?’
Cody tried not to laugh, but his mouth twitched at each corner. ‘Mates?’
Heath’s big dark eyes that reminded him of Willow’s widened. ‘Are we not friends?’
‘Yes, of course. I’m just Willow’s mate, that’s all. Didn’t think you thought of me as anything else.’
Heath shrugged. ‘You’re as good as family, son. Remember that, eh?’
Cody jolted forward a step as Heath slapped his back. He had no idea Willow’s family thought so much of him, even though Fran fussed him no end.
‘Come on,’ said Heath, walking off. ‘No time like the present.’
Cody tripped over his own foot as he jogged to keep up. He composed himself, rolled his shoulders back, and stepped in Heath’s footsteps all the way to the other side.
Heath glanced over his shoulder. ‘So, what’s all this I hear about you and my daughter having to kiss in a play.’
Cody stumbled again. That was the first he’d heard about it.