Chapter 23
Later that afternoon, after I pick Gus up from school, I swing by the store again to check in with Walt about the extent of the water damage.
“Got any good news for me?” I ask hopefully, standing over a gaping hole in the floor that is now much larger.
Walt is beside me, gazing down into the hole.
Jakob is actually standing in the hole, since Walt has a bum knee and isn’t as spry as he once was.
Next to me Gus is peering down into the hole with intense interest. He’s taken quite a shine to Jakob and has started to follow him around like a duckling.
I think he’s even trying to copy Jakob’s long stride, but on a slightly-less-than-coordinated six-year-old, it looks like an exaggerated swagger.
It’s making me giggle, which is good because all the other news is bad bad bad.
“Sorry, girlie, but looks like we’ve got to totally replace the subfloor in this quarter of the store too, which is going to set us back a little bit time- and money-wise.” Walt hooks his thumbs in his belt loops and chews his gum loudly.
Standing in the hole, Jakob nods in agreement. He’s got a streak of grime running down one cheek and his work shirt, pants, and big leather work gloves are all filthy. Apparently he’s been crawling around in the space under the floor, assessing the situation.
“Your galvanized pipes are at the end of their life,” Jakob explains, wiping his brow and leaving a new streak of grime across his forehead. “The whole plumbing system needs to be replaced or you’re in danger of us doing all this work and another pipe failing at any moment.”
“Seems you and the county agree then,” I say with a sigh of resignation. “Dot told us the county finally approved the new updated codes they’ve been threatening forever. Looks like we’re going to have to replace the entire plumbing and electrical system in this building.”
Walt whistles. “That’ll cost a pretty penny.”
“Can I get in the hole?” Gus asks, tugging on my arm.
“Not today, champ,” Jakob tells him. “But I’ve got an important job for you.”
Gus puffs up his chest. “I can do it,” he says confidently.
Jakob nods. “I know you can. That’s why I’m counting on you. Can you go to my toolbox and get me a hammer?”
Gus dashes off. Jakob sits down at the edge of the hole with his legs dangling into the void and drinks some water from a stainless steel water bottle.
“Can we still go ahead with the floor repair even if the city is going to demand we upgrade the plumbing in the whole building?” I ask Walt nervously. “I don’t want to do work that they’ll make us redo to meet the new codes.”
And how long of a delay are we talking here?
Henry is only here until the end of summer.
I have to get the store back up and running and turn my attention to my own shop.
It feels like the clock is ticking fast. Not to mention that every day our store is closed is another day of lost business. We’re bleeding money at this point.
Walt chews his gum and considers. “I’ve got a buddy that works over at the county.
I’ll ask him what the new codes are. We can bring whatever plumbing we do here up to the new code so it’s already done for you in here.
Then you can worry about the rest of it later when the county tells you exactly what you need to do for the whole building.
That’s out of my league. You’ll have to bring in a real plumbing outfit to handle that big of a project. ”
“Okay, that’s good to know.” I sigh. I suppose we will wait to see what the letter from the county says, then start gathering quotes from contractors. “For now I guess just get the floor fixed as quickly as you can then.”
“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 follows along, 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 still holding 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.
* * *
“Not to give in to the whole cop stereotype, but…” Dani grabs a donut from the bag as we meet outside the walk-up counter at Byrdie’s Coffee the next morning after I drop Gus at school.
It’s still early, but already the day is sunny and starting to warm.
It’s going to be glorious. I stopped at Kristensen’s on the way over to meet Dani and grabbed a treat for both of us.
I did not go to Kristensen’s to see Jakob, which was good since he wasn’t on the counter anyway.
He’s probably over at the shop right now, fixing the giant hole in the floor.
Dani’s technically on a shift but is taking a quick break.
As we wait for our coffees, I fill her in on my magical date with Henry and the giant hole-in-the-floor fiasco.