Chapter 6 #2
The following morning, Justice stepped into McClay’s Mechanics, the familiar scent of motor oil and grease meeting her like an old friend.
The rhythmic clatter of tools and muted hum of engines reassured her.
She wasn’t surprised to find her team already hard at work, but it still filled her heart with quiet gratitude.
She walked through the shop floor, offering smiles and nods as she passed. Her father had always believed in treating employees like family, and that philosophy had seeped into the foundation of the business. Now, with him in the hospital, every one of them had stepped up without hesitation.
“Are you getting enough rest?” Tommy asked, wiping his hands on a stained shop towel as he glanced her way.
Justice offered a tired smile, warmed by his concern. “As best I can. It’ll be better once Dad gets discharged.”
“Sarah sent some beef stew for you,” Willie called out from beneath a lifted SUV, his voice echoing slightly.
He rolled out on the creeper, grease streaking his arm as he grinned up at her.
“It’s in the staff fridge, with a big note that says she’ll kick the ass of anyone who tries to take it except you. ”
Justice barked out a laugh that felt good in her chest. “Tell your wife I appreciate the food and the warning label.”
Sid stepped in from the motorcycle bay, wiping his hands on a rag. “Alma and I plan on bringing you food once your dad gets home.”
Even with exhaustion shadowing her every step, Justice felt the sincere warmth from her team seep into her soul. Their support buoyed her, giving her something solid to stand on when everything else felt shaky.
“Thanks, guys. Really… thank you.” She glanced toward the office, her voice soft but steady. “I’m going to double-check payroll so none of you have any delays. Once I finish that, I’ll head over to the hospital.”
As she moved toward the office, a chorus of get-well wishes for Jack and reminders to take care of herself trailed after her. The moment she sat down behind the old metal desk, her phone buzzed. Her heart dipped when she saw the caller ID. Jordy.
For a beat, she considered letting it go to voicemail. Her uncle never called without a reason, and that reason was rarely a concern. But with her father in the hospital, she sighed and answered.
“Hello, Uncle Jordy.”
“I just wanted to know when Jack’s getting out of the hospital,” he said, too direct, too sharp.
Justice pinched the bridge of her nose. “He should be home in the next couple of days. But he won’t be up for visitors right away—not until he’s had time to settle.”
“As his brother, I don’t see why I can’t stop by and see him,” Jordy shot back.
“Maybe because the last few conversations you’ve had with him were just you asking for money,” she replied, her voice tightening.
“I’m only asking for what I’m due.”
Justice’s tone turned firm, cold steel beneath calm words. “That’s a conversation you’ll need to have with Dad. When he’s ready. Like I said, give it a few days. Right now, I don’t want him bothered until he’s stable. I’ll talk to you later.”
Jordy’s voice called her name sharply through the speaker, but she didn’t hesitate. She pressed disconnect.
She had more important things to do, like making sure her crew got paid. Setting the phone down, she exhaled slowly and turned back to the screen.
An hour later, with payroll finalized and her reports saved, she shut down the computer, locked the office, and made her way back through the garage. Her team waved and offered more encouragement for Jack’s recovery.
Justice smiled and lifted a hand in farewell, her heart a little lighter as she stepped into the sunlight.
By the time she reached the hospital and stepped out of the elevator on the fourth floor, Justice’s gaze darted toward the family lobby, her breath catching with anticipation.
But only a few clusters of families sat quietly, and the man she hoped to see wasn’t among them.
She let out a slow breath, determined to treasure that one fleeting moment they’d shared. It had meant more than she could explain, and she hoped it had given him comfort, too. Turning her thoughts forward, she headed down the hall.
Walking into her father’s hospital room, she grinned at the sight before her. Jack was sitting upright in bed, his color healthy again, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“Hey, Dad. You look so good today!”
“Hey, yourself, pretty girl. Come give your old man a hug.”
She rushed to his side, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed his cheek, letting herself enjoy the strength in his embrace. Knowing how much he worried about the shop, she launched into reassurance before he could ask.
“I just came from the garage. Payroll’s all set. Everyone is getting their direct deposit pay without a hitch. The guys are doing great. From what they said, they’ve only had to send two jobs over to the other shop. Everything’s steady but manageable.”
Jack reached up and patted her cheek, his eyes warm. “I can’t believe everything you’ve done—” He stopped himself and smiled. “No, that’s not true. I can believe it because you’re amazing.”
Justice’s heart swelled with emotion. “Hey, you’re the one who survived a heart attack and surgery and still has a smile on your face. If anyone’s amazing, it’s you.”
The doctor then came in, and together, they discussed Jack’s condition. The cardiologist was upbeat and confident. If everything stayed on track, Jack could be discharged in another three days.
After the doctor left, father and daughter spent time catching up, discussing the shop, the town, and a variety of other topics in between. But Jack’s gaze eventually sharpened.
“Is there something you’re not telling me?”
Justice sighed, unable to dodge the perceptiveness that had always defined her dad. “Jordy called this morning.”
Jack groaned. “Please tell me you didn’t pick up.”
“I thought maybe he wanted to check on you.”
He chuckled bitterly and shook his head. “My lazy-ass brother doesn’t care how I’m doing. He just wants someone to hand him something he hasn’t earned. Right now, he’s not getting money, and he damn sure isn’t getting your time.”
She nodded firmly. “Okay. I promise that next time I won’t even answer. I told him you still had a few days left in the hospital, and I didn’t want you bothered right after you got home.”
“You’re sweet if you think that’s going to stop him,” Jack muttered, though there was affection in his tone. “But you’re not naive. You were just putting him off. Thank you for that.”
“No worries, Dad. You know I’ve always got your back.”
They visited for another hour, laughter and lightness returning to the room. When it was time to leave, Justice hugged him tightly.
“I’ll be back tomorrow, like always.”
“You know,” Jack said as she pulled away, “you can skip a day. I love seeing your face, but you’re wearing yourself out.”
“I’m tough.” She laughed gently, her hand squeezing his. “After all, I take after you.”
As she stepped out into the hallway, her father’s rich laughter followed her, and it warmed her all the way down the corridor.
She made a short detour, her feet guiding her on instinct, until she found herself pausing outside the room Mr. Marconi had occupied. But a stranger now lay in the bed, and the door was slightly ajar.
A nurse passed by, and Justice gently reached out, her voice quiet. “Mr. Marconi was our neighbor. Has he… Did he…?”
The nurse offered a kind, understanding smile and gently patted her arm. “I can’t give out his information,” she said, but her eyes held the sad news.
Justice felt her heart sink. She stood frozen for a moment, absorbing the loss.
Mr. Marconi had been ninety, but he had been there all her life, a steady, familiar part of the neighborhood.
She hadn’t visited much in recent years, especially after both her mother and his wife had passed.
Still, her father had kept in touch, and she had always told herself there would be time to catch up.
Now there wasn’t. Guilt threaded its way through her exhaustion. She should have made time… should have stopped by more often, even for a short visit to have a cup of coffee or share a few kind words.
She turned and walked back through the family lobby toward the elevators. Her gaze swept the room one last time, searching for the man she’d hugged—the one who had somehow filled an empty space in her with a single unexpected moment of shared comfort.
He wasn’t there.
With a quiet sigh, she jabbed the elevator button. The doors slid open. Justice stepped inside, clutching the warmth of that one connection to her chest, knowing it had been just a fleeting moment. One not meant to be repeated.