so bad, was it?” he said to Drew.
“Not at all. I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed them. Thanks for giving them a heads-up about my not wanting to talk about the shooting.”
“They weren’t looking for details,” Ethan said. “I think they just wanted to see for themselves that you were all right.”
“So did I pass inspection?”
Ethan turned and followed Drew inside and flopped on the couch next to him.
“Yeah, I think they can drive back to Maryville now and stop worrying about the two of us fending for ourselves.”
“Good. It was nice getting together with them, but I feel guilty taking you away from Vanessa the evening before you start your job.”
“Somebody had to do it. I’d never leave her on my own.” Ethan smiled. “I did enjoy going to church with her family and having lunch with them. But it was great seeing my parents, too. And now I need to go call her and get to bed early so I don’t sleep through my alarm in the morning.”
“You seem pumped about working for Uncle Ralph.”
“Yeah, it’ll be okay.”
“It’ll be better than okay, Ethan. I’m glad that you two get along great.”
“Well, it bugs me that you don’t have a relationship with him.”
“It’s nothing new. Why is it bothering you all of a sudden?”
Ethan shrugged. “Maybe because you’re hurting. You’re his brother’s son, Drew. The same as me. How can he ignore you?”
“Because he and Dad parted ways a long time ago. I’ve accepted it.”
“I guess I haven’t.” Ethan put his hand on Drew’s knee. “You going to be okay alone all day tomorrow?”
Drew nodded. “Yeah, don’t worry about me. I’ve got some serious studying to do. I doubt I’d open the door even if the president himself rang the bell.”
Chapter 11
Ethan parked in front of Langley Concrete Company and took the keys out of the ignition, then sat for a few moments, savoring the fiery streaks of hot pink and purple that painted Monday morning’s sky. When was the last time he was up before the sun?
The air was still cool, but the forecast called for sunny skies and temperatures in the mid eighties.
He grabbed a big bottle of water and his lunch pack off the passenger’s seat and got out of the car, proud of himself for making two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches the night before. He’d thrown in a bag of chips, a package of Oreos, and a couple of granola bars for snacks.
He heard a motor and saw a black truck pull into the parking lot. The young bearded driver waved at him, then pulled into the space next to him and got out.
“Hey, Ethan. Good to see you, man.”
The voice was familiar and unmistakable.
“Stedman! The beard threw me for a minute. I like it.” Ethan walked around the front of the car and shook Stedman Reeves’s hand. “What’ve you been up to?”
“Oh, working mostly. Same old.”
“Still dating that cute gal with the Mustang convertible?”
Stedman laughed. “Actually I’m free of entanglements at the moment. I hear you’re going to be working with us again all summer.”
“Yeah, that’s the plan.”
“Ralph mentioned that you stayed in touch with Vanessa while you were away at school.”
“I did. Saw her and Carter every chance I got. We’re going to see how things go over the summer. So where do we start this morning?”
“Misty Meadows—get used to the name. We’ve got foundations and driveways to pour for the entire housing development. We’ll be working there all summer. First we need to get your paperwork done. Come inside. Tonya’s got it ready.”
“Who’s Tonya?”
“She keeps the office running smoothly and takes care of the scheduling. She tries to be a tiger, but she’s really a pussycat.”
Ethan followed Stedman inside and was hit with the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee. A fifty-something woman sat at the reception desk, working at a computer. Her bleached-blonde hair was chin length and straight, her roots dark, her mascara heavy. She looked at
“Not at all. I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed them. Thanks for giving them a heads-up about my not wanting to talk about the shooting.”
“They weren’t looking for details,” Ethan said. “I think they just wanted to see for themselves that you were all right.”
“So did I pass inspection?”
Ethan turned and followed Drew inside and flopped on the couch next to him.
“Yeah, I think they can drive back to Maryville now and stop worrying about the two of us fending for ourselves.”
“Good. It was nice getting together with them, but I feel guilty taking you away from Vanessa the evening before you start your job.”
“Somebody had to do it. I’d never leave her on my own.” Ethan smiled. “I did enjoy going to church with her family and having lunch with them. But it was great seeing my parents, too. And now I need to go call her and get to bed early so I don’t sleep through my alarm in the morning.”
“You seem pumped about working for Uncle Ralph.”
“Yeah, it’ll be okay.”
“It’ll be better than okay, Ethan. I’m glad that you two get along great.”
“Well, it bugs me that you don’t have a relationship with him.”
“It’s nothing new. Why is it bothering you all of a sudden?”
Ethan shrugged. “Maybe because you’re hurting. You’re his brother’s son, Drew. The same as me. How can he ignore you?”
“Because he and Dad parted ways a long time ago. I’ve accepted it.”
“I guess I haven’t.” Ethan put his hand on Drew’s knee. “You going to be okay alone all day tomorrow?”
Drew nodded. “Yeah, don’t worry about me. I’ve got some serious studying to do. I doubt I’d open the door even if the president himself rang the bell.”
Chapter 11
Ethan parked in front of Langley Concrete Company and took the keys out of the ignition, then sat for a few moments, savoring the fiery streaks of hot pink and purple that painted Monday morning’s sky. When was the last time he was up before the sun?
The air was still cool, but the forecast called for sunny skies and temperatures in the mid eighties.
He grabbed a big bottle of water and his lunch pack off the passenger’s seat and got out of the car, proud of himself for making two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches the night before. He’d thrown in a bag of chips, a package of Oreos, and a couple of granola bars for snacks.
He heard a motor and saw a black truck pull into the parking lot. The young bearded driver waved at him, then pulled into the space next to him and got out.
“Hey, Ethan. Good to see you, man.”
The voice was familiar and unmistakable.
“Stedman! The beard threw me for a minute. I like it.” Ethan walked around the front of the car and shook Stedman Reeves’s hand. “What’ve you been up to?”
“Oh, working mostly. Same old.”
“Still dating that cute gal with the Mustang convertible?”
Stedman laughed. “Actually I’m free of entanglements at the moment. I hear you’re going to be working with us again all summer.”
“Yeah, that’s the plan.”
“Ralph mentioned that you stayed in touch with Vanessa while you were away at school.”
“I did. Saw her and Carter every chance I got. We’re going to see how things go over the summer. So where do we start this morning?”
“Misty Meadows—get used to the name. We’ve got foundations and driveways to pour for the entire housing development. We’ll be working there all summer. First we need to get your paperwork done. Come inside. Tonya’s got it ready.”
“Who’s Tonya?”
“She keeps the office running smoothly and takes care of the scheduling. She tries to be a tiger, but she’s really a pussycat.”
Ethan followed Stedman inside and was hit with the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee. A fifty-something woman sat at the reception desk, working at a computer. Her bleached-blonde hair was chin length and straight, her roots dark, her mascara heavy. She looked at
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