Page 18 of Take My Heart
‘Yeah, sorry, I meant to call you, but I had something come up.’ I glance at Kate as I walk past her to the living room. ‘With the snow coming down like this, I decided to wait to plow.’
‘That wasn’t our agreement,’ he says, sounding angry. ‘You said you’d be over at noon. I don’t care if it’s still snowing. I want my driveway cleared. That’s what I’m paying you for.’
Al knows my family, and knows my brothers and I are hard workers, so I don’t know why he’s giving me a hard time. He knows I’ll do the job.
‘I know I said I’d be there,’ I tell him, ‘but with the snow coming down this hard, it wouldn’t do any good for me to plow now. As soon as I was done, your driveway would be covered again.’
I’m not going to tell him my plow isn’t working. I’m still hoping I can fix it.
‘Are you saying I’m stuck here until you decide to come out and do the job I hired you to do?’
‘I’ll do the job,’ I say, going to the laundry room. ‘I’m just asking that you wait a few hours.’ I grab my coat and put it on. ‘You aren’t planning on going out in this, are you? Nothing’s even open.’
‘Forget it,’ he huffs. ‘I knew I couldn’t count on some kid. Igave you a chance because of your father, because I know he’s a man of his word, but I guess that trait didn’t get passed on to his sons.’
‘Mr. Roberson, please, just give me a few hours.’ I go out to the garage. ‘I’ll be over as soon as I can.’
‘Sorry, kid, but I need someone reliable. I’m going to call Santi’s. He may cost more, but at least he’ll show up.’
‘Mr. Roberson, just give me—’
‘Cancel my service. That goes for the lawn care too. I wish you the best of luck, kid. I just need my servicemen to be people I can count on.’ He hangs up.
‘Fuck,’ I mutter.
‘Everything okay?’ Kate asks as she comes into the garage.
‘I’m good.’ I almost laugh, seeing her in my hoodie and gym shorts. She seems like the type of girl who wears designer clothes that fit her perfectly. I can’t see her lying around in sweats or even going to the gym in them.
‘You seemed upset on the phone,’ she says, coming toward me.
‘It was just a customer complaining.’ I walk to the front of the truck.
‘Is there anything I could do to help?’
‘Not unless you know how to fix a plow.’ I tug on one of the wires that connects the plow to the control mechanism, checking that it’s secure.
‘It’s still broken?’ she asks, sounding concerned. I don’t know why she cares. She just met me. This isn’t her problem.
‘I just need to work on it.’ I look over and see her shivering in the cold garage. ‘Go inside and warm up. Watch something on TV if you want.’
She nods and goes inside.
‘Everything’s connected,’ I say to myself as I inspect all the wires. ‘Why isn’t it working?’
The door from the house opens again and Kate walks out, wearing my tan work coat. It’s ugly as shit but looks cute on her, coming down to her knees, the sleeves hiding her hands.
‘Do you need something?’ I ask.
‘No.’ She walks up to me. ‘I just thought I’d keep you company.’
‘I don’t need company. I’m good.’ I go around her and get in the truck.
She stands beside it, looking up at me. ‘Maybe I do.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I need some company. If I’m alone with my thoughts I think about what happened and, well .?.?. I don’t want to think about that.’
