Page 44 of The Meaning in Mistletoe
A younger version of the man hopped out of the passenger side, his sturdy work boots and substantial build making a sizable imprint in the loose gravel. “Hey, Vick. Long time no see.”
The two men exchanged a side-hug greeting before slapping each other on the back and grinning broadly.
Although they couldn’t have looked more different—Vick was edgy and tattooed while his friend had a more wholesome, boy-next-door appearance—they were clearly good friends.
“Jack Gardener?” the older man asked, searching their faces.
Jack stepped forward and extended his hand. “That’s me.”
“Tom Camden. And this is my son, Noah.”
“I appreciate you guys coming out here on such short notice.”
“No problem. Business slows down in the winter. There isn’t a lot we can do in the rain or snow. But we can take a look at the place and get started on what we can, weather permitting. What kind of a time frame are we looking at?”
“The sooner the better, but I’m flexible.”
“Great. Let’s take a look at what we’re working with.” Placing a hand on his son’s shoulder, he said, “You and Vick check out the exterior, paying close attention to the roof. I’ll have Jack show me around inside.”
“You got it, Pops.” Noah flashed his father an affable grin, highlighting their easygoing relationship.
The contrast to Jack’s relationship with his own father wasn’t lost on him, and his footsteps felt heavy as he led the way inside.
Although the bones of the structure were solid, the interior damage was fairly extensive. As he showed Tom the deteriorating fixtures and crumbling walls, he asked, “Is the business just you and your son?”
“We have a crew of half a dozen guys. But my son is my right-hand man. I taught him everything I know. And I plan to pass him the reins when I’m ready to retire.”
Jack’s stomach clenched at the note of pride in Tom’s voice.
“I don’t think anything can make a father prouder than when his son wants to follow in his footsteps. When my eldest son told me he wanted to open a health food store, it was a hard pill to swallow.”
The knot in Jack’s stomach tightened.
“You have kids?” Tom asked.
“No, I don’t.” Although, he’d been thinking about the prospect of having a family more often these days.
“Ah well, it’s easier to understand when you have kids of your own. But as a parent, it can be difficult to separate wanting what’s best for your kids with your own ego. It took me a while to figure that out. Rather, it took me a while to listen to my wife.” He chuckled as he turned on the kitchen faucet.
Nothing happened.
Either the water had been shut off or the pipes were frozen, Jack wasn’t sure. But Tom didn’t seem overly concerned.
“I’m just glad my son was able to forgive my bullheadedness,” he continued good-naturedly, unaware of how his words affected his companion.
Clearing his throat, Jack nodded toward the rusty fixture. “Do you think it’s beyond repair?”
Tom smiled. “One thing you learn in my line of work… if it’s important enough, you’ll find a way to fix it.”
For a fleeting moment, Jack wondered if he meant far more than the faucet.
* * *
Kat and Penny had searched the globe and nautical charts to no avail.
Chip had even tried to help by chewing off a corner of one of the charts.
Kat had stifled her laughter as Penny wrangled the scrap of paper from his mouth.
