Night by Night

by Tymber Dalton

  “Used to be as long as a guy could give me something that looked legit, I could claim ignorance. As long as they were sober and put in an honest day’s labor, I didn’t give a damn.” He shook his head. “It’s hit the whole construction industry hard around here.”

  “I just need to be able to pay my bills and take care of my daughter.”

  Listley drove Hank out to several job sites to introduce him to the crew foremen before driving him to the lab to handle the urine sample and blood work. Then back to the office.

  “You can ride with the crew or drive yourself usually,” Listley told him, “but I guess you’ll need to drive yourself for a while, until you get your daughter’s child care handled.”

  “Yes, sir. I appreciate it.”

  “Just don’t make me regret it, that’s all. I’ll give people plenty of chances, especially if they work hard. I’m not an asshole but I have a business to run.”

  “I won’t make you regret it, sir. Thank you.”

  Hank made it to the school in time to get a good place in the pick-up line for JJ. They didn’t live on a school bus route, which would have made his mornings a little easier. It was too soon to know if they’d be on one for next year.

  JJ spotted the truck and ran for him with a grin on her face that, for a few brief and blissful seconds, erased all troubles and worries from his mind. He got out and swung her into his arms for a hug before taking her backpack from her and helping her into the cab.

  “How was school today?”

  She climbed into her car seat so he could get her buckled in. “I love my teacher, Daddy! She’s soooo nice. And I already made a friend.”

  “That’s good.”

  She continued telling him about her day as he drove to the first place on his list to look at, one of the martial arts dojos, the one closest to his new employer’s office.

  “What’s this place?” she asked when he found a spot in the large strip mall’s parking lot.

  “They have an afternoon camp. They pick up kids from your school and bring them here, and then I’d pick you up here after I get off work. You want to learn how to do…kara-tay?” He said it like SpongeBob, eliciting a giggle from her.

  “Can I? That sounds sooo cool!”

  “Well, I don’t know. Maybe.” His smile faded. “Let me talk to them first. It might be way out of our budget right now.”

  She solemnly nodded. “Okay, Daddy.”

  He got out and helped her out. Carrying her on his hip, they headed for the dojo. He wasn’t holding out high hopes for being able to afford it, but hell, having her learn how to protect herself wasn’t a bad thing, that was for sure.

  The woman behind the counter looked older than himself…and familiar. She smiled when they walked in. “Hello, there. Welcome.” Her voice even sounded familiar.

  From the way her gaze narrowed as she looked at him, he had a feeling she recognized him, too.

  He stopped halfway across the lobby when it hit him. “Holy cow, Mrs. McElroy?”

  Her eyes widened. “Hank Webster!”

  He nearly burst into tears when she hustled around the counter and hurried over to them for hugs. “Oh, my gosh! How are you doing, honey?”

  “I…” He choked out a laugh. “It’s a long story, ma’am.”

  He and Dox had Eliza McElroy all three years in high school for history and social studies, and they had loved her classes. She’d been their favorite teacher, always witty, interesting, and fair. She loved the subject matter, loved teaching it and bringing it alive for them.

  The only idiosyncrasy she had, if you could even call it that, was she asked her students to use “ma’am” with her, and with each other. Or “sir” if talking to a male student. To be polite to her and to each other in her class.

  “And who is this beautiful little ninja princess?” she asked.

  JJ giggled. “I’m JJ.”

  Holy shit, if Mrs. McElroy worked here, he really hoped he could afford it, suspected he wouldn’t be able to, and that would make him cry. He’d trust her to take care of JJ and keep her safe.

  He didn’t just mean from the sparring, either.

  “How old are you, JJ?” she asked.

  She grinned. “I’ll be six in two weeks! Daddy’s going to take me to the beach and I’ll finally get to see the ocean.”

  “That sounds like fun!” She gave JJ a little fist bump. “So what brings you in here today?”

  He took a deep breath, bracing himself for disappointment. “We just moved back here over the weekend. I enrolled her in kindergarten, and today was her first day. I need to find after-school care for her, and line up summer daycare, too. They listed this place as one of the approved pick-up camps and I…” He forced the smile to stay on his face even as he choked back tears. “Here we are.”

  Her gaze narrowed as she watched him, then she returned her focus to JJ. “Do you like cartoons?”

  She nodded. “I love cartoons!”

  “How about I sit you down in the back room while your daddy and I talk for a couple of minutes and catch up. I was his teacher when he was a kid.”

  JJ nodded, and he knew he just needed to hold it together for a couple of minutes, until JJ was safely absorbed in a TV show.

  God bless the woman.

  Once Mrs. McElroy had her set up on a sofa in a small office and watching the TV there, she led Hank back to the front desk. “Okay, we’ve got about fifteen minutes or less before the hordes invade.” Her smile faded as she gripped his hands and squeezed. “Tell me the truth, honey. Everything. What’s wrong?”

  It poured out of him in a tearful rush, and she was suddenly pressing tissues into his hands as he choked out the story.

  “And I’m sorry I’m crying. I know you’re going to tell me how much it costs and I’m not going to be able to afford it right now, which really sucks because I know I could trust her here if you’re here, and—”

  “Shh.” She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him. “You’re in luck—we have a scholarship program.”

  “You do?”

  “Yeah.” She laughed. “Well, we do now.”

  Five minutes later, he was filling out forms and he’d worked out he could afford two of the outfits for her, and a gear bag, and he bought those.

  Well, they went on one of his credit cards, and he’d pay it off Wednesday.

  He also promised Eliza that, as soon as he could afford it, he’d start paying twenty-five percent of the usual cost, which would risk stretching his budget a little, but he could make it as long as he was careful.

  It was worth it.

  It didn’t help him with JJ’s care during summer hours, but then Eliza left him alone for a moment to make a phone call and came back wearing a beaming grin.

  As soon as school ended, JJ would go to a gymnastics day camp in the mornings, and then Eliza herself would pick JJ up and drive her to the dojo for afternoon classes.

  The woman who ran the gymnastics school with her sister was a close friend of Eliza’s, and—oh, look at that—she just happened to have a full scholarship available for JJ, too.

  The tears hit him again. “I’m sorry I’m such a wreck,” he whispered, hoping JJ didn’t overhear him this upset. “These are good tears, I swear.”

  “It sounds like you’re maybe working on a good case of PTSD you’ve never been able to deal with.”

  “I’ve…I’ve been in survival mode. I’ve had to stay strong for her. I’m exhausted.”

  “What are you two doing for dinner tonight?”

  “Maddox is coming over at six to make dinner for us.” He tearfully laughed again. “I haven’t seen the guy in fourteen years, and he messaged me last night on Facebook. I replied, but when I called him first thing this morning and asked if I could use him for one of JJ’s school emergency contacts, he said yes without hesitation. I’ve missed him so much.”

  “Sounds like the best kind of friend to have.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’ve never had a fr
iend as good as him,” he admitted. “Never one as close, either.”

  “How about tomorrow night, then? You and JJ, and heck, Maddox, too. Or does he have a wife or girlfriend? Or husband or boyfriend? Invite them, too.”

  A slight tendril of jealousy unexpectedly shot through him at that thought, and it was something he decided he’d have to unpack later. “I don’t even know. I don’t think he does. I’ll ask him tonight.”

  She pulled out her phone. “Give me your info again, so I don’t have to look it up, please.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He recited it to her, and she texted him so he had her personal cell number, plus she gave him June’s information.

  By the time they left, he had everything set up for JJ to start classes tomorrow, including the forms to give to the school in the morning to authorize the dojo to pick up JJ. Then they stopped by the gymnastics studio, where June Jarette, a tiny woman with a huge smile, immediately engulfed them in a hug and swept JJ into their small shop to get her outfitted.

  “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this, ma’am,” he said, his hands trembling as he dug out one of the credit cards to buy JJ two outfits.

  This was worth it—well worth it.

  “Aw, you’re welcome, sweetie. You’re adorable.” She seemed to size him up. “Just to let you know, a group of us are pretty dang good with matchmaking.”

  He laughed. “I’m too busy with JJ to even think about that right now, but thank you, ma’am. Maybe in a couple of years.”

  “Just keep it in mind.” She grinned. “We have a one-hundred-percent success rate so far.”

  It would be too easy to fall into a self-pitying mood if he stopped to contemplate his MIA love life. “I’m still trying to process…this. You all are amazing, and I promise I’ll find a way to pay y’all back. I’ll even help out working on the weekends, if you need me to. Chores, repairs—whatever. I’m good with my hands.”

  She waved him off. “Hey, we take care of family. Eliza said you’re just as good as family. My sister, May, handles the gymnastics side of things. I focus on teaching adult yoga and pole-dancing classes now, but JJ is going to love May. And she’ll absolutely be safe here with us.”

  He nodded, swallowing hard. “Mrs. McElroy said that, ma’am. I trust her. She was my favorite teacher in school.”

  It was a little after five by the time they were heading home. In her car seat, JJ chatted away, excited to start her new class tomorrow at the dojo.

  Maybe I should be just a little religious and give thanks.

  Because it sure as heck felt like divine intervention going on right now.

  Then again, every time in the past it felt like things were going too well, that’s when massive piles of shit hit the fan and blew up his life.

  Chapter Five

  All day Monday, Maddox had a hard time concentrating on his work with the excitement bubbling inside him.

  I get to see him again!

  He knew getting his hopes up that maybe something might eventually happen between them was stupid, but there it was.

  I’m a doof.

  At lunch time, Marcia stuck her head into his cubicle. “Well?” She smiled. “Thoughts?”

  He sat back in his chair. “I had fun. I need to start getting out more often.”

  She handed him a business card, and it was for Venture. On the back, she’d written FREE MEMBERSHIP, the date, and had signed it. “Give that to whoever’s at the desk when you go in. If they give you any issues, have them call me personally.”

  “Thank you.” He tucked it into his wallet.

  She shrugged. “We’ve got a great group of people who attend on a regular basis. Bunch of us frequently gets together every Saturday night at Sigalo’s, if you ever want to join us. We’ll introduce you around.” Another playful smile. “Some unofficial matchmakers in our group, too. Damned good ones.”

  He thought about how close to tears Hank sounded that morning. “Thanks. I don’t know if I’ll get there this weekend or not. My best friend from high school just moved back to town with his daughter, and he sounds like he’s not doing well.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.”

  “Thanks. I want to catch up with him and spend time with him. He’s a single dad and overwhelmed. I don’t know the full story yet, but I don’t want to commit to anything until I know he’s okay.”

  “Gotcha. Offer’s open-ended and still stands.”

  “Thanks.”

  After work, Maddox had enough time to swing by home first and change into shorts. Then he headed to the grocery store and remembered to get cookie sheets, just in case.

  Hell, they could be house-warming gifts for Hank.

  He remembered Hank said he hadn’t been to the store, and wouldn’t get paid until Wednesday, so he bought some basic staples like milk, eggs, lunch meat, bread, cheese, chips, juice, condiments like mayo and mustard, and snacks someone might pack in a lunch. He also added a six-pack of Shock Top to his cart and looked forward to finally having a chance to sit down and drink a beer with Hank. It was something they’d never done as teenagers, because it wasn’t worth the aggravation to either of them to try to sneak booze when their parents would let them have some if they just asked for it.

  And neither of them had really liked what their parents drank, especially beer.

  It wasn’t until college Maddox realized that was more a statement about their parents’ tastes than beer, and he found offerings that were more to his liking.

  Once he was back in the car and on his way, he struggled to not feel nervous, to not stress over this reunion. It wasn’t like romance was in their future, right? Just a couple of old buddies reunited.

  Except it was far more than that to Maddox. He might fib to Hank and not tell him exactly how he felt, but he couldn’t lie to himself.

  He loved the guy. Now that Maddox had a chance to have Hank back in his life he’d do whatever he had to do to keep him there.

  Even if only as a friend.

  Because…yeah.

  I’m pitiful.

  When he arrived he pulled into the one-car driveway and parked behind a truck with a Pennsylvania plate on the back. He’d climbed out of his car and was starting to retrieve the groceries from the back seat when the front door opened.

  Maddox paused as he stared at his old friend. He also knew he was royally screwed when his heart thumped, did that thing it always used to do around Hank.

  Hank wore an exhausted smile as he walked down to greet him.

  Maddox forgot about the groceries and turned, wrapping Hank in his arms for a tight hug that Hank returned.

  “Fuck, I’ve missed you,” Maddox said, unwilling to release him yet.

  He could’ve sworn Hank’s breath hitched. “I missed you, too, man.”

  “You got bigger than me, dude.”

  “Yeah.” Still, Hank didn’t release him. Maddox held him, happy to have him in his arms, even if only in this way. “My turn to kick ass and take names, I guess.”

  “Nah. I’ll always have your back, buddy. Always.”

  That’s when Hank softly sobbed, clutching at the back of Maddox’s shirt. “No one’s ever had my back the way you did. God, I’m so fucking exhausted and lonely and scared and…” He devolved into tears.

  Maddox held him, leaning back against his car and not saying anything.

  There really wasn’t anything to say.

  After a moment, Hank released him and stepped back, sniffling and wiping at his eyes, tearfully laughing. “Sorry, dude.”

  “Hey, it’s okay. I’m sorry I wasn’t around for you.”

  Hank’s blue gaze met his, a little red and bloodshot from crying, and Maddox absolutely knew he was as lost now as he’d been at nineteen when he’d last seen him. Hank took a deep breath, looking down and toeing a small crack in the driveway’s concrete.

  “I should’ve reached out to you,” Hank said. “It’s not your fault.”

  * * * *

  Hank toed at the crack
again. He’d already talked to the landlord about the driveway. The man had mentioned it to Hank during the walkthrough yesterday morning. There were a couple of cracks in it that looked fairly fresh to Hank, so he’d wanted to make sure to point them out, but the man knew about it and already had it on his maintenance list. There was also one in the floor of the garage, but the landlord told him it’d been there for years and wasn’t an uncommon occurrence in homes in that area.

  Still, he’d wanted it out there. Last thing he needed was getting blamed for stuff he didn’t do.

  “Are you all right?” Dox gently asked, and the care and concern in his voice nearly started Hank crying again.

  He finally met Dox’s gaze. “I…don’t know. I’m…exhausted. I’ve been so alone since Lois was murdered. I didn’t know who I could trust. I had to fight the fucker’s family for custody of JJ, and…” He let Dox pull him in for another hug.

  “I’m so sorry, buddy,” he said. “What can I do to help you right now?”

  “You’re here. That’s all I need.” He laughed. “Unless you want to wrangle JJ for me while I grab a shower. I need one.”

  “Sure, absolutely.”

  He helped Dox carry in the groceries and barely managed to not cry over that, too, when he saw everything Dox had bought for them.

  JJ came running from her room. “Is this your friend, Daddy?”

  He scooped her up and managed a genuine smile for her. “Yes, sweetheart. This is Uncle Dox. He’s my best friend. Maddox, this is Jaylene Joyce, but she prefers JJ.”

  She smiled at him. “Nice to meet you, Uncle Dox.” Despite being in Hank’s arms, she reached out for a hug from Dox.

  It warmed Hank’s heart that Maddox leaned in to hug her back.

  “Nice to meet you, too, JJ. I heard you like fish sticks and tater tots. I happened to come bearing fish sticks and tater tots.”

  Her eyes widened, and Hank knew Dox had just made a friend for life. “Yay! Thank you, Uncle Dox!”

  “You want to help me cook dinner while your dad takes a shower?” Dox asked.

  “Yes!” She reached for Dox and he took her from Hank.

  “I’ll be out in a few,” Hank said.