Drilled

by Jayne Rylon

  “If you need something, you’ll call, right?” Mike peered into the phone until the rest of the crew nodded. Even Dave, though as he crossed his arms over his mammoth chest, Mike found it hard to believe there was anything they couldn’t handle on their own.

  They probably didn’t need him as much as he liked to think.

  “Congratulations again, see you this weekend.” Dave waved, the others mimicked him, then he disconnected.

  For a while, the four of them stretched out together in the sunshine beaming in the windows like contented cats. Mike contemplated passing out for a solid afternoon nap when the doorbell began ringing like there was a contest for who could press it the most number of times in ten seconds. Then he heard Nathan, Joe’s son, shouting, “Hey, Dad! I know you’re in there. When am I going to be old enough for my own key? I proved I can take care of a puppy, so I’m pretty sure I deserve one.”

  The four of them scrambled to put on their clothes like teenagers getting busted by their parents, instead of the other way around. Their naughty bits were covered, if haphazardly, in seconds flat.

  Joe looked around and got the all clear from the rest of them before jogging toward the front door. When he opened it, Gavyn—the owner of the Hot Rides motorcycle shop, the sister garage to Hot Rods—was standing there grinning.

  He had Joe’s kids and was clearly dropping them off on his way back to Hot Rides.

  “Figured since you and Amber have a baby in the house, everyone else should be interrupted too?” Joe grumbled even as he opened his arms to his children with a grin. Gavyn and Amber’s infant son, Noah, was the latest addition to the Hot Rides gang. Though not for long as Eli, Alanso, and Sally’s baby, plus now Mike and Kate’s too—damn, it still didn’t seem real—were about to follow right behind them.

  Hell, they should kick in together for some day care options. Or at least they could if he and Kate were hanging around like Joe and Morgan. Why had Mike started thinking that way?

  “Hey, you were here for hours. I figured you’d be worn out by now.” Gavyn stepped inside and hugged Kate, then held his fist out toward Mike, who bumped it. “Congratulations, by the way.”

  “Thanks,” Mike’s heart warmed all over as it started to sink in that this was really happening.

  As everyone mingled, Nathan and Klea were in a rush to tell Morgan, Joe, Kate, and Mike about the cool things they’d done over at Hot Rods that day. Their puppy echoed their enthusiasm, hopping and nipping at Mike’s pants. In that moment, all he could think of was how happy Abby would be if she were there to go on adventures with her best buddy Nathan every day.

  He stared out the window as he was surrounded by both old and new friends, family, and thought about the future.

  When he glanced back, Kate had her hand on her abdomen and was smiling softly at him. She seemed different than when she’d first arrived in Middletown, now serene and at ease where before she’d been frantic and exhausted. There was something about this place. Joe smiled as he looked between Mike and Kate, reaching out to hold Morgan’s hand.

  Kate nodded, then mouthed, I love you.

  And Mike knew that no matter what came next, they were in it together.

  That was the only thing that mattered.

  9

  A few days after arriving in Middletown, Kate was chatting with Morgan as she walked into Joy, Walker, and Dane’s house at Hot Rides. Caught up in their conversation, she didn’t notice the place had been strewn with blue and pink streamers and balloons until someone yelled, “SURPRISE!”

  She stopped short, causing Morgan to run into her back. Everyone inside cracked up.

  “What?” Kate’s hands flew to her cheeks. “What is this?”

  The stork decorations and women with beaming faces surrounding a mountain of gifts, cake, and punch made it pretty clear what was going on, but she couldn’t believe they would do this for her. It was a tight squeeze to jam so many friends in the two-bedroom tiny home, which made it seem like it was bursting at the seams with positivity and well wishes. Suddenly Kate felt a wash of heat spread across her face.

  “It’s your baby shower!” Joy rushed over, her infant daughter Arden riding her hip. “I know it’s really early still, but you’re here and it’s been a while since your kids were little, and Amber and I have so much our babies are already growing out of…and you’re going home soon, sooooooooo…we didn’t want to miss out on our chance to tell you how happy we are for you and help you out.”

  “You guys, this is so sweet.” Kate sniffled, wanting to blame her emotions on pregnancy hormones instead of the tumultuous feelings that had been rioting inside her lately. Concerns about their future, envy that Morgan and Joe were embarking on this new adventure in Middletown, aspirations for her own antique business, which could expand exponentially someplace like this. And now a new baby. It was a lot. “Thank you. Really.”

  She opened her arms and was immediately surrounded by people who cared about her, including Ms. Brown, who was one of the first to embrace her and offer her congratulations once again. This time more eloquently, now that Kate hadn’t just shocked the hell out of them all, herself and her husband included.

  Amber, Ms. Brown’s oldest daughter, followed behind her mom. She rocked Noah, her and Gavyn’s son, in the crook of one arm like a pro. Would Kate remember how to do that? Would it be like riding a bike and come rushing back the instant she was handed her newest child?

  Things had changed since Landry was a baby. Safety regulations were different, nutritional guidelines, everything. She was going to have to learn all over again. But for the first time since she’d faced doing this without Morgan by her side, she felt like there were people she could lean on, ask questions of, and rely on. Remembering this moment during sleepless nights would go a long way toward calming her anxieties.

  Kate peeked at baby Noah and Arden, and the urge to snuggle them and keep them safe was so strong, she knew no matter what it took, she would give her baby the best life possible. As she looked around the room, and thought of Middletown beyond those four walls, she wondered for a moment if that might mean being as brave as Joe and Morgan had been, starting out fresh here with greater opportunities.

  Sometime soon, she was going to have to get her thoughts in order and talk through them with Mike. But not right then. Right then she simply wanted to enjoy an afternoon of celebration. They played games, ate enough for three days, and mingled, people coming and going in small groups where everyone—from the motorcycle mechanics to the Hot Rods’ wives to her and Morgan—miraculously found something in common, even if it was their penchant for polyamory.

  Kate realized that was another thing she loved about coming out there. It wasn’t only her and her eight best friends against the world, but there was a whole community of like-minded people there who understood her relationship even if they weren’t directly a part of it. People who would listen to problems and give unbiased feedback without belonging to the inner circle. That was something she’d never experienced before. Sure, they talked online and exchanged emails periodically, but this was different.

  It made her feel accepted and understood. Like she was normal instead of always having to hide who exactly she loved beyond her husband. There was a freedom in that. One that she didn’t take for granted. Even Ms. Brown, who had a traditional relationship with Joe’s uncle Tom, was willing to give advice and open to the life her younger daughter Nola lived with one of the Hot Rods mechanics. It was like having a mom and dad again. Ones who doled out unconditional love. Who wouldn’t want that?

  Kate smiled and sighed softly as she leaned up against the kitchen counter. Joy turned from where she was chopping up some more fruit for the punchbowl and said, “Everything okay?”

  “Perfect.” Kate went over and hugged her. “Thanks again for hosting. This was really so kind of you. We haven’t known each other long, so I really appreciate you thinking of me.”

  “Honestly, I kind of am living vicariously throug
h you.” Joy smiled sadly. “I hid my pregnancy as long as I could, and when I finally had Arden, I was alone except for a midwife. I hope you don’t mind, but it’s a way for me to pretend I didn’t miss out on so much.”

  Kate squeezed her harder. “Of course not. I’m so sorry you had to go through that. Here I was moping because I wouldn’t have my best friend with me during my pregnancy and you did it alone. I’m a cow.”

  “No, you’re the smart one. I’m a weirdo.” Joy shrugged. “I’m okay with that most of the time, but I admit, that stung. Although keeping Arden to myself meant I didn’t have to share her either, which is a bit selfish. I guess that makes me a cow too.”

  Kate didn’t know the details of how she, Walker, and Dane had wound up in Middletown, but she knew it hadn’t been a joy ride to get there. She asked, “You’re not from here, are you?”

  “I only wish I was.” Joy deposited the fruit into the punch bowl, washed her hands, then traced her daughter’s eyebrow with the tip of her index finger. “This is a perfect place for Arden to grow up. None of the bullshit I dealt with is going to find her here.”

  Kate nodded. Rumor had it they were on the run from the notorious Wildfire outlaw motorcycle gang. “I’m sorry. I heard a little about your troubles.”

  “That’s a polite way of putting it.” Joy laughed. “It’s nice of you to say that, though. I’ve never felt as safe as I do with Walker and Dane. They would kill anyone who tried to hurt Arden like my father hurt us. Hell, everyone here looks after her. It’s a great place to raise a child. You know, if you decide you don’t want to give up your best friend after all.”

  Joy looked down at Arden but glanced in Kate’s direction from beneath her lashes.

  Kate hummed since her own thoughts had wandered in that direction too. “It’s got to be a good feeling knowing there are so many people you can count on if you need them.” She thought of Joe and his cousin Eli and understood how their connection could be alluring enough to entice Joe to leave the Powertools behind. She hadn’t truly gotten it at first, but it was becoming clearer the longer she stayed in Middletown, surrounded by all of these amazing people.

  “You know, there’s always room for more here.” Ms. Brown had ears like an owl. She must have sensed they were talking about serious stuff and came to join them. Though she didn’t look directly at Kate, the intense focus she trained on scooping out another cup of punch was a dead giveaway that her comment wasn’t nearly as casual as she made it sound.

  “Oh no, I mean, our place is back home, not here.” The instinctive denial rushed from Kate. She regretted it when Morgan looked up and frowned. Besides, if it was true, why was she thinking of Joe and Morgan’s pretty house and the plots of land they’d shown Mike where Uncle Tom had said he could build one just like it? One that would be their own.

  She looked out the window at the other tiny homes, cute as a picture from a magazine, which ringed a central fire pit and gathering space. The Hot Rides had what the crew had, and then maybe a little bit more. They lived together in addition to working together, something Kate had often dreamed about.

  Kyra joined Ms. Brown at the punch bowl. She must have picked up on their chatter as she approached.

  “I bet you and Ollie would get along great and could even go picking together. He focuses on automotive parts, of course, but there’s got to be plenty of other treasures for you to find for your antique business if you ride along with him.” She smiled as she thought of one of the men she was going to marry that weekend. “He’s going on a run Thursday. It’s only a few hours away, and I can’t go with him since I still have a million last-minute wedding things to take care of, but I’m sure he’d love it if you rode along instead.”

  Morgan looked over and nodded. “You should do that. Just see how it feels.”

  Kate bit her lip. “Yeah. I would like that. Thank you. All of you.”

  She knuckled the corner of her eye before she could start bawling and ruin the lovely party they’d set up for her. Ms. Brown patted her arm, then gave her some space to mull everything over.

  Kate watched as Morgan blended in with the women there, who supported and loved each other and the Powertools by association. The crew had been her rock for so long, but what if their circle could expand to include the rest of their acquaintances too?

  And not from two states away, but in real and meaningful everyday relationships?

  Would it be worth it if she had to give up half of the crew to make it happen? She simply couldn’t imagine doing that. Devon, Kayla, Dave, James, and Neil were more than just friends to her. They were lovers. They were confidants. And they needed her.

  So why the hell was she feeling panicky and a little sick at the thought of getting in the car at the end of the week and saying goodbye to everyone—including her best friend—she loved in Middletown?

  What if she and Mike gave up this opportunity and it never came around again?

  Kate put her hand on her stomach and asked her unborn child, “What’s best for you? What should we be doing?”

  Unfortunately, the baby didn’t know how to talk yet.

  10

  Mike sat at a picnic table under the pavilion covering the barbeque area at the Hot Rods complex. Joe was across from him, reviewing their blueprints and making notes for the ten millionth time in the past half hour. His journal was already more than half-full of scribbles and underlines and arrows and stars with circles around them.

  “Dude, you have it worked out. You’re good, I swear. Look it’s two hours past quitting time on a Friday. You’re going to have to take the weekend off or you’ll offend the bride and her husbands-to-be, you know?” Mike put his hand over the papers, physically blocking his best friend’s line of sight. The rest of the crew should be rolling into town any moment, and when they did, the focus had to be on family. The people they did all of this for.

  “I want to make sure the change requests didn’t have any unintended consequences.” Joe grumbled. “I learned how to do this from you, so if I’m a pain in the ass…”

  “You’re also freaked out by the accident. I get that.” Mike lifted his hand and held it up in front of him, parallel to his chest. “But you know that wasn’t your fault, right?”

  “It’s never happened on a Powertools site where you’re in charge.”

  “Luck has as much to do with that as skill or preparation. At least on my part. You guys and Devon are experienced. You know what you’re doing and we’ve worked together for a really long time. It’s hardly the same thing.” Mike rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ve had plenty of nightmares about some close calls we’ve had. Remember when Neil kept installing shingles despite thunder booming around us to try to beat the coming storm and protect the interior work we’d done on the Malone project? You know, the time he damn near got fried by the lightning that struck the weathervane not ten feet from him?”

  “Oh yeah.” Joe glanced over to the side as if recalling the incident. “I guess I forgot about that.”

  “Well, I didn’t. It’d be pretty hard to when you’re the one responsible. That blue-white zigzag and his smoking boots are permanently embossed on the inside of my eyelids.” Mike scrubbed his hand over his face as if he could wipe it away when even the several years in between hadn’t been able to erase it.

  “You’re meant for this. I…I’m not sure I am no matter how much I’d like to be.” Joe closed his notebook and put his pen too carefully on top.

  “You are.” Mike cleared his throat and tested out an idea he’d been mulling over since he’d arrived in Middletown earlier that week. “Maybe the whole crew is.”

  “Huh?” Joe tipped his head.

  “We’re not getting any younger.” Mike winced. A baby at his age was going to be a whole new challenge. Maybe it was dumb to take on more, but seeing what Joe had been doing here… “What you’re working on. It’s inspiring me.”

  “Are you kidding? It’s kind of a shit show.”

  “Only
because you’re used to being on a high-performing team and this is new. Fresh. And you haven’t figured out your process yet. It’s going to get better every day…and every project.”

  “What do you mean? This is a one-time show, remember?” Joe looked at him like he’d hit his head. “I’m out here to expand Hot Rods for Eli and then, well… Then I have no fucking idea what I’m going to do.”

  “Let’s be honest; you’re not coming home. This is where you belong. Where your heart wants to stay.” Mike voiced his biggest fear out loud. Or what had been his greatest worry. Now he wasn’t sure if it might not be the best opportunity they’d had in years.

  “It’s not like that, Mike. I want two things and I can’t have both. How the hell am I supposed to choose?” Joe wrenched his head to the side and stared into the gorgeous greenery around them as if he couldn’t bear to meet Mike’s gaze. “I’ve done one for a long ass time. And now it seems like maybe I should do the other, at least for a while, while I have the chance.”

  “I’m not criticizing you. I don’t blame you one bit. It’s gorgeous here. And, like I said, there’s a lot of potential…for more.” Mike cleared his throat. “You’re absolutely right. We’ve had a good, long run. And we can’t keep swinging hammers forever. My back is shit and Dave’s leg isn’t going to hold out much longer.”

  Joe cursed under his breath.

  “But there’s no reason we can’t graduate from grunt work and do what you’re doing. We could expand the business. Here in Middletown, there’s plenty of room to grow.”

  Joe opened his mouth, then closed it. Then opened it again. But whatever he’d been about to say was lost when his son whooped and sprinted past them.

  “Uncle Mike! Look!” Nathan shouted as he chucked a chewed-up tennis ball a pretty solid way across the clearing in the woods. His puppy tore after it as if it was the most amazing prize in the world, its floppy ears bouncing as it raced toward the fluorescent-green bit of heaven.