A Life Rebuilt

by Jean Brashear

  “Freddie, I need my other nail punch. It’s in my toolbox. Go get it so we can finish.”

  The boy dashed off and Roman shifted to keep the boy in sight, in case Freddie took a notion to disappear because of the interrogation. “Don’t do that,” he ordered her over his shoulder.

  “Excuse me?”

  The snotty tone was nails on a chalkboard. He whirled on her. “You push him too hard with rules, and you’ll force him right back into the hands of guys like Mako. Or do you not get that he’s got no one, Miss Goody Two-Shoes?”

  She recoiled. “What? You have a lot of nerve— Hey!” she said when he turned away. “Don’t ignore me.”

  “I’m not. I’m watching to see if he comes back or runs.”

  She followed the direction of his gaze. He wondered if she could tell that Freddie was deliberating whether to bring the punch Roman didn’t actually need or to take off.

  Roman nodded at him reassuringly. And prepared to chase the kid.

  Oh, yeah. He’d sure as hell learned his lesson in Iraq, hadn’t he?

  “Do you think he’s homeless?” she asked quietly.

  “He says not, but…”

  “I can get him into a shelter. I’ll go make some calls right now.”

  He clamped his hand on her arm. “Leave it. Are you that obtuse? He’ll run the first chance he gets and we’ll never see him again.”

  Blue eyes narrowed. “I can’t just leave him out on the streets.”

  Roman sighed. “I’ve got it covered.”

  “He’s staying with you?”

  “Not exactly.”

  “Then I have to—”

  “Have you ever tried to tame anything wild?” he interrupted.

  “Have I what?”

  At last Freddie held up the tool Roman had requested and began to approach the house.

  “Not now,” he told her, sotto voce. “Promise me you’ll leave him alone for now.”

  “I can’t do that.”

  He locked his eyes on hers. “Give me a week.”

  “To do what? Get him to go to school again? Find him a home?”

  “To show him there’s someone in the world he can trust.” God help him. And me.

  She leaned in, whispering furiously. “He can trust me. I have a lot of experience.”

  “Not in any world he understands. I bet you have two parents who adore each other and siblings who are close.”

  “What?” She blinked. “So?”

  “Knew it.” Freddie was nearly to them. “Later,” he muttered to her. “You said you were grateful for my help on the house. I’m asking for one lousy week in return.”

  She stared at him, mouth open. Then she spotted the boy, too. “One week,” she practically spit. “But if you lose him…”

  Roman only shook his head and went to meet Freddie partway. “That’s the one. Now tell Ms. MacAllister—”

  “Jenna,” she said, mouth tight. “Everyone calls me Jenna.”

  “Tell her goodbye. We still have one last cabinet to hang before we can quit.”

  “But he’s just a boy and that’s a heavy—” she began.

  Roman whipped around and glared at her. “Goodbye, Ms. MacAllister.” He gave her his back again. “Okay,” he said to Freddie, who was glancing between them. “Measure the board. Remember, measure twice…”

  “Cut once,” Freddie finished. “Got it.” He looked around Roman. “See ya, Miss Jenna.”

  “Oh, you can count on that.” Irritation rang in every syllable of her words.

  Roman could almost feel the darts of disapproval she was aiming into his back as she retreated.

  “You ready?” he said to Freddie, ignoring her.

  “I get to use the nail gun, right?”

  Roman found himself grinning. “Right.”

  “Yesss!” Freddie danced ahead, everything else forgotten.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “YOU TRYING TO RUN off my best volunteer?” Teo ambled up behind Jenna, then got a gander at her expression. “Whoa. You mad, girl? I’ve never seen you angry.”

  Because she seldom allowed anger the upper hand. She was of the opinion that cheerfulness was a habit that made the world a better place, but that man… “What do you know about him?”

  “The boy or Roman?”

  “Mr. Gallardo.”

  “Wow, he sure put a burr under your saddle, didn’t he? Mr. Gallardo, huh? What happened?”

  “That child is homeless.”

  Teo frowned. “And?”

  “He’s also not in school, and he’s malnourished. I bet you can see his ribs under that shirt.”

  “He had breakfast, I know that much, because Roman brought him some. Also bought the boy lunch today. He’s good with him. Real patient, teaching him skills but expecting him to work hard, too. And he makes the boy clean up his language and say sir and ma’am.”

  “That’s stopgap at best. Freddie needs a safe place to stay and a family to care for him.”

  “We all do, but the kid’s skittish. He hung back in the bushes behind the house this morning until Roman got here. Says something about both of them that he’s stayed here all day and accomplished as much as he has.”

  “He feels guilty.”

  “Why?”

  “He was one of the thieves who tore up the house.”

  Teo’s eyes narrowed. “When Beto’s his friend?”

  “I think he’s scared of the other guy, the one who—” She bit her lip. No one but the officers and her savior knew what had really happened that night. “The one who orchestrated the theft.”

  “Why’s this kid not in jail, too?”

  “He can be saved. I made him leave before the police arrived.”

  Teo closed his eyes for a second. “Madre de Dios…he left you here alone with a guy who’s in jail now?” He appeared ready to charge over and give Freddie an earful.

  “Don’t, Teo. He needs help, not a tongue-lashing. Anyway, he already apologized.”

  “Wait a minute. Let me get this straight. There were two guys here, late at night, and you were with them before the cops arrived? Alone?” He loomed over her. “We never got to finish this conversation, I’m realizing. Please tell me you stayed inside your car while you called nine-one-one.”

  “A man arrived and took control of the situation before the cops got here.”

  “A man? Who was it?”

  She couldn’t help glancing toward the house. That man? “I didn’t get his name. He left once the cops arrived.”

  Teo followed her gaze. “You saying you think it was Roman? Can’t you tell?”

  “It was dark, and he had a full beard and a cap pulled down over his face.”

  “Easy enough to find out if it was him.” Teo took a step.

  “No, Teo. I don’t think so. That man wasn’t eager to take credit. And Roman isn’t exactly talkative, either.”

  “Roman, huh? So you might forgive him, after all?”

  She sighed. “He accused me of being ‘obtuse.’ Said I couldn’t possibly understand Freddie’s life because my family loves me too much.” She glanced over at Teo and shrugged. “I’m not as innocent as he seems to think. I’ve dealt with a lot of people in crisis.”

  “You have, and you’ve helped a whole bunch of them. No telling how many people you’ve gotten jobs for, or helped work out their Social Security or found housing for. You don’t have to apologize for an accident of birth. Seems to me that your loving family gave you a real good foundation for spreading your own brand of love around to those who need it.”

  She ducked her head, touched by his words. “Thank you. Just because I’m cheerful doesn’t mean I can’t see that the world is a troubled place.”
<
br />   “Your Dad’s nickname is appropriate. You are a ray of sunshine for a whole lot of folks.”

  “Wow, Mr. Grumpy. Better watch out or other people will realize that you’re a softie.”

  Teo snorted. “About as soft as that hard head of yours. Said you were cheerful, didn’t say you were easy to deal with. Don’t get too high on yourself.”

  Cheer restored, Jenna pressed a kiss to his cheek, simply because she knew it would fluster him.

  Just then her phone rang.

  “Good thing,” Teo muttered. “Get on with you now. Don’t need a bunch of foolishness on my job site.”

  Jenna pressed the talk button and moved to a quieter spot, grinning over Teo’s discomfiture. When she heard who the caller was, she whirled and did a little happy dance at Teo, pumping her fist while trying to keep her composure on the phone.

  The second the call ended, she raced across the ground and threw herself into Teo’s arms. “We got that last grant I applied for in the spring—the entire amount I requested! We can build two houses at once for a change! The Fosters and the Delgados both move to the front of the line!” She grabbed Teo and danced him in a circle, laughing, thrilled that two families who’d lost everything in last summer’s wildfires would get a second chance.

  But soon Teo slowed the dance, his expression troubled.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “I was going to talk to you about this later, but… My wife has her heart set on doing some traveling. I wouldn’t be able to run these two jobs at the same time, anyway. The lots for those families are nowhere close to each other, and with most of our help being unskilled volunteers, I have to be on-site most of the time.”

  Jenna’s delight fizzled. It wasn’t as though she hadn’t known Teo couldn’t keep going forever.

  “I’m sure sorry, Jenna. I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you.”

  She squeezed his shoulder. “Of course you need to slow down. You work as hard as a man half your age. Don’t feel bad about it, Teo, just help me figure out who…” She saw his eyes drift toward the man currently loading up his old blue pickup. “Roman? You want him to run one of the jobs?”

  “He’s either worked construction for a living or done a lot of it. He knows his stuff.”

  “You think he’d accept? It’s a full-time position, and we can’t pay him much.”

  “No idea. I wasn’t sure he’d be here for a second day.”

  “Oh.” She gnawed her lip. “We could ask, though, right?”

  Teo observed him and pondered. “The man is not exactly an open book. Something weighs on him, but he’s not a talker.” He turned to her. “How soon were you wanting to start those jobs?”

  “We won’t get the funds for probably at least two weeks, and you know how much planning goes into setting up the schedule and ordering the materials, far better than I do.”

  Teo removed his cap, scratched his head and replaced the cap. “Let’s see how things go for a few days. If Roman continues to show up, that’ll tell us something. And the wife will understand if we have to wait. She’s not much for traveling in winter, anyway.”

  “Family comes first, Teo. We’ll figure this out.” She grimaced. “But I’d better see if I can increase our chances that he’ll return by apologizing. I probably was a little high-handed with him before, though I still don’t like leaving things hanging with Freddie.”

  Have you ever tried to tame anything wild?

  She remembered Diego’s endless patience with injured animals and his dog, Lobo. While she, on the other hand, would jump in too quickly and scare them off.

  In some ways, Roman reminded her of her eldest brother, the silent depths, the haunted shadows, the stealth with which he moved and the power in his body. Something about him called to her. Kept him on her mind.

  And then the similarity struck her. Could it be that he was former military like Diego? That would explain his intense reaction when she’d surprised him earlier.

  A lot to consider, especially for someone more skilled in action and conversation than contemplation.

  Maybe Freddie wasn’t the only wild thing that required tender care.

  * * *

  “OKAY, GOTTA BOOK, MAN.” Freddie gave a casual wave over his shoulder.

  Roman resisted the urge to ask him where he was going. “You all set?” he asked instead.

  Freddie glanced back, all teenage bravado. “Yeah, sure.” He flashed a grin. “I mean, yes, sir.”

  Roman chuckled. “You did good work today.”

  The boy’s smile widened. “A natural with a nail gun—pop, pop.” He mimed the triggering motion, reminding Roman all too readily of boys with deadly weapons caught in wars of all kinds. Of small, skinny Ahmed with the automatic rifle he’d scavenged. The weapon had been more than half his height. Roman had first tried to confiscate it from him, then settled for teaching the boy how to operate it safely.

  Ahmed might still be alive if he’d been unarmed, if Roman hadn’t interfered.

  Roman had trained young men in several countries to defend themselves and their homes, and he’d been good at it, but teaching Freddie a way to get through the world without violence felt better. “Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Maybe.” Freddie shrugged and kept walking.

  “Freddie, wait!” Jenna called, hurrying across the ground.

  The boy’s shoulders hunched.

  “I’m not going to ask about school, I promise,” she teased, drawing up even with Roman.

  Freddie finally faced her.

  “I made this big pot of stew this morning that’s been cooking all day, but now I realize that I went a little crazy and it’s about ten times as much as I can eat. I could use some help getting through it. Could I interest you?”

  Well. She wasn’t only determined, she was cagey. Dangling food in front of a teenage boy…he had to hand it to her. She didn’t give up easily. Plus, it would be one more step in shifting the burden of responsibility to her. She lived for the stuff, he could tell.

  “I dunno.” Freddie glanced over at him.

  “Oh. Of course Mr. Gallardo is welcome, too.” Wide blue eyes turned on him.

  No. Not happening. “I don’t—”

  Freddie spoke over him. “I guess I could, if Roman’s going.”

  He jittered with the need to get away from all of them. He’d already gotten too involved. He craved silence. And solitude.

  If he accepted, there’d be more talking. No way this woman would simply eat and be done. He’d done more talking today than he had in a long time.

  But he could be sure the boy would eat if he said yes.

  Hell. “I could probably eat.”

  “So glad I could twist your arm.”

  Cheeky, too. No telling what else was wrapped up in that curvy little package.

  “Great!” she said brightly. “Freddie, would you like to ride with me?”

  The boy hesitated.

  “That’s all right,” she said. “You and, um, Roman can follow me over. It’s not far.”

  Roman now, was it? She got her way, so now the frost vanished?

  The boy would eat this way, he reminded himself. Resigned that solitude would have to wait, he headed for his truck.

  * * *

  SHE WAS RIGHT, she didn’t live far. Roman wasn’t sure what he’d expected, given that Jenna drove a sporty but not expensive car and wore young, hip clothes suited to her age, which he’d guess at mid-to-late twenties. A condo, he’d assumed, or an apartment, one of the trendy ones now dotting SoCo.

  But no, she lived in a house, a little cottage as old as his abuela’s. An overgrown vacant lot was across the street. The neighborhood was being gentrified here and there, but the homes around her were mostly olde
r and modest, like hers.

  The covered front porch ran the width of the cottage, and on it hung a wicker porch swing amply cushioned by bright pillows. Plants spilled from an assortment of colorful pots. As she opened it, the front door swung wide to reveal a cheery, vibrant interior. She led them into a living room filled with a comfortable instead of stylish sofa and a scattering of cozy chairs.

  Every inch of the place said Welcome.

  “I’m glad you came,” she said to Freddie. “If you’d like to wash up, there’s a bathroom right down the hall.”

  Freddie glanced at him, and Roman nodded.

  Then he was alone with her. He hadn’t made small talk in a very long time. What was he supposed to say?

  “Nice place,” he managed.

  “Thank you.”

  “You always invite strangers home?”

  “You’re not strangers.”

  “Next thing to it.”

  “I like making new friends.” Blithely ignoring his warning, she led the way into the kitchen.

  He lingered in the living room. Something did smell amazing.

  You didn’t used to be an asshole, Roman.

  A sharp exhalation. He shook his head, then followed. “What can I do to help?” He moved to the sink and washed his hands. “Sorry we’re both so sweaty.”

  She pulled a baguette toward her and began slicing. “I have a close personal acquaintance with sweat. My parents were big on their kids helping out around the ranch.”

  “You grew up on a ranch?” Freddie asked as he entered the kitchen, eyes round.

  “I sure did.”

  “With horses and cows and stuff?”

  “And chickens and dogs and cats.”

  “Wow. So you can, like, ride?”

  “I even have my own saddle. Here, would you set out these napkins, Freddie? Roman, there’s iced tea in the fridge and glasses in the cabinet to the right of it, if you’d pour us drinks. Freddie, is iced tea okay with you? I have milk and water.”

  “Milk is for kids.”

  “Milk is for strong bones and protein to build muscles. My grown brothers, each of whom is as big as Roman here, all drank milk when they were your age—lots of it.”