Taking a few steps back, Jamie waited for Erik to respond, to crack a joke or hurl a friendly insult.
When he didn’t, Jamie sighed and closed the door.
This wasn’t just a temporary thing. That he already knew.
One little test, he thought, and they throw you in a dark room.
“Motherfucker,” Ian breathed, bracing himself on top of the ladder as he reached up to wrap his other hand around the screwdriver. “This thing won’t fuckin’ budge!”
“Try it again,” Steve said.
“I’ve been tryin’, Steve.”
“Then let me do it.”
“You fuckin’ kiddin’?” Ian howled. “If I can’t do it, you think you can?”
“Maybe you’ll have loosened it enough for me.”
“Wait! I…I got it!”
“What!”
“I got it!” Ian cried, tearing the screw out of place and nearly flinging himself from the ladder in the process. He lashed out with his free hand to steady himself on the shed’s gate while the ladder finished shivering below him. “One of you, catch.”
Dakota held his hand out. The screw plopped into his hand almost perfectly.
“Nice catch, Dakota.”
“Thanks,” Dakota said, sliding the object into his pocket. “How many more are in the top one?”
“Just one, but there’s four hinges.”
“This’ll take a while,” Steve said, sliding his hands into his pockets.
“Hey!” Ian laughed. “At least we know I can get these out, right?”
“Unless you kill yourself before you finish,” Dakota chuckled.
“I’ll be fine. Trust me, I’ve worked on a few ladders in my time.”
“It sure looks like it,” Steve chuckled.
Dakota laughed. Ian raised his middle finger before driving the screwdriver into place.
“How is Erik?” Desmond asked.
“Erik is…will be fine,” Jamie said, gesturing Desmond out of the hall and into the living room. “We just talked.”
“I heard you guys fighting and wasn’t sure if I should say anything.”
“When it comes to Erik, you’re better off not saying anything unless absolutely necessary.”
Desmond sighed. “You probably don’t want to hear a sob story after what you’ve just went through.”
“What’s up?”
“It’s nothing important really.”
“The phrase ‘sob story’ and ‘nothing important’ don’t go well together, bud. I thought you already knew that?”
“I guess.” Desmond shrugged.
“Tell me what’s up,” Jamie said, seating himself beside the boy.
“It’s just…I don’t know. I’ve felt a bit useless since we got here.”
“How do you mean?”
“You guys put the wall up, Dakota and Steve went out to get the gate. I shouldn’t be complaining, considering I haven’t had to do any of the hard work, but I don’t feel like I’m contributing enough.”
“To be completely honest, there’s not a whole lot you could’ve done to help with the wall,” Jamie said, leaning back in his seat. “I mean, if we had another ladder, you could’ve helped mix the concrete, but even then that’s usually a one-man job. As to the gate, well, Steve volunteered them to go, what with Erik and all.”
“I know.”
“Tell you what, bud, you’re good at cooking, a hell of a lot better than anyone else probably is around here. Why don’t you make all of us dinner tonight?”
“All of us?”
“All of us, including Kevin and his kids. See if you can make something special, and try not to worry about the supplies. I think we deserve a little break, considering everything we’ve gone through.”
“You sure?”
“Let’s live a little.”
“We’re feeding nine people.”
“I know. We’ll have to go back into town to get supplies. I already know that. For now though, I don’t want to worry about it. We’re already strung out as it is.”
“Erik hasn’t just been dealing with headaches, has he, Jamie?”
“No,” Jamie admitted. “He hasn’t.”
“I heard something while you guys were talking…something about him getting locked up.”
“He had a nervous breakdown while we were in Iraq, but keep it between the two of us. I don’t want Erik to know that I told anyone.”
“I won’t. You know I wouldn’t.”
“I know.” Jamie slung an arm across the boy’s shoulders. “You’re a good kid.”
“I try to be.”
“Considering what’s happened,” Jamie said, “you’re doing one hell of a job.”
“You guys got it,” Jamie said, laughing as Ian eased the truck in through the gap in the wall.
“We sure did,” Dakota said.
“Bitch trying to get it in though,” Steve said, jumping out of the truck.
“Careful!” Ian cried. “I’ll run your fuckin’ foot over if you jump out like that.”
Steve took a few steps back.
Dakota sat still as Ian continued to push the truck into the enclosed space. With the gate balanced against the back of the cab, it was almost impossible to see anything behind them, but somehow Ian managed. With a grunt and a twist of the steering wheel, he applied a bit of pressure onto the accelerator, then stopped directly in front of Jamie’s front porch.
Dakota leaned forward and gripped the man’s shoulder. “Good job,” he said.
“Thanks,” Ian said, reaching up to wipe sweat from his hairline. “For a minute there, I thought I was going to hit something.”
“You did good,” Jamie smiled.
“I appreciate it, boss.”
“Now all we have to do is put it up,” Steve said, hooking his thumb into his waistband. “We doing this now or later?”
“Now would probably be best,” Jamie said.
Taking his cue, Dakota jumped out of the truck and made his way around the back of the vehicle, careful not to bump into the tailgate for fear that the disassembled door would fall on top of him. He cast a glance at Jamie, who simply smiled before he came forward and gripped the side of the gate.
“You want some help?” Dakota asked.
“We’re good for now. Ian, help me get this out.”
“Sure thing,” Ian said, taking the opposite side of the gate.
Once sure they each had a secure grip, Jamie and Ian lifted the gate out of the truck and carried it to the opening. There, they leaned it against the wall, took a few deep breaths, then turned their attention to Dakota, who quickly retrieved the screws from his pocket and set them in Jamie’s hands.
“This won’t take too much longer,” Jamie said, counting the screws and then the number of holes in each hinge. “All we need now is an electric screwdriver.”
“Which is here,” Erik said from the porch. He set the tool down on the railing and looked out at them.
“Hey,” Dakota smiled. “You feeling better?”
“Better,” Erik nodded. “But still not one-hundred-percent. I’m usually not such an asshole.”
“Don’t sweat it,” Steve grinned.
“Besides,” Ian added. “You don’t have to apologize for something you already are.”
Erik flipped him off. Ian laughed and saluted the gesture right back. “It sucks being sick,” Erik said, the hint of a smile appearing on the corner of his lips. “I feel like a dick for having been such a bitch to you guys on the way up here, but there’s not much I can do except apologize.”
“Like Steve said, don’t sweat it.”
“I’m not.” Erik handed the electric screwdriver down to Jamie. “Better hurry up with that gate. Desmond’s making cake and a whole bunch of other shit.”
“Cake?” Dakota asked.