Garret looked over at Clint, his brows buckled in thought. “You’re pretty good with wood.”
Coffee mug in hand, Clint turned to face him. “Sometimes. You need something fixed?”
“More like made.”
Clint nodded. “What did you have in mind?”
“A dance.”
Now the man looked from Garret to Alice and back, but didn’t say a word.
Since Garret was equally as silent as Clint, Alice spoke up. “Seems that there’s a school dance tomorrow and no decorations yet. The theme is Enchantment Under the Sea. I’ve been recruited to help and I’m guessing now you are too.”
Garret nodded and Clint just stared.
“If it’s asking too much…” Garret shook his head.
“Well,” Clint set the mug he’d yet to sip on the counter, “I suppose, if you tell me what you want, I can sure try.”
“That’s my man.”
Alice couldn’t agree with her son more. Seems Clint was making a habit of coming to the Sweet’s rescue.
Garret pushed to his feet. “I’m going to be late if I don’t get going. The sooner you can get to the school the better. Mary and Jimmy are being excused from classes, but I have no idea how much they’ll be able to get done. I’m going to try and round up some more kids with a little artistic talent, but frankly, you’re my ace in the hole.”
“I don’t know about that. But, thankfully, with Benny to handle things here, we’ll both be there as soon as we can.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Garret leaned over and kissed his mother on the cheek. “You’re the best.”
Even though she knew he was just buttering her up, she giggled nonetheless. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”
Her son waved at Clint and went out the front door.
Alice retrieved her list. “I called Declan this morning and he gave me Brooklyn’s number. I figure you should be here when I call in case he has any questions I can’t answer.”
“Makes sense,” Clint nodded.
Her phone rang, giving her a start. Looking down, the name made her smile. “Hey, Son.”
“Morning, Mom.” She could hear the smile in Kade’s voice. “Listen, I’m coming home next weekend and want to surprise Cassie.”
“She’ll like that.”
“Yeah, but I’m bringing a buddy with me.”
“Oh,”
“Since we’ve got a house full again, I thought I’d better make sure that was okay.”
“You know it is. I’m always happy to have our military’s finest. And I won’t say a word to Cassie.”
“Thanks, Mom. They’re calling me. I have to go. Love you.”
“Love you back.” Still smiling at the phone, she slipped it into her pocket. “All right. Let’s call Brooklyn.”
For a small town, the gym that serviced both the junior high and high school was pretty impressive. To the opposite side of the large hall, the two kids hovered by a stack of poster board like they’d been told to build Rome with a glue stick. Another kid wobbled on a ladder in a dangerous attempt to tape blue streamers in the corner of the gym. Any minute now Clint expected to see the kid topple sideways taking the ladder, the streamers, and his dignity down with him. And possibly breaking a bone along the way.
Alice came strolling in behind him, her gaze darting from one side of the ample space to the other. When her gaze landed onthe kid standing tip toe on the highest rung of the ladder, her brows dipped in a frown, her hand fisted on her hips, and her voice bellowed under the cavernous space. “Martin Folsom, you get off that rickety ladder this minute.”
