He knew where he could get loads of fresh air and time to figure out his next steps.
Did he want to leave Boston?Leave behind his friends?
He wouldn’t be leaving behind a woman, because he was done with that for now.The last couple had thought being a grease monkey meant he wasn’t quite good enough.Hell, Gloria had pushed him to open his own shop so that he could run the office and leave the grease and the dirt behind.
He liked the grease and the dirt a whole lot more than he’d liked Gloria.
As if he knew he’d been thinking about it, Lawson’s phone rang with a call from his brother Knox.“Hey.”
“Hey.Checking in to see how you’re doing.”
Lawson rolled his eyes.At least his younger brother had got a whole sentence out without applying pressure for Lawson to move.“I’m okay.I was just going through the site with Ricky.Anything that isn’t metal is gone.”
“Are any of your tools okay?”
Hmm.Two sentences.Not bad.“A few.I’ve got a lot in the truck and in storage at the apartment, so I’m not as bad off as some of the guys.”
“That sucks for them, but I’m glad you haven’t lost everything.How’s Ricky doing?”
When Knox lived in Boston, they’d all hung out together with their other brother Burke and some other friends.Well, Burke had cancelled more than he’d shown.The man lived his job.
Lawson shrugged.“He’s pissed and considering collecting the insurance and retiring.He’s going to take some time to think about it.”
There was a pause, and then Knox spoke with more excitement in his voice.“That means you’ve got some time to decide on the next steps as well.When should we expect you?”
And there it was.Although he’d give Knox credit, he’d lasted three or four sentences before hitting the pressure button.“I didn’t say I was coming.”
Knox laughed.As the middle kid, he was damn good at getting his way.“You didn’t say you weren’t.Did I mention the huge-ass barn you can use as your shop?”
Lawson couldn’t stop the grin.“Only twenty or thirty times.”
Knox laughed.“Make it one more.You’re going to love it here, Lawson.Tons of different equipment that needs fixing.But it’ll leave you time to do your own shit, too.I’m betting there’s space in there for you to set up a restoration area.Hell, Vermont has to be littered with old trucks you could buy up and restore.It’ll be your own version of paradise.”
It sounded good when Knox put it that way.“How’s everyone doing?Your snow finally melt up there?”
Knox laughed.“First class job changing the subject.Snow’s pretty much gone.Lots of mud in its place, and the trees are budding.Thea tells me the orchard’s looking good.We need you, Lawson.”
Lawson didn’t want to answer, but he figured his brother knew he was considering it.Instead of saying any of that, he changed the subject again.“Going to give Ricky a hand with some cleanup.Talk to you later.”
“See you soon.”
Knox hung up, leaving Lawson shaking his head.Would he see him soon?
It was such a pain in the ass that his younger brother almost always got his way.Persistent pest.
But when he re-entered the garage, Lawson started putting his usable tools into his toolbox.Maybe it was time to try something new.
Maybe.
