Myles rests back on the couch and closes his eyes for a moment before looking at me. “Actually, things are going well. The apartment is almost clear of everything. Cassian shut off the water supply to the building before he took out the sink in the kitchen and the bathroom suite. Brad has nearly finished the outside of the building. The sign looks grand, and I’m amazed he doesn’t want to be paid. But we’ll honor anything his vehicle needs in thanks and our way of payment.”
“That’s great. This Saturday, Whitney and I are going to the ice hockey game. You can come or stay working at the garage. Up to you, but I’m inviting Synthia, so you may find Dan missing. You could invite Brad and Cassian…why not, you know make it an outing?” I smirk because I know Dan will not let Synthia out of his sight, not at something like that, anyway.
“Dan’s boys are home, so hey, we could make it a big thing and all of us go. Then back to the place on Sunday. Cassian may be up for it and bring his wife. Not sure about Brad as he’s kept to himself. He seems a bit of a loner.”
I grin, because I knew Myles wouldn’t want to be left out, and it’s Oren’s first hockey game, so he’ll want in on that. This is going to be fun!
Chapter 19
Myles
I’m excited about how things are working out at the garage. The sign is finished. Brad has just packed all his equipment into his truck and given us the go-ahead to check it out.
Standing out in front of the garage, it’s clean, and the sign is classic. No gimmicks at all. “I like it, Brad. It’s damn good.”
“Yeah, I do too. The doors will be on next week, and then it’s gonna look like a business that means business,” Clem states with all seriousness.
“You don’t want to put shit on signs that isn’t needed. Too many are putting on icons, and it just makes the thing look cheap. I reckon this shows you are a reputable business, and shows you look after the place. Which shows you care not only about the business, as in vehicles, but your tools and the building itself,” Brad adds.
I somehow don’t laugh at the multi-colors of paint he’s wearing on his coveralls as I reply, “I think it’s spot on, Brad. Anytime you need us you know you only have to shout out.”
“Okay, I’m off to my next client. Take care, y’all.” Brad is in his truck and gone before we can say spit.
“Come on, let’s get moving. It’ll not be long before lunch break, and it’s Cassian’s turn to get it.” Clem grins as he walks back into the garage.
Lunch came around, and Cassian came back carrying McDonald's. Rubbing my hands together, I think of the burger I’m going to eat in a minute. My stomach growls loudly, which makes Clem look at me right before he rolls his eyes.
“What? I can’t help being hungry. I’m a growing boy,” I joke.
After eating and drinking the soda that I had been handed. I look at Cassian when Clem asks if he’s coming to the hockey game with us.
“Yeah, I’m comin’. Wife is working, so it’s just me if that’s okay?”
Dan appears carrying the leftover packets from his, Banner and Conroy’s McDonald’s. “Me and mine are coming,” Dan adds as though he’s been here all the time.
“Should we get a small bus?” I ask and look around at everyone.
“My mate’s got a small bus, don’t worry I’ll get that from him,” Banner adds as he walks into the office, which is now cramped full, with Conroy leaning on the doorframe.
“Okay then, this is gonna be good,” Clem laughs.
Back working, with my head under a hood I look up when a customer walks into the garage. Cassian wanders over to him talking about his vehicle, what needs repaired, and my eyes follow them as they go into the office.
Clem slaps my shoulder as he passes and grabs a clean rag to wipe his hands. “Got ourselves a real helper by the look of it, Myles.”
Chuckling, I agree, “Yeah, looks like it, and you know we said we’d find him a job.”
“Yeah, he can be our ‘Gofer’, you know go fer this, and go fer that…” I laugh along with Clem, but the idea has more than a small amount of merit.
“I didn’t realize it would be so noisy,” Maylee says as we take our seats to watch the game.
It’s not freezing, but it is cool. We are right up at the front, so it’s colder than if we’d had seats further away. But Maylee wanted Oren to have the best experience, so here we are.
We all have plenty of warm clothing on, so it’s all good. Although I notice Maylee’s nose looks a little red. Checking Oren, he looks fine, but I’ll watch them both because I don’t want them turning blue.
The game is amazing, and though the team is not a top team, they are on the way up in the league. Sanderson, their star player, is sucking up all the attention he’s getting from everyone. Oren is shouting and jumping up and down. Twice he’s nearly run through and onto the ice. Once I grabbed him, and the second time Dan did as Oren was passing him.
Dan’s sons keep laughing at Oren’s enthusiasm, and I’m sure the shits would encourage him to do something reckless.
