As he eased the vacuum from my arms, he said, “You need a generator, or do you haveelectricity?”
“Jeb said we haveelectricity.”
“Andwindows?”
“And windows.” I smiled at his observance and thoroughness, and then I gestured to his truck. “Why did you put the stuff in your car? It’ll fit in thevan.”
“I was going to help you set up theequipment.”
“Jeb’s at thehouse.”
“And he’s familiar withsanders?”
“Probably not, but I sort of remember how to usethem.”
“I’ll give you a refreshercourse.”
“You surely have better things to do with yourtime. . .”
“It’s mylunchbreak.”
“Well then, eatlunch.”
“Nothungry.”
Okay . . .I started toward the driver’s side of the van. “Remember theway?”
Sadness glinted in his eyes. “Iremember.”
He was probably wondering why I’d want to move back into a house filled with ghosts. Or maybeIwas wondering this and just projecting my qualms on him. Should I have sold it and movedon?
I shook myhead.
I’d make new memories init.
Fill it with new laughter and new scratchmarks.
Besides, this was a good project for my uncle, who would’ve gone stir-crazy sitting at home, plotting his revenge on Alex Morgan. It was keeping him sane andsafe.
22
Jeb cameout of the house when I drove up, white wifebeater stained and damp with sweat. “We should be done with the plumbing by next week,” he said as I hopped out of thevan.
The overhaul had gone fast. It helped that one the elders’ sons was an electrician. It also helped that Jeb was so hands-on.
August parked next to me, then got out and went to gather the equipment. “Hey,Jeb.”
As Jeb wiped his hands on a rag that looked dirtier than his palms, he narrowed his eyes. “We got everything under control here,August.”
Ifrowned.
“Oh, I’m not here on behalf of Watt Enterprises,” August said. “Just came to get Ness setup.”
Jeb thought I’d hiredAugust?
My uncle was still wiping his hands, arms a little tense, as though he felt threatened by August. I rolled my eyes. Even though Jeb wasn’t in wolf form, he was acting mightyterritorial.
“Ness, can I grab the car keys? I wanted to go get somesupplies.”
