The tales increased with raised eyebrows, laughter, and comments about hard work and doing the job.Katie wanted to ignore all of it, had never considered herself interested in other people’s situations or misfortunes, unless she could help.There was nothing she could do to help Ian Finnegan, and even if she could…would she?She’d liked to say she would, but that wouldn’t be true, and that fact bothered her.She’d always considered herself a caring person, willing to help, no matter the situation or the individual.But she could not quite say this about Ian Finnegan.
By day nine, when the gamblers who thought he’d quit had lost their bets, something happened that made everyone curious about the rich kid from California.The information the town had been receiving about Ian Finnegan and his numerous mistakes on the factory floor was more than enough to label him untrainable, disinterested, with an attitude that said he didn’t have to know how to change a light bulb because he’d hire someone to do it.
Of course, the boy never said as much, but what was a person to think when he stared them down, tight-lipped, not offering an excuseoran apology for his latest mistake?Nope, he just waited until the lecture was over, and then he’d begin the task of correcting his mess—under the eagle eye of his supervisor.There were sighs and head shakes and mumbledbet he can’t wait to get out of here.And then Albert Benson’s minivan broke down in the parking lot.The guy was in a panic because his wife needed the vehicle to get to her job, and he had to babysit the kids.
She’s already been late twice, and she just started the job six weeks ago.Can somebody help me?Mona can’t lose this job…she can’t…we got braces and a roof leak…and…
Show me the van,Ian Finnegan had said.You can borrow my car so she can take yours, and I’ll see what I can do.
Later, those who heard the offer would admit shock kept them silent, but when they witnessed the boy popping the hood, checking the battery and starter, and tinkering with the spark plugs, they didn’t know what to say.Somebody brought him the tools he asked for—a couple of wrenches, a screwdriver, and a file.It took seven minutes for the diagnosis and twenty-two for the repair.The only reason the timing was relevant was becausenobodythought the minivan with longstanding issues could be fixed.
Until the rich Finnegan kid came along and adjusted the timing and cleaned the spark plugs.Albert said it was a miracle.His wife sent in two dozen chocolate chip cookies to thank Ian for his kindness.Others congratulated him on the task.Even Nate Desantro made an appearance and eyed the handiwork on the van.He didn’t comment; Nate rarely did, but the men said they could see the approval shining in those dark eyes.That day marked a change in how the employees at ND Manufacturing looked at the Finnegan kid.
And the requests for automotive help?
Well, those dribbled in, small and slow at first, and then they picked up speed, as did the tales that turned naysayers into believers and the stories into gospel.
Do you know that Finnegan boy fixed the shop truck?Nobody’s been able to do that.It was the darndest thing.
How about Clint’s motorcycle?That thing hasn’t run in three years.But the kid got it running, and I’d like to know how a boy who can’t seem to find his way to the breakroom knows so much about motors.
He offered to take a look at my washing machine.And while he’s at it, I’m going to ask him about the dishwasher, too.
He’s not so uppity when he’s talking about motors and how things work.Then it seems like he’s one of us…trying to figure out how things work and making sure we don’t buy new when we can fix the old.Don’t they call that repurposing?
No, that’s called repairing.These young people just want to buy new instead of fixing things.
Who would have thought that Finnegan boy would know about this stuff or even care about helping us if he did?
You got that right.There’s a lot of people who want to get paid for their knowledge and won’t share unless they do.Shock of all shocks.I can’t say I’m not surprised, and in a good way.
You know Jack won’t go easy on him, even if he approves of what he’s doing.
Can you blame him?You still have to be careful.
I spotted the kid having a conversation with Nate the other day, and Nate doesn’t put up with anybody’s crap.Maybe there’s something to the kid that we didn’t see.
Maybe, but then again, maybe not.Nate will keep an eye on him, and if he gets out of line, he’ll handle it himself.
Yeah, I would not want to be on the wrong side of Nate Desantro.
Truth.
Katie tried to ignore the tales, but it was impossible because there were so many.Ian Finnegan had become a puzzle to the town—a curious and complex one, and the residents of Magdalena loved to solve puzzles.She didn’t have the time or the interest to join them as they guessed and conjured up possibilities.
Until her sister came home one afternoon and told her about the “new guy” in town.That’s when Katie knew she had to stop Norah before she got carried away with her latest crush.Why couldn’t her sister still be twelve and swoon over a popular boy band or actor?Someone who lived in a different universe and wasn’t within breathing distance?
But no, Norah fell in love every other week, gushed nonstop about love and hope.How she would not be able tobreatheif she didn’t get a date…if she didn’t get a scholarship…it was alwayssomething,and with Norah, it was never justonething.Katie should have been stricter with her, but once their mother passed, she couldn’t do it.So what if Katie had to pick up an extra shift or two at the diner to pay for her sister’s summer camp?And if Norah forgot to do laundry or start dinner and complained about her nails getting ruined when she had to weed the garden?It was okay.Katie didn’t mind taking over.She didn’t even mind when her little sister forgot to put gas in the car they shared.Or ate all of the potato chips and drank the last of the milk.
Was she spoiled?Yes, of course she was.With no mother or father, Katie wanted to protect her sister, shield her from disappointment, hurt, grief.She should have realized she was hindering Norah from developing the capacity to make logical decisions, learn from disappointments and failures—become an adult.When people tried to tell her she needed to learn to say “no” to her sister, she shut them down.They didn’t understand that Norah depended on her to make her world right, and Katie was not going to fail.
But maybe she was the one who didn’t understand that love was about tough choices, letting the other person fall, so they could be stronger the next time.And the next, and eventually, they’d learn how to stand alone.They’d also learn they werenotthe center of everyone’s universe, and people didn’t live and breathe because they were in their presence.Katie understood all of this, and yet, she struggled to tell her sister “no”.
Until Norah mentioned the new guy in town with the blue eyes, dark hair, and a voice that made a girl want to stop and listen to anything he had to say.That’s when Katie knew this was one time her sister was not going to get her way.
He’s something else.I saw him at Sal’s Market, and of course, I had to pretend I was trying to reach something off the top shelf.Clam broth?As if I know what to do with that.
It’s used for making clam sauce or clam chowder,Katie had replied.
