“Mom, I’m at work. We’ll talk when I get home.” He didn’t roll his eyes or sigh, though he dearly wanted to. Years of putting up with her shenanigans was wearing on his patience.
“You said you had a job. You neglected to mention it was here.” She spat the last word like a curse.
What was it about their mothers and their fight that made the feud persist so stubbornly? Guys would have argued, maybe exchanged a punch or two, and gone for beers. Problem solved. Women had a knack for holding a grudge.
Hailey stepped in behind his mother to offer a sympathetic smile. At least she had his back. Again.
“Mom, I don’t ever tell you who I’m working for. This isn’t unusual. I’d like to discuss this later. Please. Let me drive you home.”
“It’s always later, with you. I’m getting tired of later. You keep putting me off. Over and over until I forget about it. Don’t I have a place in your life? Are you going to run off and leave me like your father and sister did? Do you think I want to die alone in my stupid house?”
Tears washed down her cheeks, flooding his gut with remorse. “I’m not going anywhere. But I have to work. Hailey is a client. This job pays well.”
“You’re always working. Seven days a week and most nights. What do you do with all your money? You dress like an orphan.”
Hailey’s eyes widened; either at the insult, or the revelation he wasn’t hurting for work. She stepped forward and touched his mother lightly on the arm.
She whirled away and glared at Hailey, her body visibly shaking. “Don’t touch me.” She snapped. Hailey blanched and stepped back; hands raised in supplication.
“Mrs. Phillips, I know you don’t like me, us, but can you please see your way through to allowing Jesse to finish this job? Just a few more days? It’ll be worth it. When the expansion is done and the opening is complete, Mom and Dad are going traveling, they won’t be around to bother you anymore.”
“Is that true?” She rounded on Jesse, pinning him with a stare like a bug under a microscope. She’d always had the ability to inflict guilt with a glance.
“As I understand it, yes. Mrs. Masters, your former best friend, and current enemy, will be gone.” A funny look flitted over her face. For a moment, he almost swore he saw sadness or remorse.
She spun back toward Hailey, tottering on her heels. “You swear?”
Hailey raised her hand in a girl scout salute. “I promise, and I’ll never hire Jesse again without consulting you. If you let him finish this job.” Her smile was full of appeasement.
His mother slumped like a deflated balloon, totally defeated. He’d give anything to have his happy, healthy mother back. This sallow skinned, pathetic woman broke his heart.
“Fine.” She crossed her arms. “But only because your mom was once my best friend.”
Hailey stepped aside and his mother stormed through the barrier without another word. Hailey smiled at him, seeming to say, no hard feelings. He shook his head sadly. As much as he loved his work and liked Hailey, their parents were almost more than he could handle.
Hailey walked to his side, her sneakers almost silent in the dust and debris. She touched his forearm, giving it a light squeeze. “I’ll call that a win. We’re two for two. We’ve defeated our two biggest detractors. Small victories.”
“Small victories,” he echoed, placing his hand atop hers. She was right, he’d take every win he could get. Especially if it meant she’d touch him. Her caring and concern transferred with her touch, soothing his ire, bringing him peace.
Chapter Ten
“Another day, another sunrise,” Hailey declared. Hiking to the park to watch the sun come up with Jesse and Rover was becoming a habit. Sometimes they talked, others times they sat in companionable silence.
“It’s cold today.”
Hailey laughed at his comment. “It’s not so bad.” She rubbed her mittened hands over Rover’s back.
“Says the woman who has my dog’s head on her lap, keeping her warm.” He reached over to pat the dog.
His hand brushed hers, she turned her palm up and captured his. He didn’t pull away and her heart danced. She’d wanted to hold his hand for days. Work kept them together, but touching Jesse was a rare treat and felt like coming home.
“Are you ready for today?” Painting’s tough work, but I think if we put in a full day, we can get both coats on.”
“Ready and raring to go.” Honestly, she was exhausted from all the hard, physical labor. Her daily workouts of jogging and sedentary office work hadn’t prepared her body for this. She ached like crazy, every muscle was sore, but she wouldn’t trade the past few days for anything. Jogging would be mundane when she got back to her normal life. She’d miss working with Jesse and their easy companionship. She shifted, prepared to rise from their picnic table. His hand held her fast.
“Another minute won’t hurt, will it?”
She turned her head. He was smiling at her. Warmth flooded through her, heating her to her half-frozen toes. Her body swayed toward his. He leaned closer, a fraction of an inch. He smiled and leaned back.
