29. Gage
29
GAGE
G age finished filling out the paperwork for Ted and handed over the clipboard. "Just sign at the bottom, and it'll probably be ready in a couple of days. We'll call you."
Ted Finch quickly scribbled on the line and eyed Gage as he handed the clipboard back. Gage had seen the guy around town plenty of times, and he always had a cynical look in his eyes. He was used to being watched, so the guy's skepticism wasn't anything new.
"Thanks. Tell Beau I said hello."
"Yes, sir. Thanks for bringin' it by," Gage said as he tipped his head toward the beat-up Ford in the bay. "We'll take good care of her."
Ted nodded and turned to leave without any fanfare .
Gage headed to Beau's office where he found his boss sitting in front of the computer. His eyes were glazed over like a hot donut.
"You okay?" Gage said as he tossed the clipboard onto the desk.
"No. I'm going to die an early death if I can't figure out how to balance these books. Numbers suck."
Gage leaned back against the doorframe, crossing his arms over his chest and his legs at the ankles. "I can give it a try if you're okay with that."
Beau raised one brow. "You know anything about bookkeeping?"
"I handle the books at Bruce's. Well, I used to."
Beau hesitated for half a second before pushing his chair back from the desk. "Be my guest."
Gage took the seat, and Beau stuck around to explain a few things before heading out to the garage. What did it say about Beau that he trusted Gage with the business finances?
How did he go from mechanic to bookkeeper?
Half an hour later, the hallway door opened, and a few voices mingled together outside the office. Brett and Jacob walked by carrying bags of food, and Beau stopped to poke his head into the room.
"You at a place where you can stop soon?"
Gage saved everything he'd been working on and stood, stretching his arms over his head. "Sure. What's up ?
"Dinnertime."
Gage chuckled and followed the guys to the break room. The way everyone around here congregated for mealtimes was new for Gage. They made sure to stop for every meal, but the forced breaks definitely upped everyone's productivity for the rest of the day.
In the break room, Beau, Brett, and Jacob were unpacking what looked like burgers, and Gage stepped in to help.
"Gage!" Jacob shouted as he raised his hand.
Gage high-fived the kid. "What's up?"
"I didn't know you were here."
"I was working in the office."
Jacob's eyes widened. "What do you do in there?"
"Nothing fun," Beau chimed in.
"Just keeping up with the finances. The money that people use to pay to get their vehicles fixed and the money the garage has to pay for supplies and bills."
Jacob stood still as he processed Gage's explanation. "Wow. That sounds cool."
"Not cool," Beau said as he pulled cups of fries out of a greasy brown paper bag.
Asa, Dawson, and Olivia walked in wearing matching somber expressions and sat down at the table.
"Hey! We got burgers!" Jacob announced.
Dawson held out a fist for Jacob to bump. " Thanks, bud. It's been a long day, and a burger sounds great."
"What's everybody sad about?" Jacob asked, looking back and forth between his dad, Dawson, and Olivia.
Gage grabbed a few drinks from the refrigerator and set them on the table. Whatever caused the cloud those three were sitting under was probably something they didn't want to talk about. Asa and Dawson were police officers, and they were still in uniform.
"Let's eat and we'll explain," Asa said as he rubbed his son's hair.
Once everyone was sitting with a burger in front of them, Brett clasped his hands, meaning he was ready to pray.
Gage bowed his head. He didn't always join everyone for meals, but praying before eating was one thing that always happened. He'd been paying attention lately, since Hadley started talking about God and church.
He'd always been at odds with the church. The people there looked down on his family and didn't approve of the way the Howards lived. Now, he was starting to understand the rift. More importantly, he was beginning to care that there even was a rift.
A few people in the room echoed Brett's "Amen" and picked up their burgers. The room was quiet for a few minutes save for the sound of chewing, but Jacob broke the silence when it was too much to take anymore.
"So, what's up?" the kid asked.
Dawson took a sip of his drink and rested his burger on the plate. "Russell Porter's apartment building burned this morning."
"Didn't Lyric used to live there?" Beau asked.
Asa glanced at Jacob, who was still eating. "Yeah. She moved in with Mom after Russell kicked her out."
"Kicked her out? I didn't know that was why she went to live with Granny," Jacob said.
"She didn't have enough money to pay rent. When someone owns a building with lots of rooms in it like Russell does, they let people pay to live there."
"And he kicked her out?" Jacob repeated, still shocked at the revelation.
"Yep. It all worked out. Granny had an extra room, and she let Lyric live there for free."
"That's what everybody should do," Jacob said.
"Some people make money that way," Dawson explained. "He wasn't trying to be mean, but she couldn't pay to keep living there."
"Now the building is gone? What about the other people who live there?" Jacob asked.
Olivia looked up from her barely-touched burger. "We don't know yet. They need a place to stay, and Russell needs his building rebuilt."
"What are we gonna do?" Jacob asked.
Gage took another bite and listened to the group as he chewed. It wasn't Jacob's problem, but the kid had already taken it upon himself to help people he didn't even know.
"I was thinking about a bake sale or a car wash," Olivia said.
"We could have a taco bar after church on Sunday. Ooh, or a potato bar," Dawson suggested.
Jacob's back straightened, and his eyes widened. "Potato bar!"
Olivia started to perk up. "We have so much to do. They lost everything, and they need a new place to live."
"Then we can help Russell rebuild his apartments," Jacob added.
Asa rested a hand on his son's shoulder. "I think he needs licensed contractors for that."
Jacob's brows lowered. "I don't know what that means, but I know how to help."
Olivia pulled a small notebook out of her purse. "You sure do. So, are you volunteering for all these things?"
"Yeah! It's gonna be so much fun."
"Who else is in?" Olivia asked as she scribbled things in her notebook .
"I'll pitch in the potatoes, and I'll bring my pressure washer for the car wash," Beau said.
"Count me and Thea in to work the potato bar," Brett said. "I'm not sure she'll be able to help with the car wash yet with her ankle, but I'll be there."
"Lyric and I will pitch in the meat for the tacos and anything else you need for that," Asa said.
Olivia leaned over the page as she hurriedly wrote. "And Dawson and I will help, as long as he's off work."
"I think Jacob already volunteered us for everything," Asa said.
Jacob turned to Gage with a smile. "What about you?"
Gage looked around the table at the waiting faces. Volunteer work hadn't ever been on his to-do list. Though, he'd picked up trash on the side of the road wearing a reflective vest with the county's name on it a few times.
"Um, I guess I can wash cars. You really think you'll make enough money to help these people just by washing cars and making food?"
Olivia looked up from her notebook. "You'd be surprised how generous people can be."
"You've done this before?" Gage asked.
"All the time," Olivia said as she flipped to another page. "Now we need to talk about the fishing day. "
Jacob's hand shot up in the air. "Oh! I want to tie the baits. And put the line on the rods. And take the fish off the lines."
Olivia pointed her pencil at Dawson and Asa. "These two will be working, so we need extra hands."
"I'm in," Brett said. "Thea will want to pitch in too."
"And you, Gage?" Olivia asked.
Gage cleared his throat. "What do you need me for?"
"All the things Jacob was excited to do," she said.
"I've never been fishing, so I think I'm out."
Jacob slapped his hands down on the table. "Never been fishing? How have you made it this long without fishing?"
Geez, the kid made it sound like fishing was a life skill instead of a leisure activity. "Do I look like Bill Dance? I just never had much time."
"What have you been doing?" Jacob asked.
"Don't answer that," Asa said.
"And who is Bill Dance?"
"He used to have a fishing show on TV," Asa explained.
Gage picked up on Jacob's earlier question. "Just working. Lots of broken-down cars need fixing."
Jacob nodded as if satisfied with that answer. "Okay, well I'll have to teach you before next Saturday so you can help everyone else. "
Gage scratched the back of his head. "You said kids. I don't think I'm too good with kids either."
"You're good with Jacob," Beau said,
Jacob straightened his shoulders. "I'm not a kid."
"He's right. This one doesn't act like a kid," Gage pointed out.
"They're not so bad," Olivia said. "You don't even have to talk to them much. Just deal with the hooks so they don't have to."
Gage sat back in his chair, resigned to the role he'd been volunteered for without his consent. "Fine. I'll do it."
"Don't look too excited. People might think you're happy to be there," Brett said.
Great. Not only was Gage working with the Pattons for no pay, now he was taking fishing lessons from a pre-teen and in charge of helping tiny humans wield hooks on strings.
Olivia put her notebook away and wrapped up the remaining bite of her burger. "Looks like a plan. Thanks for the help."
Everyone except Olivia filed out of the break room and went back to work. Gage gulped the last of his drink and swiped his burger wrapper off the table. He tossed it in the trash can just as Hadley walked in. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, and she wore a purple-and-pink shirt with faded jeans and boots.
Her lips bloomed into a smile as soon as she saw him, and his heart rate kicked into high gear. No one had ever looked at him the way Hadley did every single day.
She tossed her arms out to her side and launched herself into a hug. "Hey! I missed you."
"Aww. They are so cute," Olivia crooned.
Gage nuzzled his nose against the soft skin of her neck just below her ear. "I missed you too, sunshine," he whispered.
She released him from the embrace and flashed her smile at Olivia. "Hey, girl."
"How's the arm?" Olivia asked.
"Almost as good as new." Hadley swung her arm over her head.
"Your man there just volunteered to help out with a community car wash and the fishing day sponsored by the church."
Hadley rounded on him, sending her ponytail whipping through the air. "He did?"
"Volunteered isn't the correct word," Gage said. "I was voluntold."
Olivia rolled her eyes. "Okay, he was coerced, but his name is on the list now."
Hadley lifted her chin and smiled up at him. "Count me in too then."
"Great! I'll send you the details," Olivia said as she pulled her phone out of her pocket. "Gotta run, but it was good seeing you again."
"You too," Hadley said with a wave .
Now that their relationship wasn't a secret, Hadley was spending more and more time at Beau's garage. Olivia hung around as often as possible since her brother owned the place, and Dawson was usually helping Jacob with car projects. Olivia was everyone's work mom and brought food at least once a day.
Gage had offered to pay for the food numerous times, but Olivia insisted that Beau was footing the bill. After seeing the statements today, Gage was determined not to mess up and get fired. Beau had a top-notch operation going here.
When Olivia left, Hadley wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her level. She pressed a hard kiss to his lips that took him off guard. After a second to get over the shock of her lips on his, he pressed her closer to his chest.
Man, what had he done to deserve this greeting? Hadley's kiss had his toes curling in his boots and his fingers tightening their grip on her waist.
She hummed a content sound in her throat before releasing him from the kiss. "You're the best."
Yeah, Hadley wasn't like anyone else in the world. He hadn't met a single person in his life who thought he was the best at anything except screwing things up.
Gage brushed his thumb over her cheek. Her skin was as soft as air, and the urge to protect her from anything that could mark her rose up hot and fast in his chest.
"I think you're the good one, but you've definitely had a positive effect on me."
Hadley rolled her eyes so hard it shook her ponytail. "How's your day been?"
"Pretty good. Sorry I didn't have much time to talk yesterday. I'm glad everything was good with your mom."
"Whew. Me too. I was a nervous wreck on the way to Cody, but all is well. I told you about my day yesterday. What did you do?"
Gage sucked in a lungful of air. "I actually met with Mr. Chambers."
Hadley gasped. "Really? At the ranch?"
"Yep."
"And?" she asked, bouncing on her toes.
"It went well. I filled him in on the things going on, and he didn't run me off his property. I kinda expected more of a lecture or something. I don't know."
"What did he say?"
Gage shrugged, tightening his hold around Hadley's waist. "He taught me how to groom the horses."
Hadley laughed. "Yeah, that sounds about right. Mr. Chambers thinks idle hands cause trouble."
"He didn't let me sit around, that's for sure. He also gave me a Bible and told me to read some of it. "
"Really? What part."
"The book of John. He said it was his favorite, and it had a lot about Jesus in it, so it was as good a place as any to start."
Hadley grinned. "That's what he told me."
Gage tilted his head. "When?"
"When I told him I wanted to learn more about the Bible. That's how I knew he'd be a good teacher for you. He was a good teacher for me last year."
"And now you understand it all?"
Hadley chuckled. "Not hardly. I'm just getting started, but I know enough to know I trust Him."
"Who?"
"God. Well, and Mr. Chambers. I trust both of them." Hadley looked at her watch. "Oh, I need to head out."
Gage's shoulders slumped. "But you just got here."
"I know, but I have to pick up some paint at the hardware store and get back to the youth training center."
"Can I see you tonight?" Gage asked, desperate for more stolen seconds with her.
Hadley tapped a fingertip against her cheek. "Maybe, but it'll cost you one kiss."
Gage cradled her face in his hands. "How about two?"
She sighed, and a beautiful grin spread on her face. Seeing her happy was the best part of his days. "It's a deal."
He slowly leaned down and grazed his lips against hers, soaking in the warmth of her smile as he took his time tasting her. There had never been anything sweeter in this world than Hadley Morgan, and it would take the rest of his days to show her just how much she meant to him.