Mr. Johnson motioned with a jerk of his head toward what appeared to be a storage closet without a door. “The doorframe split, and now the hinges won’t stay screwed in. We can’t use the door at all.”
That seemed an easy enough fix if a person knew how to do it, which he did. Patrick crossed to the door and eyed the damage. The frame wasn’t actually split. The screw holes were worn to too large a size. That could be fixed with hardly any effort. And if Mr. Johnson placed enough value on the repair to let Patrick walk off with an item he didn’t have the money for, well, he’d not complain.
Negotiate, certainly. But not complain.
“It’ll take a little doing. Nothing too terrible, but a bit o’ time.” He looked back to the man. “I could fix it in exchange for something I’m wanting.”
“That would depend entirely on that something.” Mr. Johnson was clearly no one’s fool.
“There’s a wee child I know who’s in terrible need of a doll. The one you have here in your shop would, I’d wager, do the trick perfectly. If I fix your door, here, I’d ask for the doll in exchange. I’ll pay you coins for the spanner.”
“Have it fixed before tonight’scéilí, and you’ll get both.”
Well, then. That was a spot of luck Patrick hadn’t anticipated. He didn’t intend to let it slip away from him. He held out his hand. Mr. Johnson shook it firmly.
He borrowed the man’s tools—sparse but sufficient—and gathered up the few supplies he needed. He adjusted the placement of the hinges and drilled new holes. It was an easy fix, and very doable with the supplies he had available.
Patrick oiled and polished the hinges. He tightened the door handle. With the door hung once more, he tested the glide only to find it stuck a little. He climbed the ladder and planed down the top of the door until it opened and closed smoothly. Ian might not’ve allowed Patrick to fixhisdoor, but by the saints, he got this one working perfectly.
He tested it a few times, just to make certain Mr. Johnson wouldn’t have any complaints. He’d wager the door hadn’t worked well in ages. That’d be a good trade for Lydia’s doll. And it might mean Patrick could arrange additional trades in the future, getting the things he needed when he didn’t have money in hand.
Before Patrick finished, Mr. Johnson had closed the mercantile and disappeared into the back of the building, which served as his family’s home. He returned, dressed for thecéilí.
“All done,” Patrick told him. He indicated the door. “Go ahead and give her a test. Make certain you’re pleased.”
Mr. Johnson opened and closed it a few times, eying the door and the frame as he did. “This door’s good as new. You did more to it than I’d expected.”
“The hinges are tight and oiled. Door swings smoothly. The handle was a bit loose, but it’s firm now.”
Mr. Johnson eyed him with amused surprise. “I’m getting more than my money’s worth here.”
“I don’t do any task halfway,” he said. “And I’m getting from the exchange what I need, so I’d say we’re both making off well.”
Mr. Johnson nodded. “Fetch that doll you were eying. Your other things are in the crate on the counter. I consider your account settled.”
“Let me know if you’re needing anything in the future.”
Patrick had the doll in hand a moment later. He smiled at the sight of it, easily imagining Lydia’s delight when she saw it. He’d had so few opportunities for being a source of happiness in anyone’s life; it felt good knowing he could be that for such a sweet little someone.
And to bring joy to Eliza’s eyes would be a welcome thing as well. She was, quite honestly, the closest thing to a friend he’d had this past decade. She seemed to like him and feel he had some value. Evenhedidn’t always feel that way about himself.
By the time he reached Da and Ma’s house, the weekly party was getting underway. He didn’t spy Eliza among the still-small crowd. She’d been away from her duties for the length of their discussion with Joseph, so she likely had a bit of catching up to do.
Patrick chose a chair at the far edge of the gathering, where he could spot Eliza when she arrived and be well enough out of anyone’s attention, where he felt most comfortable. The position did not prevent Biddy from spotting him, though.
“Ian said you meant to come back and help with final preparations for thecéilí. Did something happen?”
Ian had likely complained at not seeing him, assuming he was being irresponsible and dismissive of their parents. His brother had no faith in him any longer.
“Mr. Johnson had a repair that needed doing, and he said if I could finish it before thecéilí,he’d not charge me for the things I’d come to purchase. I haven’t more than a few coins to m’name. I couldn’t pass that up.”
Biddy’s gaze dropped momentarily to his coat pocket. “And was that doll poking out of your pocket one of those things you’d gone in to purchase?”
That was a basket of eggs he wasn’t ready to crack. “Just picking it up for someone.”
“That’s good of you.” Biddy didn’t sound as though she fully believed his explanation.
“Maybe tell your husband that I can be a decent fellow now and then, if given a chance.”
