Edgar held up a pair of safety goggles, gloves, and a sledgehammer. “You’re going to get us started.” He handed Reed thetools.
Reed studied the items for a few seconds. “I’ll do this on onecondition.”
“What’sthat?”
“That Anika does it with me. Do you have another set of goggles and ahammer?”
“Suredo.”
Edgar handed the same items to Anika, and she groaned. “Great.”
Within minutes, she and Reed were wearing the protective gear and she positioned herself with her feet shoulder-width apart in front ofthewall.
“For your information, I’ve done this before,” shetoldReed.
She’d aided on occasion in the knocking down of a wall, but this process was for the clients, to give them a sense of participation and also a way to expel any pent-up tension they held in about the demolition. The true work would be done by the men with power tools, much faster and with greaterefficiency.
“I can’t imagine that you could’ve ever gotten your hands dirty,”Reedsaid.
Edgar averted his face in a vain attempt to hide his laughter, and stepped out oftheway.
Anika shot them both dirty looks. “Ha. Ha. Watchmydust.”
“All right, let’s do this!”Edgarsaid.
She and Reed swung hard, landing deep gashing holes into the drywall. Over and over, they pummeled the wall with the sledgehammers, breaking off huge chunks that crashed to the floor. After a few minutes they had expended quite a bit of energy, and beads of perspiration dotted Anika’sforehead.
“Damn, this is hard work,” Reedfinallysaid.
Breathing heavily, Anika laughed. “It’s a good way to get yourexercise.”
“All right you two, I’ll take those,”Edgarsaid.
They handed him the tools and removed the gear. Anika wiped her damp forehead with the back of her hand. “I’ll let you guys finish up, but I gave you a goodstart.”
“What would we do without you?” Edgar blew her a kiss and she blewoneback.
She and Reed walked to the front of the house so Edgar and the men could seal off the room and get down to therealwork.
They strolled down the walkway to her car. “You running off already?” Reedasked.
Anika nodded. “I’m going to check on another demolition. Edgar’s really good at his job, so I have noconcerns.”
Reed nodded his understanding. Compared to only a few minutes ago when he’d attacked the wall with her, his demeanor had become significantly morereserved.
“I appreciate your help withBrielle.”
Anika stopped at her vehicle and stuffed her hands into the back pocket of her jeans. “What caused such ameltdown?”
“She talked to her grandmother, Nanette, yesterday.” He ran a weary hand through his hair. “She misses her, or Nanette reminds her of missing her mother. Or some combination.” He expelled a heavy breath. “Anyway, when she gets like that, she doesn’t want anything to do with me. I thought only Mrs. Miller could calm her, but maybe she prefers a woman’s touch during thosemoments.”
“I’m glad Icouldhelp.”
“I’ll have to find a way tothankyou.”
“Noneed.”
“I’ll be the judgeofthat.”
