Regardless, there was no way on Earth that I wanted to encourage any such meeting – not unless Mikewantedan ass-kicking.Damn it.This was all my fault.
I gave a nervous laugh. "But you've already met him."
At the memory, my heart ached like it always did. It had been the night of my birthday. I'd been standing along the roadside, talking with Mike and Chester outside Mike's pickup, when Joel had roared up – in a stolen car, no less – to give me a ride.
On the phone, Mike said, "You mean that night on the road? That doesn't count."
"Why not?"
"Because I wasn't even sure it was him."
"Oh, well—"
"So, does he like burgers?"
"What?"
"Burgers," Mike repeated. "I was thinking I'd take him out for a burger and beer."
Funny, I could use a beer right now, and I didn't even like the stuff.
Behind me, I heard the plumber say, "Sorry to interrupt, but I've gotta get going."
I turned and gave him an apologetic smile. I held up a finger to indicate that I'd be just another minute. Into the phone, I said, "Hey Mike, I've gotta go, but I'll keep you posted, okay?"
After disconnecting the call, I turned back to the plumber and said, "Sorry about that."
"Hey, I bill by the hour," he said. "Normally, I'd let you talk all you want, but I'm late for another stop." He ripped the top paper off his clipboard and handed it over. "By the way, I take cash or check."
I looked down at the bill and tried not to cringe. The amount was pretty much what I'd been expecting, but it still hurt to see, especially when the problem wasn't even solved.
As I dug out my checkbook, I asked, "For that sewer work, what kind of money do you think I'm looking at?"
He shrugged. "A few thousand at least."
I swallowed. "Dollars?"
"Well, it sure ain't pennies."
"Why so much?" I asked.
He gave me a look. "You ever price a backhoe?"
It was kind of hard to price one, when I didn't know what it was. "No," I admitted.
"Well,Ihave. And let's just say, there's a reason I don't have one."
My mind was going a million miles a minute. There was no way I could afford such a major repair, at least not now. "Just out of curiosity," I said, "what happens if I don't get it fixed?"
"That depends," he said. "You like raw sewage?"
"Not particularly."
"Then I'd get it fixed. And I wouldn't put it off either."
As I wrote out the check, I wanted to cry. Funny, everything today made me want to cry. It had been one of those days, and now I had a scarier decision on my hands.
But this one didn't have to do with the plumbing. It had to do with Joel. I had to stop him from fighting – which was why, five hours later, I was in downtown Detroit, seeking out Joel's least-favorite brother.
