Chapter 2
After finishing the drywall, Tino had hung around to install shelving in a storeroom off the gym. On the way out to his car, he’d stopped to watch a few kids from the neighborhood shoot hoops outside of the center. He couldn’t help but notice that the pole supporting the basket listed to the right and the net hung in tatters, even if neither of those things detracted from the intense competition between the rival teams. When the ball bounced off the backboard and came flying his way, he caught it with one hand, then made the shot from the sideline.
A couple of the players applauded while the ones on the other team made sure everyone knew the points didn’t count. The good-natured bickering left Tino grinning as he walked away. How many times over the years had he and his brothers squabbled over the rules like that? Too many to count. Then there had been all those pickup games on military bases scattered all over the world. Maybe the next time he got together with Jack and Ricky, he would see if they were up for a game.
When he got home, he was ready for a hot shower and a quick meal to restore his energy. It had been a productive day, but he was looking forward to some downtime.
His mother stepped out onto the front porch just as he got out of his car. “I didn’t expect you home so early. I thought you were going over to Jack’s for dinner.”
“There was a change in plans.” He popped the trunk to retrieve his toolbox. “The work at the community center took longer than I expected. I called Jack and let him know that I wouldn’t make it.”
“Sounds like they kept you plenty busy.”
“They did.” And because he knew his mother would be curious, he added, “They had me patching walls and putting up a bunch of shelves. I’m glad I brought more than just a hammer and a couple of screwdrivers with me.”
She looked pleased. “Have you eaten?”
“Not since lunch. I thought I’d take a quick shower and then scrounge up something.”
Not that there was much to eat in the three-car garage he now called home. His late father had turned it into an apartment for Tino and his two brothers back when they were seventeen years old. After graduating from high school, all three of them had enlisted in the military and used the annex as a place to crash whenever they came home on leave. It wasn’t fancy, but it would do until he figured out what he wanted to do next.
“You go get cleaned up and then come back over to the house. I’m sure I can put together a better meal for you than what you’ve planned. A bowl of cold cereal isn’t enough after the day you put in.”
She knew him so well. “Thanks, Mom. Give me about twenty minutes.”
“No rush. I’ll keep it hot for you.”
—
Tino ended up eating out on the back patio, taking advantage of the last bit of daylight. His mom came out to keep him company. As far as he could tell, she was adjusting to her new life as a widow as well as could be expected, but she got lonely rattling around in the house by herself. It was one reason he’d decided to move back into the annex rather than getting an apartment somewhere close by. Jack had done the same thing when he’d come home to take over the family business.
“So, do you think you’ll go back again next weekend?”
“Maybe.” He shrugged. “Probably. God knows they could use the help, especially someone who knows how to swing a hammer. A lot will depend on how much Jack needs me on the project he’s starting on Monday, that one where we’re finishing the client’s daylight basement. Evidently the guy started the work himself but needs us to pick up where he left off. We’re hoping to be done on Friday, but it could run over into Saturday. Regardless, Jack promised the homeowners that it would be done by next weekend. Apparently they’ve got company coming into town and will need us out from underfoot.”
His mother had something on her mind. Marlene had never been one to pull her punches. “I know Jack appreciates your help. Have you given any more thought to working full-time for the company? It’s as much yours as it is his.”
Tino owed her the respect of at least considering the idea. When her husband, Joe—Tino’s adoptive father—died, he’d left the family business equally to his three sons. Jack had been the only one in a position to take over at the time, and he now had a wife and son to support. Neither Tino nor their younger brother, Mikhail, had made any claims on the net income the business generated. For now, whenever Tino helped out on a job, Jack paid him by the hour. The same went for the few hours a week he spent doing the books for the company. Tino wouldn’t have taken even that much if his brother hadn’t insisted.
Tino and Marlene both knew that it wasn’t enough to keep him busy or to give his new life as a civilian any real purpose.
She gave him one of those looks that made it clear she could see right through to the heart of him. “Jack has more work than he can do on his own now. If you don’t step up to work full-time, he’ll need to hire someone.”
Again, something Tino already knew. Eventually he might want that, but right now he was happy to simply drift, taking each day as it came. The few occasions when he helped Jack or did the billing only filled his hours with busywork, but it was nothing he could envision doing for the rest of his life.
When he didn’t respond, his mother looked a bit worried—or maybe exasperated. “Well, it’s something to think about.”
“I will.”
Maybe, but more likely not.
At least she changed the subject. “What did you think of the people you met today?”
Now that was an interesting question. “They were all friendly and glad to have someone who could be assigned a job and left to his own devices to get it done. They even provided lunch for all the volunteers.”
“Does it seem like the people in charge of the project know what they’re doing?”
A tougher question to answer. “I met the project manager. I don’t know how much experience she has, but it’s obvious all the workers really like her.”
