She walked over to peek inside the boxes. More books. Why on earth had her grandfather stored books out here, besides the attic and library? She turned to see Samson edging along the other side of the car, between boxes stacked to the rafters, looking for a way to get to the ladder hanging on the wall.
Defeat sagged her shoulders. More junk to dispose of. She’d never get it all done by herself before she had to turn the dumpster back in, and she did not want to ask for help.
Well. Anymorehelp.
She trudged into the garage and grabbed another box. The smell was dissipating but definitely wasn’t gone.
Nearly an hour later, they could reach the ladder, and honestly, Erielle was so exhausted she didn’t see how Samson would have the energy to climb up to the roof, if he could even make the ladder extend that far..
“We can get this tarp, too, off the car and put it up there for now,” he said, grabbing one end of the tarp from beneath the bumper and pushing it off the trunk and up the back windshield.
The reveal of the car that her grandfather used to drive her around in took her breath away, and the tears that filled her eyes caught her off-guard.
“Oh,” was all she said, and pressed a hand to the body of the car, as if touching it would replay all the wonderful memories she’d experienced in it with her grandparents. Why had she stayed away so long, when she had so many good memories here?
Samson looked at her. “You okay?”
“Just missing my grandparents. My fault. Should have come visit more. Just kept making excuses.”
“We all do it,” he said, his tone kind. “Think there will be time, when there’s not.”
There had to be more to that story. She looked at him, but he turned away, toward the ladder hanging on the wall.
“I think I can get it now, if you can help me.”
Together they managed to get the ladder to the house, where he extended it, resting it in a corner of the eaves for stability. But though it was extended as much as possible, it would not reach the top of the attic roof. Samson rested his hands on his hips, studying the problem, then turned back into the garage. Erielle followed him.
“What are you looking for?”
“A smaller ladder. I saw one, but it’s on the ground. Who knows what shape it’s in.”
“How will a smaller ladder help?”
He turned to her. “I’ll take it up to the second floor and brace it on the roof.”
“On the pitched roof?” Her voice was a little shrill. “No, thank you. I do not need your broken body on my conscience. We can wait.”
“For what? The longer it leaks, the more trouble you’re going to have. At least let me get a tarp up there. I’ll just need your help getting the second ladder up.”
She took a step back. She did not enjoy heights, and she was not great at ladders. But she wouldn’t let Samson, of all people, think she was a coward, either, so…
“This is against my better judgment,” she declared.
Oh, man, getting that ladder up the other ladder was not fun, even though Samson did most of the work. Arms sore and shaking, Erielle sat on the roof over the study and watched him extend the second ladder near the peak of the attic, right by the window that hadn’t locked. How had someone managed to climb up here and into the house? She watched him secure it the best he could, then give it a shake to prove to her it was sturdy. She remained doubtful.
He took one look at her, opened his mouth as if to say something, then climbed down the tall ladder himself, returning moments later with the tarp, a hammer and nails. Of course he would have to attach it somehow, or it would end up in the next parish with the first gust of wind.
A rumble of thunder made her jump, and she twisted to look out over the bayou. Sure enough, dark clouds gathered, coming up from the Gulf.
“When thunder roars, go indoors,” she said, pushing to her feet and swaying a bit on the uneven roof.
“This will just take me a few minutes,” he promised, scrambling up the ladder.
“That may be too long.” But she wouldn’t leave him up here alone. She swallowed. In fact, she wouldn’t let him go up to the attic roof alone, either. He was halfway up when she started up after him.
“What are you doing?” he asked, looking over his shoulder at her.
“It will go faster if we’re both working on it,” she said.
