Read Online Second Chance Hero by Rebecca Sherwin - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Rebecca Sherwin
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like that, “is those joist hangers. If
you don’t get them in straight then the joists and the herringbone struts won't
be straight.”
They look back to their work, like I’ve just given
them the answer to life.
“Take them off and line them up properly. Come
here.”
The four of them join me at the edge of the
foundation and I crouch down. They follow and I point at how their work is
clearly wonky, from eye level.
“See. I’ll help you out, get the ball rolling. Take
your time, I’ve put a load of money into these houses and they have to be safe.
All above board, no corners cut.”
I stand up, jump into the space and start taking the
joists out.
“Thanks, boss.” Ricky says slapping me on the back
as they all join me.
I’m hot and sweaty and covered in dirt from working.
It took me a good few hours to mentor them into fitting everything properly and
make sure it was lined up that I didn’t manage to move on to the next lot. I
can go back Friday and check on them.
I climb back in the truck and head into town; I’ve
run out of milk, and can't be bothered to drive the extra fifteen miles to the
nearest supermarket. I park up in the harbour car park and jump out.
I spot Jenna walking towards me as I pass the
tourist shop. She’s on the phone but I know that she’s noticed me; I feel like
last night was the beach night all over again. I don’t know what to say, how to
react, or how she’s going to react. She looks up from looking at the floor and
raises her eyebrows to show her acknowledgement, but walks straight past me.
“I told you I didn’t think I’d be back,” I hear her
say heatedly, “look its Wednesday, you’ll be back in a few days, I’ll see you
when you get here.” She puts her phone in the back pocket of her light blue
jeans and I stop and watch her walk away.
It’s hot today; it’s got to be the hottest day of
this year, and she’s wearing a white strapless top; hints of a tan line are
visible on her shoulders, and I watch her as her hair brushes across her back,
blowing gently in the breeze and swinging from her bouncy walk. God, I love
watching her walk. She stops outside the coffee shop and I see Bradley stand up
to greet her. He hugs her and they sit down at a table outside. He’s got Sasha,
his ex-girlfriend’s dog with him and Jenna leans down to stroke her. I laugh at
the little terrier sitting at Brad’s feet; I find it hilarious that he and
Rachel are sharing custody of a dog.
I turn and carry on walking, into the newsagents
and pick up some milk. I look at the green lid on the carton, and pick another
one, a fatty blue-topped one. Just in case.
“You look filthy, Deacon,” Grace, Jonas’ girlfriend
says as she taps the amounts in the till.
I smile and shrug. Maybe I should have gone home to
shower before I came to town. I give her the money, pick up the carrier bag and
leave the shop. I don’t know how Jonas got such a pretty girlfriend; he’s the
scruffiest bloke I’ve ever known and she looks like a pixie - short black hair
and as skinny as they come. I half expect her to sprout wings and start talking
to animals.
I laugh to myself again and walk on, stopping
outside a little trinket shop. I look in the window and can't stop my feet from
going in. I buy the necklace that’s in the window. The chucky red beads look
like balls of fire and they instantly remind me of Jenna. I take the paper bag
and leave the shop.
Bradley and Jenna are still outside the coffee shop
so I walk straight up to their table, and crouch down to stroke Sasha.
“Hey girl.” I stroke her under the chin and she wags
her tail like a metronome on speed.
“What’s up bro?” Brad asks.
“Nothing much, just been helping out at the new
houses in Foster. That job is like one big bag of snakes.”
“That bad, huh?”
“Yeah. When I got there today they’d laid wonky
floor supports.”
Brad grimaces and I stand up and look at Jenna,
who’s tapping on her
you don’t get them in straight then the joists and the herringbone struts won't
be straight.”
They look back to their work, like I’ve just given
them the answer to life.
“Take them off and line them up properly. Come
here.”
The four of them join me at the edge of the
foundation and I crouch down. They follow and I point at how their work is
clearly wonky, from eye level.
“See. I’ll help you out, get the ball rolling. Take
your time, I’ve put a load of money into these houses and they have to be safe.
All above board, no corners cut.”
I stand up, jump into the space and start taking the
joists out.
“Thanks, boss.” Ricky says slapping me on the back
as they all join me.
I’m hot and sweaty and covered in dirt from working.
It took me a good few hours to mentor them into fitting everything properly and
make sure it was lined up that I didn’t manage to move on to the next lot. I
can go back Friday and check on them.
I climb back in the truck and head into town; I’ve
run out of milk, and can't be bothered to drive the extra fifteen miles to the
nearest supermarket. I park up in the harbour car park and jump out.
I spot Jenna walking towards me as I pass the
tourist shop. She’s on the phone but I know that she’s noticed me; I feel like
last night was the beach night all over again. I don’t know what to say, how to
react, or how she’s going to react. She looks up from looking at the floor and
raises her eyebrows to show her acknowledgement, but walks straight past me.
“I told you I didn’t think I’d be back,” I hear her
say heatedly, “look its Wednesday, you’ll be back in a few days, I’ll see you
when you get here.” She puts her phone in the back pocket of her light blue
jeans and I stop and watch her walk away.
It’s hot today; it’s got to be the hottest day of
this year, and she’s wearing a white strapless top; hints of a tan line are
visible on her shoulders, and I watch her as her hair brushes across her back,
blowing gently in the breeze and swinging from her bouncy walk. God, I love
watching her walk. She stops outside the coffee shop and I see Bradley stand up
to greet her. He hugs her and they sit down at a table outside. He’s got Sasha,
his ex-girlfriend’s dog with him and Jenna leans down to stroke her. I laugh at
the little terrier sitting at Brad’s feet; I find it hilarious that he and
Rachel are sharing custody of a dog.
I turn and carry on walking, into the newsagents
and pick up some milk. I look at the green lid on the carton, and pick another
one, a fatty blue-topped one. Just in case.
“You look filthy, Deacon,” Grace, Jonas’ girlfriend
says as she taps the amounts in the till.
I smile and shrug. Maybe I should have gone home to
shower before I came to town. I give her the money, pick up the carrier bag and
leave the shop. I don’t know how Jonas got such a pretty girlfriend; he’s the
scruffiest bloke I’ve ever known and she looks like a pixie - short black hair
and as skinny as they come. I half expect her to sprout wings and start talking
to animals.
I laugh to myself again and walk on, stopping
outside a little trinket shop. I look in the window and can't stop my feet from
going in. I buy the necklace that’s in the window. The chucky red beads look
like balls of fire and they instantly remind me of Jenna. I take the paper bag
and leave the shop.
Bradley and Jenna are still outside the coffee shop
so I walk straight up to their table, and crouch down to stroke Sasha.
“Hey girl.” I stroke her under the chin and she wags
her tail like a metronome on speed.
“What’s up bro?” Brad asks.
“Nothing much, just been helping out at the new
houses in Foster. That job is like one big bag of snakes.”
“That bad, huh?”
“Yeah. When I got there today they’d laid wonky
floor supports.”
Brad grimaces and I stand up and look at Jenna,
who’s tapping on her
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