I’d left the list. I’d set a date, my actual plan not to return. Vagrant blows off a job—no shocker there. I did go back, though, and spent much of one afternoon repairing water and sewer pipes that had been neglected far too long. I’d convinced myself Sawyer wouldn’t be there. From what I could tell on Thanksgiving, he was more of a boss man type, but there he’d been, waiting when I’d arrived. To be completely honest, I’d stalled a while once the job was done, not to bank up more time, but because I didn’t want to talk to him again. Twice now we had met, and still there didn’t seem to be the slightest indication he remembered me from thirteen years earlier. Eventually, though, I had no choice but to leave.
“All done.”
Sawyer looked so out of place and insignificant alone at one table pa
