Back at the office—after we finished framing at the Winters’ and Mrs. W had thanked Jeff for restoring her flower bed—I slumped into my chair.
I sat at my desk studying Jeff. He looked like he’d run a couple of marathons and then slogged through a mud puddle. He was rumpled and hot and sweaty. I would have laughed if he hadn’t seemed to be wearing a bear-sized grump. A day of construction didn’t appear to be his idea of fun.
“You figure anything out today?” I asked.
“No. Just that things are f****d up.” He slouched more, as if he were trying to erase an ache in his back.
I pointed at him and twirled my finger.
“What?” he growled. Coming from a lightweight like him, it sounded kinda cute.
“Turn around. Let’s see if I can make you feel better.”
He gave me a sour look, grimaced, and sl
