Tutored in Love by Barbara J. Adamson

Author:Barbara J. Adamson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2023-10-18T00:13:28+00:00

Chapter 32

Walls

Splat!

Noah sent the mortar from his trowel onto the cement blocks with more force than strictly necessary. Alec and Marcus talked as they worked, getting to know each other, while Noah gratefully zoned out in the familiar and repetitive nature of the job—building concrete block walls for a new bathroom building.

He hadn’t slept well, thanks to the combination of new surroundings, thin air mattress, and too many roommates.

One of whom was Grace.

Why had she spoken to him—about him—as she had?

He’d managed one ambiguous syllable.

Despite his troubled thoughts, he found a nice rhythm with his trowel, the movements coming back easily. He lifted a block into place on the fresh mortar and, wishing for a hat to shield the early-morning sun, checked to make sure the block was aligned, plumb, and level with the guide lines by tapping the butt of his trowel on one corner. Too bad social situations weren’t as clear-cut as good construction technique: scoop the mortar, scrape it onto the block, set it, and tap it into place.

“You work with Grace?” Alec’s question made Noah flinch as he reloaded his trowel.

“Yeah,” Marcus answered.

“Some kind of boarding school?”

“Therapeutic boarding school.”

“What’s the difference?”

Marcus bent to pick up a block. “Most of our students come to us from intervention programs that have helped them out of crisis, so besides providing their academics, we have a psychiatrist, therapists, and support personnel on staff.”

“What does Grace do?” Alec asked.

“She’s part of the recreation team. They work with the boys after school and on weekends, take them on excursions and stuff.”

“Sounds like babysitting.”

Noah watched sideways as Marcus dipped into the bucket, pulling too much material and slopping half of it into the center of the block instead of on the top edge, where he’d been aiming. With a frown, Marcus attempted to retrieve some of the wasted material out of the center, then gave up and reached again for the bucket. “It might sound that way,” he said, “but the recreation team is vital to the boys’ success. They provide experiences and connect with the boys in a totally different way than the teachers and therapists can.”

Alec made a sound that was not quite agreement as he placed a block.

“You knew her before, right?” Marcus asked.

Noah almost answered, but Marcus wasn’t asking him.

“Yeah,” Alec said, scooping some mortar of his own. “We lived in the same complex a few years ago. I didn’t know her well, other than she likes volleyball.”

“Oh yeah!” Marcus said. “She was playing with some of the guys at the school the other night.”

Alec chuckled. “She used to come around to the sand courts all the time wanting to play. Hoping to get into the men’s game, I guess.” He paused as he grabbed a block. “Or maybe she was looking for a date, but I was seeing someone else. Anyway, I’d rather play with just guys, keep the level high, you know?”

Marcus paused in his work. “She’s pretty good. Gave the boys some good pointers.”

“Well,” Alec said, nudging his block with one finger, “I never really saw her play.

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