When All is Said and Done by Christy Hayes

Author:Christy Hayes [Hayes, Christy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CAH LLC
Published: 2023-09-27T00:00:00+00:00

Dustin made headway on clearing his inbox and tying up loose ends on the project he’d abandoned and left in John’s less-than-capable hands. He straightened his desk at just after six, appeased he’d be able to get a handle on all the work he’d neglected while on sabbatical by the end of the week—even with Wednesday’s lunchtime therapy appointment looming like a date with the proctologist.

Like Tegan and her rush to work, his bad habits were hard to break. He drove straight to the grocery store and loaded his cart with meat and veggies for dinner, grab-and-go breakfast items for her, as well as eggs and oatmeal for him. She may starve herself but not because their refrigerator and pantry were empty. Besides, he needed to eat, and since nothing had changed at home, he was the one who’d have to do the shopping and the cooking.

“Hey, Mr. Carver.”

Dustin glanced up from the pyramid of oranges and smiled at Harrison Hollingsworth, the lawn murderer from down the block. “Hey, Harrison. How’s it going?”

“Good. My mom sent me here to get fresh turmeric for this juicing recipe she’s trying.” He rolled his eyes and looked around as if he was in the middle of a cosmetics store. “Any idea where I can find turmeric?”

“Ahhh …” Dustin looked around, spotted an employee wearing a green and white apron, and pointed over his shoulder. “I don’t know, but I bet he does.”

“Good call.” The kid smiled and nodded, all teeth and gums and youthful energy. “Tell Mrs. C. I’ll be by on Saturday after my lacrosse game to mow the grass.”

Dustin sidestepped a box of bananas peeking out beneath the counter and moved into Harrison’s path. “Hey, ah, that won’t be necessary. I appreciate you mowing the grass while I was away, but I’m back now and I’m taking over the yard.”

“Oh.”

The kid’s smile wobbled and fell along with his spindly shoulders, making Dustin feel like a class-A jerk. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his money clip, flipped out a couple of twenties. “Here’s a little something since I didn’t give you any notice.”

Harrison reached for the cash but pulled his hand back before he touched it. “That’s okay, Mr. Carver. You don’t have to pay me for work I didn’t do.”

“No, son, take it.” He bit the inside of his cheek and painted on a smile. “You did a good job. Consider it a tip.”

Harrison grinned and took the money. “Thanks. I appreciate it. See ya around.”

“See ya.” Dustin watched him galumph away, swinging his long limbs and plodding his oversized feet. Dustin remembered those years he spent caught in the throes of intense growth spurts. The aches and pains in his joints, the clumsy feeling like he couldn’t quite control his body, the bouts of acne that would come and go with a vengeance.

He turned and continued shopping, his thoughts lingering in the past to a time when his mother had been more cruel than nurturing. Exhausted from

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