Page 8 of Shattered Dreams

“How much have you learned from him?”

“Well, not only can I do oil changes and other car maintenance. I can lay subfloor, tiling, linoleum, carpet, and fix holes in walls.”

Laughing, we locked up. As I walked to my truck, I took one last look at the outside.

This is it.

We left and went back to my mom’s house to have a small celebration. I got the grill going and then learned Libby’s fiancé was going to join us for dinner.

He wasn’t my favorite person.

I was nursing a beer waiting for the grill to be ready when I heard his voice.

“Ollie. You can’t go work for the brothers.”

“Why not?” She shrugged, coming through the garage to the backyard.

“Because it’s a business that’s just starting out. You won’t get paid close to what you are now.”

“And?” she deadpanned.

Uh-oh. He’s about to piss her off.

Jeremy kicked my foot and motioned to them with his beer bottle.

“It’s not proper for you to work with all men.”

Libby narrowed her eyes and put a hand on her hip. “I’ll work where I damn well want to work. As long as I can pay my bills. Wasn’t that what you told me? If you can pay your bills, Ollie, I don’t care where you work.” She mocked.

“I’m just …”

“You’re just not anything. You can get bent if you think I’m not going to help Richard and Jeremy.”

William looked over at me. “Could you please explain to her that you won’t have enough business to guarantee her wages?”

Jeremy kicked his legs out in front of him, crossing them at the ankles.

Ma stood in the doorway, leaning against it.

“Libs?” I glared at him. “You’ll be paid just fine.”

She deserved better than him. And it’s a damn shame Cooper isn’t back from across the pond. Maybe once he saw how this joker treated her, he’d step in.

William shook his head again. “I don’t think I can sit here and listen to you talk like you won’t be running in the red, like every other business that starts out.”

“Excuse me?” Ma tilted her head. “You do know my husband died, correct?”

“Yes.” He shrugged. “But that has nothing to do with business.”

Libby’s eyes grew wide, and before she could react, my mom did.

“He made sure to set his sons up so they could pursue their dreams.” She pushed off the door frame. “So maybe check yourself before you come into my house talking shit.”

She spun on her feet and stormed into the house, with Libby following her.

William sat there fuming in his chair as he lit a cigarette.

“You, uh, know Libby has a mind of her own?” Jeremy took a drink of his beer.

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