Page 26 of Harvey

“Surprisingly well. It’s a charming suite.”

“I am happy for that.” He stirred some sugar into his coffee, a distracted look on his face. “I don’t know what Harvey’s movements are when he comes home- “

“Please stop worrying. I will be fine. It’s not like this is a normal marriage after all.”

He nodded. “I just want you to be as comfortable as possible.”

“I am. Thanks.” She smiled at him as she lifted the cup to her lips. “No breakfast for you?”

“I usually do not eat this early, and Mrs. Morris always brings in some home-baked goodies even though I keep telling her not to.”

Kendra laughed at that, dark brown eyes twinkling. “She is a widow, and her children are grown and have all moved out of state. She is determined to make you into a substitute, and she loves to bake.”

Silas patted his trim waist feelingly. “I usually eat just one and give the rest away. And we have a very well equipped and functional gym. Remind me to show it to you whenever we have the chance.”

“Good to know.”

“Kendra?”

“Yes?”

“Thanks again for doing this.”

“You are welcome again.”

*****

“Hey, Blackwood! I hear that you are a newly-minted married man. When are we going to meet the missus?”

Looking up from the hole he was drilling, Harvey noticed the rest of the men in what was going to be the main living area and realized that they had stopped working and were concentrating on him.

“We have a deadline- “

“We are starting to wonder if she is ugly.” The guy called Barrington said with a grin.

“No, that could not be the case. Blackwood here is a macho stud with oodles of money; there is no way the old lady is not a looker. I bet she is a model or some well-known actress. You should bring her here so we can look her over and see if she is good enough for you.”

“See what I am holding here?” Harvey hefted the drill. “I have no problem driving it into your mouth, dislocating a couple of teeth, perhaps your tongue as well, to keep other offensive words from coming out of your mouth.”

“Just looking out for you,” he muttered, stepping back and picking up the power saw.

“Anyone else has something smart to say? Any marital advice you want to dispense? Comments about my wife? Anything?” Looking around at the men gathered there, he waited for a spell. “No? Then why don’t we get back to work and try to meet this deadline?” Turning his back to his task, he powered up the drill.

*****

“Married, huh?” Carter sat next to him and opened his lunch bag. Taking out the sandwich bag with his usual tuna and cheese sandwich, he did what he always did: offering Harvey half. As usual, Harvey shook his head and took out his ham and cheese sandwich and a flask of coffee.

“Yeah.”

“When did this happen?”

“A week ago.”

Carter looked at him with the usual blank look on his swarthy face. “She a looker?”

“Suppose she is.” Biting into the sandwich, Harvey leaned back against the pillar and stretched his legs out.

Carter was a little slow in the head, but he was an excellent carpenter. He was straight and innocent enough to say whatever came to his mouth—one of the reasons why Harvey liked him. The man had no guile and, from the very beginning, never treated him any differently from the others.

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