Page 12 of Redeeming Melodies

"On the house. But you have to at least say hello to Mrs. Henderson. She's been watching that door like a hawk."

I took my coffee with a nod of thanks and made my way to Mrs. Henderson's booth. The old teacher smiled up at me, patting the seat beside her. "Jake Thompson, sit your behind down for five minutes. Town won't fall apart without you."

"Ma'am." I settled in, knowing better than to argue. "Everything alright?"

"Oh, just fine. But I noticed Tyler Morrison's been helping his grandfather at the hardware store every morning this week. Nice to see that boy trying to straighten out."

Mrs. Henderson might gossip, but she saw the good in people too. "Thanks for letting me know. I'll swing by later."

Back in the cruiser, I made a mental note to check on Tyler. After that night at Randall's farm, the kid needed to know someone was paying attention - and not just waiting for him to screw up again.

The hardware store was where I found old man Jenkins who was already sweeping his sidewalk. Through the window, I could see Tyler stocking shelves, actually focused on the task instead of slouching around like he usually did.

"Morning, Sheriff," Jenkins called out. "Boy's been here since six in the morning. Hasn't complained once."

"That right?" I helped Jenkins move a display of garden tools inside. His arthritis had been acting up lately, though he'd never admit it.

"Seems that night at Randall's scared him straight. Or maybe it was that talk you had with him." Jenkins gave me a knowing look. "Sometimes kids just need someone to show them a better path."

I watched Tyler methodically organizing paint cans, his usual attitude nowhere in sight. Each can placed with care, like maybe if he got this right, other things would fall into place too. "Mind if I have a word with him?"

"Go ahead. He's earned his break anyway." Jenkins's approval carried weight - man didn't give praise easily.

Tyler tensed when he saw me approaching, but didn't try to dodge away like he might have before. Progress, maybe. His shoulders stayed straight though, that old defiance not completely gone.

"Mr. Jenkins says you're doing good work," I said, keeping my voice neutral. Remembered being his age, how praise could feel like a trap sometimes.

"Yeah, well." He shrugged, but I caught the hint of pride in his expression. "Beats sitting in a cell."

"How's your grandfather?"

"Better since I started helping out. His back's been acting up." Something softened in his face talking about the old man. "Been making sure he takes his meds now. Actually set alarms on my phone and everything."

That was new - Tyler taking care of someone besides himself. Watched him fidget with a paint stirrer, that nervous energy he used to spend on trouble now looking for better outlets.

"You know," I said carefully, "hardware store's good experience for those vocational classes you're thinking about."

His head snapped up. "You remembered that?"

"Course I did." Let him see I meant it. "Not every kid knows what they want to do at your age. Takes guts to make a plan."

"Yeah, well." He looked away, but not before I caught the flash of something like hope. "Got this teacher, Mr. Rodriguez? He says I got a knack for the technical stuff. Says maybe if I keep my grades up..."

"Trade school's a solid choice." Kept my tone casual, like we were just talking shop. "Town could use a good electrician. One who knows the community."

"You really think..." He stopped, swallowed hard. "You think people would hire me? After everything?"

And there it was - the real fear under all that attitude. Not about skills or grades, but about trust. About second chances.

"Tyler." Made sure he was looking at me. "You know what I see when I look at you now?"

He shook his head, trying to look tough but his hands gripped that paint stirrer like a lifeline.

"I see a kid who messed up, sure. But more than that?" Gestured at the perfectly organized paint cans, the clean shop, his grandfather's pills he remembered to track. "I see someone learning to build things up instead of tearing them down. That matters more than any mistake."

His eyes went bright but he blinked hard. "Even that night at Randall's?"

"Especially that. Because you didn't run when I caught you. Owned up to it. That takes a different kind of courage."

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