Page 58 of Love in the Storm

“What got into him?” Asa’s mom asked.

“Excited about going to Beau’s,” Asa said.

Jacob peeked his head back inside and said, “Sorry. Didn’t mean to slam the door,” before disappearing again.

Asa chuckled and turned to his mom. “See you tomorrow. Love you.”

“Love you too, son.”

By the time Asa got to the truck, Jacob sat still and silent in the passenger seat.

“Dad, I’m sorry,” Jacob said quietly.

Asa let his hand rest on the gear shift and didn’t speak.

Jacob wrung his hands in his lap. “I thought you were going to cancel tonight. Mrs. Huntley kept asking me what was wrong, and I told her it was nothing.”

Oh, man. Jacob had been upset all day, all because he thought he couldn’t count on his dad to be there for him.

Asa rubbed a hand over his face and tried to breathe through his constricting throat. “Buddy, I’m sorry I’ve been working so much lately. We’re short-handed, and?—”

“I know. I really get it. I know the town needs you, and I know you need the job so we can have money. I don’t want to be selfish, but?—”

“But it’s okay to be upset when things don’t go your way. That’s a part of being human.”

“Yeah, but I feel bad for doubting you and being selfish.”

Asa wrapped an arm around Jacob’s shoulders and pulled him in. “I feel bad for letting you down lately. Trust me, I’d rather be spending my time with you. I look forward to working on the car just as much as you do.”

“Really?” Jacob asked.

“Really.”

Satisfied with the outcome of the talk, Jacob bounced in his seat. “Well, let’s go.”

Jacob talked the whole way to Beau’s garage. His class was working on a home design project at school, and he detailed every feature his group had put into the model and why. The kid was so observant and smart, Asa never worried about Jacob’s future job opportunities. If he stayed this focused and determined, he’d have his pick of any career he set his mind to.

A light dusting of snow was falling when they pulled up at Beau’s garage, but Jacob jumped out of the truck and ran inside before Asa got his seatbelt unbuckled. Inside, Jacob quickly located Beau and said his hasty hello before darting off to the last baywhere the old Mustang they’d been working on waited.

Beau wiped his greasy hands on a rag and pushed it into his back pocket. “Long time, no see.”

Asa and Beau went back to the diaper days. With moms who were best friends, they’d started elementary school with a solid friendship that sometimes flipped to competition. Teachers tried to separate them into different classes, but Asa and Beau found ways to keep in touch.

Asa offered his hand to Beau. “Busy times.”

“Tell me about it. I can’t keep up lately.”

“You thinking about taking on another hire?”

Beau shook his head. “Nah. Can’t afford it yet, but at this rate, maybe soon.”

“Give it about six years and that one will be knocking down the door looking for a job,” Asa said, pointing at Jacob.

“Man, if only they were all as good as him. I have to babysit most of the guys around here. At least Jacob knows what he’s doing.”

The metal door screeched as Beau’s sister walked in. Olivia had been just as much a part of Asa’s life as Beau, and she’d treated Asa like a brother since day one.

She held onto the grocery bag she carried with one hand and threw the other in the air. “Asa! How’s it going?”

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