“But you told him you were coming?”
“Yes.” Andrew knocked again, this time louder. He rang two more times. They all eyed each other some more.
A faint scrabbling sound came from inside the door.
“I hear him,” said Andrew, relieved.
Pam nodded. “Sounds like he’s in there.”
The noise of the deadbolt retracting preceded the inward inching of the door.
“Dad?” Andrew peered in.
Reese Daley opened the door only as much as it required for him to squeeze out onto the porch.
“Hello, Mr. Daley.” Dr. Frost held her hand out. “I’m Dr. Frost, but you can call me Pam. Andrew invited me to come talk to you this morning.”
“Andrew.” Reese tersely acknowledged his son and left Pam’s hand hanging in the air until she dropped it. “Pam.”
Andrew cleared his throat. “This is my boyfriend, Eddie. I asked him here to help. Eddie, this is my father, Reese Daley.”
Eddie held his hand out. “Mr. Daley.”
“Call me Reese.” Reese’s manners hadn’t deserted him entirely. Reese shook Eddie’s hand and then turned back to Andrew.
“I told you I’d bring the doctor with me. Will you consent to talk to her?”
“I guess I have to, don’t I?” Reese asked. “That’s what all this is, isn’t it? An ultimatum?”
“Not exactly,” said Andrew. “I hoped you’d—”
“I talk to your shrink, or you walk away for good. That’s what you said, right?”
Andrew’s lips tightened.
“It would be in your best interest to talk to me, considering your current situation.” Pam stepped forward. “I understand you’ve been given a deadline, so your home could be at stake. Is that correct?”
Reese nodded.
“Is there a place we can go to talk, Reese?” Pam asked.
“You.” He pointed to her. “I don’t want them. Just you.”
Pam frowned. “Why is that exactly? Surely you don’t think we can accomplish much all by ourselves?”
“My son brought you and his boyfriend here to shame me.”
“I did no such thing,” Andrew argued, outraged. “I’m trying to help.”
“He thinks if he shames me enough, I’ll have to do what he wants.” Reese crossed his arms and stood in front of his door, barring the way in. “I don’t have to do what he wants. I don’t have to do shit. The city inspector can kiss my ass.”
“Okay. Whoa. It will be fine for us to talk alone,” offered Pam. “How about you and I talk while they go get a bite of something to eat, and then we’ll see what we can do. Would that be all right?”
Reese kicked at a piece of broken masonry. “Okay.”
Andrew nodded and started to turn away. Eddie put his hand at the small of Andrew’s back, steadying him.
“Boston?”
“What?” asked Andrew.
Andrew’s dad reached into his pocket and pulled out a twenty. “Bring back some donuts or something. I don’t have anything in the house to offer guests.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Andrew refused his cash. “You still have coffee?”
“Yeah.”
“We’ll bring back food.”
“Thanks, son.” Reese looked so defeated, so fragile in that moment Andrew’s heart ruptured with sympathy for him.
“See you in a bit.” Andrew put his hand on his father’s shoulder. His father felt old to him. Smaller somehow. When did that happen? “We’ll get through this. We’ll fix this, and then the city inspector can kiss both our asses. Yeah?”
That got a smile from his old man. “Yeah.”
Chapter 18
Eddie drove Andrew to a nearby restaurant. Over coffee, while they waited for second breakfast, Eddie asked Andrew if he thought his dad would get on all right with Dr. Frost.
“I don’t have a clue how my dad’s going to react to anything or anyone anymore.” Andrew stared into his mug as if he were going to find an answer there. “He’s so goddamn stubborn. He’s getting older, and he hates it. He went from having a job he loved to forced retirement, and he hates that too.”
“He’s too young to retire, isn’t he?”
“He made a boatload of money when he sold the strip mall his bookstore was on. He doesn’t have to work at all anymore, as long as he doesn’t spend the nest egg.”
“That’s got to be pretty boring.”
“That’s part of the problem. He’s bored. He gets on the Internet and buys shit. He’s making the rounds of flea markets and swap meets all the time. He has this idea he’ll open another store when the economy gets better.”
“So he thinks of the things he buys as…what? Inventory?”
“I guess.”
Their waiter came over and settled their plates down before them. Andrew had ordered thick French toast with eggs and ham, and Eddie got huevos rancheros with roasted potatoes and sliced avocado. Eddie glanced up to thank the man and then turned back to Andrew.
“So he thinks he’s going to sell the things he’s been collecting someday.”
“Yeah, but it’s trash.” Andrew surveyed his food but didn’t pick up his fork. “It’s just old shit. Plus he’s not letting go of garbage anymore either. I swear to God, he hasn’t thrown out a newspaper, a bottle, or a can since I moved out. There are actual mounds of garbage, and I can’t get through to him that it’s unsafe—it’s unsanitary. How come he can’t see that?”
Eddie shook his head. “We don’t know what your dad sees when he looks at it. He’s in the grip of an illness. The doctor will help if he’ll let her. You’re doing the right thing by bringing her on board.”
“I feel sick about it though. I gave him an ultimatum. See her or we’re through.”
“You were never going to turn your back on him.” Eddie laid his hand on Andrew’s. “You know that, and I’m sure he knows it.”
“I wish I’d never said it though. He’d never say anything like that to me.” Andrew gulped a deep breath of air. “Never.”
Eddie scooped up a bite of his eggs. “You can tell him that. He’ll listen once he doesn’t feel so persecuted.”
“I hope so. I hope he listens to Pam.”
Eddie chewed thoughtfully for a bit. “I’ve worked these kinds of things. It’s been my experience there’s never a straight line to progress. You go a few steps forward and a few back. It’s a dance.”
Andrew laughed at that. “You and dancing. Everything’s a dance for you.”
“I guess it is,” Eddie admitted. “Life is a dance. It takes grace. It takes balance and perseverance. You have to watch where you are in relation to other people. You have to forgive yourself if you make a misstep. If you fall down, you have to find your rhythm and try again.”
Andrew’s smile was wry. “The gospel according to Cha-Cha Vasquez.”
Eddie shrugged, not certain whether he should be offended. “It’s a thing. From English class—a metaphor.”
“I know what it is.” Andrew took a bite of his French toast. Chewed it. “It’s a great metaphor.”
Eddie nodded. He glanced down at his plate to hide his pleasure at the compliment.
Andrew sighed. “I wish I hadn’t taken those days off last week. In retrospect, it would have made more sense to see the doctor first, but my dad wouldn’t hear of it. I think we had to spend some time trying to organize things by ourselves before either of us realized we couldn’t do it without help.”
Eddie pulled out his phone and checked Grime’s weekend schedule. “Whatever ground he gives up, you should probably be prepared to take and hold. Think of it like a war. Don’t give him a chance to retreat.”
“I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”
“Gabe’s friend the organizer told me if someone lets go of anything, we should be prepared to make it disappear. It’s a good idea to have a plan in place for where the recyclables will go, where the donated items will be taken, and to do both those thin
gs right away. That way, he can’t have a change of heart. Things will be much easier if he can’t second-guess himself.”
“I guess I could call those ‘have junk’ people. I figured I’d get in touch with one of the big charities to pick up anything we’re donating.”
Eddie debated whether to say anything else, but it must have shown on his face because Andrew stopped with his coffee mug halfway to his lips and put it down again.
“What?”
“Am I right that you’re asking for my help?”
“Well. No. I mean, support, yeah.” Andrew frowned. “I didn’t ask you here because of what you do.”
“But it is what I do.” Eddie shifted uncomfortably. “I do exactly this, all the time.”
“Okay, but you know, I didn’t really know that, and what you did back at my dad’s place…the hug. The empathy? That’s why I asked you here.”
“Then this is your lucky day, because I come with a big-ass bonus. Trucks. Workers if you need them. Family and friends who might be persuaded to help if I ask.”
Eddie thumbed Gabe’s contact number. Gabe answered on the second ring. “Eddie. Whatcha up to?”
“Hey look. I’ve got a thing. If you’re not under the desk with your head between Dave’s legs, can you text me the number of that guy with the hauling truck?”
“Hauling? Yeah. Evan. Got it right here. What’s up?”
“I might need it.”
“Yeah? You find us a job?”
“It’s for Andrew’s dad. He’s doing some organizing. I don’t know if anything is going to come of it, and anyway—” Eddie glanced at Andrew. “It’s not a job, job. I’m doing it pro bono.”
“You’re what?” Gabe asked at the same time Andrew growled, “The hell you are.”
Eddie covered the phone with his hand. “Let me talk.”
“I will not. You’re not going do your job without being paid for it.”
“How are you going to stop me?”
“Eddie.” Andrew glared at him.
“I’m talking here; give me a minute.”
Andrew went back to forking up a big bite of French toast. He shoveled it in his mouth. He even chewed angrily.
“So, Gabe?”
“I’m still here, Romeo.”
“Can you do me a favor and ask around if anyone wants to earn a little extra cash. We’ve got a pretty light schedule this weekend, right? It’s possible we could use some bodies. And one of our big trucks, maybe.”
“Mmbf. Lmnf.” Andrew’s outraged protest came out muffled by food. “No.”
“Did I say that shit you got for your teacher was incurable?” Gabe asked. “Goddamn. It’s more like insane.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Eddie waved that away. “I don’t know about that, but…he needs our help.”
“All right. I’ve got some free time. I’ll text you Evan’s number and see who else might be around.”
“Thanks.” Eddie disconnected the call.
“I can’t let you do that.” Andrew was implacable. “My dad has plenty of money. He can pay you.”
“I can’t take your money. It’s a matter of pride with me. You don’t fuck with a man’s pride.”
“Yeah, yeah. It’s moot right now anyway, so finish your breakfast, but prepare yourself for a battle. Even if you can’t take money, I can’t ask the same of your coworkers.” Andrew’s phone rang. “Hello?”
Eddie watched Andrew put his napkin on the table and slide from the booth. Andrew glanced back at him before taking his call outside. Through the window, Eddie had a perfect view of Andrew’s conversation: Andrew talking with his hands, frowning, smiling. The look of relief—of hope—that crept over his features was unmistakable and reassuring.
Eddie started in on the rest of his food. Whatever was going on in Andrew’s mind right now, he had no idea how difficult the day would become once they got started.
If Andrew’s dad was ready to clean up, it would be like tearing a bandage off. The quicker they went at it, the better.
Andrew came back in and sat down across from him.
“Okay. Dr. Frost—Pam—got specific permission for us to remove the recyclables, as long as we’re accountable for recycling them.”
“That’s good, right?”
“Right.” Andrew got busy making notes on his phone. “We also have permission to remove trash and haul it to the dump, but my dad has to specify what things can be considered trash. He wants to give us instructions for other things. He has lists a mile long of what we can and cannot touch, but…this could be considered progress.”
“Sounds like it.” Eddie hoped it was progress anyway.
“We have to start in the yard and work our way inside. Pam says we have to show restraint. How am I going to do that? I’m just itching to go in there with an arsonist.”
“It’s going to be okay, Andrew.”
“Thanks to you and Pam.”
Eddie nodded shyly. “Eat your breakfast. We have a long day ahead of us.”
They finished their food in near silence and then left the restaurant. Eddie let Andrew drive so he could make another call to Gabe. It might have been a mistake though, given how delighted Andrew was behind the wheel of his car.
“You said you can find me some helpers?” Eddie asked Gabe without preamble.
“I made some calls. We can get Evan’s truck. What are we looking at here?”
“Think the Hefflin case, no bodies, no pets,” Eddie replied.
“Wait. Your guy’s dad is—”
“I don’t know much right now.” Eddie had to grab for a handhold when Andrew took the corner into his father’s neighborhood.
“Oh my God, this is so much fun to drive. It’s a toy!”
“Is that the sexy professor?” Gabe asked.
“Yeah, he’s driving my car.”
“I can’t believe you let someone drive your baby.” Gabe sounded disgusted. “That shit is off the hook right there.”
“Shut up,” Eddie ordered. “I could just use some help, yeah? We’re going to need bodies, a couple trucks. Assume gloves and disposable respirators. Tyvek and real respirators in case we come across black mold or rat feces—”
“Christ.” Andrew’s hands tightened on the wheel. “Way to harsh this awesome ride.”
Eddie figured he should talk to Gabe in private. “I’ll call you back, okay? Get started on what we talked about.”
“Okay. I’m going to need an address.”
“In a minute, all right.”
“All right.”
Eddie turned to Andrew. “I’m sorry. That was insensitive.”
Andrew didn’t take his eyes off the road. “It’s nothing. You’re just protecting your employees from my filthy, biohazardous—”
“It’s not your biohazard. It’s your father’s. And it’s not even filthy, necessarily. I have no idea what to expect. Even in warehouses where there’s no food and things are kept neatly, sealed and cared for, there’s dust, mold, silverfish, spiders, and webs, rodents, pests of all kinds. That’s just life in the food chain. Mother Nature reclaims every inch we don’t work for every day.”
“I know that. I do.”
“So we go in there like…explorers on the new frontier. Prepared to fight off anything. That’s how we do it. Our employees are important to us. You’re important to me. You and your dad were rooting around in there, bringing up dust. It worries me to think what you were breathing in.”
“God, I’m so totally the wrong boyfriend for you.”
“Shut up. You are not.”
“I’m not neat like you are. I—”
“Can we worry about one thing at a time?”
“But—”
“I’m not as neat as you think I am. I just don’t have a lot of stuff other people have.” What Andrew had seen as neat might simply be the lack of reading materials—mail and magazines and newspapers and books. Things that Eddie noticed took up a lot of space in other people’s houses. By necessity eve
rything Eddie did from “reading” about current events to catalog shopping to paying bills happened online. His dyslexia made for a very uncluttered house. He did like things neat though. He liked to clean, but that was a preference, not an addiction.
After they pulled up in front of Reese’s place and parked, Andrew joined Pam in the driveway, where she was waiting for them. Eddie sent Gabe the address of Reese’s house.
“Okay. I think we’re making some progress here.” Pam outlined what she’d discussed with Reese. “Your dad established some ground rules. We’re going to do what your father allows, but we’re also going to give him the occasional challenge. We’re going to push his boundaries by a very little bit and see where that takes us. I’ll be here every step of the way. I don’t want to give him a chance to rethink this.”
“All right.”
“Are you okay?” she asked Andrew.
“I’m getting a headache.” Andrew gave a lift of his shoulder. “I’m sure my dad has some kind of pain reliever. So it’s okay to push him a little?”
“Yes. We need to test the waters. In the meantime, we’re going to hold him to our agreements. It’s not going to be easy for him, but he has agreed, and we’re going to be as efficient as we can be. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“So your friend—” She turned to Eddie. “Andrew said you’re making some calls to get us a hauling truck?”
“I’ve got a truck on the way, along with some helpers. My partner is going to be here in a bit. This is actually my business.”
“It is?” Dr. Frost asked, surprised. “Really?”
“Eddie owns a company that cleans crime scenes. Maybe you’ve heard of them? The Brothers Grime?”
“Oh my gosh. I know about you. Your trucks say, Because life is not a fairy tale.” Pam gave his shoulder a playful punch. “Oh my goodness, Andrew. You really did come prepared. Good for you.”
“I didn’t.” He sent Eddie a look of appeal. “I thought they just cleaned crime scenes. I had no idea he worked with hoarders. I just wanted him here because…he makes me feel good.”
“I see.” Pam smiled at them both.
“Yes, but I also don’t want him here, if that makes sense,” Andrew admitted. “I hate for him to see us like this.”
Eddie: Grime Doesn't Pay (The Brothers Grime Book 2) Page 14
