THE DAYS THAT STARTED TO FEEL LIKE HOME
Chapter 9
Walter’s roof wasn’t actually broken.
One section of gutter had come loose.
Ethan discovered that after climbing onto the roof.
“You called me for this?”
Walter stood below.
“I said I needed help.”
“You made it sound serious.”
“It was serious to me.”
Ethan tightened the last bracket.
“Done.”
Walter looked up.
“Good.”
Ethan climbed down.
Walter handed him a beer.
“It’s ten in the morning.”
“So?”
Ethan stared at it.
Walter shrugged.
“Coffee?”
Ethan nodded.
They sat on the porch.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Walter looked toward the street.
“You’re getting used to it.”
Ethan glanced at him.
“To what?”
“Being here.”
Ethan took a sip of coffee.
“Maybe.”
Walter smiled.
“That’s good.”
Ethan looked at him.
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it’s true.”
Ethan didn’t answer.
A child rode past on a bicycle.
A woman watered flowers.
Someone carried groceries across the street.
Nothing happened.
And somehow that was enough.
