But he was wrong to doubt Gabriel.
After all these years, he was relieved that Gabe’s tenacity had cleared the way for them to be friends again. And saved Bruce’s house. He needed to follow Gabe’s lead and put the hard word on his overdue clients—but in his own fashion. Gabriel hadn’t been rude to Clarence exactly, but it wasn’t the way Bruce would have done it. The important thing was that no-one would suspect he had been struggling. Clarence hadn’t thought that, neither had Gabe. They were just paying him what he was due.
He pulled out his overstuffed diary with the list of unpaid invoices written in the front. Too many didn’t have their dates paid written beside them. He kept a proper electronic system back at the house but he liked writing it down, as depressing as it was. He could trust what he’d written. He marked off Clarence’s payment and wrote in Sofia’s. He then went through the list to the ones that were outstanding.
First up, Rowena Campbell.
He dialled her number and she answered after a few rings. They exchanged greetings over the sound of her crying five-month-old in the background.
‘What can I do for you?’ she asked, as bright as ever.
‘It’s about the garage door.’
Rowena lived in one of the new housing developments in Brachen, architecturally austere buildings put together on the cheap. He’d gotten a lot of work from fixing their crap construction. Rowena’s electric garage door had stopped halfway open.
‘Bruce, it’s wonderful. It works like a dream.’
‘I’m glad to hear it.’ He took a deep breath and smothered a swarm of bees buzzing in his stomach. ‘Unfortunately I haven’t received payment so I thought I’d let you know in case there’d been a glitch somewhere along the way.’
‘Oh, Bruce. I am so sorry. It must have slipped my mind. This baby brain of mine!’ Cue ear-piercing wail. ‘I’ll do that right away. I can’t believe I forgot.’
‘It’s okay. These things happen. But if you could arrange payment asap that would be great.’
‘Of course. Oh, and look at that, the invoice is stuck to the fridge. I’ll send it now. Again, I’m really sorry.’
‘No worries, Ro. Thank you. Speak to you soon.’
He hung up. His lungs hurt like they’d been doused in ice water, but he’d done it. He’d got through a conversation that involved him asking for money. Three hundred dollars on its way. He didn’t write in the date paid just yet but put a dot next to it to show he’d done it.
The next few calls went much the same, all done with a lightness and friendliness that his customers expected, but also a firmness that he would get paid. They were all apologetic and all agreed to pay that day. One of them even asked him for a quote for a new job. And then there was the money from the theatre too. Next month’s repayment was already looking good enough that soon he could attack the credit cards.
Everything was coming up—
The sparkling in his blood crystallised into shards when he read the next name on the list.
Kyle Packer.
Jason’s brother.
He’d repaired Kyle’s septic system, a job he never should have taken on but Kyle had been desperate. Almost swimming in it. There were still days when Bruce caught a whiff of the stench. He hadn’t wanted the job and provided a quote that truly reflected his time and labour with a bit thrown in for the emotional and olfactory inconvenience. Brachen was too small for him to be knocking back work, but he figured he’d priced himself too high and someone like Ed would get it. Turned out Ed’s price was even higher. It should have been a job that’d be easy demanding the money for but there it was, still sitting on his list two months later. He’d rather let the money pass by than beg for it from a Packer.
He shouldn’t feel conflicted. This was nothing but a tradesman getting money for services rendered. Besides, Kyle wasn’t Jason. Even so, he hesitated to call.
A knock on his window saved him from dialling. Gabriel stood on the other side of the glass, pulled off his sunglasses and peered in with a lazy smile on his lips that reminded Bruce of slow, hot summers by the river. Gabe stretching his body like a cat and Bruce forcing himself to look elsewhere. But there was no escaping Gabriel now. He wound down the window and tried to shift the knots at the base of his spine.
‘Hey, Bruce. You doing alright?’ Gabriel stuck his head in a little bit further and his smile broadened.
Bruce relaxed. They were friends again. That should be enough. ‘I’m fantastic. Thanks for the payment. Really appreciate how quickly you got it to me but you shouldn’t have paid double.’
‘It was worth it. You should come around and see how much Mum loves it. We’re out there all the time. She’s working under it now. It’s going to be even better when the vines grow.’
Would she be around to see them flower?
‘I’m really glad,’ Bruce said. ‘And you should also know Clarence paid in full. I have you to thank for that.’
He beamed. ‘Well, well, well. Seems like I didn’t do such a bad thing after all.’
‘No,’ he chuckled. ‘But I doubt I’ll be getting much work from him in the future.’
‘I wouldn’t be so sure. Clarence likes having you work in his music room and it’s not just because you’re good with a drill.’ Gabe’s eyebrows bounced suggestively.
Bruce’s face heated up.
‘Why, Bruce Clifton, I do believe you’re blushing.’ Gabe couldn’t hold
