Just a quick note for the readers who have been following this 'series'. An extended version of Ren-shades of grey Ch13 has replaced the first ch13 posted.
MYGYPSY
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Hank Scofield watched the three men as they carried the bundles of roof tiles up to the section of garage that was left to reroof. He had to acknowledge that the large man filling in for one of his usual workers was a hard worker who didn't complain about the hard work in the heat.
Hank had turned up to collect two of his usual workers and found their friend talking to them while they waited for their lift to work. Down one worker due to family illness Hank had offered their friend some casual work to fill in until his usual crewmember was back.
The guy, Brad, had been up front about being just out of jail and on parole even as he was offered the work.
Hank had not bothered to tell him that he was well aware of exactly who he was and why he had been in jail. The two men who had become a part of his crew had been honest about their circumstances when he had first hired them nearly ten months ago. At the time he had contacted people he knew and had gotten information about Brent and Matty before offering them permanent work.
Hank was an ex--con himself but that didn't mean he was any kind of a fool; just someone willing to give people a second chance.
"Okay!" Hank called loudly, "knock off for lunch!"
The five men who worked for him finished the tasks they were doing before heading over to the shade provided by a large tree.
Hank noticed that Brad checked his mobile phone before sitting on an upturned bucket to eat.
"Expecting a call?" Hank asked curiously.
"Been hoping I'd get a message saying I would get to see my son tomorrow or Sunday," Brad said trying to push aside a feeling of depression over the lack of contact from his son's mother.
"Walsh mightn't have got your contact details to her yet," Brent said mentioning the lawyer Brad had passed the information on to.
"How old is your boy?" Hank asked.
"Nearly nine months. I've been seeing him every second weekend for the last five months but a fortnight ago he was teething and had a bad cold so his mother decided against taking him to see me. She did say something about turning up last weekend but it was a no show." Brad said and heaved a deep sigh.
"Well I hope things work out," Hank said before starting on the lunch his wife had packed.
Brad turned to his own lunch and tried not to think about his son Nicolas. Had his mother gotten cold feet and decided she didn't want him in their child's life?
There wasn't much he could do about it if that was the case he admitted to himself. No matter how much he wanted to be a part of his son's life he had to abide by his mothers choice.
* * * * *
'Tanaya watched Brad as he rinsed his coffee cup before placing on the sink to drain.
"I'm headed for a shower, it'll be good to wash some of the dust off from working." Brad said.
It was mid afternoon Saturday and 'Tanaya knew the real reason Brad was at loose ends was that he had been hoping to get word he would see his son this weekend.
'Tanaya turned away as she thought about another woman, any woman, having Brad's child.
She heard Brad leave the room and she sat down at the table. What could she do to try to cheer him up? 'Tanaya wondered.
Maybe a b-b-q would liven things up, 'Tanaya decided as she got to her feet to check what meat she had in the freezer. She could see if Brent and Matty wanted to come over, they were always up for company. A quick check revealed the basics for a meal, it would be nothing fancy but hopefully the company would help to lift Brad's spirits.
Grabbing her door keys 'Tanaya headed out the front door and hurried across the street to the house Brent and Matty lived in.
An older style four bedroom home it sat on the corner of the block with over grown rambling gardens. The two men were gradually cleaning it up but they had only been living in it for the past four months.
A few quick words with Brent and Matty and they were happy to come over shortly for the afternoon. Brent said they would quickly slip to the shops to get some steaks, a loaf of bread and a few things for a salad before they arrived.
Back at her house 'Tanaya went through to the kitchen and set the meat out to thaw and made sure there was enough beers for the four of them. None of them were big drinkers but they all enjoyed a cold beer or two after a days work.
Brad walked into the kitchen wearing only a pair of low cut jeans and paused when he saw 'Tanaya over by the sink.
"I could have sworn I heard you go out earlier," Brad said as he fastened his belt buckle.
The skin on his upper arms and shoulders showed the play of muscles beneath and 'Tanaya was suddenly breathless as she saw his broad shoulders.
"What? Oh! I went over to see Brent and Matty for a minute or two," 'Tanaya said as she turned away.
"You and Brent were an item once weren't you?" Brad asked.
"Yeah, a few years ago now but," 'Tanaya admitted guardedly. "You know how to peel spuds don't you,"
"Yeah," Brad said as he helped himself to a bottle of cold water from the fridge.
"Good, make yourself useful." 'Tanaya ordered lightly as she placed a knife and some potatoes in the sink.
The two of them worked in companionable silence for a while as they prepared a potato salad.
A loud knock on the front door preceded it being opened and Matty yelling out, "Bread delivery! And I got a tray of fresh brownies!"
'Tanaya smiled as she turned to face the doorway, Matty had a lot of almost child like innocence she found refreshing. He was no fool but he also assumed the best about people until proved other wise.