Three Converts

Part 44

The sun rose as it always does. I was thankful for some light that didn't come from flames. Griffin's workshop was completely destroyed. The rest of the house was a mess, but salvageable. Sam was taken for medical care. We didn't know what to do next. "All my money was in the shop," Griffin informed us, as if that was what mattered about the fire. Misty and I shrugged.

"It's just money."

"You can make more."

Rocco was more concerned. "How much? No, don't tell me."

Griffin apologized and my heart broke just a little more. "This is going to set our project way back. How are we going to take care of ourselves and the Robes that come to us?"

Misty gave him a light punch on the shoulder. "I think you're underestimating my table-waiting skills." I was so happy to see his smile, I wanted to run my finger over his teeth. It was genuine, but short. His head drooped. "My tools, though. I can't make anything." I reached into his back pocket, thankful we had fallen asleep in yesterday's clothes. Sure enough, his little whittling knife was there. I held it out to him. The leather handle looked determined, the blade fierce." You can start with this."

Griff looked at me skeptically, but took the knife. "Back to my roots, I guess."

"I say you start by hacking up your dad's furniture!" Misty stomped on Rocco's foot for his sass, but Griff laughed. "You might be on to something!" he declared.

We stared at the house some more, reflecting on the clean-up, the lost resources, and Sam. He'd come back home eventually. How could we possibly stay here with him? "Let's cross that bridge when we get to it," Misty suggested. "By the looks of his burns, he won't be home for a while."

Slowly, the neighbors that had been watching from a distance began to venture over. They brought breakfast and kind words for Griffin. None asked how the fire started or where his dad was. Somebody delivered a big dumpster and a few neighbors offered to help clean. We took them up on it and ventured back into the house.

Clean-up went surprisingly fast with so many people helping. I told Griff to work in the rest of the house and let us take care of the garage, but he refused. Silently, we pulled out charred chairs, black desks, ashes that were handcrafted tables. Rocco hoisted the cradle over his head and carried it out with a look so sad I couldn't deny that I actually liked that big oaf. Griffin worked like a robot. He didn't seem to see the things he was throwing away, but with every trip out to the big dumpster he came back smaller and smaller. After he and Rocco moved the desk that I loved so much, the desk where we had our first kiss, Griff walked through the garage and into the house without looking at anybody. I followed him.

He was in his dad's room, on the bed. "Hi."

"I was thinking I should probably let Gordo know."

I nodded. "Yeah, he'd want to know."

"Thanks for helping with all this. You've got enough to deal with, without all this drama," he said to the floor.

"Griff. You don't have to thank me." I understood now why he was offended when I told him he didn't have to hang around after he rescued me from the commune pit. "We're a team." He finally looked at me. This time when he smiled, I did run my finger over his mouth. It was gritty with soot and ash. I ran my tongue over my teeth, also gritty. I kissed him.

Someone cleared their throat at the door. I jumped away, but Griff calmly stood. The officer smiled. "Excuse me, are you Griffin Hendricks?"

"Yes sir."

"Your father is in stable condition. He is under arrest for arson. Once he's released from the medical center, he will be taken directly to jail."

"I don't want to press charges," Griffin said. I twisted my mouth in protest, but stayed quiet.

The officer shook his head. "Sorry son. In this particular instance, you don't get a say. He endangered the lives of too many people."

Griff nodded, and I could swear I saw some relief in his face. He wanted his dad in jail, he just didn't want to be the one who put him there.

After the officer left, I wanted to pick up where we left off, but forced myself to go with Griff back to the garage. Misty was sweeping. "I told everybody they could leave. You have really nice neighbors, Griffin." I was thankful to see the dumpster was gone too. It would have been too traumatic to see the heap of charred craftsmanship pull away, never to be seen again.

The garage looked enormous with nothing in it. Even Griff's worktable was gone. It was too unstable after the fire. We stood rotating around the room. The occasional ash would float in front of my face, and I'd bat it away. Griff looked overwhelmed. I knew he was wondering how he'd ever build his inventory up again. Rocco's stomach rumbled. "Really, Babe? At a time like this?!" Misty accused.

"Sorry! I worked up an appetite!"

"I gotta admit- I'm hungry too," Griffin added. "Luckily, the kitchen is still standing." We stormed the kitchen like crusaders and pulled out every morsel of food we could find.

"Well, this complicates things a bit, but I think we should still move forward with our plans." Misty said, buttering her bread.

"Agreed. We just work a little harder, a little faster," I added.

Rocco stopped stuffing his face long enough to say, "I'm still on board!"

"Me too," Griff said rubbing his eyes. "Butfirst, sleep."