Ricky was conscious of the fact that both he and Jack silently watched her walk away until she disappeared into the parking lot. He figured Jack did so partly because she was a babe, but mostly because he was waiting until she was out of hearing before he ripped into Ricky big-time.
After taking the spot where Caitlyn had been sitting, Jack's next words proved Ricky right. The man was out for blood. "Okay, punk, we both know you screwed up big-time even if you did manage to do a couple of things right afterward. I relayed your message to Caitlyn that you were sorry for taking off on her. While she accepted your apology, you should know that she had to cancel her next lesson because of you. That took time away from another kid who is depending on her to help him get caught up with his schoolwork. That's strike one."
The growing undercurrent of anger in Jack's voice was clear as he kept right on talking. "Your actions also pulled me off the job, so now I'll have to spend two days doing a one-day job. That means I'm going to have to call a second client to tell them that I'll be late getting to their house tomorrow. With a small business like mine, a reputation for reliability is what keeps customers coming back. I can't afford to get bad reviews if I want to keep food on the table. That's strike two."
Jack leaned forward, his arms crossed on the tabletop. "All of that was bad enough, Ricky, but do you know what strike three is?"
Ricky's face burned hot with embarrassment, and he couldn't have spoken if he'd wanted to. He was just glad that Caitlyn wasn't sitting there listening to all of this. Meanwhile, Jack kept right on talking as he stared across at Ricky, his face rock hard and not a little scary.
"You didn't answer that fucking phone. Strike three, you're out."
Ricky's heart stuttered and then pounded in his chest as if he'd been running a race-one he'd just lost. He should have known staying with Jack and Marlene wouldn't last. Where could he go now? There was nothing to say even if he could've forced the words out. He lurched to his feet and started to leave.
Jack's hand shot out and caught him before he'd gone two steps. "Where the hell do you think you're going? We're not done here."
Okay, he wasn't going to sit there and let Jack rag at him any longer. If he wanted him gone, fine. He'd be gone. But when he struggled to jerk his arm free, Jack held on. Ricky flinched at the touch, feeling helpless and fighting back the fear. "Let go! You said I was out, so I'm going."
Jack kept his grip on Ricky's arm just long enough to stand up and block his way. "Oh hell, kid, that's not what I meant. I might be pissed off, but that doesn't mean I'd kick you out. That's not how this works."
A ripple of shock ran straight through Ricky's chest. "It isn't?"
"No, it isn't. Now sit back down." Jack ran his fingers through his hair. "Please."
When Ricky dropped back down on the seat, Jack did the same. "I get that something Caitlyn said set you off, and you lost your temper. She feels bad about that, but that's not why I'm upset with you. I might not be happy that you charged off without any regard to how your actions would affect other people, but we all screw up sometimes. Even me."
Once again Jack leaned forward, somehow managing to crowd Ricky despite having the width of the table between them. "Here's where you went off the rails, kid. The deal was that you'd answer the phone whenever I called. No exceptions. But the first time it really mattered, you didn't."
He was right, and Ricky had known that was a major mistake when he did it. He hung his head. "Sorry."
"I need to know that I can trust you, Ricky. That when you give your word, you mean it. Got that?"
"Yeah, I get it."
"In the future, when one of us calls you, you will answer, even if you're mad. If you can't talk for some reason, you will text us back immediately. I want your word on that. Before you answer, understand this much. A man is only as good as his word. The people around him have to know they can depend on him, whether it's on the job, out on patrol, or with your friends and family. If you haven't learned that yet, then learn it now."
Then he stuck his hand out, clearly expecting Ricky to shake it. After a second, he did. "Fine. I'll answer or text."
Jack looked much happier as he sat back. "Okay, this is what is going to happen next. You will apologize to Caitlyn yourself when we leave here. You will wash her car to make it up to her. When we get home, you will also apologize to my mother. Then you'll wash her car, too."
Ricky lifted his broken arm and gave it a pointed look, but Jack didn't say a word. Instead, he just stared at Ricky until he finally gave in and nodded. "Got it."
"You don't have to wash the truck or my SUV, but you will clean the annex top to bottom."
Okay, this was starting to suck, but at least he wasn't going to be sleeping in an alley on a piece of cardboard. "Are we done here?"
"Yeah, we are."
They had gone a few steps when Jack suddenly spun back around to face him. "No, actually, there's one more thing, kid."
"What?"
Jack's hand came down on Ricky's shoulder. Once again, he couldn't help but flinch even though it didn't hurt. "I want to give you my word on something, kid. I promise I will never use my strength against you, not to hurt you, no matter how pissed I am at the time. That's because I was on the receiving end of that same kind of shit myself when I was a kid. Back there at the table, when you were about to walk away, I was just trying to stop you. That's all."
Then he let his hand drop back down to his side but still didn't walk away. What was he waiting for? Finally, Ricky stuck his hand out. Jack jerked his head in a quick nod, and the two of them shook hands again for the second time in ten minutes. It felt weird but kind of good at the same time.
"I also owe you for dinner."
Jack took out his wallet and pulled out a couple of twenties. Ricky hesitated to take them, figuring maybe he owed Jack and Caitlyn more than just some fish and fries for coming after him. Finally, Jack gave him a disgusted look. "Come on, kid, take it so we can get out of here. We've kept Caitlyn waiting long enough."
-
Caitlyn had lost track of time when Marlene joined her at the front window. "He's still at it out there."
"I'm not surprised. Washing cars one-handed isn't easy, but I'm guessing that's why Jack chose that particular activity for Ricky's punishment. Maybe the boy will think twice the next time before he takes off like that."
"I hope so. Jack was really worried about him. We both were."
Marlene smiled as she watched Ricky at work. "So was I."
Ricky had finished washing both cars and was now drying them off. He looked sweaty and tired, but as far as Caitlyn could tell, he hadn't complained once since he'd started slinging soap and water.
When he struggled to reach the middle of the roof, Jack walked over and took the towel from him and finished that much for him. Whatever he said to Ricky had them both laughing. As he walked away, the kid twirled the towel and flicked it out to smack Jack on the butt. That did it. Jack came charging right back, stopping long enough to grab the bucket of soapy water Ricky had been using to wash the car.
The boy took off running, whooping and hollering as he tried to outdistance Jack's much longer legs. Although she couldn't hear what Ricky was yelling, she suspected it had something to do with the fact that he'd just finished drying the cars and didn't want to have to start over again. Jack just grinned and continued on the hunt.
When he finally had Ricky cornered, the boy held up his hands in surrender. Jack only smiled that much bigger and swung the bucket back in preparation of heaving it straight at his intended victim. At the last second, he altered its trajectory just enough to miss Ricky, at least mostly.
It was good to see the pair fooling around together like that. She suspected such horseplay had been pretty much nonexistent in Ricky's life before this. Jack happened to glance toward the window and noticed her watching them. Once again, she felt the weight of his gaze across the distance. Then he saw his mother was there, too. He waved at her and then did a credible imitation of a mime eating.
Instead of complaining, Marlene laughed. "Okay, I guess that gives me my marching orders. I'll go see about fixing us all a snack."
"Need some help?"
"No, but I'd appreciate the company."
As they headed into the kitchen, Caitlyn realized that it was nearly eight o'clock, although thanks to the long summer days in Seattle, it was still light out. Had she really been there that long? Now that her car was washed, it was time to leave. "Maybe I should be going, Marlene. I hadn't realized how late it had gotten."