Читать книгу A Roof Over Their Heads - M. Stelmack K. - Страница 6

Her hand was suddenly in his hand. He held her fingers in his tight, full grip.

This was nothing like his handshake. This was the hold of a man who felt her pain and wanted to bring her through it. “I’ll do it,” he said, his voice raw. “I’ll help. Just—just don’t beg me. I don’t want you thinking that I’m anybody other than a guy with a hammer.”

What a strange thing to say. Anybody could see he was more than that. He cleared his throat. “Besides which, Matt’s a good kid. You don’t have anything to give me, but Matt—well, you’re the only one who can give him what he needs.”

For a solid year, she’d had to prove that to teachers, adoption caseworkers, neighbors, the police. And on the worst nights, she’d lain curled on her side of the bed, knees to chin, with only the light from the phone, wondering if maybe she was wrong. To hear it now from a man who hardly spoke and when he did, it wasn’t ever complimentary... She squeezed his hand back.

“Thanks,” she whispered.

He nodded once, released her hand and crossed to the stairs. “Hey,” he called to Matt, “let me show you how to make a knot that lasts.”