Chapter 14: Keep the Spring

Elias's POV

I drove to Carson's uncle's office before I drove to the hotel.

It was at the back of the building that holds my shop.

It was a room with a space heater and a calendar from a tile company.

The uncle did not stand up. He had known me since I was twelve and had never once asked me to sit.

"Carson's mother called," he said. "She says you've been making trouble for the family."

"I've been fixing the walnut at the Lakefront Grand."

"Don't be smart." He slid a paper across the desk.

"Here's what happens. You stay away from that girl and you keep your mouth shut Saturday."

"And?"

"I tear this up and your lease runs to spring."

I read the paper. It was the notice, already signed, with three days on it.

"And if I don't?"

"Then you have until Sunday."

I have a lathe in that shop that was my grandfather's.

I have a bench I built at nineteen and eleven years of clamps.

My name is painted on the door in green.

I thought about all of it for about as long as it took to fold the notice in half.

"Keep the spring," I said.

He stared at me.

"Elias. It's a building."

"I know what it is."

Keep reading free with an account. Start The Matching Game. Everyone Knew The Answer. Except Me from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.