"She means the fit."
"I know that too."
On the drive home, Maisie stared out the van window.
"Can we go to Hammer's shop?"
My hands tightened slightly on the wheel.
"Why?"
"Daddy went there."
The answer was simple. My fear was not. For months, Dawson Custom Works had existed in my mind as the doorway to the night Daniel died. Even after learning the truth, the thought of walking inside made my chest tighten.
I almost said no. Then I remembered Daniel's letter. Going forward did not mean moving without fear. Sometimes it meant refusing to let fear decide the route.
"Not today," I said. "But soon."
Maisie accepted that. Two weeks later, we went.
Ray knew we were coming because Rebecca had mentioned it, but he did not stage anything. The shop looked exactly like a working fabrication business should look. Metal racks lined one wall.
Motorcycles occupied service bays. A clean office stood behind glass. Welding curtains separated active areas from walkways. Nothing resembled the dangerous fantasy I had built in my head.
A sign near the entrance read EYE PROTECTION BEYOND THIS POINT. Ray met us in the front office.
"Princess road machine survived two weeks?"
Maisie spun in a small circle.
"No problems."
"That's what I like to hear."
She pointed toward the work area. "Where did Daddy sit?" Ray's smile faded.
"Come on."
He led us to the desk near the far wall. Daniel's pencil marks still existed on a wooden measuring board fixed above it. Somebody had written D.M. - STOP MOVING MY CALIPERS on masking tape and never removed it. I touched the edge of the desk.
"He worked here?"
"For maybe six hours total across several visits. Mostly computer work."
Ray opened a drawer and removed a spiral notebook.
"This is his."
Inside were sketches. Dimensions. Lists. A drawing of the road case.
Notes about insurance calls. And, on one page, a list titled THINGS SARAH WILL WORRY ABOUT. I read it.
1. Medical fit. Rebecca handles.
2. Safety of lights. Low voltage, removable.
3. Cost. Do not hide actual numbers.
4. Maintenance. Supplier support, not Hammer guessing.