“Heat.”
“Vibration.”
“Moisture.”
“Movement.”
Ray smiled.
“Of course he did.”
Dana touched the envelope but did not take it.
“What would you do with five thousand?”
she asked Noah.
He answered too quickly.
“Save most.”
“For?”
“School.”
“What school?”
“Electrical systems program.”
“You told me engineering.”
“I don’t know yet.”
Dana nodded.
“Anything else?”
Noah hesitated.
“Grandpa’s toolbox cabinet.”
“What about it?”
“The bottom drawer is rusted out.”
Ray looked confused.
Dana smiled slightly.
“He inherited a garage full of dead-man tools.”
Ray understood.
Noah continued:
“And I want a better meter.”
“How much?”
“Two hundred maybe.”
Dana looked at Ray.
“He does not get five thousand cash.”
Ray nodded.
“Check.”
“Made to him?”
“Joint custodial account if you want.”
Dana studied.
“You’ve thought.”
“I had twelve days to lose my mind.”
She almost smiled.
“Fine.”
Noah’s eyes widened.
“Really?”
Dana pointed.
“Four thousand five hundred to savings.”
“Up to five hundred for tools or training.”
“No motorcycle.”
Noah frowned.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
Ray said:
“Reasonable.”
Noah betrayed him with a look.
Dana continued:
“And this does not buy access to my son.”
Ray’s face changed immediately.
“I know.”
“If he comes here, I know first.”
“Yes.”
“If you want him working, school comes first.”
“Yes.”
“He is sixteen.”
“I noticed.”
“No riding customers’ motorcycles.”
“Absolutely.”
“No club nonsense.”
Ray almost laughed.
“What club nonsense?”
“You know exactly.”
“Yes.”
“No social media stunt.”
Ray’s expression sharpened.
“Also yes.”
Dana leaned back.
“Then okay.”
Noah looked between them.
“Okay what?”
Dana said:
“You can come Saturdays.”
Ray did not hide his surprise.
Noah grinned.
Dana held up one finger.
“To learn.”
“Not to become free labor.”
Ray replied:
“If he works, he gets paid.”
“That is another conversation.”
“Yes.”
Noah looked at the black touring motorcycle through the office window.
The damaged wire still waited for proper repair.
“Can I finish it?”
Ray looked toward Dana.
She sighed.
“Schoolwork done?”
“Yes.”
“Show me.”
Noah groaned.
Ray laughed.
Walt would have loved that.
Two hours later, Noah sat beside the motorcycle with Ray and Mack watching.