After a full day at the hardware store, Mike arrived home feeling both weary and content. He had helped a number of his regulars with their ambitious home projects providing grounding advice as well as tools and materials that matched their actual ability. The sense of gratitude and respect he received from his customers warmed him and it made the effort he took to explain every little step in great detail worthwhile.
Mike's dad had spent the entire day in the organized chaos that was his home office. Harry had been engrossed all evening putting the finishing touches on a presentation for the Millerton chamber of commerce regarding his plans for the new community hall. He paused at the sound of the front door opening and the shuffle of Mike's boots. He called out to Mike down the corridor.
"Mike, have you had dinner yet?" Harry's voice carried through the hallway.
"Yeah, I had a few drinks with the guys and grabbed a quick bite on the way home," Mike was in the mudroom, busy brushing dirt and wood filings from his work boots, his movements fluid and practiced.
Mike's gaze was already fixated on the basement door, his anticipation for some video gaming quickened his cleanup. All he wanted to do was to unwind in the virtual world before turning in for the night.
"Well, there's some leftover salmon in the fridge if you're still hungry," Harry offered.
Mike looked up and smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Dad. If it's alright, I'll pack it for lunch tomorrow."
"Already packed," came Harry's reply, his tone kind and understanding.
"Perfect, thanks dad." Mike's smile widened. He was beat from the day's work, and the thought of a good lunch for tomorrow lifted his spirits. "I'm just gonna head down to the man cave and get in some gaming."
As Mike started making his way downstairs, Harry decided to take a break from his work. He emerged from his office and walked over to where Mike was heading.
"All right, have a good night." Harry said with a warm smile. "I'm actually planning to head to bed early."
Mike looked up from his descent down the stairs. "Big day tomorrow?"
"Yeah, got that presentation for the Millerton bigwigs. Want to be on my best game." Harry nodded, his expression a mix of determination and anticipation.
"Well, I believe in you, Dad," he said, his voice infused with a genuine confidence. "You're gonna knock it out of the ballpark."
In an enthusiastic gesture, Mike pointed his fingers at his dad, a show of support and encouragement. Harry chuckled in response, feeling a surge of pride for his son's belief.
Just then, Mike's phone began to ring. He held up a finger to Harry, indicating that he would take the call. Harry nodded and retreated back to his office to finish up his presentation, content to let Mike handle his own business.
Mike glanced at the screen of his phone to see Emily's name displayed. A sense of surprise mixed with curiosity as he answered the call.
"Hey, Emily. What's up?"
"Mike." Emily replied, her voice carrying a hint of unease. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."
"Not at all. It's just a bit unusual for you to call at this hour. Is everything okay?"
Emily let out a sigh, the sound heavy with emotions, "I'm okay, Mike," she said, her voice full of apprehension.
Mike furrowed his brows, concern creeping into his tone. "You sure? You sound like you have something on your mind."
Emily took a moment before continuing, her words coming out in a rush. "I've made a decision, Mike. I'm going to the police station tonight. I need to file a report about the incident with Steve."
Mike felt a mix of surprise, concern, and uncertainty. He wanted to say something comforting, to offer words of support, but the right words eluded him.
"Emily, I'm here for you." he finally said after a short while.
Emily's voice gained confidence as she spoke. "Thank you, Mike. I really appreciate that. And there's actually something I need from you."
Mike's grip tightened around his phone as he listened intently. "Of course, Emily. Anything."
Emily's words flowed, her tone growing more purposeful. "I was wondering if you could send me the photos you took of the damage at my shop, before you did the cleanup and repairs. I was so shocked over the whole affair I didn't think to take any photos myself. It would really help to have those photos as evidence when I talk to the police."
Mike nodded, though Emily couldn't see it through the phone. "Absolutely, Emily. I'll send them right after we hang up."
A relieved sigh escaped Emily's lips. "Thank you, Mike. You have no idea how much this means to me. There's something more if I may." Emily added quickly before Mike could respond.
Emily hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I know it's a lot to ask, but could you also write up an estimate for how much the repairs and cleanup would have cost? Including both materials and labor."
"Consider it done. I'll make sure to include all the details."
Emily's voice was laced with gratitude as she spoke. "Thank you, Mike. It really means the world to me."
As Emily hurriedly said her goodbyes and hung up, Mike was left in a moment of reflection. He hadn't anticipated the weight of the call just as he was about to unwind for the night.
Mike could see the door to his dad's office open. He started back up the stairs, his steps heavy with the weight of Emily's revelations.
"Hey, Dad," Mike greeted as he knocked gently on the door jamb of his dad's office.
Harry was already looking his way, concern etched on his face. "Everything okay?" Harry asked.
Mike's shoulders sagged, a sigh escaping his lips. "Yeah, that was Emily on the phone."
Harry nodded. "I'm sorry but I overheard a bit of the conversation. Is everything alright?"
Mike found himself a bit at a loss for words, his thoughts muddled by the unexpected turn of events. "Yeah, Emily's going to the police station tonight," he confirmed, his tone a mix of uncertainty and empathy.
Harry motioned to a spare chair next to his desk. "Come, sit down. Tell me about it."
Mike sank into the offered chair, his gaze fixed on his hands in his lap. "She's filing a report about what happened with Steve," he explained, "She asked me to send her the photos I took of the damage before I fixed it. She wants to show the police."
Harry's expression shifted from concern to understanding as he listened. "That's a reasonable thing for Emily to ask for. Having the hard evidence there before her would make it a lot easier to provide all the details to the police." Harry sat closer to Mike, "How did she sound?"
"Stressed," Mike replied, his voice tinged with his own concern. "Lost and out of sorts, you know?"
Harry reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Mike's shoulder. "And how are you feeling about all this?"
Mike's gaze met his father's, his gaze distant. "I'll be fine…I just want to help, but I don't even know how to feel about all of this. I mean, I know what Steve did was wrong, but I also just wish that Steve didn't do such a thing in the first place. I just hate how everything has escalated to this point. You know?"
Mike's frustration and conflict manifested in the way he crossed his arms, his brow furrowing as he tried to make sense of the situation. Emily's call had left him with a mix of emotions, and he couldn't shake the sense of unease that had settled within him.
"I can't even fathom what's going to happen," Mike muttered under his breath. He let out a sigh of exasperation. "I'm really uncomfortable with the idea that Steve might get into serious trouble with the cops," he admitted.
His arms fell to his sides before he brought up his hand to his forehead. Steve had been a respected figure who had held a place of reverence in his memories. A sense of betrayal at the admiration he had directed at Steve unsettled him further.
"I mean, he was the cool older brother that all the boys wanted to be like growing up. He always had a bunch of jokes ready to fire for every occasion, all the girls loved him, he made everyone around him feel special." Mike explained, justifying his feelings towards Steve in the past.
"But then I think about Emily," he continued, his voice more solemn. "She's an innocent victim in all of this. Steve did such a God awful thing to her."
Emily was not only a friend; she was also a pillar of support in his life, someone he regarded as a big sister. The idea of her suffering at the hands of Steve was painful for him to contemplate.
"I can't stand seeing her like this, it's just not right." he declared, his voice unwavering. "I need to support Emily in whatever way I can. She's going through such a difficult time, and it's the very least I can do."
Turning to his father, Mike met Harry's gaze, his eyes conveying a mixture of determination and vulnerability. "I'm going to be alright," he assured, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Harry's encouraging gesture—a gentle shake of Mike's shoulder with his hand, offered a comforting reassurance.
"You know, maybe you can consider accompanying Emily to the police station. She may appreciate the support, but of course, if that feels like too much for her, maybe you could at least drive her there. It's a smaller gesture but it's one less thing she has to worry about when she's dealing with all of this."
Harry's eyes met Mike's, his expression encouraging. "And you won't be alone in this either. I can come along to lend some support as well if you'd like."
Mike's spirits lifted at his dad's gentle guidance. "Yeah, it's a good idea for me to go with Emily. I think I can handle it myself, but thanks anyway dad, you're amazing."
"I know you can handle it, but just know that I'll be there quicker than a flash of lightning if you call me."
Mike couldn't help but chuckle at his father's well meaning zeal. "Alright dad, I hear you loud and clear."
The tension seemed to ease as their conversation transitioned to more practical matters.
"Dad, I know you're a bit of a whizz with the computer, can you help me draft up an invoice for the work I did at Emily's shop?" Mike asked hopefully.
"Of course, easy peasy! Let me get a spreadsheet open, and you can list out all the work you carried out for Emily."
Together, father and son meticulously detailed the repair work, material costs, and labor charges. As the spreadsheet took shape, Mike felt a renewed sense of purpose. It wasn't just about moving on from the incident; it was about making sure that the repercussions of the events that had transpired was acknowledged and the consequences dealt with properly.
Once the document was ready, Mike sent the photos and the spreadsheet to Emily, adding a personal touch to his message. He wanted her to know that he would be there physically by her side during this difficult journey.
—
The drive to Emily's shop was a reflective one for Mike. He mentally braced himself for the potential challenges that lay ahead at the police station, his mind conjuring up images of stern-faced officers in a cold, clinical setting. However, before he could fully immerse himself in his thoughts, the familiar sights of Sommerfield shopping street came into view. The orange glow of the street lamps bathed the deserted street in an eerie yet somewhat comforting light.
Parking behind Ted's old pickup, Mike felt a sense of reassurance, knowing that Ted and Sally were there too. Exiting his vehicle, Mike glanced through the glass shopfront, where he saw Emily engaged in conversation with Ted and Sally. As he walked into the shop, their quiet conversations ceased, and they turned to greet him.
"Hey, Mike," Emily greeted him, her voice carrying a mixture of appreciation and tension.
Mike nodded subtly in response, turning to Ted and Sally, and offering them a subdued smile, a gesture to show he was here to support them all.
"Hey Emily, thanks for waiting for me, I'm here to help in any way," Mike explained gently. "I understand you might prefer fewer people around, but I thought I could at least show my face and offer some support. If you're comfortable with it, I'd be more than happy to accompany you to the police station. Whatever you want."
Emily's expression brightened, and she responded with a comforting smile, a silent acknowledgment of Mike's kindness.
"Thank you, Mike," she said appreciatively. "I'm really glad to have you here. I didn't want to make a fuss, but your presence means a lot."
"We've just been going through what we were going to say at the police station." Sally informed, "Just to prepare ourselves for whatever happens."
The weight of the situation hung in the air, but the group was determined to face it together. A silence fell as they prepared mentally, and Sally turned to Emily.
"Emily, are you ready to go?" Sally asked.
Emily met Sally's gaze, hesitating for a moment before taking a deep breath, summoning her inner strength, and offering a determined nod.
"Okay," Sally confirmed, setting their plan into motion. "I'll drive you to the police station in your car. Mike and Ted can drive separately, and we'll meet there."
Sally then turned to Mike, her expression full of worried preoccupation.
"Do you know the way to the police station?" Sally asked.
Mike nodded solemnly, a touch of weariness in his response.
"Yeah, I do, quite well. Unfortunately."
Sally gently patted Mike's arm, conveying empathy and understanding, a subtle gesture of support as they all head to their cars, ready to face the challenging moments ahead.