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bit into a cookie. “Or if you don’t want to help, that’s cool. You can watch television or play video games.”
    Chloe finally answered her phone, and Luke walked into the living room. He gave her the details, omitting that Spence had dropped the kids off in the street.
    “Oh, that jerk. Again! And the game tomorrow…” Chloe sounded sad, but she pulled herself together and told him she’d be there in an hour. Then she hung up without saying good-bye.
    Josh had finished his cookie and stood staring out the window into the backyard.
    “Looks like you don’t really need our help,” he said.
    Luke went over to see what he was talking about. The fence guys were on the job.
    “I won’t lie, they do that job better than I do. But I could use some extra hands. For the deck.” Luke could put up decks in his sleep.
    “What ya payin’?”
    “Five bucks an hour. Each.” He didn’t think they’d last an hour. Holding planks in place was pretty boring work.
    “Hm. Okay.” Josh perked up with the swift infusion of sugar and caffeine into his system. “Mom usually makes us show her our homework.”
    “You can do that later.”
    “She wanted us to get it done today, because tomorrow…”
    “We’re going to the Tigers’ game with Daddy!”
    “No, we’re not.” Josh pulled four tickets from his back pocket and put them on the table. “Dad can’t go.”
    Luke beheld the tickets. There was no more avid fan, but he’d never been to an actual game. It sucked that their dad had bailed on such a cool event.
    “Mommy will take us!” Tommy said. “Right, Luke?”
    “Yep. She’ll be here in a little while.” Should he settle them at the kitchen table with their homework? He didn’t know the first thing about homework. Let’s see, an eight-year-old would be in third grade. Tommy, in first grade, couldn’t be too hard. But he really needed to get going on the deck. Daylight savings time hadn’t kicked in yet, and he had a limited number of hours to work.
    “Okay, dudes, here’s the plan. Only if you want to, you can help me with the deck for an hour and then you do your homework. If you need help with homework, you can come and ask me. And your mom will be home soon.” Luke hoped she’d hurry.

Chapter Four
    Luke wondered how he’d gotten into this mess. Ah yes, the lure of a fat check and a couple of meddling mothers. He still didn’t know what to do about the moms, but one problem at a time, or two pint-sized problems, was all he could deal with.
    The boys were each on their third, or maybe fourth, cookie. He got out one more for each of them and one for himself and then put the lid back on and the jar, a clear glass container that would show Chloe exactly how many chocolate chip cookies had been consumed in her absence, back on the counter.
    “Well, let me see if I have work gloves for you boys.” Luke had extra gloves, but not their size. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to protect their little hands. Not that the decking would splinter, it only resembled wood, but just in case. And since they wouldn’t be moving much, he figured even large-sized gloves would do the job.
    As he got parts and tools in order on the driveway, he thought about this deck. Who puts up a deck to sell the house? Might increase sales price. Not his house, not his decision. This could not be another romance tactic. Something to keep him here longer.
    “I got a tool kit!” Tommy said, racing out to the garage, leaving him alone with Josh.
    “He’s such a baby. It’s not real tools. Our grandpa gave it to him. The hammer is plastic.”
    Luke smiled.
    “So, you gonna help us, or do homework?”
    “I’ll help,” Josh said. They walked out into the garage. “I know where Grandma keeps the real hammer.” Luke quickly tried to think up small risk-free jobs that weren’t beyond the boys’ capabilities.
    “I need to use the bathroom first,” Tommy said, hopping from foot to foot.
    “And we better change into work