Chapter 4 · Continued
CBIE
Jane stepped closer to examine him. The opening was on the same side as the dent, now exposed.
“Yeah… I can see that.”
Cam processed the damage. “We will need to report this.”
Jane didn’t hesitate. “Nope.”
He turned his head slightly. “…Clarify.”
“I can fix it,” she said, already heading toward the house. “Come on. The rocks can wait.”
Inside, Jane went straight to a drawer, dug through it, and pulled out a small case of jeweler’s screwdrivers.
“Sit,” she said, pointing toward the couch.
Cam obeyed immediately, sitting with perfect posture.
Still.
Waiting.
Jane moved closer and carefully fitted the cover into place. She aligned the tiny screws and tightened them one at a time, working slowly and precisely.
Her hands remained steady.
Cam didn’t move or speak.
He simply allowed it.
Jane leaned back to check her work. “I think that’ll hold.”
She lightly tapped the edge of the cover. “It was probably already loose. That dent must have made it easier to knock off.”
Cam raised one hand and traced the edge of the cover, feeling the seam.
“…Restored.”
Jane smiled faintly. “Yeah. Good as new.”
Then, more softly, she added, “Try not to take any more dives off the deck, okay?”
Cam processed the request. “…I will adjust my approach vector.”
Jane snorted. “Or just watch your step.”
Cam kept his hand against the side of his head for a moment longer.
“…You chose not to report the damage.”
Jane didn’t immediately look at him. “Nope.”
“Why?”
She shrugged. “Because it was fixable, and I don’t feel like having them take you apart over a loose screw.”
Cam went completely still.
The words landed.
“…Understood.”
Jane closed the screwdriver case, set it aside, and clapped her hands once.
“All right. Now—rocks.”
Cam followed Jane into the backyard again. This time, he moved carefully as he negotiated the single step from the deck to the patio.
Jane watched him and smiled. “You did it. I guess that step can be tricky for you.”
Cam inclined his head slightly. “Yes. But I strive to improve with each attempt.”
“Good,” Jane said, satisfied. “Let’s move some rocks.”
A neat pile of stones sat off to one side, collected from different parts of the yard.
“We’re going to make a border,” Jane explained, gesturing toward the garden. “We’ll move these and place them around the edge.”
Cam watched closely as she picked up the first rock, set it in place, and adjusted it slightly with her foot.
Jane stepped back, examined it, and nodded to herself. “See? Just like that.”