Prologue

Act 1

Summer had come early in Wolferton and has scorched the Westside and turned Reese Callahan’s one-bedroom apartment into a sauna, the May heat unrelenting despite a rattling fan. The place reflected it’s working poor owner—creaky floors, slightly warped windows—but livable, thanks to Reese’s new roommates and their welcomed improvements. Young Jamie Carter’s springtime fixes: fresh gray paint on the walls, tightened cabinet hinges, a wobbly table steadied. While Tara Lynn, Jamie’s mom, kept it clean, her touch homey but practical: a thrifted blue rug, mismatched mugs on the counter, no frilly nonsense.

Reese, was 27 and a hulking 6’1” construction worker. Never before someone who wanted a family, Reese now loved the setup, part of why he’d opened his door to Tara Lynn and her kid when her dark-debt past killed their old place. The place now felt more adult, more a home even in the tiny apartment.

The tiny living room held just a sagging love seat, where Jamie, who 17 and a wiry 5’2”, curled into one corner, his freckled face often smudged with dirt, sandy-brown curls sweaty under his hardhat all day. He wore snug black tees, cropped at the waist to fit his short frame, and tight, cuffed jeans—hand-me-downs—clung to his lean frame, oversized work boots and knee-high socks tossed nearby. Reese sprawled beside him, his muscular bulk crowding the love seat, his sweat soaking the cushions, his studly scent filling the small space. Tara Lynn slept behind the closed bedroom doorstep until her overnight shifts at the Motel keeping her absent from their evening world.

Reese was drained. The strip mall job he had been working for the last 2 months was big and grueling. Which is why, his boss Vince’s was willing to do Reese a favor and brought the kid on. The extra body would help, even if he couldn’t do much. “This kid better not screw us over, Callahan.” Reese’s favor to get Jamie hired came with a debt, and Vince’s scrutiny lingered. Jamie, too small for heavy lifting, knew his limits—his wiry frame suited fetching tools or slipping though tight roof spaces to get the guys things. But in was only the job site while Vince was making social media videos to get more business that Jamie’s goofball antics warm Vince’s mood. He would make silly TikTok poses, make joke and generally be silly. But a dropped power tool earned a warning glance. Reese nudged him: “Stay sharp, Jokes. We’re both on this.” Jamie’s freckled grin flashed, gratitude for the job and home fueling his hustle. “Yes sir, Reese,” he said, doubling down to make the big man proud.