Chapter 7: Building Bridges
The next two weeks were a blur of exhausting labor and quiet transformation. Jax took on extra shifts at the garage, working late into the night repairing old engines, changing oil, and fixing rust frames. Every dollar earned went toward transforming the trailer into a proper home. With Clara’s help, Jax bought a sturdy wooden bed frame, fresh bedsheets, a desk for schoolwork, and groceries that went beyond his usual canned goods.
Leo began attending the local elementary school. The first few days were tough; the boy was quiet and kept to himself, bearing the weight of his mother's loss. But every afternoon, Jax was waiting outside the school gates on his motorcycle, wearing a clean shirt and holding an extra helmet. The sight of the tall, tough man waiting patiently for the small boy gradually drew admiring looks from other parents and teachers.
One evening, as they sat together working on Leo's math homework at the newly sanded kitchen table, Leo stopped and looked at Jax. ""Dad?"" the boy asked quietly. It was the first time he had used the word. Jax paused, his pencil hovering over the paper, his heart skipping a beat. ""Yeah, kiddo?"" Jax replied, striving to keep his voice steady. ""Are we going to be okay?"" Leo asked softly. Jax reached out, placing a large, warm hand over his son's small shoulder. ""As long as I'm breathing, Leo, I promise you: we're going to be just fine.""
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