Chapter 7: Rebuilding the Foundation
The next few weeks transformed the quiet rhythm of the auto shop. Marcus gave Jax full-time hours fixing trucks and tuning bikes, while Leo spent his afternoons at a small desk in the office, catching up on his schoolwork with help from Marcus’s wife, Sarah.
Jax used his first few paychecks not on motorcycle parts or highway fuel, but on clothes that fit Leo, a sturdy backpack, and enrollment fees for the local elementary school.
Every evening, father and son walked the two blocks from the shop to the small neighborhood park. They didn't speak much at first; their connection grew through shared tasks—teaching Leo how to use a wrench, checking tire pressure, and preparing simple meals together.
One afternoon, while working under the hood of an old pickup, Jax noticed Leo standing nearby, watching his hands intently.
"Want to give it a turn?" Jax offered, handing over a socket wrench.
Leo hesitated, then stepped up to the engine bay. His small hands struggled with the weight of the tool, but Jax placed his larger hand over Leo's, guiding the movement until the bolt clicked into place.
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"Good job," Jax said. "You've got a natural feel for it."
Leo beamed, wiping a smudge of grease off his forehead with the back of his hand—a gesture identical to Jax’s.
