Let me build something that matters. She studied his face for a long moment, then sighed. Fine. But if we destroy my security deposit, you're explaining it to my landlord. Deal.
They started with measurements. Ethan showed Clara how to use a level, how to mark studs, how to check if things were actually square instead of just looking square. She was a quick learner, asking questions and catching mistakes before he had to point them out. You're good at this, he said after the first hour. I'm okay at following instructions.
That's more than most people. They worked quietly, the rhythm of it falling into place faster than Ethan expected. Clara held boards while he cut them. He showed her how to use the drill, then stepped back and let her sink screws herself. When she stripped one, he handed her another without comment.
Lily woke up around 8:00 and emerged from the bedroom rubbing her eyes. She saw the construction project taking over the living room, and her whole face lit up. She signed something rapid and excited. "She wants to know what you're building," Clara translated, setting down the drill. "A bedroom for you, with real walls and a real door."
Lily's eyes went huge. She signed again, looking between them. "Yes, really," Clara signed back. "Ethan's building it today." "Well, starting it today," Ethan corrected.
"Probably need the weekend to finish." Lily launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his waist in a hug that nearly knocked him over. When she pulled back, she was grinning so wide it looked like her face might split. "I think she approves," Clara said, her voice slightly rough. Good.
Because we're past the point of no return. They broke for breakfast around 9:00, sitting on the floor because the table was buried under materials. Lilly insisted on helping, so Ethan gave her a paintbrush and let her test the paint samples on scrap pieces of wood. "She wants purple." Clara translated after a flurry of signs.
"Like, really purple." "Purple walls it is." "You sure? That's going to be intense." "It's her room.
She should get to pick." By noon, they had the basic wall frame up. It wasn't perfect. There was a slight bow in one section that Ethan would need to fix later, but it was solid. Clara stood back and stared at it like she couldn't quite believe it was real.
"There's a wall in my living room." "Yep." "A actual wall that wasn't here this morning?" "That's generally how building works." "Shut up."
But she was smiling. They worked through lunch, stopping only when Lilly brought them sandwiches she'd made herself. Peanut butter and jelly with the crusts cut off, arranged on a plate with the kind of careful precision only a 7-year-old could achieve. "This is really good." Ethan told her.
Lilly beamed and signed something. "She says you're welcome and also when will her room be done because she wants to move in tonight." Clara translated. "Tell her maybe tomorrow night if we work hard." More signing.
"She says she'll help. She's very strong." "I believe it." By evening, they had the wall fully framed and the drywall up on one side. Ethan's shoulders ached and his hands were covered in small cuts from handling metal framing, but he felt better than he had in weeks.
This was real work. Work that mattered. Clara ordered pizza because neither of them had the energy to cook. They ate sitting on the floor again, Lilly between them, all three of them covered in drywall dust. "This is insane."
Clara said looking at the wall that had appeared in her apartment. "Yesterday this space was empty. Now there's a room here." "Not quite a room yet. Still need the other side of drywall, texture, paint, door, trim work.
Still, it's more room than she had this morning. Lilly signed something, her expression serious. "She wants to know if you're tired," Clara said. "A little, but the good kind of tired." "She says thank you for building her a home."
Ethan's throat went tight. "Tell her she's welcome." Clara's hands moved and Lilly smiled, then went back to her pizza. After dinner, Ethan showed Clara how to tape drywall seams. It was tedious work, requiring patience and precision, and she was terrible at it.
"This looks like a kindergartner did it," she said, staring at her lumpy tape job. "First time's always rough. You'll get better." "When?" "By the time we finish this wall."
She laughed and tried again. This time it was slightly less lumpy. They worked until Lilly started falling asleep sitting up, then Clara carried her to bed. When she came back, Ethan was cleaning up, organizing tools, and stacking unused materials. "You don't have to clean," Clara said.
"I'm not leaving you with a disaster zone." "It's already a disaster zone. There's drywall dust on everything." "Okay, fair, but at least it'll be an organized disaster zone." Clara grabbed a broom and started sweeping.
They worked in comfortable silence, the kind that only comes when people have spent all day building something together. "Can I ask you something?" Clara said after a while. "Yeah." "Why are you really doing this?"
Ethan paused, trying to find the right words. "Because you were right about me trying to fix everything with money. That's not what you need, but this" He gestured at the wall. "This is different. This is me actually showing up, using my hands instead of my wallet."
"It's still a lot." "Yeah, but it's the right kind of a lot." Clara leaned on the broom, studying him. "You know you don't have to prove anything, right? I know.
Do you, though? I'm working on it. She smiled slightly. Okay. As long as you're working on it.
Ethan didn't leave until after 10:00, and even then Clara had to practically push him out the door. Go home. Sleep. We'll finish tomorrow, she said. You sure you don't need Ethan, go.
Okay. Okay. I'm going. At the door she kissed him quickly. Thank you for today.
For all of it. Anytime. Driving home, Ethan's whole body ached in a way that felt earned. His mansion was dark when he pulled up. Empty, like always, but somehow it bothered him less tonight.