Page 46 of Not Looking
He ran his thumb over the pith that made up a feature of the sidewalls. “No checking?”
I smiled. “Half luck, half excruciating drying time.”
He laughed, thumb tracing down where the rings were thicker on one side. “I can imagine, especially with this tension here.”
“Did they teach you how to identify tension in the wood at the mill?”
Joey laughed from where he was still talking with Kerry. “No, I think that comes from him working as a faller for almost fifteen years. He started working the mountain straight out of high school, and was manning a chainsaw by the time he was old enough to drink.”
“You were a faller?”
Craig nodded. “Yep.”
“What made you stop and work at the mill?” I asked.
He frowned. “Repetitive strain. My doctor said that it was only a matter of time before I’d become permanently disabled if I kept doing it.”
He hadn’t left the job because he wanted to, but because his body had forced it on him. I imagined how it would feel if I couldn’t do woodworking anymore because of that.
“I’m sorry,” I murmured.
He shook his head. “It’s one of the dangers of the job. I just wish I’d had more time.”
He paused, then, “But I wouldn’t have met you if I was still up there.”
My face burned, and I hoped my beard covered my blush. “I… umm…
He set the bowl back on the shelf. “What else do you make? What do you use those scraps for?”
I moved down to a shelf closer to the table and motioned to my spindle-turned items. “Pens, winestoppers, utensil handles.”
He smiled as he picked up a pen. “So delicate, but the wood shines.”
I smiled. “Thank you.”
“Maybe I should get one. I don’t have a quality pen, and mostly use cheap throwaways with logos on them.”
I chuckled. “I think most people are like that.”
“Well… that settles it,” he stated, then turned to look at the assortment. “Now to decide which to get.”
I swallowed. “May I?”
He looked at me. “Of course.”
I nodded and turned to the shelf. A moment later, I had what I was looking for, and I handed it to him.
“This one,” I started, then swallowed. “It-it’s from one of the scraps you put aside for me.”
My cheeks had heated again, but satisfaction curled in my middle as Craig’s face took on a slightly pinker hue.
“This one it is, then,” he replied. “How much?”
I shook my head. “No, it’s…”
“I insist,” he interrupted.
“Friends’ discount?” I countered.
