Billy saw Gus emerge from the house after lunch but his dad was nowhere to be seen. Finally after about five minutes he came outside wearing different clothes. Billy's suspicions were on high alert, his brain calculating possibilities again.
As soon as his dad was busy with Gus and John, Billy started to clean up the food from lunch and take it back inside to the kitchen. When he was sure the coast was clear he went upstairs to the bathroom but it looked untouched. Then he went to the unfinished bathroom in the basement and saw that it had been used. Little things like a crumpled towel and the toilet seat up but as he looked around he noticed some spots on the floor that didn't look like water. He reached down and touched them bringing his fingers up to his nose. Damn, he knew the smell of cum.
He went back upstairs not sure what to do next. He knew at least Gus had been down there but his dad too? After he put everything away and loaded the dishwasher he snuck upstairs and went through the dirty laundry basket. As he suspected he found his dad's clothes from the morning and bundled into a ball were his dad's briefs. He looked closely and saw, and then smelled, the stain. The telltale remnants of sex were there. He took the briefs and hid them in his room. Let his dad come looking for them now, he thought, he'll have some explaining to do.
Billy watched them all like an eagle the rest of the afternoon, all except Hank. He was a bit surprised Hank did not try to catch his eye, but then Billy saw that they were still playing the "miffed game". After a while he tried to think of something to pin his dad with but realized his mom might be returning any second. That was the only reason he didn't try something.
Billy watched them and realized at the rate they were working they actually might finish this thing before four. His dad stuck around and seemed to be spending a lot of time helping Gus. Several times Billy went over and offered to help but he just got waved away so he spent the time sitting and watching. Even Ger was treating him like a nobody, now that his dad was around and he didn't have to take any crap from "the boss". And he stayed away from Hank as well, wishing now this stupid game was over.
Around three-thirty his mom showed up and came over to see the progress. Seeing she was as much in the way as Billy she smiled and quickly made her escape. As soon as she did, Gus and John got the hose and started putting some water in the pool bottom checking the pumps and filters. They stood around and surveyed their work. It seemed to run fine.
"Well Joe it looks like you got yourself a pool finally" Gus announced looking a bit proud.
"Well thank Billy here" Joe said "it was his project."
"And a fine boss he was" Hank said "we couldn't a done it without him."
Billy looked around and just said "you guys did all the hard work."
Ger gave a short laugh and started cleaning up.
"So what we gotta do now Gus?" Joe said.
"Well there's some backfilling you gotta do around the edges now that everything's connected and working. Re-sodding still, and of course I'd recommend adding some more water" Gus looked at Billy and laughed "you know how to fill it right?"
"I guess" Billy said wondering what 'fill' he meant.
"And I'll leave you all the water treatment chemicals you'll need and give you instructions how to use them and all. But John here's your go-to man for anything more now."
"You need help tomorrow with the backfill?" Juan asked not Joe but Billy.
"I think I should be able to handle it" he said, thinking Juan was looking for more work or something else perhaps.
"I will come by tomorrow still to check on it" Juan said "on the house."
He shook hands with Billy and Joe and started to gather up his boxes and tools.
One by one they cleaned up their areas and packed their supplies back onto the trucks. By four-thirty they were leaving. Billy was finally able to catch Hank's eyes and signaled "phone" to him. Hank nodded and then went back to his truck.
Over supper the three talked about their new pool and how well Billy did. Billy tried to catch his dad's eye to see any reaction to the day's events but no deal. His dad was mister poker face. Fine, Billy thought, but I'm keepin the evidence for a rainy day.
At six Billy broke away and got to the phone. He called Hank. It rang for a minute or two but nothing. Billy began to panic. He hung up, seeing his situation with Hank evaporating in front of his yes, the magic trick gone in a cloud of smoke.
After a minute the phone rang. Before the echo faded, Billy yanked the receiver off the wall.
"Hey " Hank said "sorry I couldn't get to the phone. I got some stuff I gotta talk to ya bout. But I... can't... tonight - "
"What's up Hank? Somethin wrong?" Billy went from yellow to orange alert "what'd I do?"
"Ain't you stud" Hank tried "but I.. don't know...I'm... well somethin's up I can't talk about it now...but I gotta talk to ya soon as I get to the bottom of this" Hank could not go into it over the phone - because he didn't know what it was himself, "so if I'm free tomorrow - "
"If!?! What's goin down here Hank? Is is about- "
"Can ya trust me Bill? Right now I really need for ya t'trust me."
"Fuck yeah... I trust ya."
"We gotta talk about it but not now. I'll call ya tomorrow."
"Getting second thoughts aren't you?"
"Can't talk now but no, ain't like that. Tomorrow" and he rang off. Damn, Billy thought, now Hank is sounding weird and I gotta keep from losing it! Just when I thought this whole thing might work out. Is that it now? I get a pool and lose Hank? Or did he find out about the doc's? Cause if so, I'll cut off the doc's before I lose Hank!
Billy went to his room and sat on the bed, feeling his world unraveling. On impulse he called Hank. "Little" Hank, he almost said to himself. They talked long enough for Billy to calm down. When Hank was sure Billy was okay they hung up. But Billy did not sleep well that night.