Elijah followed Hillory into the cavernous kitchen, his boots clomping loudly on the polished marble floor. The room was a marvel to behold, with its gleaming countertops, stainless steel appliances, and custom cherry wood cabinets that stretched to the high ceiling. It was the kind of kitchen he had only ever seen in magazines, the kind of place that made him feel small and out of place, like a stain on the pristine white marble.
Hillory led him to a far corner, where a row of pipes ran along the wall, their metal surfaces covered in a sheen of grime and rust. She pointed to a particularly loud section, where the pipes seemed to rattle and clang with every step he took.
"The noise started a few days ago," she explained, her brow furrowed in concern. "At first, it was just a drip here and there, but now it's constant. Uncle says he's going to call a proper plumber, but I thought I should mention it to you first, since you were here and all."
Elijah nodded, already crouching down to get a closer look at the pipes. He could see the problem immediately - a loose connection between two of the sections, the rubber gasket worn thin and brittle with age. It was a simple enough fix, but one that would require some elbow grease and a steady hand to make it right.
He turned to Hillory, his expression serious. "I can fix this, but it's gonna take some time. The parts I need ain't cheap, and I'll have to order them in. But I can make it so's it don't leak no more."
Hillory's face lit up with a smile, and Elijah felt a strange warmth spread through his chest at the sight. "Oh, thank you, Elijah! That would be wonderful. I'll speak to Uncle about the cost, and we'll make sure you're compensated properly for your time and effort."
She paused, biting her lower lip as she studied him with those piercing green eyes. "Is there anything I can do to help in the meantime? I know I'm not much of a hand with tools, but I don't want you to have to do all the work yourself."
He hesitated, then nodded slowly. " Well, if you're willin', you could hold the wrench for me. Keep it steady while I tighten up these fittings. It's a two-man job, and I could use someone to hold things still on the other side."
Hillory's face brightened at the prospect of assisting him, and she nodded eagerly. "Of course, Elijah! I'd be more than happy to help. Just tell me what you need me to do."
Elijah felt a flicker of surprise at her ready agreement, unaccustomed to such easy camaraderie and willingness from the women he knew. But he pushed the thought aside and set to work, handing Hillory the wrench and showing her how to hold it firmly against the pipe.
As they worked together, Elijah found himself stealing glances at Hillory out of the corner of his eye, watching as she concentrated intently on her task. Her brow was furrowed slightly, her teeth worrying her lower lip as she strained to keep the wrench steady. There was a smudge of grease on her cheek, a testament to her efforts, and Elijah felt an inexplicable urge to reach out and wipe it away.
But he didn't. He couldn't. Women like her didn't want a man like him touching them, not without invitation. Not without...
He shook his head sharply, banishing the thought before it could take root. He had a job to do, and a family to provide for. He couldn't afford to go getting ideas above his station, no matter how pretty the view.
After a while, Hillory stepped back and examined their handiwork with a critical eye. There, she declared, her smile wide and bright. "That should do it! The leak seems to have stopped, and the pipes aren't nearly so loud anymore."
Elijah straightened up slowly, his back popping and cracking from the exertion. He looked at the pipes, then at Hillory, and felt a swell of pride and gratitude. Pride in a job well done, and gratitude for her help, her company, her...
Her presence. That was it. Just her presence beside him, working alongside him like they were equals, like he was a man worthy of standing in a place like this, with a woman like her.