The grinding stopped, replaced by the heavy scrape of a shovel through concrete dust.

“What’s going on, Julian?” he asked.

“The pharmacy supervisor is already asking where the vinyl planks are.”

“I have to pull off the site,” I said.

“I need two full weeks clear.”

“Two weeks?” Robert said, his voice dropping an octave.

“We have four thousand square feet to lay by Friday.

If we walk off now, we lose the eight-thousand-dollar balance on the contract.”