“Let me take you to dinner tonight. Our first proper date.”
Shelby nodded. “I’d like that. Now, you’d better get going if you’re driving out to the Wentworths’ old house—which, by the way, I heard they just sold.”
“Perfect timing.” Scott closed the distance between them for a kiss.
Shelby almost forgot about the big reveal. Almost.
When he pulled back, she touched her lips, laughing. “You’d really better go.”
“Okay.” He gave her a mischievous grin. “You getting out of my truck first?”
Shelby shoved him. “Text me when you get back into the city, and I’ll meet you out front.”
Almost an hour later, Shelby waited on the Heard Avenue sidewalk, shuffling her feet to keep them warm. She and Scott had agreed that the work crew didn’t need to be present for the initial walk-through—although they’d planned a little surprise for afterwards. It dawned on her that while one couple entered their twilight years together, the other began a journey … toward what? If she was honest with herself, she hoped it was a long future together.
When the Chevy pulled up, Lester and Ruby wore blindfolds as prearranged. Shelby hurried to Ruby’s door to help her out, while Scott assisted Lester.
Ruby’s hand groped for Shelby’s arm. “Oh, Shelby, I’m so excited.”
“Me too. Miss Ruby, this has been the best house flip I’ve ever done.” Shelby’s gaze flitted to Scott’s as she realized what she admitted. His eyes lit, and he smiled. “And we want to thank you for letting us do it. You’ve blessed us in more ways than we could ever have blessed you.”
Ruby patted her hand. “Oh, honey, if you and Scott are a couple now like he told us on the way over, it would be worth it even if we didn’t get a house.” “Now, wait a minute,” Lester protested. “I seem to recall writing some rather large checks.”
Shelby laughed. “Well, the good news is, you get both.”
“Okay, all this personal stuff is embarrassing me. Are you ready to see your new home?” Scott asked the Wentworths.
“Yes! This bandana makes me feel like I’m being kidnapped,” Lester said.
“You can take them off when we count down in …” Shelby met Scott’s eyes, and the connection between them pulsed with life, giving her a flash forward of a hundred other such moments. They counted together. “Three, two, one!”
Lester gasped, and Ruby squealed. As she covered her mouth, her husband put his arm around her shoulders. Shelby tried to see it with their eyes. The bungalow’s white trim and rust-red muntins and front door popped against the medium-gray paint, offering the welcoming feel of a historic cottage, while the expert gray stonework lent a touch of class to the porch and chimney. A stone-lined walkway cut from the concrete drive through fresh green sod. Under the bracketed eave, silver house numbers broke the white trim above the front porch. White pumpkins and terra cotta planters spilling over with autumn flowers flanked the entrance.
Ruby threw her hands wide. “It’s so beautiful! It looks like it needs a B & B sign in the front yard!”
“No!” Lester sounded genuinely alarm. “We’ll have more than enough company with family members. Please don’t invite anyone else.”
Scott and Shelby laughed.
“Can we go in now?” Rubbing her hands together, Ruby glanced at Shelby.
“Of course.” Shelby led the couple up the walkway and held open the front door. As she’d come to expect with reveals, Lester and Ruby stopped short on the threshold, frozen in another moment of disbelief. Shelby stepped through so they would follow. She could tell from Ruby’s big eyes that the classy ivory-and-gray palate of the living room drew the older woman, so she guided them first toward Lester’s den, lest it be forgotten. And she was maybe most proud of it, in an odd way.
“Lester, do you recognize some things in here?”
“Why, yes. This looks like my desk from the restaurant office.” As he approached the piece of furniture, he brushed his fingertips across an antique fan, then a photo displayed in front of it. “And here’s my old team, the year we won the championship.”
“We’ve got your coach of the year certificate right there.” Scott pointed to the wall behind the desk.
Ruby admired the “office” sign next to the certificate along with an old vertical wall filer. Then her gaze skipped over to the collection of photographs and the shadow box menu. “Lester! Look at these.”
“Oh my.” Lester stopped in front of the grouping. When he ran a surreptitious hand over his face, Scott exchanged a smile with Shelby.
She let the former coach and restaurateur have a moment to reminisce before pointing out that Scott had made the 1920s-style slatted chairs. “And did you realize this is the waiting bench from the restaurant foyer?”
Lester turned around. “So it is. And I like the one rustic shiplap wall. Scott, Shelby, amazing work. Y’all can finish the house tour. I’ll just wait in here.”
“You certainly will not.” Ruby grabbed his hand.
“That’s exactly how we wanted you to feel, Lester,” Scott said. “Like you have your own space. A space to commemorate your years of hard work and accomplishment.”
“Well, I have a feeling if Ruby has anything to say about it, my real ‘accomplishment’ will frequently be gathered in the living room, in the form of my family.”
“Well said.” Hands on his hips, Scott nodded.
“Let’s go see it.” Lester allowed Ruby to lead him across the foyer.
The fire Scott laid the night before and Shelby started that morning provided crackle and cheer to the main family area. Tall lanterns from the antique store topped the built-ins on either side, while the spot above the mantel showcased Angelina’s watercolor of the bungalow. Ruby responded to it with a sentimental cry. Caitlyn’s neighborhood print and the rustic vintage window frame from Culpepper’s accented the main walls. A collection of the blue-and-cream, salt-glazed pottery, accent pillows, small green plants, and blue depression glass in the colonnade separating living from dining space provided pops of color to neutral furniture and rugs.
Shelby had carried the fabrics of the living room into the dining room window seat, which overlooked the side yard through a frame of white sheers. She’d decided to stencil ginkgo leaves above the plate rail. But the focal point of the room remained Scott’s long, rustic table, set as it had been in Culpepper’s by Linda and highlighted by the black, circular, wrought-iron candelabra. Ruby appeared to lose the ability to speak when she took it in.
While Ruby admired her immaculate kitchen, Lester teared up again over the framed recipes mounted above the eat-in nook. “Now I swore I wasn’t going to get emotional, and you go and do stuff like this.”
Ruby left off stroking the padded, gray-striped back of the slipper-style island chair to come to her husband’s side. “But this is worth getting emotional over. These are the dishes you made me this fall.”
Lester nodded. “And Scott made Shelby. And you see? It worked for him just like it worked for me. A woman can’t resist a man who can cook.”
“Lester, you’re a stinker.” Shelby laughed as Scott drew her to his side. “I knew you and Miss Ruby were plotting to get us together all along.”
Lester didn’t hesitate a beat. “Well, of course we were.”
“Bless God.” Ruby sank down onto the bench, wiping both cheeks. “I’m sorry. I need a minute. This is all too much.”
“It’s okay, take all the time you need.” Shelby gave Scott a nod, prompting him to send a text as she stood over Ruby and rubbed her shoulder.
Lester handed his wife a handkerchief. Patting her face with it, Ruby looked up at Shelby. “I told you we’d redeem this house, didn’t I? And look at all that has happened. God’s worked restoration in the Barnes family and also brought you and Scott together. See how He brings good out of all things?”
Shelby nodded. “As usual, you’re right, Miss Ruby.”
“I think we should have a prayer
over the house after we finish the tour.” Scott slipped his phone in his pocket. “Do you feel ready to check out your master bedroom?”
Ruby agreed and rose. She adored Scott’s barn door slider and the matching headboard he’d made along with Shelby’s rustic accents, including a collection of old books and a nod to Augusta’s past in the form of cotton boll stems gathered in a vase. The silk jacquard Lili Alessandra comforter Shelby had chosen in shades of blue, champagne, and silver retained an elevated sense of elegance in the room.
In the master bath, folded, fluffy white towels waited in an antique crate. A greenish Verdigris pedestal dish vase offered wrapped K. Hall soaps. Robes hung on the back of the door. And the gray dresser vanity and paint on the upper portion of the walls provided a satisfying contrast to white subway tile, beadboard, and Ruby’s slipper tub.
Upstairs, Shelby attempted to stall the couple and talk loudly, hoping they wouldn’t notice any noise from below. But she could only point out vintage wallpaper accent walls and mini-chandeliers for so long. When they made their way back downstairs, she hoped everyone had made it to their place.
“Let’s make some coffee and talk about the equity in your house.” Scott held an arm out toward the kitchen, urging the couple in front of him.
Lester’s eyes lit up. “For sure—” he began, but he got no further, for as soon as they rounded the corner into the living room, a huge group of people overflowing the kitchen and dining room shouted, “Welcome home!”
Lester and Ruby started laughing with joy as they recognized their children, grandchildren, siblings, and cousins. They hurried forward to embrace the family members. Behind them, Shelby saw Scott’s mother beaming with triumph. The spread of breakfast pastries, fruit, and quiche she’d hauled inside while they toured upstairs covered the kitchen island. A tall, muscular man and an attractive brunette stood beside her, holding three-year-old Lexie.
“Come on.” Grabbing her hand, Scott pulled Shelby through the crowd. “I want you to meet my brother Austin and his wife, Kaleigh.”
When Scott kissed his mother’s cheek and thanked her for her efforts, Shelby followed it up with a hug. Linda patted her back. “Good job, Shelby.”
“Shelby Holloway!” Austin edged his substantial form past the smaller people chatting around him. “I remember you. You haven’t changed a lick since high school.”
Kaleigh elbowed him. “Dodson.”
“Oh right.” Austin looked apologetic and stuck out his beefy hand.
Shelby slipped her palm onto his. “You haven’t changed much either, Austin. Nice to meet you, Kaleigh.”
“I guess we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other, now that you’re dating my little brother.” Austin paused to elbow Scott in the ribs, causing him to double over. “Congratulations on getting the girl, Scott. Took you long enough.”
Scott pushed him. “Go eat a bagel.”
“Better yet, I want to see the house,” Kaleigh said. When Lexie flexed her fingers toward a donut, her mother patted her hand down and edged away from the food. “Come on, Austin. We’ve got to get our sugar monster out of here.”
As Kaleigh attempted to tug her husband out of the kitchen, Lexie made her desires known. “I wanna stay with Scotty!”
Linda intervened. “Go with your mama right now, Lexie, and let her show you the pretty things in the house. Uncle Scott has something he needs to talk to Shelby about. And I need to serve coffee.” So saying, she pulled a folded paper out of her coat pocket and handed it to her younger son, then offered them a smile. “Go. Steal a quick minute alone.”
As Linda nodded toward the back porch, Shelby frowned in bemusement but allowed Scott to lead her outside. When he closed the door on the gathering, Shelby could hear the musical tinkle of water from the fountain installed near the pergola. Scott sat on the bottom step and patted the spot next to him. Lowering herself onto the cold concrete, Shelby realized it was the exact spot she’d sat crying three months before, when she’d first met Scott again after a decade apart.
“What’s up?”
“Okay.” Scott fiddled with the corner of the paper Linda had given him. “I asked Mom to bring this because I’ve heard you talk about starting your own interior design company. It so happens the store next to Culpepper’s remains vacant. This is a copy of the lease agreement Caitlyn, uh, decided not to sign.” Shelby started laughing, then faded into silence as she realized what Scott suggested. She snatched the paper and opened it, staring at the figures spelled out inside. “This … is a really good rate. Too good for that size space. A space that’s honestly too big for an office.”
“Not just an office, but a storeroom behind, like ours. Enough square footage for you to move your decorating stuff from your storage building. And it’s discounted because Culpepper’s would be subleasing it to you—at a reduced rate, because your design services would be a branch of our company.”
“W-what? You’re asking me to go into business with you?” Shelby’s hand started shaking. Scott offered her the startup opportunity she’d dreamed of, not only for an office area, but for a shop. A shop with their own brand of rustic elegance. And more amazing, the offer meant he aimed to keep her in his life long-term. That he was so confident in their relationship he wanted her to join his family in a business venture.
“I want to keep flipping houses with you, Shelby, just like you envisioned. Only without the camera crews.” Scott gave her a lopsided grin. “And my mom wants to assist you with decorating them. I know this is a lot to ask you, and you don’t have to answer right this minute. But I’ve prayed a lot about this, and I feel peace. To me, the future … it just seems so obvious.”
“Together.” Shelby felt hot tears spill down her cheeks.
He smiled tenderly. “Yes, together. Are you willing to give it a try?”
She raised a hand to Scott’s smooth jaw, suddenly able to see how everything that had gone before had prepared her for this moment. And now, the future that had so recently looked bleak held unspeakable promise. “More than willing.”
A second later, Scott’s arms around her and his warm lips on hers dissipated the autumn morning chill. Amazed at how secure, how treasured she felt close to him, Shelby snuggled in.
A throat cleared nearby. Shelby pulled away from Scott’s embrace to find Betsy Lou standing at the corner of the house, watching them. “There was a lot of noise, so I came over to see what was going on.”
“It’s finally reveal day, Miss Betsy Lou.” Scott spoke with enthusiasm to welcome the older lady, despite having to quickly drop his arms back to his sides. “The first time the Wentworths get to see their new house.”
Shelby felt a nudge in her spirit. “Would you like to come inside and meet them?”
“Well.” Firming her lips, Betsy Lou pushed her hands into the pockets of her cardigan. “I guess I can do that. But I should bring a gift, maybe some of my snowbank boltonia. It’s past time to divide it anyway.”
Scott stood, drawing Shelby up with him. He squeezed her waist, letting her know he approved of her friendly gesture. More importantly, the warmth in her spirit confirmed that God did too.
“That would be very neighborly of you, Betsy Lou, but no need to go digging right now. Come join the party.”
The kitchen door swung open behind them, and Lester’s voice boomed out. “There you are! Sneaking out to spark your girl, huh?”
Shelby glanced around to catch Ruby elbowing her husband. Ruby smiled. “We wondered if you could come back in for that prayer dedicating our house to the Lord. We’d like you to say it, Scott.”
“I’d be honored, Ruby.”
“Lester, Ruby, this is your neighbor, Betsy Lou Clark.” Shelby held out a hand to the elderly woman. “She was just coming to meet you. And I have a feeling you’re going to be very good friends.”
“Oh wonderful.” Ruby pushed the door open wider with a big smile. “I can always use another friend. Please come in.”
As Scott helped a t
ottering, hopeful-looking Betsy Lou up the steps, he turned to smile at Shelby with a look of such love it took her breath away. Thank God for second chances. Hand-in-hand, they joined the others in their fall flip to dedicate all their futures to God.
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Fall Flip Page 21