Even so, it was taking all the courage he could muster to hunt down Callie to give her the estimate he’d been working on in secret. Right now he was running on little sleep and a whole lot of nerves. He’d started off the day taking Mooch for a long run, but now it was time. No more delays or excuses.
After banging on her parents’ back door for ten minutes, he’d headed back to Spence’s place. Leif hadn’t seen her in a while, but she’d told him she was going to be working on the inventory again. Nick finally located her sitting on the window seat in a room tucked up under the eaves on the third floor.
He thrust the papers toward her and stepped back after she took them from him. “This is for you.”
“What is it?”
Damn, he hadn’t been this nervous since he’d been given his own patrol to lead the first time he’d been deployed to Iraq. How stupid was that? No one’s life was at risk if he’d misjudged this particular situation. Well, maybe that wasn’t exactly true. If Callie turned him down, he’d have no choice but to pack up and leave.
So, yeah, waiting for her to read over his proposal had a lot in common with waiting to see if that promotion was coming through.
“It’s my detailed evaluation of what needs to be done to Spence’s house to bring it up to code for a bed-and-breakfast. I went to the city planner’s office and got their specs. You’d still need the variance in the zoning, but the man I talked to didn’t think that would be a problem. He said the mayor was pushing everybody to encourage folks to bring new business to town.”
He watched as she quickly scanned the pages, her eyebrows drawn down in a frown. Then she started over at the top, this time reading more slowly.
“Wow, Nick, I’m impressed. This is way more thorough than I expected. You must have spent hours on it. This will really help me when I talk to contractors.”
He shifted restlessly, wondering what was the best approach to use. Might as well just lay it all out there.
“Well, about that. You should talk to several contractors. It’s important to get more than one opinion on what needs to be done. However, what I’d really like is if you’d give me a chance to bid on the job.”
Okay, wide-eyed shock wasn’t exactly the response he was hoping for, although he didn’t really blame her. Watching him assemble a gazebo from someone else’s plans was no proof that he could handle a project as big as refurbishing an old house.
“Are you sure, Nick? Don’t you have to report back to duty soon?”
Not exactly. With the muscle damage to his arm from the shrapnel, he wasn’t even sure the army would want him back long term. He hedged his bets.
“I’d like to do the work.”
When she didn’t immediately respond, he told her a little of the same thing he’d told Leif. “I’m only good at two things, Callie: fighting a war and remodeling. I’ve had enough of the former to last me a lifetime.”
Not that he wanted her pity. He walked away, retreating as far as the small room would allow. “So call the other contractors you have in mind. If you don’t know any, your buddy Clarence would be able to suggest some. See what they have to say, figure out how much you can afford to spend, and go from there. I’m not asking for favors, Callie, only that you let me stand in line with the others.”
He’d either made his case or he hadn’t. “I’ll leave that with you. Think about it, and then let me know if anything is unclear. If nothing else, it should give you some guidance as to what any bids should include. I also prioritized each item according to what has to be done versus what can either wait or is strictly cosmetic.”
Before he made it out the door, she stopped him. “Nick, wait.”
She crossed the small distance between them and gave him a quick hug, the kind two friends might exchange. Not that his body responded to it like that. No, his reaction to her touch was intense and painful. Nick wanted far more than a quick embrace but had no right to ask, not when they were limiting their relationship to being friends and not lovers.
His rules and his regret.
“Thank you for doing this for me, Nick. I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed by the prospect of figuring out what all needs to be done.”
“You’re welcome. Now I’d better get back to work. That lawn won’t mow itself.”
She followed him out of the room, still studying the paper he’d given her. “Nick, I appreciate that you’re willing to do all this work for me, but—”
He knew what she was going to say and didn’t really blame her. She had no way of knowing if he’d stick around to make sure the job got done. It was hard to remember that the two of them had known each other for only days, not months. To her, he’d been someone Spence talked about, but his name had been only one of many.
Callie had been so much more than a name to Nick. He’d heard dozens of stories of her childhood with Spence living right next door. He’d heard her laughter when she and Spence connected over the Internet. Her goodie boxes had helped all of them get through the hellish days and long nights of their deployment.
He held his hand up to stop her. Obviously it was time to cut bait and start packing. “That’s okay, Callie. I understand.”
She crowded closer to him. “Understand what exactly?”
“That you’d rather go with someone local, someone who already has roots here in Snowberry Creek.”
Callie shot him a look of pure disgust. “No, Nick, that wasn’t what I was going to say at all. When you’re done putting words in my mouth, let me know. I’d like to finish what I was about to say.”
He fought the urge to grin. For some reason, at that moment she reminded him of one of the first sergeants he’d served under, a tough old bastard with twenty years under his belt. The man had no use for idiots and showed little mercy when he encountered one.
Nick snapped to attention and executed a salute. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I won’t interrupt again.”
Her mood didn’t improve. Yep, just like the sergeant, minus the cuss words.
“What I was wondering about is if you’d have to get a business license and all of that stuff if you’re going to work in this state. Maybe a permanent address?”
He’d already thought about that. “I can hold off doing anything about it until you decide which direction you’re going to go. If you decide to step off the cliff and let me do the work, I could maybe list Spence’s house for my address since I was sort of hoping you’d let me stay in the house for the duration. However, if you’d rather I rented a place in town, I will.”
“Okay, then.”
She hesitated a few seconds longer. “If I seem reluctant, it isn’t because of you, Nick. Going ahead with this will be a huge change in lifestyle for me. The thought of getting estimates is making it a little too real all of a sudden. My whole working life has been spent moving from one place to another, sometimes three times or more in one year. I don’t know if I’ll be happy staying in one place long term, but I’m awfully tired of living out of suitcases in short-term rentals. I also miss my friends and family when I’m gone for months at a time.”
He could sympathize. “And if I take the discharge the army offered, I’ll need to stop moving sometime, too. It’s a scary proposition.”
“It is, isn’t it? But for now, I guess I’ll get cleaned up and go talk to Clarence. That seems to be the next logical step. Getting a few names isn’t like I’m totally committed.”
But he really hoped she was. “One step at a time, Callie. That’s all any of us can do.”
Then he kissed the tip of her nose. “And like I said, the grass won’t cut itself.”
• • •
The temperature outside was pleasant, especially compared to summers in Afghanistan or even back in the Midwest where he’d grown up. Even so, Nick had worked up a good sweat by the time he finished mowing the yard. After a short break, he’d move nex
t door and take care of Callie’s yard, too.
For now, he sat down on the front porch and enjoyed a cold beer and the afternoon breeze. After a few minutes, Leif joined him. He lowered himself into the next rocker with a soft grunt of pain.
“Think I could run her dad’s lawn mower? I’m tired of sitting on my ass watching you work.”
Nick understood the need to feel useful. “I don’t see why not. It has hand controls, so you won’t have to worry about using your boot for anything.”
“Good. I’d like to give it a try next time you mow.”
“No time like the present. I was going to do the yard next door while I have the mower out. I’m only too glad to get you started and hang out on the swing and watch you do all the work. When you’re done or even if you just get tired of riding around in circles, you can ride it back over here. I’ll need to hose the mower down and refill the tank before I put it back.”
He added that last part mainly to give Leif an excuse not to walk back from Callie’s house. Cutting through the woods was shorter, but the path was pretty rough. Walking up the driveway to the road and around to Spence’s driveway would be easier going, but the distance would be tough for him.
The jerk tried to pretend he was stronger than he was. Nick could only hope that Leif wasn’t doing further damage to his leg or at least wasn’t jeopardizing his long-term recovery. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to ask a few questions.
“So for real this time, what did the docs say about your ankle?”
Leif’s lips instantly went hard and thin, and his hands gripped the arms of the rocker tightly enough to make his knuckles white. Okay, they’d had nothing good to say, or Leif wouldn’t be so angry. The real question was how bad the verdict had been. Rather than push, Nick waited him out.
Finally, Leif let out a big sigh as he stared down at his leg and slowly flexed his hands over and over. “I need long-term rehab on it. They said if I follow the right therapy plan diligently I might eventually walk without a cane and only a bit of limp.”
He shot Nick a quick look. “Of course, those bastards always make things out to be worse than they really are. I’m hoping to be back up to speed in a couple of months and ready to deploy again.”
Nick didn’t believe that and figured Leif didn’t, either, even if he wasn’t ready to admit it. They’d both set out to make the army their careers. Now they were both damaged goods. Nick could probably hang on, depending on how much residual damage he had from the shrapnel that had ripped his arm open.
Nick remembered all too clearly the mangled mess Leif’s lower leg had been after they’d hit that first IED. Hell, he’d been surprised to find out that they’d managed to save Leif’s ankle and foot. Leif had been in shock and too doped up to have gotten a clear look at it.
Nick still had nightmares about the bloody mess. Another secret he kept to himself.
“So when do you need to get back to the hospital to get started on that therapy?”
“That depends.”
Nick leaned back in the wicker rocker and closed his eyes. “On?”
“When you’re heading back to Ohio. I thought I’d ride along and keep you company since I’m guessing Mooch will be staying here in Snowberry Creek with Callie.”
That was news to Nick. “Has she said that in so many words?”
“No, but she’s crazy about that damn dog, and he clearly loves her right back. After all, that’s the life Spence wanted for both him and the mutt.”
Like Nick needed Leif to remind him of that. Now he was the one curling his fingers up in a fist, but Leif didn’t deserve his temper.
“I won’t be heading back to Ohio until Callie makes up her mind about what she’s going to do with this place. Once she decides that much, she’ll let me know if I’m in the running to do the work for her. I’ve already told her that I’ll understand if she chooses to use someone else, someone who’ll be here for her long term.”
Leif stood up and stretched. “Just to be sure, you are talking about contractors, aren’t you?”
Maybe. Maybe not. For the moment, though, that was the story he was going with.
“What else would I be talking about, Corporal? We both know this is Spence’s place, not mine.”
Even if he wanted it to be.
Evidently Leif was satisfied with his response, which was all that mattered at the moment.
“Okay, I’ll hang out here until you know for sure what you’re going to do. If you’re going to stay, I’ll see if I can get my therapy scheduled out here rather than heading back east for it.”
Was he doing that because he needed Nick’s support through the painful process of rehabbing his ankle or because he thought Nick needed a chaperone if he was going to hang around Callie for any length of time? The answer didn’t matter. He wanted to be there for Leif regardless, which reminded him: “Gage says he has connections with the bases out here. He said to let him know if you wanted him to make a few calls.”
“Will do. Now, let’s get that lawn mowed.”
When Leif started down the steps, Nick stood up and stretched, using the maneuver as a pretense to be ready in case his friend took a header. Once Leif safely reached the ground, Nick followed him.
“Climb aboard, and I’ll show you how this thing works.”
He’d be glad when they fired up the lawn mower. The noise of its engine would preclude any more discussion about whether Nick belonged in Snowberry Creek.
• • •
“Mooch, I know it’s silly that I brought you along for moral support while I talk to Clarence about contractors, but there you go. Hope you don’t mind.”
The dog offered no complaints but happily did his doggy thing, sticking his nose out the window to drink in the myriad of smells that rolled past them as she drove. What did he make of this new world he was in? Was it starting to make sense to him? Of the three males camped out in Spence’s house, Mooch seemed to be having the easiest time adjusting to life in Snowberry Creek.
She reached over to pat him on the back, loving his soft fur although the jagged scar from his bullet wound gave her the shivers. He didn’t even flinch, so that was a good thing. “I wish your two buddies weren’t having such a hard time of it, Mooch, but I guess these things take time.”
As she drove into the parking lot at the hardware store, Clarence was just getting out of his small pickup truck. She pulled into the spot next to his and rolled down her window.
As soon as he spotted her, his face lit up. “Callie girl! How are you?”
“I’m doing fine, Clarence. I was wondering if I could pick your brain for a few minutes. If you’re too busy, I can come back later.”
“I always have time for friends. I’ve got about an hour before I have to relieve my assistant manager.”
Mooch crawled into Callie’s lap and stuck his head out of her window in an effort to reach Clarence. The older man gave him a quick scratch. “Hey, there, Mooch. Good to see you, buddy.”
Clarence stepped back to give her room to open the door. “Why don’t we walk around back? There’s an old picnic table by the loading dock where we can sit, and Mooch can stretch out in the shade. I’ve got my laptop with me, so I can access any information from it.”
“Great! Come on, Mooch.”
She snapped on the dog’s leash before letting him out of the car. It was unlikely he’d wander off, but this was a busy parking lot. The dog was adjusting pretty well to this new world, but there was no use in taking any chances with his safety.
When the three of them were seated at the picnic table, she handed Clarence the paperwork Nick had given her.
“You already know that I’m thinking about turning Spence’s home into a B and B. Nick used to work for his father, who is a remodeling contractor back in Ohio. He went through the house and gave me this list of what needs to be done. It lo
oks pretty comprehensive to me, but then what do I know about such stuff?”
Clarence studied the evaluation for several minutes, flipping back and forth through the various pages. After a few minutes, he set it aside.
“That boy has a good eye for detail, and it sure reads as if he knows his business. So what can I do to help?”
She hid a smile over Nick being described as a boy. Not exactly the image she had of him, but then she had firsthand knowledge of how much of a man he was. Okay, this wasn’t the time for that line of thought, though. Back to business.
“I’d like to have at least one more contractor look at the house and give me his take on it as well. It only makes sense to get more than one opinion on what needs to be done and how much it should cost. The trouble is I don’t know any contractors who do this kind of work.”
Clarence nodded. “I can give you a few names to call, but it’s a shame your young man can’t stick around and help with the work. We could use some fresh blood here in Snowberry Creek.”
“He’s not my young man.” More’s the pity. “Besides, I suspect the army figures they have first claim on his time.”
“Yes, I suppose they do. Well, let me get those names for you. I’ll run inside and print the list for you and be right back. After you call these guys, let me know if you have any questions, and I’ll do what I can to help.
“Thanks, Clarence. I appreciate it.”
When he returned, he handed her the list. “I have to tell you that any of these men will be happy to get the work. I hope you’ll have them order as much of their supplies through me as they can.”
“I’ll make that part of the deal.”
“Don’t think I’ve forgotten about having you, Nick, and Leif over for dinner. The missus said she was going to give you a call about setting a date.”
“I’ll look forward to it, and I know the guys were excited about the mere mention of the word pie.”
Clarence looked pleased. “I’ll tell her she’d better bake two just to be safe.”
A Time for Home: A Snowberry Creek Novel Page 21