by Stacey Wilk
“This isn’t going to be a quick flip like you were hoping.” Jenn held the curtains between the tips of her fingers before she let the material drop back against the wall.
“I need a new adventure.” Grace pushed the curtains aside to let in the view of the street and wiped her hands on her pants. No sign of the neighbor.
“You’ll probably have to stay the whole summer. Maybe longer. And what about Chloe? Do you really think she’d want to spend her last summer before college down here in Tennessee?”
“Chloe can stay with Larry in her home, in her room. She isn’t going to miss me, that’s for sure, and I can fly home right before she leaves for school. If she needs me to buy anything for her, I can do it online and ship it. But she’ll want to do that herself. She always has.” Every time she thought about Chloe leaving, her breath stuck, but the truth was her daughter had one foot out the door by the time she was twelve. As much as Grace wanted to be right there with Chloe, staying in Heritage River would be good practice for when Chloe left. Grace would just have to remember not to cry.
“I still say you’re nuts. This place isn’t you. It’s a mess and you hate messes. You don’t know what’s lurking behind these walls.”
“Why are you so against this? I need something new in my life. I need to find myself again, and this house might be the answer.”
Jenn smirked. “This house isn’t going to help you find yourself. It’s going to give you one giant pain in the butt.” She grabbed Grace’s hands. “If you want to find yourself, let’s go on a spa trip or find a yoga retreat in Arizona or something. Taking a risk like this isn’t you.”
“Maybe it’s time for a new me.” She pulled a notepad from her purse. Playing it safe and being predictable had gotten her nowhere.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m making a list of things we need to get through the night without wanting to throw up. Flip the switch and see if we have electricity.”
“This is crazy.” But Jenn flipped the switch.
“Let’s say a prayer the water comes on.” Was she actually going to make this work? She’d start with cleaning the bathroom and the kitchen. Just enough to make a cup of tea. They’d have to eat somewhere else. She wasn’t going to put a single thing in that fridge. As for sleeping arrangements, they’d have to figure something out. One step at a time. There was no point in getting ahead of herself. She’d just go running scared.
She looked around the house again. Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad, after all.
Chapter Five
“That must be Blaise Savage,” Jenn said over her shoulder.
They were staring out the kitchen window into the neighbor’s backyard. A tall, sinewy man with salt-and-pepper hair hanging in his face and wearing a ripped T-shirt fought the garden hose with one hand as he dragged it against the house. The other hand was wrapped in some kind of a bandage.
“He’s dirty, whoever he is.”
“He’s not dirty. He’s dreamy.” Jenn turned in circles with a cat-eating-the-canary grin on her face. “I used to have posters of that band on my wall. I went to their first concert when I was a kid.”
“Well, your childhood crush, if that’s even him, needs a bath.”
“I’d give him one.”
“Of course you would.” Grace stepped away from the window. “We need to get some cleaning supplies. I don’t care that we’re here for just one night. I’ve got to get my hands on those bathrooms.”
“Do you think we could find a hotel to stay at? I wasn’t planning on this house being in such bad shape. Did you see the mold around the tub?” Jenn made a face.
Truth be told, Grace wanted to disinfect the house for meningitis. “We’ll get a couple of air mattresses, and I’ll clean the bathroom so your butt has a nice place to sit.”
“What did you do with my friend? Two days ago, you wouldn’t have come within a hundred feet of this place, and now you’re ready to throw everything away and move in?”
“Yeah, well, two days ago Larry called with his big announcement. I want to try this. I need to try this. Please understand.”
“This is scary, Grace. You don’t know who gave you this house. What if they show up here in the middle of the night and attack you? Take you hostage or something.”
“You’ve been watching too many serial-killer shows.”
“This place could be a money pit. It might have to be condemned.”
Grace laughed. “It’s not that bad. I think Dixie is right. With a little bleach and some fresh paint, it will be fine. Okay, the porch looks a little rough, but there aren’t any cracks in the walls. The foundation is probably fine. I’m doing this, Jenn. I want to remember who I was before I married Larry and had a child I’ve spent the past eighteen years revolving my life around. I can’t stay in Silverside no matter what. I can’t run into Larry and Annie with her big belly in the grocery store.”
“But it’s your grocery store. It’s your town. Don’t give them the satisfaction of running away.”
“Larry doesn’t care about me or what I do. I’m not sure he ever did. I’m going to fix this house up. I don’t care what papers I signed, because I’m going to try and figure out who gave me this house. I have no idea where to begin on either count, but I’ll worry about that later. And after all that, after I’ve had a chance to get to know myself again, I’ll sell this house and move home, having been a better person for it.”
What kind of an example would she be setting for Chloe if she sat around and let the world run over her? Never mind that she felt exactly as if the world had crushed her. Being dumped by your husband for a younger woman was embarrassing. The tears threatened to come, and she bit down on her bottom lip.
“I still think you’re making a mistake. You don’t have anything to prove, and you can find yourself in Jersey, where you belong.”
“I don’t know where I belong anymore.” Grace swung her arm in the air, taking the room in. “This old, decrepit, smelly, disaster of a house is my second chance.”
Jenn laughed. “Well, it looks like you’re going to take that chance no matter what I say. I never would’ve believed it possible if I wasn’t standing here watching you lose your mind.”
Grace’s back stiffened. “I’m not losing my mind. I’m going to know what I want for the first time in a long time. I wish you could be more supportive. Of all the people, I thought you’d understand.”
Jenn ran to her and grabbed her hands. “I do understand. Larry is an ass for what he’s done to you. You are the sweetest person I know, but to throw caution to the wind like this just isn’t you. You’re a planner. You don’t make a move without assessing the situation first. And now you want to nose-dive into an empty pool. You don’t have to do this to spite Larry.”
That wasn’t what she was doing, was it? “How is taking this house spiting Larry? If I’m spiting anyone, it’s myself. I’m the one with something to lose if this doesn’t work out.” She swung her purse over her shoulder and pulled open the front door. She’d had enough of this discussion. She needed to do something, and she’d start by buying the items on her list.
The smell of fresh air and cut grass swooped in and settled around her, drawing her outside. Children laughed somewhere down the road. A large poplar tree decorated the front yard. She hadn’t noticed it before. The tree offered the porch some shade from the blistering heat. Maybe she could put a swing there some day.
“Grace, I’m sorry.” Jenn yanked the door closed behind her.
Grace waved her apology away. “This is a cute neighborhood if you look out from the porch.” A much better view than standing at the street and looking at this eyesore.
“How could someone let this house get so bad?” Jenn said as the stepped off the porch and into the rays of summer sun.
Sweat ran down Grace’s spine. The back of her blouse would be completely wrinkled. She was glad she usually wore her hair pinned up. She forgot to check if the house had air- conditioning
. She’d grab a fan just in case, and if it didn’t, that would have to be on the list of things to change.
“I will admit whoever gave this house to you has me curious,” Jenn said. “You sure you don’t have a long lost aunt or something?”
“I wish.” She pressed on the key fob, and the rental car chirped to life. “Why me? Why do something so nice for me?” Not knowing had had her running the vacuum over and over. She really didn’t have any relatives. Her mother was an only child, and she had passed away years before, when Grace was twenty-two. Grace hadn’t spoken to her father since she was five. She didn’t know any relatives on his side, if there even were any.
“I’ve wondered the same thing. But is strapping you with a house that’s been neglected for years really doing something nice? It seems whoever gave you this house wants to see you sweat.” Jenn wiped the back of her neck. “This heat alone is enough torture. You should give the house back to Mr. Carter.”
“Enough.” Grace raised her voice. “I brought you with me because I needed my friend’s support. Instead, all I’m getting is this negativity.” She shook her hands, trying to find the right words. “You don’t have to understand why I’m doing this, and if it’s the biggest mistake of my life, then it’s my mistake to make. All you have to do is stand there and nod your head. If you can’t do that, then get yourself on the next plane home.”
“She told you,” a male voice said.
Grace’s head snapped around. The dirty neighbor stood yards away. He brushed his hair out of his eyes. He had high cheekbones and a defined chin. His shirt stretched across his muscular chest, but he didn’t look as though he’d be rock hard to the touch. When had he walked up? His pickup door was open, and he was halfway back to his house. Maybe he had forgotten something.
“Excuse me?” she said.
The neighbor’s full lips spread into a crooked smile, revealing straight white teeth. “Pardon me, ladies, but here in the South we don’t air our dirty laundry on the front lawn. I’m not used to such a scuttle out in public.” He tipped an imaginary hat. He was mocking them.
“I don’t believe we asked for your opinion,” she said.
“You asked by yelling in my earshot with your Yankee accents.” He laughed.
Yankee accents? She’d show him. “In the North, we mind our own business, Mister…”
“You can call my Blaise.”
“I knew it,” Jenn shouted. Her face and neck bloomed red. She stood up on her toes with her hands clasped together and a teenage twinkle in her eye. “I’m a huge fan. I have all your albums, and I’ve seen you in concert at least ten times. Can I take a picture with you?”
Grace thought Jenn would begin fanning herself any second or, worse, faint. “Jenn, shush.”
“What’s the big deal? I can put it on my Facebook,” she hissed back. “What do you say, Blaise? One picture?”
Grace hung her head. It was like being in high school all over again. Jenn wanted to be the center of attention, acting like a groupie, and Grace wanted to hide in the shadow of her embarrassment.
“Sure. I’ll take that picture.”
Of course he would. He probably never told a woman no.
Jenn glided across the lawn, placed her cheek against Blaise’s, and with smiles the size of Tennessee, hit the button on her phone. How many pictures had he taken just like that? Pressing his cheek against some stranger’s? Probably grabbing her butt too. Why would any self-respecting woman want to flaunt herself in front of a man like that? He wasn’t about to take her seriously when around every corner another Botoxed bleached-blonde bombshell was waiting.
“Can we go now?” Grace repinned her hair and adjusted her blouse.
He returned to his truck. “That house belonged to a nice family once. With a little help, it could belong to a nice family again. You planning on buying it?”
“I think she should knock it down,” Jenn said.
“That isn’t very nice.” Blaise wagged a finger at her. “How would you like to be knocked down before your prime?”
Grace ignored his sarcasm. “I haven’t made any decisions yet.” Why was looking at him getting harder? Her gaze kept returning to the cheek he pressed against Jenn’s. She was being ridiculous. This man was of no interest to her.
The weight of the situation, the summer heat, Jenn’s obvious disdain of the house and infatuation with the neighbor wore Grace out. She wanted to get inside air-conditioning with her thoughts and make more plans.
“Sorry to bother you. Thanks for the picture.” He jumped into his truck and pulled away.
“I’ve already got twenty likes.” Jenn held her phone up as she slid into the passenger’s seat. “I’ve always wondered what it was like to sleep with a rock star.”
Grace slid in after her. “How could you fawn all over him like a schoolgirl? He looks like he hasn’t bathed. He must put on a show for every woman in a five-mile radius. He can’t possibly take a relationship seriously. I bet he’s been married like five times.”
“Someone has a crush.”
She ignored Jenn’s jeer. “That someone would be you. He probably thinks his twinkling gray eyes make every woman gush over him. Well, not me, no thanks.” She swung her head to the side to find Jenn looking straight ahead and a large smile plastered to her face. “Stop laughing. It isn’t funny.” But she found the corners of her mouth twitching up. No one made her laugh like Jenn.
“He does have twinkly eyes. And did you see his butt?” Jenn said.
Grace couldn’t help but laugh.
They found the local grocery store and stocked up on cleaning supplies and a few basic nonperishable food items to hold them over. They would eat meals out during their time in Heritage River. They were scheduled to go back to Jersey the next day, but it looked as if Grace would be back to the little southern town as soon as she could pack. There wasn’t any time to waste. The sooner she could fix the house, the sooner she could return home a new person ready for a new life. She hoped this idea of hers was going to work.
When they returned to the house on Dogwood Drive, they passed a Cherry Street, a Spruce Street, and a Meadow Lane too. A red pickup waited in the driveway. The truck was faded from years in the sun, with a worn-out sign on the side reading Construction. She couldn’t make out the rest.
“Looks like Dixie sent her man.” Jenn opened the car door and peeled herself out.
Grace followed.
An older man shoved his way out of the truck. Even in the heat he wore jeans and work boots. He was tall and thin, but his shoulders stood military straight. What was left of his hair was white and stuck up in different directions, and the lines on his face drew a picture of years of hard work outside.
“You must be the contractor Dixie mentioned.” Grace plunged forward with her hand out and her best library-volunteer smile plastered on.
The man didn’t budge. He shoved his hands in his back pockets, and Grace came up short. “Oh,” she said.
“I’m Beau Carroll.” His voice rubbed the air like sandpaper. His gaze turned to his boots, then back up at her. “You bought this place?”
“Well, it’s a long story. But it’s mine, and I need to fix it up. Dixie said you could help with that?”
He glanced back down at the ground, then over at Jenn. “You moving in too?”
“Me? Uh, no. I’m just the friend hoping to talk some sense into her. This house isn’t worth fixing, is it?”
“Nothing wrong with that house.” He hitched a thumb toward it. “She’s still got her bones just fine.” He turned to Grace. “When do you want to get started?”
“Don’t you want to take a look around?”
“Don’t need to.”
“Have you seen inside the house before?”
“Worked in this town a long time. Seen every house at least once.” He walked up to the porch and pressed on the step with his heel.
Where was he going? Grace hurried after him, but his cold stare stopped her on the
sidewalk. “Could you at least provide me with a detailed estimate of the work included and the cost? I might not want to complete every job, or I might want to do some myself. I’m not entirely sure what my budget is yet.”
He kicked the step. “You figure that part out and let me know. I’ll stay in your budget. You’ll need to do some of the work anyway. I don’t have my crew no more.”
How could he possibly do it all alone? What happened to his crew? There must be other contractors around she could hire with a full staff. She’d check into it. “Mr. Carroll, I think I need to get additional estimates. If you could just leave yours with Dixie, I’ll pick it up when I return to town, and then I’ll let you know either way what I decide.”
“You either want to hire me or you don’t. I don’t have time for you to go shopping around for another contractor.”
“If that’s the case, then thank you for your time, but I think I’d like to go in a different direction.” Who did this man think he was coming in and ordering her to hire him? They might handle business that way in Heritage River, but it’s not how she handled things.
The growl of a truck engine grew louder as it approached and then quieted down in the driveway next door. “Afternoon, Beau.” Blaise’s voice floated in from behind her. He grabbed a brown paper bag from the bed of the truck.
Beau Carroll nodded his head. “Blaise.”
“These ladies giving you a bad time, sir?” He edged his way along his front walk.
Grace stamped her foot. “Excuse me?”
Beau gave her a wide circle on the way back to his truck. He yanked at the truck door. “Ms. Starr and her friend are deciding on another contractor.”
“You’re not going to hire Beau? You’re nuts. Because he’s the best around. You won’t find better. You could try, but old Walt Ramsey is a drunk and never shows up on the job. It will take you a year to fix this place up with him. You could try a big company out of town, but a little job like this won’t be a priority. Besides, we like to stick to our own here.” Blaise shifted the bag in his good arm, keeping it away from the brace.