Her Hopes and Dreams (Ardent Springs Book 4)

by Terri Osburn

  “I know that, hon, but these repairs aren’t in your budget or the schedule. Three days of rain last week already put us behind. Adding these repairs means we’re looking at a new end date of maybe middle of December. And that’s if everything goes smoothly from here on out.”

  A delay was unacceptable.

  “Noah, the shelter opens on December first.”

  “Not now it doesn’t.”

  Frustration tightened her jaw. “I can’t go to the board and tell them that we aren’t opening on time because of one pipe.”

  “We aren’t talking a little water line to a faucet here. This puppy runs the full length of the building, and it’s rotted through.” Noah’s voice was muffled as he spoke to someone in the room with him.

  “I can’t believe this,” she said, frantically searching for a way to get the project back on track.

  “I need approval before we start ripping through the floors,” Noah said. “The plumber estimates the cost around thirty-five hundred. Six grand if the tank is bad. Is your board willing to cough up that money to get this done?”

  Oh God, this meant she had to call Meredith.

  “I have no idea, but I’ll find out. And I’ll talk to Mike about adding to the crew to get the job done on time.”

  “Good luck with that,” he said, “but you’d be looking at additional cost for that as well. These guys don’t work for free.”

  “Noah, you have to make this work. We need that shelter open on the original date.”

  “Carrie, I’m not a freaking magician. What do you want me to do?”

  “I don’t know,” she snapped. “You’re the guy in charge, and you have a deadline to hit, so figure it out.”

  Though he’d clearly dropped the phone away from his ear, Carrie still heard the expletive. “Have Mike call me,” he barked before breaking the connection.

  Staring at the receiver in her hand, Carrie couldn’t believe he’d hung up on her. How did he not understand the importance of getting the shelter up and running as soon as possible? There were women suffering who needed this resource. Needed it now, not maybe by Christmas, or maybe after the first of the year. She remembered the skittish woman in the grocery store and nearly ground her teeth.

  At the same time, a tiny voice in her brain pointed out that snapping at Noah wouldn’t solve anything. He hadn’t taken a hammer to that stupid pipe, and as he said, he wasn’t a magician, or a miracle worker. He was a guy doing the best he could who didn’t need his girlfriend making his life miserable.

  She owed him an apology, but it would have to wait.

  It was already past the time she’d planned to leave, so Carrie shut down her computer and grabbed her purse. On her way to the car, she sent Mike a 911 text to call Noah right away. After buckling her seat belt, she took a deep breath, pondering her next move. She could call Meredith and explain the situation. Or she could drive nails into her eyeballs, which sounded slightly less torturous.

  Choice made, she scrolled through her contacts until she found the number she wanted.

  By the time his boss’s name appeared on his phone, Noah had calmed down enough not to rip anyone’s head off. He hadn’t busted the damn pipe, and he wasn’t going to push his crew to work twelve-hour days to hit what was already an unrealistic deadline.

  “What’s going on out there?” Mike asked. “Do we have an injury?”

  Only Noah’s sanity, but that had been thin to begin with.

  “The cast iron under this building is practically compost. We have to replace the whole thing.”

  “Damn,” floated through the line. “How much are we talking?”

  “Estimate is around thirty-five hundred, but that’s only parts and labor to run the new pipe under the building. Throw in a new septic tank, since the current one is probably shot, and you’re up to six grand. Ballpark, of course.”

  “Meredith isn’t going to take that well.”

  Frustrated and annoyed, Noah said, “You need to deal with her and Carrie. This December one deadline isn’t going to happen. Carrie seems to think I can pull a miracle out of my ass, and you don’t pay me enough to get bitched at for something that’s out of my control.”

  “Are you saying Carrie chewed you out?” Mike asked.

  “She got pissed when I told her we’d have to push back the open date.”

  “Carrie? Our Carrie?”

  Ignoring what he considered a stupid question, Noah said, “We’re tapping out for today. Let me know by morning if we’re cleared to start on the pipe.”

  “They’ll have to pay for it or they don’t get a shelter,” Mike said. “Consider this your approval and get back at it first thing in the morning.”

  “Whatever you say, boss.” Noah slid the phone into his back pocket and trudged through the building sending guys home. If he hurried, he could still meet Carrie before the Halloween stuff started. Her copping an attitude didn’t mean Molly would collect her candy with only half a costume.

  When he made the turn from Fifth onto Main, he found the sidewalks flooded with everything from princesses to zombies. Traffic crawled, so he took the first left and found a spot along the curb on Fourth Avenue North. Hauling the mini-Harley from the back of the truck, he walked down to the shop on the corner, where they’d agreed to meet. Carrie and Molly weren’t outside, so he stepped through the entrance and instantly felt out of place.

  What wasn’t breakable was bright pink or yellow, and the tables had been placed so close together he had to turn sideways to keep from knocking them over. A tablecloth caught on a back wheel of the trike and nearly sent an entire set of dishes crashing to the floor. Between all the accidents waiting to happen and the people milling about, Noah’s palms grew clammy as his heart rate kicked up. If he didn’t spot Carrie in the next three seconds, he’d make his way back outside and call her.

  “Noah?” said the woman behind the counter.

  “Hey there,” he said, recognizing the maid of honor from the wedding, though the 1920s getup nearly threw him off.

  “Happy Halloween. If you’re looking for Carrie, she’s in the cafe with Lorelei.”

  “Thanks,” he said, attempting a relaxed smile, but doubting he’d pulled it off.

  As he approached, Lorelei spotted him first, since Carrie had her back to the store.

  “Looks like she’ll have her motorbike after all,” she said.

  Molly squealed at the sight of him as her mother turned around.

  “You’re here,” she said.

  Noah put the trike on the floor. “This is where you said to be.”

  “But I didn’t think . . . I mean, after the phone call . . .”

  “I said I’d be here.”

  “Right. I know.”

  Taking the baby, Lorelei said, “Why don’t I take our little biker girl here and see what Snow has up at the counter. You two talk amongst yourselves.”

  Carrie looked as if she’d prefer Lorelei stay, but the other woman cut out quick.

  Crossing her arms, she asked, “Did Mike call you?”

  “Yep.” Noah preferred not to bring business home.

  “What did he say?”

  “Ask him tomorrow.”

  “I’m asking you now.”

  “And I said ask him tomorrow.” Didn’t she understand? He didn’t want to fight with her. He didn’t want to let his mouth spout something that would screw up what they had. “We’re off the clock, so let it go.”

  “I don’t think you understand how important this shelter is,” Carrie said.

  “Is it more important than us?” he asked.

  “What kind of a question is that?”

  Noah made an extra effort to keep his voice low. “I told you when we started the construction that things always creep up. Always. You talking to me like a piece of shit doesn’t change the reality. The job will take as long as it takes. If you can’t get your panties out of a bunch and deal with that, I don’t know what to tell you. But I didn’t sign up t
o be your whipping boy.”

  Gaze dropping to his chin, she said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten so upset with you.”

  He watched her close in on herself, practically shrinking before his eyes.

  “Don’t do that.”

  “Do what?”

  “Act like I’m going to hit you.”

  Her face paled. “You wouldn’t hit me.”

  “I know, but that fight-or-flight part of your brain hasn’t gotten the message.” Noah took her hands and pulled her toward one of the stools at the cookie counter. “You got frustrated and took it out on the messenger. It happens. People get mad, but that doesn’t mean fists will fly. Not with me.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said again.

  “Don’t—”

  “I know. I know. I’m trying here, okay?” Carrie scraped dust off his jeans. “I have triggers just like you do, Noah. It’s not something I’m proud of. But I really do owe you an apology for going off like that. So I’m sorry.”

  He tucked her head into his shoulder. “Apology accepted.”

  Her head rolled from side to side. “I just really want the shelter open.” She pulled back and rested her hands on his thighs. “Not long ago, in the grocery store, a woman reached for some bananas and I saw the bruises. I know those bruises like I know my own name, Noah. She tugged her sleeve down when she caught me staring, and wouldn’t make eye contact. I wanted to tell her that there was a place she could go. That she didn’t have to stay with him. She didn’t have to take another punch.”

  If Carrie was trying to break him open, she was doing a damn good job.

  “We’ll get there,” he said. “In six weeks instead of four, but we’ll get there.”

  Carrie swiped a tear off her cheek. “It breaks my heart, you know? I want to save them all.”

  Tipping up her chin, he said, “There’s nothing wrong with that, baby. You’ll have your shelter soon. Now what do you say we go get us some candy?”

  “You mean get Molly some candy,” she corrected with a hiccup.

  “Sure.” He took her hand, letting her lead the way through the store. “That’s what I meant.”

  Chapter 20

  While October had been unusually warm, November came in with an arctic blast. During the day, the sun made the crisp air almost bearable, but once the sun went down, which it would do much earlier once they turned the clocks back in a week, heavy coats were required.

  Tuesday had not been Carrie’s lucky day. She and Mike had discussed how to alert Meredith to the necessary budget increase, and because she’d called Haleigh the day before and scheduled a meeting between herself and the two Mitchner women for this evening, Mike took the easy way out and left the revelation to her.

  The bad luck continued when it took her nearly five minutes to find a parking space at Lancelot’s Restaurant, finally locating one in the high and yonder section of the lot. Hustling to the door, she cursed herself for not grabbing a scarf that morning. How had Mother Nature experienced such a change of heart overnight? They’d barely needed light jackets during trick-or-treating.

  Shivering as she approached the hostess stand, Carrie said, “I’m with the Mitchner party.”

  “They’re already seated,” said the friendly teen. “I’ll show you the way.”

  Lovely. Meredith hated to be kept waiting. Not the auspicious start she’d hoped for.

  “Hey, Carrie,” said Haleigh, rising from her chair to offer a quick hug. “She’s in a good mood,” she whispered in Carrie’s ear. “Hallelujah.”

  “Sorry I’m late.” Shrugging out of her coat, she hung it on her chair. “I couldn’t find a parking space.”

  “There’s a Ruby Restoration meeting,” Haleigh reminded her.

  “I should have remembered. That’s the reason Lorelei couldn’t watch Molly.”

  “Where is she then?” Meredith asked, speaking for the first time.

  Clearing her throat, Carrie sat and spread a napkin across her lap. “Noah has her.”

  “Really?” the younger Mitchner said, before catching her friend’s glaring message. “I mean, that’s great. He’s great with her.” Haleigh stuck her nose in her menu. “I wonder what the specials are tonight?”

  “Michael says Noah has the shelter project well in hand,” Meredith drawled, examining her own menu. “I suppose I might have judged him a little too quickly.”

  Carrie and Haleigh exchanged a look that communicated every bit of shock and awe coursing through them both.

  “About that,” Carrie hedged. “We ran into a little snag.”

  “Maybe we should order our drinks first,” Haleigh suggested, waving over a waiter. “Two waters and a pinot grigio,” she said with a smile. “And keep the wine coming.”

  Meredith closed the menu. “Haleigh Rae, you don’t need to ply me with wine to tell me whatever this little snag happens to be.”

  “So you don’t want the wine?” the waiter asked.

  “I didn’t say that,” she replied with an are you an idiot? glower. “I also want the baked tilapia with a side of mixed vegetables and a Caesar salad.”

  The poor boy shifted from foot to foot. “I’m sorry, but I’m not your waiter.”

  “Do you have a little notebook in your pocket?” she asked.

  “Uh, yeah.”

  “Then I suggest you write this down and hand it to whomever is our waiter.”

  Carrie kept her head down, wishing for the first time ever that she’d acquired a taste for wine. Or whiskey.

  “I’ll have the baked chicken,” Haleigh said, smart enough not to contradict her mother. “Broccoli and a house salad. Ranch please.”

  When Carrie didn’t share her order, Haleigh kicked her under the table. “Oh. My turn. Sorry. I’ll have the chicken as well. With corn and a Caesar.”

  As the waiter finished taking his notes, another server joined them. “Charlie, what are you doing? This is my table.”

  “He’s taking our order since you were apparently busy elsewhere.” Meredith handed the harried teen her menu. “Thank you for being so prompt, Charlie.” Did she forget that Haleigh had motioned him over? “I trust that you’ll make sure our orders are placed right away.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” the youngster said, his voice cracking on the second word. “Here, Josh. Go place their orders.” Head down, Charlie ditched his fellow server, leaving Josh staring after him.

  Meredith tapped a manicured nail on the tabletop. “Ticktock, my boy. Your tip is dwindling.” This is what Haleigh called a good mood? “Now, why am I here?” she said, turning on her tablemates.

  Haleigh cleared her throat as she straightened her silverware. “An unforeseen problem was discovered under the shelter floors that will require additional funds for repair. This also means we can’t open on our target date.”

  “What unforeseen problem?”

  “The septic pipes have disintegrated,” Haleigh answered. “The whole thing needs to be replaced.”

  “And the additional cost?” she asked, taking this much better than Carrie had feared.

  “The estimate is six thousand,” her daughter said, visibly bracing for the blowback.

  Meredith didn’t blow. She didn’t even flinch. “That’s less than we have in the contingency fund, so we’re fine.”

  Leaning her elbows on the table, Haleigh said, “There’s a contingency fund?”

  “Elbows off,” her mother admonished. “Of course there’s a contingency fund. Projects like these are unpredictable. I would have been a fool to believe we wouldn’t run into some sort of problem. I planned accordingly.”

  Life was just full of miracles these days.

  “Okay then,” Haleigh said, straightening the napkin in her lap. “I guess we don’t have a problem after all.”

  “There’s still the issue of the open date,” Meredith reminded her. “What are we looking at now?”

  “December sixteenth,” Carrie offered. “Mike, Noah, and I believe that’s a realistic t
arget.”

  “Fine,” Meredith said, once again taking the news in stride. “We’ll hold off on the promotional materials for a few more weeks to be sure. Is there anything else?”

  Carrie shook her head as Josh arrived with their drinks. “No, that’s everything.”

  Topic dropped, Meredith once again turned her attention to the waiter. “Joshua, would it be possible to get our basket of bread before our meals arrive?”

  As the server hurried off, Haleigh shot Carrie a relieved smile. Hopefully, Noah’s night was going as well as theirs.

  “Molly, you’re supposed to eat it, not wear it.”

  Noah had already pulled the munchkin’s shirt off, since she kept smashing peas into the material instead of keeping them in her mouth. He assumed washing the green stains off her skin would be easier than getting them out of the cotton.

  “Your mommy says you love these things.” He waved the plastic container under his nose and cringed. “This explains the smell when they come out the other end.”

  In preparation for his first night flying solo with the little princess—whom he now considered renaming the holy terror—they’d relocated several necessities to his house, including a high chair, a bouncer contraption that hung in the doorway between the living room and the kitchen, a playpen, and the walker that had run over his toes so often in the last week that Noah longed for the day she took her first steps. Carrie had insisted they needed the deadly plastic contraption until then.

  The only reason they were at his house instead of the trailer was the temperature outside. Carrie’s windows were drafty as hell, and her heater worked only so well. The farmhouse might be ancient, but his grandmother had been a cold-natured woman who’d demanded that her husband insulate the thing to within an inch of its life. Which meant his humble abode remained warm and toasty no matter what Mother Nature whipped up outside.

  Trying the airplane trick, Noah sent a cargo flight of peas careening toward Molly’s mouth only to crash and burn. “Okay, you win,” he said, crossing to the sink to run hot water. “We’ll wipe you down and get back to our walking exercises.”

  His lack of furniture provided plenty of space for Molly to test her mobility without hurting herself. He’d moved the coffee table into Granny’s old sewing room, eliminating the one danger near the couch. By dinnertime she’d tiptoed from one end of the sofa to the other at least twenty times, each pass ending when she let go and landed on her bottom. It only took ten times for Noah to stop panicking and checking for injuries every time she fell.