As they walked around the house to the front, Linc stopped to inspect a section of the outer wall. “You’ll have to replace a bit of the siding, and you might want to get a termite inspection before we do any work.”
“You think there are termites?”
“No, I think you just want to make certain there aren’t any before you buy this place and put a lot of money into it.”
No point in telling him she was renting, not buying, or her complicated financial agreement with Liddy. It wasn’t information he needed to know.
When they arrived out front, Linc stood back to study the facade. “Tell me what you’re thinking for out here.”
“I’d like a covered porch running across the front of the house. Nothing fancy. Just a plain old covered porch.”
He got a measuring tape from the truck and left the snakeskin hanging over the open window. “How wide do you want the porch?”
“Wide enough for chairs and maybe a small table.”
He measured off several feet from the front of the house. “Out to about here?”
“Maybe just a little more.”
He pulled the tape out another foot.
“That should be fine.” Grace could picture it. “Perfect.”
“Got it. I’ll write all this up and get an estimate over to you in a few days.”
“That would be great. How soon do you think you could start?”
“Depends on how soon we clear up a few other jobs and what my dad has promised other people we’d do without telling me.”
“Oh.”
“Grace, there are a few other contractors in town. Maybe one of them could fit you in sooner. I could give you the names of two or three if you’re in a big hurry.”
“That’s nice of you, but I was told it had to be Tuck.”
“By . . . ?”
“My mom and Liddy.”
“Right up front you should know you won’t get one hundred percent Tuck. You’ll be lucky to get fifteen percent Tuck. He’s not doing much of the work these days, so mostly you’re going to get me.” He slid his glasses back on, and once again his eyes were shielded. “Are you okay with that?”
“I’m fine with you.” She was momentarily flustered but he appeared not to notice.
“I’ll drop off some numbers to you as soon as I can.” He took a few steps toward his truck. “I think your vision is spot-on. This’ll look like an entirely different place once we’re finished. Inside and out.”
“That’s the plan.” She pointed to the snakeskin that hung like a white rope from the open driver’s-side window. “What are you going to do with that?”
“Take it home. I think Duffy will love it.”
“Duffy?”
“My ten-year-old nephew.”
“Oh, by all means, please. Take it.”
He removed the skin and opened the door, then climbed in. She assumed he’d laid the skin on the passenger seat but wasn’t going to look.
“Thanks for coming out, Linc.”
He waved and turned the truck around, then gave another wave as he headed for the street.
Grace stood right about where her new porch would be and watched the truck turn onto Jasper Street. She was curious about how he came to be raising his nephew and nieces but didn’t know him well enough to ask. Actually, she didn’t know him at all. What she did know was just slightly disconcerting. The first time they’d met, she’d been thrown off guard by a reaction to him she hadn’t been able to put a name to. The instant attraction had been unexpected, and she could have sworn it had been mutual, but since that day, Linc had given her no sign he recalled first meeting her earlier in the summer. She’d seen him again at the town’s July Fourth celebration. He’d been with the kids, and she’d assumed they were his, which had made her reaction embarrassing.
She went into the house and walked through it one last time. It was going to be perfect. One big bedroom, a lovely bath, a bright well-appointed kitchen, a spacious living room, and a dining space that would also serve as a home office. A patio out back where she could watch the birds—she’d have to get a feeder, and maybe a shepherd’s hook to hang it on—and listen to the frogs in the pond while she drank her morning coffee. A front porch where she could sit and read in the evening. Next spring she’d plant flowers around the porch and in big urns next to the front door. And out back, around the patio, maybe an herb garden. Maybe even a small plot of vegetables.
Grace sighed happily. The little house would be just the right place for her, and she couldn’t wait until the work was completed so she could move in.
It was just perfect for her to settle in to while she tried to figure out the rest of her life.
Chapter Seven
By ten minutes before eleven on Saturday morning, the entire back section of the bookshop was filled with excited children. They ranged from age four to six or seven, the age group for the book Grace had chosen to read. Liddy had no doubt story hour would be a hit in Wyndham Beach, so she was feeling pretty smug watching the children stream into the shop. She pictured Jessie leaning against the doorjamb between the shop and the back hall as she silently cheered on Grace, her childhood friend.
Grace had dressed for the occasion in a white blouse with a black satin ribbon tied into a bow at the collar, a long dark skirt, and a straw hat laden with silk flowers à la Mary Poppins. She’d sent Liddy a text asking she open the back door of the shop so she could make her entrance directly into the children’s section.
“Great costume. You look right in character.” Liddy met Grace at the back door and ushered her inside. “Where did you find that outfit?”
“The blouse and skirt are mine, the ribbon was in my mom’s stash of gift-wrapping essentials, and I found the hat in the attic.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I pulled the flowers out of an arrangement my mom had in the dining room. I bet she doesn’t even notice.”
Grace sat in the club chair and smiled at the children who’d gathered. “Good morning, everyone. I’m Miss Grace, and I’ll be your reader for today’s story. Go ahead and find a place to sit, and when you’re all ready, I’ll begin.”
“Your hat looks like Mary Poppins’s,” one of the girls told her.
“I’m so happy you think so.” Grace winked at Liddy. “That’s exactly the look I was going for.”
Grace waited patiently as the children settled around her while Liddy welcomed newcomers.
“This is a wonderful idea, Liddy.” Evelyn Marshall, who’d signed on to work part-time three days every week, shuttled her two granddaughters along the aisle to the children’s section. “Just what we needed.” She lowered her voice. “And look at the crowd. I hope all these parents and grandparents hang around and find a book to buy for themselves while they wait for their kids.”
“One could hope.” Liddy patted Evelyn on the arm and waved to Beth Benson, who was at the counter waving the sign-up sheet for the proposed book clubs.
“I’m all in for Thriller Tuesday,” Beth told her.
“Great. I just selected the first book for this month.” She took Beth by the elbow and steered her to the display of selections for the official launch of the book clubs and pointed to the top shelf. “Does John Sandford work for you?”