“Oh, my God! That’s amazing! Congratulations!”
“And…my first book was just optioned—well, we’re already under contract—to be made into a movie! A real full-length motion picture! Can you believe it?”
She let out a happy little scream and even danced in place. “Mia, this is…oh my goodness…I can’t even believe it! This is everything you ever dreamed of!”
“It’s more than I ever could have imagined. So…yeah, I definitely need an assistant to help me keep my shit in order.”
“And I am the girl to make that happen!” And there she was, starting to cry again. “I don’t even know how to thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
Mia was quiet for a long moment. “You have no idea how much I hate what you’re going through, and if I can do this and help you, then I am more than happy to do it. Hell, I wish I could do more.”
“You’re doing more than you even realize and I am so excited to get started.” The oven beeped and she let out a long breath. “I need to go. Lunch is ready. Email me what we need to get started and I promise to call you later after I’ve looked it all over.”
“Sounds good. And Syd?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks. You’re a real lifesaver.”
She smiled. “Funny, that’s what I was about to call you.”
They hung up and her smile stayed in place and actually felt sincere for the first time in a month. She felt…hopeful.
Taking the pizzas from the oven, she divvied them up on two plates. She was about to put them on the kitchen table, but opted to change things up a bit.
Walking back into the living room, she put their plates on the coffee table and smiled down at her niece. “How about we picnic in here while watching TV?”
“Seriously?”
“Absolutely,” she said, smiling. “I know I couldn’t do it while grandma and grandpa were here, but back in Boston, I almost always ate in front of the TV. It would make your grandmother batty.” She shuddered dramatically and laughed—hoping her improved mood and outlook might help Haley’s too.
Leaning forward, Haley examined her pizza before looking up at Sydney. “Can I have a can of Coke with this?”
With a small laugh that was part snort, Sydney turned toward the kitchen. “Like there’s any other drink to have with pizza? Please.”
And for the first time in almost a month, her niece smiled. “Thanks, Aunt Syd.”
“Okay, I’ll get the drinks. You find us something to watch!”
It was so simple but…she felt like they were finally turning a corner.
2
On Monday morning, Kyle found himself standing in front of his first big job.
And seriously considered looking for a new one.
The house was in shambles. There was no other way to describe it. So far all he’d seen was the exterior and it was enough to make him think he was in over his head. For starters, it was painted a hideous lime green. The front door was actually on the second floor so there was a full flight of stairs that led to the porch area. Beneath that porch was a sad-looking hammock tied between the posts that were holding up the floor above it.
There was a two-car garage, and from what he could tell, there were rooms on the ground level. Most houses in the area with a floor plan like this used the rooms for storage or extra bedrooms. Considering the lack of windows in the front on that level, Kyle assumed it would be storage space. Jake had assured him that the landscaping was going to be taken care of, but that was the least of his issues with the place.
The front steps were rotted and needed to be replaced, and the siding looked like most of it needed to go as well. Taking a step back, from what he could see of the roof, that should probably go too.
What the hell was Jake thinking? Hell, what was anyone thinking? Why would Sydney opt to stay here instead of selling the place and cutting her losses?
“Ah, you beat me here,” Jake said as he walked up the driveway. “Usually I’m the first guy on site. I appreciate your eagerness to get started. I knew you were going to be the right guy for the job.”
Kyle didn’t even smile at the compliment.
“So, what are your thoughts?”
“I think Sydney should have her head examined,” he said honestly. “This place needs to be demolished. The money the church has raised would go further in buying her a new place than fixing up this one.”
Beside him, Jake nodded and sipped his coffee out of his travel mug. “Be that as it may, our job is to fix this place up. If you’re already overwhelmed, I’m sure I can find…”
“No,” he said begrudgingly. “I just…I wasn’t prepared for this much of a shit show, that’s all.”
“It’s going to take a lot of work, but we’re going to make it right.” He paused and took another sip of coffee. “Where do you want to start?”
“Honestly? Those front steps. I wouldn’t feel comfortable walking up and down them with tools and supplies the way they are.”
Nodding, Jake said, “I agree. There’s a second set of stairs off the back deck so they can still come and go, but yeah, these front ones should be our first priority. They don’t need to be stained or painted right away; just get them built and inspected as soon as possible.”
“Done.”
“You ready to go inside or do you want to walk around out here a little more?”
What he wanted was to run and say he’d made a mistake, but pride wouldn’t allow that. “It’s early yet. Are you sure…uh…Sydney won’t mind us being here so early?”
“She’s expecting us,” Jake replied. “But maybe we should walk around out here a little more.”
With his iPad in his hands, he took notes as they walked around. As expected, the siding was all going to go, as well as the roof. They talked about replacing windows and the garage doors. Once they walked around back, he relaxed. At least there was one part of the property that wasn’t in total disrepair.
“Daren built the deck in the Spring,” Jake explained. “He had the property cleared and sodded so his daughter would have a space to play.” He paused and shook his head. “Damn. I can’t even imagine. Especially now…”
Yeah, Jake and his wife were new parents and Kyle knew this situation had to be hitting a little close to home.
“Anyway,” he went on after a moment, “he also put up new siding on the back of the house and installed the sliding doors out to the deck and the stairs down to the patio so…it’s something.”
Jake’s phone rang and he stepped away to take the call. The morning air was a little crisp, and Kyle wished he had thought to grab a cup of coffee for himself. He studied the yard a little more until he heard a sound coming from the house. Looking up toward the deck, he saw the door slide open and someone step out.
He froze as he watched a familiar blonde walk out onto the deck. She didn’t come to the railing, but she came far enough that he could see her.
With her long blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail, she stretched, and he noticed the baby pink tank top she was wearing—clearly with no bra underneath—and he knew he was staring like a creep.