Breakin' In, page 2
“Good luck with your windows, dear,” Beth called out. “I hope the repairs don’t take too long.”
“Thanks,” Flora called back. “And thanks for the number! I’ll get these flowers to Natalie, and I’ll see you later.”
She waved one final time after getting into her truck, then backed out of the driveway. She would have to call the window company after giving the flowers to Natalie, and she had a feeling she was going to have to reschedule her lunch with Linus, another newcomer to town she had gotten friendly with a while ago. This day was turning out to be a lot busier than she had expected.
CHAPTER THREE
Natalie’s yard hadn’t fared as well as Flora’s or Beth’s had. While Flora’s house was in the center of a large, grassy yard that was bordered by trees, Natalie’s was tucked right into the forest with only a small grassy area out front. When Flora turned into her driveway, the first thing she noticed was the pile of branches sitting by the road. The second thing she noticed was the two young men dragging even more branches from around the back of the house. There were even sticks and branches on the roof, though thankfully none large enough to damage the structure.
She parked her truck next to the van she assumed belonged to the workers, and behind the red sedan that Natalie owned. The last time she was here, she had witnessed Natalie’s brother getting arrested, and she couldn’t say she was thrilled to be back. She had hardly spoken to the other woman since that incident, though Beth chattered and gossiped enough Flora felt she had managed to keep up with her other neighbor pretty well anyway.
After grabbing the flowers from the passenger door footwell, Flora approached the house, pausing only to wave at one of the young men who was dragging a heavy tree limb towards the road. When Beth told her that Natalie had hired the pair to do her yard work for a very good price, she had been a little tempted to get their number herself, because she hated going around her yard to pick up sticks before mowing every time — all of that stooping and standing back up made her back hurt, though admitting to such a thing made her feel old. In the end, she had decided against it because she was trying to save money where she could, and the mowing season was almost over.
Maybe it would be worth it to hire them for one job now, though. She toyed with the thought as she walked up to the front porch, and decided that paying them for a couple of hours’ worth of labor to pick up the broken branches and sticks from the storm would be worth it to save her back.
She held the vase in one hand as she knocked on Natalie’s front door with the other. It took a moment for the other woman to open it, and when she did, her expression morphed into a frown as soon as she saw who had knocked.
“Yes?” she said shortly.
“These are from Beth. She asked me to drop them off for her — she’s busy with a grocery delivery right now, and didn’t want to risk walking with the road so muddy.”
“Thanks.” Natalie took the flowers from Flora, her lips evening out into something a little more neutral. “Pardon the yard. Cleanup after that storm is taking a while.”
“I think we’re all feeling the after-effect of that storm,” Flora replied, giving Natalie her best friendly smile. She understood why the other woman didn’t want much to do with her, but she really would have liked to be on better terms with her. “The wind sent a branch right through one of my windows. I’m going to have to get it replaced, and hope it doesn’t storm again in the meantime because I don’t think the tarp I put up is quite going to cut it.”
“Well, I’m sure you’ll get it figured out,” Natalie said, already stepping back and poised to shut the door. “Thank you for delivering the flowers for Beth. Have a nice day.”
She shut the door in Flora’s face. Sighing, she turned to go back to her truck, but changed course when she noticed one of the young men walking back towards the house from the pile of tree limbs. She waved to get his attention and he met her partway across the yard.
“Hi there,” she said. “I’m Flora Abner, and I live just down the road. I was wondering if you’re open to taking more work on?”
“I’m Tucker,” he said, shaking her hand. He looked like he was college-age, with dark blonde hair and a deep tan that spoke of many hours spent outside over the summer. “And that’s Duncan.” He waved at his companion, who looked to be about the same age, though with darker hair and a paler complexion. “We’re going to be pretty busy for the next couple of days, but if you’re not in a hurry, we’d be happy to take whatever job you have for us.”
She would probably only have to mow one more time this year, and not for another couple of weeks, so she decided she didn’t mind waiting to get the sticks picked up. “That’s fine. It’ll be the same as this — I need the debris from the storm out of my yard. I’m the last house on this side of the road, you can’t miss it.”
“Let me get my phone and I’ll get your number,” Tucker said. “I’ll give you our card too. We’re always happy to find more clients.”
Flora called the window company when she got home a few minutes later. The earliest they would be able to come out was Tuesday of next week, so she battened down the broken window and spent the weekend removing the wallpaper in the kitchen. Tucker and Duncan got back to her on Monday to tell her they could come work on her yard the next day, and she confirmed with the window company that they were coming out tomorrow too. Hopefully by Wednesday, all of the damage the storm had caused to both the house and the yard would be gone.
She woke up bright and early on Tuesday morning to get ready for the window repair people. The window replacement would likely take all day, and she didn’t want to risk Amaretto getting out, so she arranged the cat’s supplies in the basement and locked her down there with a handful of treats to make up for it.
“I’m sorry, sweetie,” she said through the closed basement door. “It’s going to be a long day, I know, but things will be back to normal tomorrow, I promise.”
She scribbled out a sign warning the repair men not to open the basement door, then got started on painting the kitchen a cheerful yellow while she waited for the various workers to arrive.
The day was a busy one. The team that was replacing the windows arrived first, and she spent a good half hour talking to them. She was certain the man she had spoken to on the phone had told her they would be able to get the job finished in a day, but apparently she was wrong, because she learned it would take them at least two days to finish the work, assuming they didn’t hit any delays. She wasn’t thrilled at the thought of sleeping in a house with only half its windows installed, and knew she couldn’t keep Amaretto in the basement for that long. She sent a text off to Violet, knowing her friend would provide a sympathetic ear to complain to, then hurried outside when she saw Tucker and Duncan pull up in their van so she could make sure they knew what parts of her yard to focus on.
It was strange to return to her painting with other people in the house, working on it and making noise. She was used to being here alone or with her friends. This was only the second time she had hired professionals to do something, and though she didn’t regret deciding not to tackle the windows herself, she still felt a little guilty about it. She was spending a lot of money on this. She would just have to hope she would be able to sell the house for as much as she needed to, so she could pay her aunt back and continue her career of flipping houses.
She was in the middle of taping off the junction between the countertop and the wall when her phone chimed with an incoming text message. A glance at the screen showed her it was from Violet, so she put the roll of blue painter’s tape down and picked up the phone.
Bummer, but they do have a lot of windows to replace. Two days isn’t that bad. Do you want to spend the night here with Amaretto? I don’t have a spare bedroom, but the couch is comfortable enough.
The offer was a kind one, and Flora only had to consider her options for a moment before she accepted it. A night spent in Violet’s living room would be a lot more comfortable than one spent in a house with holes where the windows should be and an unhappy cat locked in the basement.
You are a lifesaver. We’ll come over around 8, and I’ll buy dinner as thanks. Just let me know what you want me to pick up!
She smiled. These next two days would be hectic, but it would all be worth it by the time the projects were done.
She picked up her phone again to send a quick text message to Linus, a fellow newcomer to town who she was supposed to have lunch with tomorrow.
Sorry, but I think I’m going to have to reschedule. I’m going to be staying the night at a friend’s while my windows are replaced, and I’m not sure how busy things will be in the morning. Could we meet Thursday instead?
He responded almost immediately to tell her Thursday was fine, and not to worry about it. She was glad her friends were so understanding. The storm damage might be annoying, but before long, it would be nothing but a faint memory, and she would have some nice new windows to show for it.
CHAPTER FOUR
Flora worked on the kitchen all day, until the window installers left around six. One wall in the kitchen was a cheerful yellow, and another wall was half finished. Tucker and Duncan were still working outside, dragging sticks and branches to the pile of wooden scraps she asked them to make just inside the tree line. Once the wood dried a little, it would be perfect for bonfires. She could hear music playing from a speaker one of them was carrying. They seemed to be almost done with the yard, but she wanted to get going to Violet’s. Her friend was already out of work, but Violet had to wake up early the next morning, so if they wanted to kick back with some take-out and watch a movie, the sooner she got there, the better.
After packing Amaretto into her carrier and putting the cat’s necessary belongings into her truck, she ventured across the yard to speak to the men. Duncan was the one who spotted her approaching this time. He paused the music that was coming from a Bluetooth speaker on his belt and raised a hand in greeting.
“I’m about to head out,” Flora told him. “Are you two okay to finish up this evening while I’m gone, or will you need to come back tomorrow? I probably won’t be back until mid-morning, so I’d rather pay you now if that’s possible.”
“We’ll be done here in about an hour,” he told her. “Just got the back part left to do.”
“Great.” She smiled. “Thanks again for doing this. What do I owe you? I’ll get you the cash before I go.”
He told her, and she returned to the house to get the money. After paying them, she shoved a change of clothes and some pajamas into her overnight bag, grabbed her phone charger, and hefted Amaretto’s carrier. The cat let out a forlorn sounding meow.
“I know, I know,” Flora said, trying to keep her voice soothing. “It’s been a crazy day, huh? Things will be back to normal soon, I promise.”
She carried everything out to the front porch, where she had to put the cat’s carrier down to free a hand so she could lock the door. She gave a quiet snort as she turned the deadbolt. The living room window was a gaping hole in the wall, along with a few other windows. The workers had put up some plastic sheeting over them, but the house wasn’t exactly secure. Locking the door wasn’t going to change anything.
With one last sad glance towards her broken security camera — she really should get on replacing that — she picked up Amaretto’s carrier again and loaded the cat into the truck. Her house might not be secure, but at least she had everything important with her. She was glad Violet had offered up her couch for the night; she wouldn’t have been comfortable sleeping here with the work on the windows only half-finished even if Amaretto escaping wasn’t a concern.
She ran through her list of overnight items in her mind one last time to make sure she wasn’t forgetting anything, then put her truck into reverse, only to slam her foot down on the brakes a second later when she spotted a person in her rearview mirror.
Undoing her seatbelt and putting the truck back into park in one motion, she opened the driver’s door and got out.
“Jeeze, Beth. I almost ran you over. You just about gave me a heart attack.”
The older woman looked chagrined. She let Sammy, her Basset hound, tug forward on his leash to sniff at Flora’s legs. She bent down to stroke his long, soft ears.
“Sorry about that. I thought you’d seen me waving,” Beth said. “I was just on one of my regular walks when I saw you packing your things into your truck. Is everything all right?”
“Yeah, I’m just spending the night away from home because the work on the windows is taking longer than I expected. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Oh, good. I was a little worried when I saw you packing up out of the blue like that.”
“Sorry to worry you, but thanks for coming to check up on me,” Flora said. She meant it — slowly but surely, she was getting used to how involved Beth liked to be in her life. The older woman meant well, and she was genuinely kind in a way that most people weren’t, even if she could be a little overbearing at times.
“Of course, dear. You have a nice night. I’d better head for home. I’m expecting another grocery delivery soon. It’s so wonderful to be able to get fresh groceries whenever I need them.”
Flora smiled as she got back into her truck, glad that Beth had discovered a service that gave her a little more freedom. It must have been hard for the older woman to be unable to drive in such a rural setting.
She waited until Beth and Sammy were safely out of the way before pulling out of the driveway and heading towards town. It would be nice to spend the evening with Violet, and tomorrow, the rest of the windows would be put in and if she was lucky, she might even finish painting her kitchen.
The storm might have brought more than its share of troubles, but things were looking up.
Flora woke the next morning to a familiar weight on her stomach, on an unfamiliar couch. It took her a moment to remember that she was at Violet’s. She craned her neck down to see Amaretto curled up on top of her, snoozing away peacefully. The cat had settled in quickly; it probably helped that Amaretto knew and liked Violet, so all of the scents here were familiar and calming. They had spent a fun evening watching movies and eating takeout, with the cat joining them out of her hiding spot only halfway through.
When Violet’s bedroom door opened, Flora realized her friend’s alarm going off must have been what woke her up. She sat up on the couch, shifting the cat off of her, and opened her mouth to greet the other woman, only to have to cover an unexpected yawn instead.
Violet gave a drowsy chuckle. “Sorry if I woke you,” she said quietly. “I love my job, but boy does it require early mornings.”
“It’s all right,” Flora said. “I’m sure a lot of people are glad they can get their morning fix of caffeine bright and early. Though, I don’t think any amount of coffee could make me want to get up at this hour every day.”
Her friend snorted and stepped into the small kitchen to start her espresso machine. “Luckily, I am a natural morning person, but this schedule was hard even for me at first. You’re welcome to go back to sleep once I leave, if you want. Just lock the door behind you when I go — I’ll leave a spare key on the counter for you. Oh, and you’re welcome to leave your cat here for the day, if you think she’d be less stressed here than she would be at your place with the workers. You can pick her up whenever they’re done.”
“Are you sure? I appreciate it. I’d have to lock her in my basement otherwise, and she’s not a fan of that.”
Despite how early it was, Flora found herself unable to doze off again after Violet left to open her coffee shop. She gave up around seven and packed her things back into her overnight bag, then fed Amaretto and made sure the cat had been using the litter box she had set up in the bathroom.
“You’re going to stay here today, sweetie,” she said. “I’ll pick you up this evening once all of the work on the house is done.”
While the cat was distracted with her breakfast, Flora grabbed the key off the counter in the kitchen and stepped out of the apartment, locking the door behind her. The people from the window company weren’t supposed to arrive until between eight and nine, so she had about an hour to go home, shower, and make some breakfast before they arrived. She wasn’t in a hurry, but she didn’t have much time to waste either. Hopping into her truck, she started the engine and headed for home.
It was a little strange to be pulling up to her house so early in the morning. She didn’t often get to see it in the early dawn light. Maybe it was just because it had sat empty all night, but she thought it looked oddly lonely like this, silhouetted against the dawn sky without any vehicles in the driveway or lights on.
She pulled up to her normal spot close to the house, sparing a thought of appreciation for the new gravel and the lack of potholes before she grabbed her purse and her overnight bag and got out of her vehicle.
The plastic covering over the living room window was flapping in the breeze as she walked up the porch steps. It must have come loose in the night. Thankfully, it hadn’t rained, so at most a few bugs had gotten inside. Learning to live with creepy-crawlies constantly trying to invade her house was one of the more difficult aspects of adjusting to life in the country. Hopefully getting the windows replaced would help with that issue, as well as keeping the interior of the house better insulated.
She unlocked the door and pushed it open, only for it to bump up against something before it could open fully. Frowning, she pushed against it. Whatever had blocked the door shifted enough that she could slip in through the gap. She was trying to remember if the window repair team had left any rolls of plastic or other supplies in the front entrance way as she slipped through.
