Love Is for the Birds

19. Jack

JACK RECALLED EVERY MOMENT OF THE NIGHT OF THE CONCERT , especially the one when Teddy promised to go on an actual date with him. He had to wait until she finished the store. No telling how long that would take. Since Teddy ended things with Daniel a week or so ago, she’d turned into a full-blown entrepreneur. She still puzzled him, though. At the end of the concert, she acted so happy, like he might have a chance, but at the beginning of the evening they shared the tension about Angie’s name on the barbecue trucks. Even Pops suggested he might need to take down Angie’s pictures, maybe even change the name of his restaurants. How would he feel if the situation were reversed—Daniel’s Sweet Somethings?

Sleeping in the fifth wheel was getting old. He’d spent hours working in the nature preserve and helping out the town like some big shot philanthropist, when really, he just wanted to be near Teddy. He sang, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” as he dressed for the day. He only had one choice—wait. If only dating was more like a football game with a finite number of plays and outcomes.

Armed with his tool belt and two cups of coffee, Jack stepped into Teddy’s shop, ready for today’s play—help finish the shop. To his surprise, the store was almost completed—red, yellow, and pink linoleum tile floors, walls painted to match, appliances bright and shiny. So much for that strategy.

“Up with the roosters, I see.” Jack inspected the site. “You’re a carpenter, too?”

Teddy hooked her thumbs in her tool belt loops.

The sight of her all sassy and smug was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. “Very official.”

Walt—actually wearing shoes—appeared carrying a cabinet for a sink. “Dude, you made it, man. The guys who rebuilt my shop have been working here for a few days. They fixed her right up. Awesome, right?”

“Totally.” Jack agreed. He cast his gaze at Teddy. “I’m all yours,” Jack said.

She smiled the way someone smiles when caught off guard.

“I told you I’d help.”

“So you did.” She might be over Daniel, but she didn’t seem interested in him either. She promised him a date. He’d make that date count.

“How do you like it?” Teddy swept an arm over her store. “Take a look at this.” She showed Jack the sketches of her store, complete with a Hansel and Gretel house, a cotton field for her cotton candy machine, and a glass case for fudge and other candies.

“If you want to help, follow me.” Teddy waved her hand.

Teddy acted all business, like he was hired help.

She led Jack to a stack of shelves painted in every color of the rainbow. “We need these there.” She pointed to rows of wall mounts.

Teddy told Jack she planned to have red hard candies and jelly beans on the red shelf, green candies on the green shelf and so on. After Jack installed the shelves, he joined Teddy at the window.

Teddy enlisted Barb’s help in building a Hansel and Gretel house. The frame of the house looked good enough to eat but was not edible. Inside, she allowed enough room for elementary school-sized kids to play. Teddy intended to keep the display all year long.

They installed a forest of dark-brown resin trees with bats for leaves and hung licorice spiders and black cotton candy webs from the branches. M & M’s the size of silver dollars created a cobbled walkway to the house. Beside the house, they planted a tiny orchard of caramel and candied apple trees. Colored-marshmallow bushes lined the house with its waffle cone siding.

After putting a scary witch stirring a pot of creepy gummies on the backside of the house, Jack said, “Let’s admire our work from outside.” The two of them stood in front of the window. “It’s perfect for Halloween.” He patted Teddy on the back.

A car pulled up and honked. The mayor and his wife stepped out of their SUV and joined them at the window. Tears welled in Estrella’s eyes when she said, “My grandkids are going to love this.”

“Congratulations, Teddy. This goes a long way toward bringing the town back.” Hank offered his hand then hugged her.

“How did you ever get this all done?” Estrella asked.

“Donations of time and supplies.”

Estrella smiled at Jack. “I just came in on the tail end of this project,” he said. “But I haven’t had so much fun since I was a kid. I feel like a kid.” Jack pointed to the walkway. “You like the door to the house. It’s all licorice. My idea.” Jack tapped his chest.

“I’m very impressed.” Hank patted him on the shoulder. “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for the town.”

“I’m enjoying myself.”

Hank said, “You like the company down here, I suppose.”

Jack glanced at Teddy. “I suppose I do.”

“We’ve got more good news,” Hank said. “The ranger sighted a Whooping Crane pair today.”

Teddy hugged Hank.

“What about me?” Jack asked.

Hank hugged Jack.

“Not exactly what I was hoping for,” Jack said, reaching a hand toward Teddy.

He knew Barb worried the Whoopers might not return, and whether they’d have anything to eat if they did. But the Whooping Cranes had returned along with the wolfberry bushes. The cranes were probably eating them for breakfast right now.

“Join us,” Hank said. “We’re having a little celebration at the refuge.”

“I’m game,” Jack said. “If the boss will let me off.”

“I’d say we have two reasons to celebrate today.” Teddy thrust her shoulders back.

Her phone pinged.

Barb texted: The Whoopers are here. C’mon.

Teddy: We’ll just lock up and head over.