Chapter 11
Annoyance nagged at Gavin all morning. He’d gone by the theater first thing this morning only to find it was locked up tight. A mid-morning trip yielded the same result. Still no sign of Tori.
Was she not serious about this whole project? She just bought it and now felt no urgency to get started on the restorations? He’d made a long list of notes he wanted to go over with her. If she ever showed up…
A lull at The Bike Shop mid-day afforded him another chance to run over to the theater. He called out to Jonny, “Hey, I’m going out for a bit. You got things here?”
“Sure thing. I got this,” Jonny called back.
Gavin wiped the grease from his hands. He’d been working on a bike all morning. Well, at least all morning between trips to the theater. He headed outside, grabbed a bike, and rode over to the theater, fully expecting to see it locked up tight again.
The front door stood ajar. So, she’d finally decided to show up. He strode into the lobby, its neglected, dim interior a marked contrast to the brightness outside. As his eyes adjusted, he spotted her standing at the far side. He didn’t even try to temper his annoyance. “I came by first thing this morning. You weren’t here. I thought you were serious about getting going on this project.” He stopped in his tracks when he got closer and saw her with her hair tied back and lugging a bucket and a squeegee. The window in front of her sparkled.
“I don’t run on your schedule,” she shot back, planting her hands on her hips.
He stared at the window, then the bucket, then back up to Tori’s face. A bit of grime adorned her cheek. She reached up and brushed back a lock of hair while he stared at her. The last thing he ever thought he’d see was Tori in here cleaning. It was a side of her he hadn’t anticipated—hands-on and unafraid of getting dirty.
“I just thought you’d be jumping on the project first thing.” He still couldn’t drag his eyes away from her. She looked incredibly adorable with her hair a mess and the smudge on her face. He had to resist the urge to wipe away the dirt.
“I had something I needed to do.”
“More important than this?” He knew he shouldn’t have said it the moment the words were out.
“Gavin, I don’t report to you. And yes, it was something I had to do. Not that it’s any of your business. You can watch over the restoration like Miss Eleanor asked, but you can’t watch over me. Get it?” She fired the words at him, her eyes flashing.
He held up both hands in a gesture of surrender. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“Did you need something?” She looked down at the bucket. “I have work to do.”
“I… uh… well, I made a list of things I thought of last night after talking to you yesterday.”
“I’m fine with my list, just like it is.”
“But—”
“No, seriously. Unless you think I’m doing something Miss Eleanor won’t like with the restoration, then just butt out. I’ve got this.”
And he was certain that she did have this. But he did have some ideas about how she could save money. But obviously, now was not the time. Her annoyance with him was evident in the set of her shoulders and the way she clenched her jaw.
“How about I help you clean the windows?”
Her mouth dropped open. “Why would you do that?”
“Because if we both work on it, we’ll get them cleaned up faster.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“But I want to. Let me help.”
She stared at him for a moment. “There are more buckets and squeegees in the storeroom.”
He nodded and walked away, returning soon with his own supplies. They worked side by side—silently—until every window in the lobby was crystal clear. The lobby slowly transformed as sunlight filtered in through the now gleaming windows. She set down her bucket and swept her gaze around the lobby. “That looks better.”
“It does.” He agreed. “Now what?”
“Well, everything needs a good cleaning, but the windows were bugging me the most, so I started there. I’ll need to get someone with a large ladder or platform to clean the chandelier. I’m going to vacuum every single seat in the theater too. It’s been sitting here collecting dust for so long.” She shoved back her hair again and swiped at her face, but only managed to add another streak of dirt to her fair skin.
“You could hire this out,” he suggested.
“I will for things I can’t do myself. But I can do a lot of it myself. I do have the contractor coming tomorrow with his workers. Electrician, plumber, and some carpenters. I’ve hired someone to come out and steam clean the stage curtain.”
“Then let me help you. I want to help you. I enjoy watching old buildings come back to life.”
“Like the lighthouse?”
He flinched slightly. He still could barely stand to even think about that project. He just bobbed his head in answer.
She set her squeegee in the bucket and looked at him for a long minute. “Okay, I’ll accept your help under one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“You don’t tell me how to do things.”
He could do that, couldn’t he? Probably. Maybe. But he nodded his head in agreement. “Sure thing, boss.” He winked at her.
She just rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I’m calling it quits for today. I have to pack up my things. I found an apartment and I’m going to move in tonight. I’ve already called Darlene and told her I’m checking out of the BB. And I want to go get some groceries for the place.”
“You’re going to do all that after doing all this? Aren’t you tired?”
“A bit. But I’m excited about moving into my own place.”
“I could help you.” The words came out unexpectedly.
She shook her head. “Thanks, but I’ve got it. I only have a few suitcases right now. I’m going to send for some of my things now that I have a place.”
“So, I’ll see you here tomorrow?”
“I’ll be here early. I’m meeting the contractor at seven. But you don’t have to be here then. I’ve got it.”
He nodded. But he had every intention of being here at seven a.m. sharp. And he was going to find a way to talk to her about a few of the suggestions he’d thought of. But it would be better to do at a time when he hadn’t annoyed her quite so much. He grinned to himself. If that ever happened.
Tori swung by the market and got some groceries and supplies for her new apartment. Then she went to Darlene’s and packed up her things. She carted her suitcases down the stairs and Darlene greeted her in the foyer, her eyes holding a warmth that expressed more than just a casual host-guest relationship.
“I’m going to miss having you here.” Darlene hugged her.
“I’ll miss you too.” She hugged her back, lingering momentarily, sad to be leaving her newfound friend.
“You come over any time to visit. We’ll grab tea and sit on the porch,” Darlene insisted as she grabbed one of the suitcases.
“I will, I promise.”
They carried the suitcases to her car and loaded them into the back seat.
Tori climbed into the car and waved as she pulled away. It was a quick drive over to her apartment, and the sound of the crushed shell drive welcomed her as she parked in her space. She tugged a suitcase from the back seat and headed inside. Once upstairs, she set the suitcase down, smiling at the late afternoon sun spilling into the room with a warm, inviting embrace. Yes, this could definitely feel like home.
By the last trip up the stairs, she was out of breath. She was beginning to see the allure of a ground-floor apartment. But as she closed her door and looked out at the beginning of a sunset sprawling before her, she knew there was nowhere she’d rather be. And hopefully, she wouldn’t have to make so many trips up and down those stairs again anytime soon.
She unpacked her suitcases and hung up her clothes, then moved on to putting her toiletries in the spacious bathroom. Then she moved on to the kitchen, unloading the groceries and supplies. She sank onto a chair at the wooden table, so very tired, and looked around the place with a mixture of fatigue and satisfaction. This was all hers.
Hunger nagged at her, but she had little motivation to cook. But she had to eat something. She shoved off the chair and grabbed a pack of microwave popcorn. That would do. She poured herself a glass of wine while her dinner cheerily popped in the microwave. Simple feast in hand, she nestled into a chair by the window, propping up her feet and enjoying the solitude.
She took a sip of her wine, and Gavin popped into her mind. He’d annoyed her so much when he showed up today, like he ruled her schedule. But then he surprised her by helping with the windows. Teetering back to annoyance, she remembered he’d initially come to give her a list of suggestions. His interference was a constant aggravation. She could only hope that after he saw she was doing a good job, he’d back off.
Leaning back in the chair, she pushed all thoughts of Gavin, of any aggravation, far from her mind. As she ate her popcorn, a dark orange slash of color conveyed the end of the sunset. She sat there watching the sky darken and the stars come out, enjoying the quiet. Enjoying the view. Just… enjoying this life she was creating here on Magnolia Key.