CHAPTER FIVE
“Charley, I can’t believe how incredible everything looks,” Alex said, her voice full of awe as Charley wrapped up the tour of the building over FaceTime.
Charley smiled, flipping the camera back to face her. “It’s coming together. There’s still a bit of work to get done, but it’s definitely starting to feel real. I just hope I’m doing your vision justice.”
“Are you kidding?!” Alex exclaimed. “You’ve exceeded my expectations. I mean, think about it. When you arrived two weeks ago, the entire place was basically just a shell. Now there’s flooring and paint.”
Charley chuckled, walking slowly down the stairs to the first floor as she kept the camera on her.
The mixed scent of fresh paint and sawdust lingered in the air.
All that was left to do was install the cabinets in the exam rooms and then move the furniture and equipment in.
“It helps when you bribe the work crew with donuts and coffee,” Charley joked.
Alex laughed. “Whatever works. I don’t care how you got it done. It looks amazing.”
Hearing that, especially from Alex, sent a wave of relief washing over Charley.
She’d been so consumed by checklists and contractor walkthroughs that she hadn’t really taken a step back to appreciate just how far the space had come.
Two weeks ago, when she arrived, it really had been nothing more than concrete floors and drywall spread across three unfinished levels.
Now, standing inside the nearly completed building, Charley could hardly believe the transformation.
It was still a work in progress, but it finally felt like something real.
It was something worthy of the people it was meant to serve.
“And how are things with you? Are you settling in okay?” Alex asked.
Charley could hear the concern in her friend’s tone. She would never tell Alex, but she was functioning on very little sleep as she had been working around the clock. There were nights that her aunt and uncle had even brought her dinner because she couldn’t break away.
She leaned against the counter that would eventually serve as the reception desk.
“I’m doing okay. Keeping busy has helped. It doesn’t give me much time to think about things. Well, other than work,” she said jokingly.
Alex laughed, but then her expression softened. “When do you move into your apartment?”
“In a couple of weeks.”
Alex smiled. “That’s good.”
Charley smiled. “Alright, I'd better let you go before I end up dragging you through every closet and storage room. Plus, John, the site manager, will be here any minute to do a walkthrough.”
Alex grinned. “You know I’d happily follow you through every inch of that place. But go and do your thing. And Charley, get some sleep.”
Charley’s jaw dropped open. “What do you mean?”
Alex didn’t say anything, she just quirked her one eyebrow as if saying, “you ain’t fooling me.” Then again, this was Alex. The damn woman never missed anything.
“I promise. Talk to you later,” Charley said, before ending the call. She ignored Alex’s comment about sleep.
Just as she set her phone on the table she was using as a makeshift desk in the lobby, it buzzed with a new message.
John (Site Manager): Just pulled up. I’m out front when you’re ready.
She typed back, telling him that the door was open and to come in.
Today was all about getting answers. She needed a clear picture of what remained before final inspections. The building had come a long way in a short time, but the finishing touches were everything.
The first floor would welcome visitors with a bright, modern lobby and a warm reception area that would lead into the counseling center.
Upstairs, the second floor housed a state-of-the-art medical wing designed to handle non-emergency care with discretion and dignity.
And the third floor, the nerve center, housed the administrative offices.
◆◆◆
Two hours later and another coffee later, Charley was back in the lobby, double-checking a list on her clipboard when John popped his head around the corner. His navy shirt was a shade darker from sweat, and his toolbelt clinked faintly as he stepped in. He held his cell phone in his hand.
“The cabinet installer called. He’s free this evening if you want to get those cabinets installed in the exam rooms tonight. Are you available?”
Charley looked up, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Seriously? That would be great. If we can get those installed, I can move up the furniture and equipment delivery.”
“So, is that a yes?”
Charley smiled and nodded. “Yeah. I have plenty of things to do around here to keep me busy,” she said. And that wasn’t a lie. She had about twenty boxes of office supplies to sort through.
John nodded, a small smile gracing his lips. “That’s the last big item for the exam rooms. Once those are in, we’re just looking at touch-ups and punch-list cleanup.”
She exhaled, finally allowing herself to feel the slightest bit of relief. “If tonight goes smoothly, we might actually be ahead of schedule.”
John grinned. “Careful. That kind of optimism gets you in trouble.”
Charley laughed. “Well, at this point, I’ll take cautiously optimistic over stressed-out zombie.”
He chuckled. “Fair. I’ll call him back and let him know. You need anything?”
“Nope, I think we’re good for now. Thanks, John.”
“Alright. I’m just going to finish patching that one wall up, and then I’m going to head out.”
“Sounds good. Thanks for everything. Your crew, as well as all the subcontractors, have done an amazing job with the transformation of this place,” she told him.
He smiled. “We’re happy to help out,” he said before turning and disappearing down the hall.
Just as Charley set her clipboard down, her stomach growled loudly. It was so loud that it echoed through the quiet lobby, making her freeze mid-step.
One of the workers walking by raised an amused brow and chuckled. “You’d better get some food in that stomach,” he called over his shoulder, still laughing as he disappeared down the hall.
Charley groaned as she pressed her hand against her stomach.
She hadn’t eaten since early that morning, and even then, it had only been a sad-looking blueberry protein bar she had scarfed down while answering emails.
Now, with the clock ticking past three in the afternoon, her body was staging a full-on protest.
Since she had a few hours to kill before the cabinet crew was due to arrive, she decided to run out to pick up something to eat.
She grabbed her wallet and sunglasses from her backpack under the table.
There was a smoothie place just down the road that also served sandwiches.
Plus, it was a beautiful day, so a nice walk with some fresh air would be good.
Since the smoothie place was across the street from the beach, Charley decided to take the longer route and walk on the beach.
She quickly changed into flip-flops and headed out the door.
As soon as she hit the beach, she kicked off her flip-flops and let her toes sink into the soft white sand. It was a gorgeous afternoon, with the sun shining brightly.
The salty breeze tousled her hair as she strolled along the sand with her flip-flops dangling from her fingers.
The afternoon sun beamed down on the ocean as the waves crashed onto the shore.
As she walked, she made a mental list of tasks she wanted to get completed before she went home for the day.
As she walked, loud shouting drew her attention toward the water’s edge. When she turned to see what was going on, she smiled as a group of SEAL recruits shouted at one another as they ran towards the water carrying zodiacs above their heads.
She slowed her steps, watching as they dropped the boats and then ran in and out of the waves as their instructors barked orders from the beach.
The first thing, or person that popped into her mind was Pierce, the SEAL instructor she had met two weeks ago when she was stranded on the water.
She’d admit that even with her focus on the foundation, there were times she had thought about the handsome man.
She regretted not getting his number. But then again, who was she kidding.
When it came to guys, she was shy. Plus, the last thing she wanted was to be mistaken for a frog hog, the kind of woman who threw herself at Navy SEALs for the bragging rights.
She definitely didn’t need that type of reputation, especially with her position at the Foundation.
Not only that, but she had a full plate with getting herself settled.
Dating wasn’t a top priority on her current “to-do” list.
Even as she thought that, Charley scanned the instructors, hoping to catch a glimpse of him, but with all of them dressed in the same cargo pants, navy blue T-shirts, and ball caps, it was impossible to tell one from the other.
After a few more moments of watching the recruits struggle through the sand and waves, she continued her walk toward the smoothie shop.
When she arrived, she pushed open the door and was greeted by the sound of blenders and upbeat island music. The little place had bright orange walls and lots of tropical foliage, adding to its tropical vibe. The energy in the place brought a smile to her face.
She got in line and scanned the menu, though she already knew what she was going to order. When it was her turn to order, she smiled at the cashier. “I’ll have a large strawberry-banana smoothie and a chicken salad croissant, please. And could you please add the protein powder to the smoothie?”
The cashier rang her up, and Charley tapped her card on the credit card machine to pay.
“It’ll be up in a few minutes,” the cashier told her, and Charley nodded as she stepped off to the side to wait.