Chapter 13 #2
Immy was busy vacuuming the shop floor, her little bubble of optimism that she’d felt a short while before having well and truly popped.
She’d gone back to the chocolate shop and told Xander what the plan was – clean, sand and replaster if necessary, then paint – only to find that Xander had already done some research into how to wash and paint smoke-damaged walls.
Apparently they would need to clean first with a dry cleaning sponge because a wet cloth would simply smear the soot all over the walls rather than lifting it off, then follow up with a degreasing wet cleaning solution.
After that they would have to sand and replaster if there was any damage to the walls.
But before they could paint they had to use a primer and sealer to stop the stains of the smoke and soot, and the smell of the smoke, seeping through the layer of new paint.
The primer might need several coats before they could paint over the top of it in normal paint.
That was all several more steps in the redecorating and renovating process than Immy had accounted for.
Being ready for the Easter egg hunt seemed less and less likely now.
She was glad Xander had done the research so each stage could be done properly – she’d have just come over here and used a bucket of soap and water – but it had rather put a dampener on her plans.
The very first stage was to vacuum up as much dust as she could from the walls and floors so it didn’t collect on the walls again as soon as she’d cleaned it off.
A van had arrived a short while after Belinda had left with a very loud power generator on the back, but the driver had made it clear it was only available for today.
Xander had found a dust mask from somewhere and insisted Immy wore it while vacuuming, and when he started muttering about goggles too, she had reluctantly agreed to wear her scuba diving ones which were at least airtight.
But the gear was making her very hot and sweaty and she was having to take regular breaks outside without her face protection to cool herself down.
Xander had gone off with Etta to buy all the cleaning equipment and painting supplies they would need. Immy had tried to insist he keep the shop open in the lead up to Easter but he wouldn’t hear of it. He’d said he’d go back over and open for a few hours at lunchtime.
Just as she was emptying the vacuum cleaner for what felt like the tenth time, there was noise at the door and she turned round to find Alex standing in the doorway, dressed in old clothes, clearly intent on helping.
Immy felt a rush of gratitude and love for her sister and tears pricked her eyes. She quickly pulled off her mask and goggles and moved outside to give Alex a hug. Alex didn’t say a word for a moment, just enveloped her in a tight hug and held her close.
‘I thought you weren’t due back until tomorrow,’ Immy said, into her sister’s shoulder.
‘We came back early so we could help.’
‘You didn’t have to do that.’
‘We wanted to. Quinn will be here with Zara shortly.’
Immy pulled back to look at her. ‘Thank you.’
‘Of course. You’re my sister, it’s my job to look after you.’
‘Well, I’m the older sister, I think I’m supposed to look after you.’
‘And you’ve done more than enough of that over the last few years, now it’s my turn.’ Alex surveyed the shop. ‘I’m so sorry. I know how devastating this must be for you.’
‘It is hard, I’m not going to lie, but I just want to get this finished now before the Easter egg hunt on Sunday and there is so much to do.’
Alex frowned. ‘Are you on your own?’
‘Xander is out getting cleaning and painting supplies. There’s a lot involved in redecorating after smoke damage.
We have to make sure the smoke staining and smell don’t seep through the new paint.
And Belinda has promised to rally the troops for some of the harder jobs, like replastering if it’s needed and laying a new floor. ’
‘The mayor?’ Alex said in surprise.
‘Yes, she’s been amazing.’
‘She scares me a little.’
‘Yes, but she knows how to get stuff done. And I’ve seen a softer side to her that I didn’t know she had.’
‘Right, well what do you need me to do?’
‘Until Xander comes back with the proper cleaning supplies, there isn’t a lot you can do but if you want to help with the vacuuming that would be great.
Xander carried over his vacuum cleaner earlier as it’s supposed to be one of those super-strength ones.
But if you don’t mind carrying mine down from upstairs you could make a start on the back room.
I’m nearly done in the main shop, I think, maybe just once more would do it.
We only have this generator for today and they’ve given us a couple of very long extension leads, so hopefully it will reach the back room. ’
‘OK, no problem. Quinn has a cordless vacuum cleaner that lasts about an hour. If the extension lead doesn’t stretch as far as the back room, I can get him to bring it and the charging station over, so we can charge it up in between cleans.’
‘Oh, good idea.’
Alex looked over at the chocolate shop, which was currently sitting in darkness. ‘He closed his shop?’
‘Yes, I’ve been having trouble keeping him away. Easter is one of his busiest times and I hate that he’s losing money to help me, but he keeps insisting on it.’
‘He probably feels like he needs to make it up to you after all the times he messed you around,’ Alex said.
‘Or, he cares about me and wants to help.’
Alex didn’t look like she believed that but just then the cavalry arrived in the shape of Xander, Logan, Archer, Max and Etta, carrying bags of supplies.
Etta was dressed in a bright green rain suit that covered her from head to toe.
Her hood was pulled tight around her face.
She was also wearing goggles and a mask.
‘I brought help,’ Xander said, gesturing to his brothers. He offered out a brown paper bag. ‘And a sandwich. You need to eat.’
Immy was starving and it wasn’t even lunchtime yet.
‘Hello Xander,’ Alex said and somehow managed to make those two words sound cold and disapproving.
Xander flashed Alex a warm smile. ‘Hi Alex, did you have a good holiday?’
‘I did, thank you.’
Immy rolled her eyes and turned her attention to Etta. ‘And who is this?’
Etta giggled. ‘It’s me, Etta.’
‘Oh, I thought it was an alien.’
Etta laughed and stretched her arms out like a zombie and started staggering towards her. Immy squealed and pretended to run away, making Etta laugh harder as she chased after her. After a few moments, Immy let Etta catch her, screaming as the alien attacked her.
‘How’s it going in there?’ Logan asked once the attack was over.
‘There is so much dust. I’ve vacuumed the walls, the ceiling and the floor so many times and every time I turn around there’s more dust or soot or whatever it is. I think I’ve got the majority of it now. I was going to give it one more go.’
‘We have loads of dry cleaning sponges so we should be able to get rid of a lot of the soot and dust with those as the sponges will lift the dirt off the wall and absorb it. And then wash down the walls once we’re finished. Then we can see if we need to do any more vacuuming after that.’
‘OK. Alex is going to start on the back room once she’s got my vacuum cleaner from my flat upstairs.’
‘I can bring that down for you,’ Xander said to Alex.
‘No need,’ Alex said.
‘I’m sure it’s very heavy.’
‘And I’m very strong.’
Immy sighed.
‘Look, why don’t I grab it?’ Max said. ‘I’ve got to run up there and use the loo anyway so I might as well bring it back down with me.’
Alex nodded. ‘OK, thanks Max.’
Max headed inside. Logan and Archer took the bags and followed him into the shop.
Xander turned back to Immy. ‘Why don’t you have a break for a little while? Sit out here on the bench with the little green goblin, enjoy your sandwich and get some fresh air.’
‘I can eat while I work.’
‘You need to take it easy,’ Xander said gently. ‘Carrying our little plum is going to make you a lot more tired than you would be normally. There’ll be plenty of hands in there to do the work.’
‘He’s right,’ Alex said, reluctantly. ‘You need to look after yourself. And Quinn and Zara will be over to help soon too.’
Immy still wasn’t convinced she had time for that. ‘I can take five minutes, I suppose.’
‘If you make it fifteen, I’ll give you a back massage tonight,’ Xander said.
Immy smiled at the coercion tactics but a back massage did sound lovely, her body was already aching from the excessive vacuuming. ‘OK, you have yourself a deal.’
Xander smiled at the win and kissed her on the cheek. He turned his attention to Etta. ‘Will you stay out here for a while and look after Immy?’
Etta nodded. ‘I’ll take very good care of her.’
‘Good girl. Now, let’s get you out of this suit for a little while. You can put it all back on when you come back inside.’
He helped Etta out of her suit and took off the goggles and mask and, with another kiss on Immy and Etta’s cheeks, he went inside.
Immy glanced at Alex who had been watching him.
‘Well, you certainly bring out the best in him. I’ve not seen this side of him before,’ Alex said.
‘Daddy loves her,’ Etta sang.
‘Did he say that?’ Immy said.
‘No, but Max says you can tell because he has gooey eyes whenever he talks about you or looks at you.’
Etta went and sat on the bench with her own little snack bag.
Alex made a noise of disapproval. ‘We’ll see how long that lasts,’ she muttered before heading inside.
Immy rolled her eyes and went to sit next to Etta.