Chapter 14
Dave crossed his arms in front of his chest and stared at Beth. “You want me to come with you to a place called the Fairy Forest,” he said, in the tone of a man double-checking he’d heard right.
“I want your professional opinion before the gallery wall goes up,” Beth said, already reaching for her coat.
“I need to see how someone else handles displaying art and running an event space at the same time. Daniella has built the best version that I know about. I’d rather have your opinion than assume different options will work for the arts center. ”
It was, Dave had to admit, a perfectly sensible reason. He told himself that twice on the drive over, which was usually a sign that he wasn’t convinced Beth was right.
The Fairy Forest was in the center of town, and even in the flat gray light of a winter afternoon, it looked like something out of a storybook.
Sparkling fairy lights created a festive entrance, and the murals of castles and pirate ships that decorated the walls hinted at hidden treasures within the building.
But it wasn’t until Dave stepped through a door shaped like an ancient tree that he truly appreciated the workmanship that had gone into creating the enchanted forest.
Other towering artificial trees transformed the main events room into a visual feast for anyone who loved fairytales and make-believe. Squirrels, owls, and fairies were hidden in the branches and flowers filling the Fairy Forest to overflowing.
Dave smiled at the candy cane furniture and the chocolate fountain.
“It’s not what you were expecting, is it?” Beth asked as she watched his face.
He shook his head. “I build things out of two-by-fours and drywall. This is incredible.”
Daniella came out from behind a workbench wiping paint off her hands. She greeted Beth with the easy warmth of an old friend before turning that same warmth on Dave. “So, you’re the contractor everyone’s talking about.”
Dave smiled. “Everyone must be talking about me too much.”
Beth rolled her eyes. “Dave’s being modest. He’s built some of the best homes and commercial buildings in Montana. That’s why I’ve brought him here. I want his opinion on lighting and flow before we finish the gallery wall at the arts center.”
Daniella walked them through the room, explaining how the trees hid the wiring, how the fabric canopy diffused the light so nothing threw a hard shadow on the displays, and how she’d built the whole thing in stages without closing for more than a few days at a time.
Despite his original misgivings, Dave was genuinely interested in what Daniella had done. She’d built this with a purpose, to make people feel something the moment they walked in the door, and that was the same discipline he brought to his buildings.
“This is Owen’s.” Daniella stopped in front of a low glass case where a cluster of glass birds caught the light.
“Owen’s my brother,” she told Dave. “He works out of a studio in town. If you want an incredible exhibition for the arts center, talk to him. He’s really talented, and so are his students. ”
Beth studied the small birds. “I hadn’t thought of asking Owen to hold an exhibition. I thought he’d be too busy.”
Dave watched something quietly click into place behind Beth’s expression. He liked watching her think. She did it visibly, her expression changing as she thought through a problem. And he knew at the exact moment when she’d come to some kind of conclusion.
“I’ve been focused on contacting artists who live outside of Sapphire Bay,” Beth told Daniella. “But our local artists should be showcased first and everyone else slotted in around them.”
“I think they’d appreciate the extra publicity,” Daniella said as she walked them through a room that had been set up for a birthday party.
After studying the lighting tracks and taking lots of photos, Daniella let them roam around the building while she answered a phone call.
“What do you think?” Beth asked Dave.
“We can definitely use some of the lighting techniques Daniella has here. It wasn’t the wasted trip I thought it would be.”
Beth grinned. “Can I have that in writing?”
“You don’t need it in writing,” Dave replied with an equally lighthearted grin. “You’ve taken photos of every lighting system we’ll need. Just show me one of those, next time I doubt you.”
Beth slipped her cell phone into her pocket. “I’ll do that. Would you like to have a cup of coffee and something to eat while we’re here? I haven’t had lunch yet, and I’m starving.”
Dave checked his watch. “I only have half an hour. I need to be at Finley Point in an hour. Does that work for you?”
“It’s perfect. I need to be at my desk by two o’clock, anyway.”
The coffee shop was just as colorful and whimsical as the Fairy Forest. After they’d found a mushroom-shaped table and placed their order, Dave watched Beth update her notebook.
“You’re different here,” he said to her. “You’re more relaxed.”
Beth looked up and frowned. “Am I?”
“You laugh more.” Dave tilted his head to one side. “You stand differently and you’re more confident.”
Beth’s cheeks turned pink. “Maybe it’s because I feel happy here.
Daniella employed my daughter as a part-time assistant when Kayla was in high school.
She had so much fun that I automatically feel at ease.
Although, I did help at a children’s birthday party one time when they didn’t have enough staff.
Let’s just say that it made me appreciate how hard it is working with large groups of children and their parents. ”
The waitress left their coffees on the table, and Dave slid one across to Beth. “I’d like to hear that story sometime.”
“No, you wouldn’t. It’s not flattering.” Beth smiled at him in an easy, unguarded way.
For a moment neither of them said anything. The silence wasn’t awkward. It simply felt comfortable.
Dave couldn’t remember the last time silence had felt like company instead of emptiness.
His hand tightened around the coffee cup.
He was enjoying Beth’s company more with each passing day.
When the arts center was finished, he’d feel the loss of not working with her more deeply than he had a right to.
“Thank you for coming to the Fairy Forest,” Beth said. “I know it isn’t your kind of place.”
“It’s growing on me,” Dave said, and he meant it in more ways than one. “And you were right. It has lots of ideas we can try.”
After their sandwiches arrived, they talked about the arts center, the work they still had to do, and the schedule that Beth was keeping a close eye on.
Dave smiled as she chewed the end of her pencil.
Beth was worried about two classes she’d booked for the week of the opening.
If they were even a couple of days behind, one of the classes would have to be postponed.
And knowing some of the councilors, that would give them ammunition to halt any future funding for the center’s programs.
After reassuring Beth that everything was going to plan, Dave ordered two slices of cake and listened to Beth talk about some furniture she’d ordered.
After she’d shown him some photos on her cell phone, Beth smiled. “You’re a good man, Dave.”
His eyes widened. “Because I like the color of the chairs you’ve chosen?”
Beth laughed. “No, it isn’t that. It’s because you’re a good listener.”
Dave fiddled with the handle of his cup, aware of exactly how much rested on what he said next. “I think you’re a good person, too, Beth. Would you like to have dinner with me sometime? I’d understand if you’re too busy. It must be difficult balancing the arts center with all the other—”
“Okay,” Beth said quickly, interrupting all the reasons she might want to turn him down. “But just as friends.”
Friends he could do. Friends meant he wasn’t throwing himself headfirst into a relationship he knew could be important. “How does tomorrow night sound? I’m not much of a cook, but I could make homemade burgers on my grill.”
“That sounds perfect,” Beth assured him. “I’ll bring dessert. Is six o’clock okay?”
Dave nodded and smiled. “I’m looking forward to it already.”
Beth looked down at her watch and frowned. “I didn’t realize we’d been here so long. I’m sorry, Dave. I have to go. I’ve got a meeting with the historical society in ten minutes.”
Dave stood and helped her with her jacket. “It doesn’t matter. It’s time I headed back to work, too. I’ll give you my address tomorrow.”
Beth nodded and hurried out of the Fairy Forest.
Dave sat at the table for a few more minutes before leaving. He turned the last hour over in his mind the way he turned over a difficult piece of framing. He looked for the load-bearing part, the piece that was holding the rest of it up.
He had a fairly good idea what it was. And if the thought of falling in love made him panic, being alone for the rest of his life was worse.