14. Enzo
Enzo
I’d stay here with her all day if I could, but she’s got work soon, and I should’ve been on a jobsite already. No regrets, but I’ve got to make myself get out of here. I wait until I hear her turn on the shower to walk out the door.
Even though I told Joni there’s no chance of getting her permit expedited, I swing by city hall to try my luck.
I’m freshly showered and wearing my lucky shirt.
It’s just a plain blue button-down, but I call it lucky because I bought it to wear to a construction meeting where I ended up getting the biggest job I’ve ever done.
Things have gone well for me so far this morning, so I figured it’s worth a shot to put on the shirt and ask. You don’t know if you don’t ask, and sometimes, you don’t get if you don’t ask.
Rhett Wilding is walking out of the building as I’m walking in. “You’re late,” he says. “The meeting is already over.”
I laugh, knowing he’s talking about the Keep Grinberry Falls Local committee.
He’s asked me before to join the effort, but I declined since I’m not exactly a local.
Rhett says I’m local enough, but living in a neighboring town would make me feel like a fraud.
I know he only asked and offered to make the exception because they need more people.
He’s hardheaded and opinionated, yet still somehow a damn likeable guy, which is the only reason I don’t hold a grudge against him for trying so hard to shut down Glynnis’s renovation project when she wanted to open her lip spa here.
His fiancée is far from being a local, though she does live here part-time now since opening her business on Main Street.
I can’t imagine trying to undermine anything Joni wanted to do, but I also can’t imagine anyone thinking he could deter Glynnis Ramsey from doing exactly what she wanted, when she wanted, and how she wanted. I rarely say two people are made for each other, but those two are without a doubt.
“I’m here to test the limits of my charm on the permit office,” I say.
“Good luck with that.” He glances at my hands. “You didn’t even bring donuts? Amateur.”
“Now you tell me.”
We part ways, and I walk down the hall toward my likely denial.
If I do get denied, at least I’ll know I tried.
I’ll accept defeat. I might burn this shirt, but other than that, I’ll take it in stride.
Get on with my day. Hold all my complaints and cursing as inside thoughts .
. . at least until I get back in my truck.
I recognize the woman at the window when I walk up.
No one is ever going to describe her as friendly, and I was really hoping for the other woman who’s been here more often lately.
She’s friendly. This one speaks in a tone so flat she could pass for a robot—if not for her frequent eye rolls that she makes no effort to hide.
“Hi, Carla. How’s your day going so far?”
She glares at me through the glass. “It’s Carlene. And you can save the sweet talk. What do you need?”
“Just want to check on the status of a permit.”
“The one for Joni’s place?”
“I didn’t realize you knew her.”
Maybe this means her permit will get some sort of friends-and-family treatment. Hope spikes.
“It’s Grinberry Falls, and she’s a fiery redhead who owns an alpaca that she sets loose on the town at least once a week. How could I not know her?”
“Fair point.” Hope plummets.
“Plus, we grew up together, so yes, I know her. And the architect just happens to be reviewing your new plans right now, Romeo.”
“It’s Enzo, but I appreciate the update.”
She stares at me like she’s not sure if I’m an idiot or a smartass. “I know your name. But again, this is Grinberry Falls, so I know lots of things.”
It would take a power stronger than Santa Claus to get some privacy in this town. I don’t want to anger Carlene, so I pretend I’m not bothered by her nosiness. “Alright. Well, thanks again, Carlene. I look forward to hearing the next update.”
“Have a seat.”
“What?”
“It’s a minor change. It shouldn’t take long to review it. Unless you have somewhere more important to be.”
“Not at all. I’ll just be right over there.” I jerk my chin toward the row of hard plastic chairs lined up under the windows. It’s the entirety of the waiting area, so there is literally nowhere else I could possibly be.
“Thanks for the intel. I was afraid I might have to sneak a tracking device into your pocket.”
“Right.” I nod, holding back the snarky response on the tip of my tongue. I get the feeling her sense of humor is a one-way street.
A man wearing a black polo shirt and wire-framed glasses emerges from a back office to talk to Carlene in her little glass fortress. He’s got architect written all over him.
She slides open a drawer and pulls out a stamp and an ink pad. After she pounds the stamp on the plans that he’s handed her, she rolls her chair aside so he can initial it.
I draw a deep breath and fill my lungs with renewed hope.
“Romeo!” She calls out like a nurse summoning the next patient from a crowded clinic waiting room. I’m the only one waiting here.
When I approach the window, Carlene gives me an honest to goodness smile. Who knew she was capable? “It must be your lucky day,” she says.
“Maybe it’s the shirt.” I tug on the shoulders in what I hope looks like a friendly action.
Her smile disappears. “That’s a funeral shirt. What’s lucky about it?”
I didn’t know there were design guidelines for a lucky shirt. What does she expect? A Hawaiian print? Flames?
“Well, I guess it could still be lucky at a funeral if it was being worn by anyone other than the guy in the casket.” I laugh. She doesn’t. “Thanks, Carlene. I owe you a donut.”
“Make it a slice of peach pie from Trudy’s.”
“It would be my pleasure.” I actually mean it. Hell, I just might bring her a whole pie.
Maybe I shouldn’t show up at the vet clinic to surprise Joni—not everyone likes surprise visits at work—but I can’t wait to give her the good news. I could text, but then I wouldn’t get to see her reaction.
She looks up from the pet food shelves she’s restocking, and her face radiates shock as I walk through the door.
“Sorry to barge in on you at work, but I wanted to tell you in person that your permit is officially approved.”
“This must be my lucky day. I just got an email that my appliances came in ahead of schedule and can be delivered by the end of the week. And earlier, I found out my island is ready, too!”
My smile might be a little smug, just a tad cocky, but we both know I got her day off to a good start, and it feels pretty damn good to keep it going.
I know it’s not all about me, but maybe it’s a little about me?
“Did you do something to put a rush on the permit?” She narrows her eyes.
“No, I can’t take credit for the timing. When I showed up to check on it, Carlene said the architect was already reviewing it, so I waited for the verdict.”
“Oh, I should’ve known. Carlene has always been a total sweetheart.”
“Is there more than one Carlene in this town?”
“Nope. She’s the one and only. An absolute original gem.”
“I’m with you on the original part. But now that I’ve got the permit in hand, your project can get going again. I’ve got some free time this afternoon. I could pick up your island.”
“It’s heavy. You’d need help.”
“I just so happen to know a few guys who enjoy getting paid to pick up heavy stuff. If it’s already waiting in your garage when the appliances are installed, we can set the island right away.
We’ll have to cover it all while the breakfast nook is reconfigured, but everything will be in place to unveil all at once.
No more waiting once the construction is done.
Well, except for your wallpaper to arrive. ”
“The wallpaper duo is coming over this evening to take measurements.”
“Sounds like your kitchen is going to be done way sooner than I anticipated.” My smile falters a little at the thought of her project being finished. I don’t think she’ll kick me out of her life just because her remodel is done, but . . . “And then we can move on to the bathroom.”
It’s a gutsy assumption that she’s going to want to proceed with another reno right away, or that she’ll hire me again, but I had to say it.
“That’s true,” she says. “I guess you’re not getting rid of me as soon as you thought.”
I rest my forearm on the wall next to her and lean in. “Oh, I have absolutely no desire to get rid of you, beautiful.”
Another vet tech leads a panting golden retriever up front just in time to hear me. She stumbles over her own feet, but quickly blames the dog. The receptionist bites her lip to keep from smiling as she clicks away on her keyboard. Maybe I said that louder than I intended.
Joni’s look makes it clear I shouldn’t have said it at any volume, and I feel bad for not being more careful. I’m not saying I feel terrible about it or that I didn’t mean it . . .
I stand up straight. “Shoot me the address where I can pick up the island.”
“Okay. I’ll send it shortly.” She’s trying so hard to sound like this is a totally professional encounter.
“What time do you get off?”
She hesitates to answer my question.
“I want to be sure you’ll be home to open the garage when we deliver it.”
“Oh. Right. Um, I should be home by five-thirty.”
“See you then.”
She smiles despite probably still being annoyed. I’ll take her smiles any way I can get them.
As soon as I lay eyes on Joni’s new kitchen island, I fear she’s done some creative measuring. This piece looks huge. It’s nice. Extremely nice. But also, big. Extremely big.
The two guys I’ve brought along to help me load and unload move into position to lift it.
“Hold up,” I say. “I need to measure this thing.” I walk back to my truck to get a measuring tape, dreading what I’m about to discover.
I’m not sure why I’m bothering. We have to pick it up and deliver it, no matter the size. She’s already bought it and had it restored. It’s hers, regardless, but if it’s not going to fit in her kitchen, I need to break the news now so she can find something else.
So much for this perfect day. I hate knowing I’m going to have to be the bearer of bad news, but dammit, I gave her measurements for a reason.
My spatial reasoning instincts have deceived me.
This island is exactly the maximum dimensions I told her would fit—not a quarter inch to spare.
I don’t know how she managed to find something that maximized the parameters to a fucking T, but she did.
I retract the tape measure and clip it to my belt.
“Okay, let’s load it up.”
It’s heavy, solid wood. Built to last. She has good taste—in everything except wallpaper.