CHAPTER THREE
A fter Crystal returned to her apartment, she decided to go for a run. Or, in her case, a brisk walk. It was one thing to work in the Café all day, standing on her feet. But she needed true exercise, getting her body to move all parts. The Café presented another problem too. Working with delicious food all day meant adding a pound or two that needed to be worked off. Crystal was naturally thin but knew the warning of a few extra pounds.
In running shorts and a tank top, she moved swiftly through town. Though she waved to many people, she kept on walking. In her job, she knew most locals because sooner or later they ended up in the Café.
Curious about Emmett Chambers and wondering if he was going to accept Dr. Johnson’s practice, she headed to his office. Situated on the banks of the Pemigewasset River, locally known as “The Pemi,” the Cape Cod house and nearby office building were well-known to all. Crystal had never been inside Dr. Johnson’s house, but she knew his office well. Working in a kitchen could be dangerous, and she’d had cuts stitched or taken a kitchen staff member there to be checked out.
When she got to Dr. Johnson’s office, there were two cars parked in front. Thinking she wouldn’t be noticed, she bypassed the office and crossed the grassy lawn to a worn path leading to a dock where a small fishing boat was tied up. A wooden bench sat at the end of the dock, and she headed there. Through the years, she and Dr. Johnson had occasionally sat there talking about everything and nothing.
As she made her way down the path, she realized how much she was going to miss Dr. Johnson. He’d been a stable influence in her life. Growing up with an unpredictable, alcoholic, drug-using mother, she’d needed someone to talk to, and both he and GG had been there for her. Otherwise, she didn’t know how she could’ve raised her sister herself.
Crystal lowered herself onto the bench and stared out at the swirling water of the river that ran along the edge of town. She heard footsteps behind her, and, smiling, turned to face Dr. Johnson and Emmett Chambers.
“I’m glad to see you here, Crystal,” said Dr. Johnson. “I’ve been trying to explain to Emmett how important it is to the practice to be available to patients anytime.”
Crystal rose and gave him a hug, realizing how thin age was making him. “You were always there for me, and I’ll never forget it.”
“You were and still are one of my favorites,” he said, smiling at her. He turned to Emmett. “Crystal is a strong woman who had a lot to handle growing up.”
Crystal felt Emmett’s sympathetic gaze on her. She’d always hated the way people in town had looked at her with pity. She raised her chin. “My mother was an alcoholic druggie who somehow mostly forgot she had two daughters.”
Dr. Johnson placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. “It was what it was, and you made the best of it for you and your sister.”
Crystal gazed out at the water. Tears blurred her vision, but she refused to let them fall and expose the pain she still felt.
“Why don’t we go inside and have some of Martha’s famous strawberry lemonade?” said Dr. Johnson. Martha Johnson’s lemonade helped many patients to feel better.
“Okay, that would be nice,” said Crystal. “I’m going to miss her almost as much as I’m going to miss you.”
“Before we go inside, I’ve already warned Emmett that the house needs refurbishing. Crystal, you might just be the one to help him redecorate. An allowance is being given to update some of the appliances. But it desperately needs a young person’s touch. You’ve done such a beautiful job with the Café and your apartment, that you could be a big help here.”
Crystal glanced at Emmett.
“I can use all the help I can get. I’m color blind.” He studied her. “But I can tell your hair is not a normal color. Reds and greens are difficult for me. Sometimes, blue.”
Crystal patted her curls. “I don’t know how much purple you can see, but it’s pretty bright.”
“Very striking,” said Dr. Johnson diplomatically as he led them inside.
Martha Johnson was already taking a pitcher of pinkish lemonade out of the refrigerator when they walked into the kitchen.
“Guess you need some lemonade,” she said. “It’s nice to see you, Crystal. I’m glad you’ve met Emmett. We’re thrilled he’s going to take over for us for one year and hopefully for many years after that. He’s bought the house. We’re hoping he’ll buy the practice.”
Emmett glanced at Crystal. “This way, the Johnsons have the money to leave. Later, if I decide not to stay, they can sell the practice.”
Crystal was pleased that the settlement seemed very fair to the Johnsons. She studied Martha Johnson and hid a tender smile. She was a picture of an old-fashioned grandmother, completed by the apron she wore over her blouse and skirt. Her gray hair was tied back behind her head, and she wore no makeup.
She gazed at Dr. Johnson. Though he seemed more modern with his apparel, he had the stooped appearance of someone who spent a lot of time examining patients. His white hair, blue eyes, and jovial manner had some younger patients wondering if he was Santa Claus. Something he encouraged as he dressed wounds or placed a comforting hand on an overheated brow.
“Please sit down,” said Martha, setting four glasses of lemonade on the table as they took seats. “When I saw you outside talking to Emmett, I had the idea that you might be the perfect choice to help him with the upgrades to this house.”
“I already mentioned that, Martha,” said Dr. Johnson. “Great minds think alike.”
“More like old minds that have lived together for so long,” said Martha smiling at him. She turned to Crystal. “Do you think you could help Emmett out? I feel terrible leaving the house to him in such poor condition. We kept meaning to do some upgrades but then we knew we were selling.”
Emmett turned to Crystal. “If you’re willing, I could use your help.”
“Sure,” said Crystal. “I can also ask my friend, Whitney, to help. She just furnished the renovated cottage she and her sisters now own at the Lilac Lake Inn site.”
“Oh, I think I’ve seen it,” said Emmett. “I wandered around a bit at the Inn.”
“It’s a bit like this house, with its history. Now, it’s very contemporary inside and like this house, focuses on water.”
“That sounds lovely, Crystal,” said Martha. “I knew I was right to ask you to help.” She turned to face Emmett. “Of course, the choice is yours. We just want to make this transfer as pleasant and as easy as possible.”
“With a satisfactory outcome,” added Dr. Johnson.
“I appreciate it,” said Emmett.
Crystal rose. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to leave. I must make sure my afternoon staff has prepared for tomorrow. Work at the Café never ends.”
Dr. Johnson stood. “Nice to see you, my dear. I’ll set up an appointment with you before we leave, which will be soon.”
“Good luck to everyone,” she said, and walked outside, her mind spinning.
###
B ack at the Café, Crystal made sure each table was set for the morning rush, and supplies were set aside for a busy day with daily specials. After she was satisfied, she called Whitney to tell her about her visit with Emmett and the Johnsons.
“Can you help me?” she asked after she’d told Whitney what was needed. “I didn’t get a chance to talk to Emmett about what work he’d want done to the house. I figure we could do that together if you’re willing.”
“Willing? I’m thrilled. I’ve been feeling very house-bound lately and would love to help with a project like this. Together, we can do a good job for him. Does he have a budget? You said he was buying it. Even though it’s old, I remember that the house has good bones and has a gorgeous setting right on the river.”
“Yes, it has all of that. The doctor’s office is close to the road while the house is set back. Growing up, I used to go there often.”
“I remember. That’s why you have a better sense than most about what we’re trying to achieve. The first thing we need to do is to arrange a meeting with Emmett. Please call him and let me know what time is best. Timothy goes down for both mid-morning and afternoon naps.”
“If necessary, you can bring him to do a walkthrough of the place,” said Crystal.
“Thanks,” said Whitney.
Crystal ended the call, pleased that Whitney would help her. She had excellent taste.
###
T he next afternoon , after the Café closed, Crystal headed to Dr. Johnson’s with Whitney, who was delighted to be on her own while Taylor babysat Timothy.
Emmett met them as they pulled their car into the driveway. “Glad to see you. Martha has left the house, so we can talk freely.”
“Oh, that was thoughtful of her,” said Crystal. “Emmett, have you met my best friend, Whitney? She’s married to Nick Woodruff, our chief of police.”
Whitney and Emmett smiled at one another. Before Emmett could ask, Crystal said, “Yes, she’s that television star.”
He laughed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to stare.”
Whitney shrugged. “No problem.”
Crystal studied her friend. Tall and thin, Whitney was a natural beauty with blonde hair, green eyes, and refined features. Television didn’t do her justice.
Whitney held up a pad of paper. “I’m here to take notes for Crystal. Before we came here, we talked about some ideas.”
“Come on inside. I’ve got some ideas of my own.” Emmett waved them forward and they followed.
The Cape Cod house was similar in design to Brad’s old house. A kitchen, dining room, living room, and master suite sat on the first floor. Three bedrooms and two baths were on the second floor.
“Before we get started, we need to know what your budget is. Do you want to make some structural changes? Do you just want new furniture? What?” asked Whitney,
“Let’s assume that the budget is accommodating and we’ll pare down from there. Fair?”
“Sure,” said Crystal and Whitney together.
“Okay,” said Emmett. First of all, I want to open the kitchen, maybe add on a year-round porch open to the river setting.”
“Stop,” said Crystal. “Let me make a call to Dani, Whitney’s sister. She’s an architect and, I’m sure, can help you with that end of things. Whitney and I have ideas too and can help with decorating the interior.”
She stepped aside and called Dani to explain the situation to her. A few moments later, she told Emmett. “She’s at The Meadows but will be here in about twenty minutes.”
Whitney said, “I’m glad you’re thinking of making some big changes to the house, Emmett. This property is spectacular.”
“Whitney and I had already talked about putting a skylight in the kitchen, maybe more. But if you’re going to rip out part of the wall, which will give you much more light, you might not need it. Let’s take a look at the living room.”
A red brick fireplace sat in the middle of an outside wall in the living room. Bookcases lined the wall on either side.
“How about brightening up the space, maybe painting the fireplace white as well as the bookshelves,” said Crystal.
“I love that idea,” said Whitney, and Emmett nodded his agreement.
“What would you say to opening the dining room to the living room, making it one large space?” asked Whitney.
By the time Dani arrived, Crystal and Whitney had several notes on the downstairs rooms.
Dani greeted them eagerly. “You know how much I love doing this kind of work. Thanks, Emmett. It’s nice to see you again.”
“I’m told you’re the expert for any architectural changes,” he said.
“I left a decent job in Boston to be here. I wouldn’t change that for anything, and I do like projects like this,” said Dani. “I’m glad you decided to stay right here instead of buying elsewhere. People in this town are used to making a mad dash to Dr. Johnson when they’re in trouble.”
“Yes, he explained that to me.” He waved his arm toward the water. “And you can’t beat a location like this.”
“Okay, let’s talk about this.” She turned to Crystal. “What have you come up with?”
“First floor only. We haven’t looked farther than that,” said Crystal. “The kitchen is the area where we need your input. Adding a porch and perhaps removing dining room walls. Maybe a skylight in the kitchen and master bedroom.”
“Okay, let’s start in the kitchen,” Dani said. She opened her leather-bound notebook and began taking notes as Emmett explained what he had in mind. She tapped on walls and took measurements. Then she went to the dining room and checked the walls.
“I can tell you from similar work we did at the cottage, that the flooring will need to be replaced, and that by replacing the appliances and using space from the back hallway and laundry, we can add a half bath and put in a mud room, which I think will be important.”
Crystal waited for Emmett to flinch at the cost of doing that work, but he didn’t seem upset at all. “Whitney and I are suggesting he use the space of the dining room for creating an open kitchen.”
“Yes, like we’ve done at the cottage,” said Whitney.
“The master suite needs upgrading. Perhaps adding a skylight in that back wing and upgrading the bathroom with new cabinetry and fixtures,” Crystal said. “The rest of what we’ve listed is cosmetic, like painting.”
“Having recently completed the cottage and working with my husband at The Meadows, I can come up with a quick ballpark figure of $150,000 for the first-floor improvements,” said Dani. “Should we proceed?”
“Yes. If this is done the way I want, I know I’d get that value back and more if I ever decided to sell. Again, because of the location and the fact that the house is solid. I’ve taken a full tour of the property with Dr. Johnson, who is, as we all know, very honest.”
“Let’s look at the upstairs, and then, if you wish, I’ll draw up a proposal for you. You’ll want the work done before winter. It’ll be a push, but we can do it because we’re crewed up for the summer,” said Dani. “We can maybe do double time to keep everyone busy.”
“So, you’ve committed to living in Lilac Lake for at least a year?” Whitney said to Emmett.
“That’s my plan.”
“I’m glad,” said Whitney. “It’s always nice to have a new face in town. Right?” She gave Crystal a self-satisfied smile for drawing attention to her.
Fighting the urge to give Whitney a little shove, Crystal nodded, hoping Emmett didn’t notice how flushed she was. Though she was attracted to him, she had a long way to go before wanting a relationship beyond friendship. There was still the matter of trust.