Jules looked thoughtful as she fiddled with the flowers.
Maybe not everyone’s feuds could be healed.
Chapter Thirty-One
The next few weeks were a whirlwind of finishing up with renovations and then decorating. Whatever Mary had on Damien must have been pretty good because he passed them on the renovation inspection with flying colors.
Of course there was no reason not to. Sally and Shane’s work was always above standard. Still, Andie would have bet Damien found something, even if he had to lie about it, just to spite her.
It might have helped that Sally had followed him around the whole time he was there, giving him the evil eye and making sure he reported that everything was up to par because if he didn’t, he’d have to answer to her.
Today, Andie stood in the foyer leading to the two rental units, looking into first one and then the other with satisfaction.
Emily walked up beside her and gave her a friendly nudge. “The place is looking so good now, Andie. Thank you for your help. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Andie smiled and held out her fist for a bump. “Thanks. It has been a fun project. We’re not done yet, though. Still need to get pictures for the ad!”
Andie moved Emily out of the way to get some shots of first the foyer and then the secret staircase.
They’d opted to put an old trunk in front of the entrance to the stairs, along with a sign stating that guests were encouraged to have a peek up the stairs but for their own safety could not go inside. Andie snapped a picture of the entry to the stairs.
The antique quilts they’d found in the attic had been placed in protective sealed plastic boxes and were now sitting atop the trunk that blocked the secret stairs, along with a card describing how they were used to signify that the house was part of the Underground Railroad.
Sure the quilts and their use would generate the interest and curiosity of prospective guests, Andie snapped a picture of those, as well.
Emily had also had a plaque about the history of the house installed on the paneling nearest the entry to the rental units, but rather than get a photo of the plaque—there was just too much information for a photo, and she figured guests would prefer to read it on-site—Andie moved into the first rental unit.
It was a good-sized studio, featuring an eat-in kitchenette, a decent-sized bedroom area with a comfy queen bed, and a cozy but efficient bathroom.
The gray cabinets and white swirled granite countertops in the small kitchenette, combined with stainless steel appliances, looked classy, especially paired with the two upholstered dining chairs in slate gray that sat at a round table by the window. Andie had had a local seamstress make pillows out of some of the old damaged linens they’d found, and those sat on the chairs, blending the modern with the antique.
Emily had made up the bed with fluffy white bedding then placed small oriental rugs in muted blue tones on either side of it. A colorful patchwork quilt artfully strewn over the corner of the bed paired with similarly patterned curtains gave the entire room an inviting look.
Emily and Andie had called on Maxi to help with the antique décor, and they’d spent two days placing the items around both the units. Andie’s favorites were the dainty white crochet doilies that sat beneath antique vases that had come from various curio cabinets in the Thompson house.
Andie clicked the last few pictures, feeling a little nostalgic for the time they’d spent together on this project and a bit depressed that it was almost over. Sure, Shane and Sally still had a few things to do to the outside of the house, but she wouldn’t necessarily be there for that.
Her job here was almost done, and soon she wouldn’t be dropping by every day to see the progress on the house, or Emily. Or Shane.
She was still a little conflicted about where she stood with him. Other than a few stolen glances in her direction now and then, he hadn’t said much to her all week. He hadn’t sought her out for her opinion. He hadn’t asked her to join him on the beach. He hadn’t done a lot of things she’d secretly thought he might. Things she’d secretly wished he would.
Then again, she hadn’t sought him out, either.
Maxi’s words came creeping back into her thoughts, needling at an already touchy wound. Maybe she really was too worried about what she thought and not considerate enough of what Shane might be thinking.
As if she had conjured him with her thoughts, Shane pushed by her and went into the unit to finish tacking up some of the trim work. She watched as he crouched on the floor, hammer in one hand, finishing nails in the other.
“Great job. You and Sally are to be congratulated.” Andie leaned against the wall closest to him, and he looked up for a second before he went back to work nailing on the trim.
“Thanks. We are almost done with the interior.” Standing, he stretched and flexed his arm before propping his fists on his hips while his gaze moved slowly around the room. “We’ll move to the exterior next week.”
“I’m almost done here too,” Andie offered, trying to gauge whether or not he seemed disappointed by the news. “I won’t be coming by as often.”
He didn’t seem disappointed, but neither did he meet her gaze. Why was he making this difficult by being so hard to read?
“I’ve enjoyed seeing you again, Andie,” he told her. “Emily swears she never would have made it this far without you on her team.”
Realizing she had a bit of a choke hold on her camera, Andie set it on the counter and walked over to the wide window to look out at the beach. “It’s so peaceful. The sound of the waves. The cool breeze coming in off the water. The warm sand…”
