He got to work on the pipe, tightening bolts and emptying the nearly full bucket down the same sink. He monitored the pipe as the water drained to make sure his fix held up. Not a single drop escaped.
“Looks like everything’s good to go. If you notice it leaking again, let me know. I can replace the trap.”
“What do I owe you?”
“That bowl of soup will do,” he answered after washing his hands. “Send it out to that booth in the corner?”
Willamina would pay him if he let her. And with Rilee so soon off to an expensive college, he should probably let her. But it was an easy job for a woman Ford greatly respected. There was more to the people of Sunset Ridge than a checkbook could recognize.
With a deep breath, Ford left the kitchen and headed right for Cadence’s booth like he was already sitting there. He caught her attention halfway across the cozy restaurant and slowed. She wore a slightly frazzled expression that matched the scattered papers spread across the table.
“Mind if I join you?”
Cadence raised an eyebrow at him, looking him up and down. “Come here often?”
He hooked a thumb toward the kitchen. “Had to fix a leak.”
She nodded to the seat across from her, and Ford slipped into the booth before he lost his nerve. Patty had told him a few things about Cadence: her age, about her two sisters, that she lost her mother before the summer she spent in Sunset Ridge. But all these things were merely facts. What she hadn’t told him was how to best win over her trust.
“You’re the local handyman, then?” The stress lines previously etched into her forehead eased when she allowed a small smile to form.
Before Ford could answer, Willamina delivered a piping-hot bowl of soup with a homemade biscuit. “This one”—she held up a paper bag—“is for Riggs.”
“Thanks, Will.”
She clapped him on the shoulder. “Thanks for taking care of the sink.”
Though all he wanted to do was shovel several spoonfuls of heavenly baked potato soup into his very eager mouth, he let the first one cool on the spoon. “Lot of papers.”
“Yeah.” Cadence pushed aside her empty bowl, her eyes never leaving the different stacks. “My great-aunt Patty’s lodge. It’s all here in this never-ending stack.”
Though Ford didn’t have much real estate experience, he did recognize the stapled appraisal sitting closest to Cadence. He feared the sisters were much closer to selling than he expected. Had they really reached a decision so quickly?
“You headed up there, then?”
“It’s been so long since I’ve been.” She gathered the papers in some kind of order, slipping them back in the manila envelope that sported a tear along one edge. “But I have to go up there, yes. See what kind of condition it’s in.”
“Want a ride?”
“I thought I might walk, actually.” She turned toward the window. “It’s so beautiful outside, and there’s rain in the forecast the rest of the time I’m here.”
It was time for the secret to come out. “I’m headed there anyway.” Had Mr. Jenkins already mentioned that Ford was the property caretaker? “I don’t mind.”
“You’re headed there? Why?”
“Need to mow the lawn.”
She reached for the envelope again, but set it back on the table before pulling everything back out.
“I’m hired by the trust to take care of the place. It’s in one of those papers somewhere.” At least Ford thought it was.
Cadence studied him a moment, her expression blank and unreadable. She tucked a loose strand of fading blonde hair behind her ear, revealing her smooth neck. Ford had to look away. The sisters only had to sign intent to keep the lodge for a year, and Rilee’s tuition money would be released to him.Business only.
“Local handymanandfull-time groundskeeper?” Cadence asked.
“You got it.”
“I guess someone has to look after the place,” she finally said. “It’s really been closed for six months?”
