Josie brightened slightly. “Really? You like it? I picked it out myself.”
“It reminds me of the Mediterranean Sea,” he told her.
“Have you actually been there?”
“I have.” He nodded.
“Mom and Collin both think this color is too much.” Shegazed wistfully at the brush. “But I like it. I guess I better get back to painting.”
“Good for you.” He looked at Collin. “Well, since I’m here, why don’t I take a look at those cabinets?”
Collin appeared to relax a bit as he led George through the maze of paint buckets, boxes, and miscellaneous messes, stopping in the kitchen. “These cabinets are the same as the ones I had in my apartment,” Collin explained. “Mine were pretty beat up and Nana didn’t think they were worth saving.” He opened a cupboard door that wasn’t closing properly. “But these look pretty solid to me. I mean, with some fresh paint and minor repairs. And I already washed them. What do you think?”
“Well, I’m not really an expert.” George tested a few drawers and doors. “But I do like the idea of restoring old things.” He told Collin a bit about his houses and how he’d managed to salvage a lot of original features. “They built things better back in the old days. And I agree with you. These are worth saving.”
“Great.”
“It’ll take some work.” George explained how all the hardware needed to be removed. “But as you take off the doors and drawers, be sure to number them so that you can get them back in the right places.” He checked a hinge. “I think the main problem is this hardware. Some old hardware is worth cleaning and reusing, but these are shot. Much easier to replace them with new ones.” He was about to show Collin how to easily remove a door when Willow came in.
“Mr. Emerson says we can salvage these cabinets,” Collin told her. “He’s going to help me.”
George wanted to correct Collin regarding his “going tohelp” comment, but decided to let it go for now. After all, he was here to help. But only to get them started on the right path. Not to do the actual work. At least that was not his intent. After all, he was retired—a man of leisure. And, like Josie had emphatically pointed out, this small apartment was already overpopulated with people and personalities.
However, a strange thing happened as George showed Collin some simple steps, explaining the need for sanding, prepping, painting ... he no longer wanted to leave. So it was that, while Willow helped Josie work on the blue bathroom, George remained in the kitchen, instructing Collin—step by step—and working alongside him. He even began to list what was needed to complete the project.
“Now it’s time for sanding.” George picked up a piece of heavy-grade sandpaper that he found in a toolbox, showing how to fold it and use it to smooth the rough edges of a cupboard door. “We’ll need some higher-count paper too.” He explained how the grade numbers of sandpaper worked. “Higher numbers are finer paper, which you use last.” He added this to his list. “After we’re done sanding, we’ll be ready for paint. Has a color been chosen yet?”
“That’s Josie’s territory.” Collin rolled his eyes. “And her taste is a little, uh, over the top.”
“Well, I suppose if this is going to be her space ... she should like it.”
Collin frowned. “But she keeps saying she hates Warner,” he whispered. “So I don’t see why she gets to choose everything. What if she leaves and then someone wants to rent this place, but hates these colors?”
“Then I’m sure they’ll look elsewhere or repaint.”
“How’s it going?” Willow asked as she and Josie came into the kitchen.
Collin told them they needed to get paint and a few other things. Josie grabbed up a pack of color samples and began to spin through the swatches. “I like this.” She held up a bold orange-red tone.“Pimento.”
“Like that nasty stuff in green olives?” Collin wrinkled his nose.
“I like it.” Josie turned to George. “What do you think?”
“Well, it’s certainly lively.” A color like that in his kitchen would drive him to distraction.
“Cool. I think a kitchen should be lively.”
“When you get the paint, make sure you tell them it’s to go on wood cabinets,” George told them. “And a gallon will be more than enough.”
“While you’re still here, can you take a peek at the bathroom vanity?” Willow asked him. “I’m not sure if it can be saved.”
George went into the small bathroom, blinking at the bold bright-blue paint, then stooping down to examine the vanity. “Like the kitchen cabinets, I think the main problem is the hardware. Replace it, give a coat of fresh paint, and you should be good.” He glanced at Josie. “I don’t know what color you’re considering for this, but white would be a nice, fresh contrast with your blue walls.”
She tilted her head to one side then nodded. “Yes, that’s a good idea. It will make the blue stand out more. And maybe I can get some cool knobs for the vanity.”
Willow tossed George a grateful look. “I’ll head back to the hardware store for paint. Anything else we’ll need?”
He held up the little list he’d been making.
