“Nice job,” I say, congratulating him.
“Thanks.” Nick stands, patting my shoulder like we’ve been friends for years. This small town thing is curious. “Beer?”
“Sure.”
He brings out two bottles of a local IPA. “Cheers.”
A dog comes over and curls up at my feet. He’s wearing a tag that reads, “Flopsy.” With ears like that, there’s no question how he got the name.
“You have a nice setup here,” I say.
“There’s still quite a bit to do but you should’ve seenit when I started the project. Actually…” He pulls a few framed photos off the foyer wall and brings them over. “The place was a wreck.”
The transformation is remarkable.
“You must have had a team working here for months.”
Nick puts his feet up on the leather ottoman between us. “Started out mostly myself. These days, I’ve got help here and there. It’s a labor of love.”
I’m duly impressed. “I hear you’re getting married.”
He grins. “Tessa is the love of my life. She’s in Boulder closing things up there. She and her son are moving up here permanently after the wedding.”
“That’s great. Congratulations.”
“How about you? Got someone special?”
“I did. No more.”
Nick takes a hint and doesn’t press.
“What do you still need to complete before the opening?”
“Some finishing touches on the lighting and the display shelves. Nothing too complicated.”
“Let’s see it.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, I may not be a pro, but I’m a quick learner.”
By the time we’re done hanging the shelves, I’m out of breath while Nick looks no worse for the wear, reminding me of our near two-decade discrepancy. Maybe Logan can loan me one of his treadmills.
Nick says, “You never told me what brought you to town.”
“My aunt left me in charge of saving—or selling—the local flower shop.”
“Oopsie Daisies?”
“Yep.”
Nick’s eyes widen. “You’re Clara’s nephew.”
I nod, still amazed that everyone here knows each other.
Nick says, “She was a firecracker.”
“She sure was.”
