"Cream or sugar?" she asked.
I shook my head, because I would drink it just about any way. "Nah, that's fine."
So she carried the full cup over. "Sounds like Billy had Zeke climbing ladders all day yesterday." Then she handed me the cup and tilted her head toward the porch, offering to wait with me. As we headed out, she kept going. "When he came home, he was telling me about network connections and other things I really don't understand, but Zeke was in heaven. He's so happy here."
"What about you?" I asked, heading to the railing just to lean over it and watch the gate.
She took a spot on my opposite side so she didn't block the view. "Well, I'm not quite sure what I'm supposed to be doing until the kids get here. Cessily told me to take the rest of the week and unpack, but after that? What do y'all really need me to do?"
"So many little things," I assured her. "We'll want to bring in sand or something to put between the cabins so the ground doesn't turn to mud. You'll have to point the delivery in the right direction. We're talking about contracting a lawn service to mow out here, and things like that. It sounds like nothing, but it's a lot of stupid little things that add up quickly to be a full-time job."
"Makes sense," she agreed. "I just don't want to take advantage of anyone."
"I promise you aren't," I said. "We'll also need to get you a back yard. I'm sure Zeke will want a dog of his own, since Faith has one, and knowing you can babysit our pups will be nice."
Emily chuckled. "Actually, he wants a cat. I made it clear that he needs to get his grades up, and then I'd ask about it."
"Feel free," I told her. "Just know that if it goes outside..." I pointed to the road. "It probably won't live long."
"Inside only," she assured me. "Granted, he asked for a snake first." She shook her head. "Just no. Not until he moves out on his own. I am not a fan."
I laughed at that. "Yeah, I can see that boy with a snake. Just let him know that Violet hates spiders, because a tarantula often comes next. She would never come to your house."
"Oh, I'm the same way," Emily assured me. "I like my pets to have hair, thank you very much." Then she gestured with her cup towards the drive. "I think that's your date."
I looked over to see the fire marshal just pulling into the drive. Pulling out my phone, I opened the gate before he could even push the call button, then drank back as much of my coffee as I could in one gulp. Since there was only a swallow left, I tilted it back to finish that off too.
"Thanks for the coffee. Just know that he'll probably want to see inside the cottage," I warned.
"I'll leave the door open," she assured me. "I'm still unpacking the bathrooms."
Then she headed inside and I made my way to the grassy area, waving at Mr. Armstrong as he got out. The man headed down the hill with his clipboard in hand, but I saw the front door of the main house open. Two figures stepped out, and I was pretty sure they were both women. It almost made me feel bad for this guy.
"Mr. Armstrong," I greeted the fire marshal when he was close enough. "I'm sure you know your way around by now, so where would you like to go first?"
"Fire extinguishers," he said.
Just like we had the first two times, I showed him each and every cabin. The man made marks on his clipboard, but we were moving a lot faster this time. At one point, he stopped to check the wiring at the back of a cabin again. It was almost like he was hoping to find something - anything - that he could use against us.
When all the cabins were proven to have both a smoke detector and a fire extinguisher, we headed to the mess hall. Mr. Armstrong went out of his way to check the hookups for the appliances, the lighting, and anything else he could think of. Then we moved to the side that had the school rooms. Technically, it was all part of the same building, but since Southwind didn't handle too many students at once, it only made sense to share the space.
Mr. Armstrong seemed almost disappointed to see a fire extinguisher and smoke detector in each and every room we went through. Each one got a mark on his paperwork, and when we were done, he sighed heavily. I couldn't tell if that was relief or stress.
"And the groundskeeper's place?" he asked.
"Chaperone's cottage," I corrected. "It's right over here, and the new employee has just moved in."
When we reached Emily's front porch, both Violet and Cessily were waiting there for us. Cessily was carrying a slim manilla folder at her side, somehow making it look completely normal. Violet simply looked at the man and smiled in that sweet-but-dangerous way she had. Then she offered her hand.
"Mr. Armstrong," she greeted him. "I'm glad to catch you this time. These morning visits make it easy."
"Miss Dawson," he said, clasping her hand for only a second before letting go.
"And this is Cessily Blackburn," Violet introduced. "She's here for an extended visit. One of the members of the Board of Directors, and our program's attorney."
"Pleasure to meet you," Cessily said, shaking his hand as well.
Mr. Armstrong was starting to look a little pained. "I didn't expect this to be a party. Well... shall we?" He gestured for me to lead the way.
