“We rescued the wood from a barn on my client’s ranch. It dates back to the early 1900s.”
The sense of pride in his voice made her look differently at what was in the workshop. Apart from this table, another two sat beside it. Unlike this one, the others were a rich, deep brown and had bench seats tucked underneath.
“I’ll finish those tables tomorrow. By Friday, they’ll be shipped to their final destination.”
Jack walked across to a wall of shelves. “Look at these boxes, Paris. We’re going to sell them at the Christmas Markets.”
She left her electric drill on a work table and joined Jack. When she saw the exquisite boxes that were inlaid with different colored wood, she sighed. “They’re lovely. What wood are they made from?”
Richard stood beside them. “Hickory, American Oak, and Mahogany. Jack designs the final pattern.”
From another shelf, Jack pulled off a box of small wooden shapes. “Like this.”
Kneeling on the concrete floor, he tipped out some diamond-shaped blocks and created a star. “I can make crosses, stars, and if I use these ones”—he took some rectangular blocks out of another box—“I can make..” He looked up at his dad. “What’s the ‘H’ word?”
“Herringbone.”
“That’s it. A herringbone pattern.”
Richard handed Paris another beautiful box. “Each one is different. Jack helps me make them and we share the profits.”
Jack scooped the blocks off the floor. “I’m saving my money for a new legos set.”
She opened the lid and ran her fingers over the gleaming wood. “It’s beautiful. How much are they?”
“It depends on the size and the time it takes to make them,” Richard explained. “We’ll sell that one for about seventy dollars.”
“This is where we choose the special wood from.” Jack showed Paris a set of heavy metal shelves toward the back of the room.
After she’d admired the different types of wood, Richard reached into a large container. “And these are my offcuts from the outdoor furniture. I’ll show you how to use the electric drill using what’s in here.”
By the time Richard had shown her how to change the drill bits, alter the direction the drill rotated, and adjust the torque, she wondered if it would be easier to assemble the shelves using an old-fashioned screwdriver set.
“It’s okay,” Jack whispered. “I got confused when Dad showed me, too, but I’m good now. If you get stuck, I’ll help.”
“Thank you,” she whispered back.
Richard frowned. “Have I made it too complicated?”
“I’m not very mechanically minded, but I like a challenge.”
The former mountain man, who now had a city slicker haircut, picked up a handful of screws. “That’s one of the things I like about you. You’re happy to give anything a try.” Holding two pieces of wood together at ninety degrees, he pointed to the edge where they met. “Connect a screw into the bit and drill it into here.”
Paris held her breath as she concentrated on what she had to do. When the pointy end of the screw disappeared into the wood, she grinned. “It’s easier than I thought.”
“Try another one.”
She added a second screw to the joint and then flipped the wood around. Richard handed her another offcut and she screwed it into place. By the time she was onto her fourth piece of wood, she was feeling more confident.
When Richard gave her a metal bracket, she picked up a shorter screw and changed the drill bit. “If I want a different career, I could join the volunteers who make the tiny homes.”
“Don’t consider that option too quickly,” he said with a smile. “You have a flower shop to open in a few weeks.”
Paris attached the bracket, then took an envelope out of her pocket. “While we’re talking about my business, this is an invitation to the official opening of The Flower Cottage. It’s on a Saturday morning so, hopefully, you and Jack can make it.”
Richard read the handmade card. “We’ll make sure we can. I’m glad you chose the weekend after the cottage is supposed to be ready.”
“Penny thought it was a good idea, too. If there are any last-minute issues, it gives everyone a few extra days to finish.” She looked at the frame she’d made and smiled. “Thanks for taking the time to show me how to use the drill.”
