Eden sat at a dining room table in The Welcome Center, going over the estimated cost of repairing the house she’d bought on Chestnut Drive.
She’d moved into the center a few days ago and was already making new friends. It was warm and inviting, with plenty of activities and shared meals to create a caring community. But it wasn’t like living in her own home.
She looked at the folder Steve had given her. Unfortunately, her new home needed more than a deep clean and a coat of paint to make it livable.
The more she read, the more disheartened she felt. Steve had been right—the cottage was in worse shape than she’d realized. The cost estimates for the necessary repairs were overwhelming, and she wasn’t sure how she’d manage everything within her limited budget.
Just as she was about to bury her face in her hands, Steve arrived, carrying a folder and his laptop. He greeted her with a warm smile and set his things on the table. Rex trotted in behind him, wagging his tail as he made a beeline for Eden. As soon as he was beside her, he nuzzled her hand.
“Hey, Eden,” Steve said, pulling out a chair and sitting down. He looked at the folder he’d given her last night. “What did you think about the cost of the repairs?”
Eden’s heart sank. “I can’t believe how expensive everything is. I can’t afford half of what needs to be done.”
Steve nodded sympathetically. “That’s why I brought my laptop. I’ve been looking at some budget-friendly remodels that might work for your place.”
Eden sighed. “Do you think I can get anything done that doesn’t involve structural work?”
“You won’t be able to do everything at once, but I think you’ll be happy with what you can achieve.” Steve opened his laptop and pulled up a series of photos of a similar-sized cottage. “Take a look at these,” he said, turning the screen toward her. “This cottage was remodeled for a little more than you have. I think we can make something similar work for you.”
Eden looked at the photos, her spirits lifting slightly as she saw the beautiful, yet simple, renovations. “These look amazing. Do you really think we can do something like this?”
“I do,” Steve said confidently. “It’ll take some hard work and a lot of imagination, but I believe you can make it happen.”
Eden felt a flicker of hope. “Okay. Let’s go through the list and figure out what I have to do immediately, and what I can push back a few years or cancel.”
They spent the next hour going through the list line by line. Eden made notes of what changes needed to be made and crossed out the items that were never going to happen. The further they got through the list, the more discouraged she became.
Steve noticed her growing frustration and tried to keep the mood light. “Look, not everything has to be perfect right away. You can tackle the big issues first and then work on the smaller projects as you go.”
Eden nodded, trying to stay positive. “You’re right. I just need to take it one step at a time.”
Steve smiled and reached across the table, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. “We’ll make this work. You’re not the first person who’s bought a house and discovered the remodel costs are three times what they’d budgeted.”
She looked into his eyes, feeling a surge of gratitude for his support. “What would I do without you?”
Steve chuckled. “You’d figure it out, even if it meant cooking your food on a barbecue until you had a stove you could use.”
Eden sighed. “At this stage, I’d settle for a kitchen that didn’t have a lingering smell of decomposing meat.”
“Did you try the air freshener Daniella suggested?”
“I did,” Eden told him. “It camouflaged the smell, but the scent of spring flowers mingling with rotten meat isn’t pleasant. Imagine if the refrigerator had been there for another few months. The neighbors would’ve thought someone had died.”
“On a brighter note,” Steve told her. “I’ve found a good second-hand refrigerator you can have, and it won’t cost you a dime.”
Eden’s eyes narrowed. “This isn’t a sneaky way of helping me pay for my remodeling, is it?”
Steve looked all wide-eyed and innocent. “Who me? The last time I offered to pay for something, you told me in no uncertain terms that you don’t need my money.”
“If you didn’t ‘find’ the refrigerator,” Eden said. “Where has it come from?”
Steve sent her a superior smile. “The church is upgrading the appliances in the original tiny homes they built. John wanted to know if you’d like one of the old refrigerators.”
Eden placed her hand over her heart and sighed. “That’s so sweet. I’ll see him at work tomorrow and tell him I’ll take one.”
“Why is it sweet when John offers you something,” Steve murmured. “But an act of treason if I offer to help you?”
Eden smiled. “I don’t want you to think I like you because you have stacks of money.”
