“The broken part of the railing.”
“Someone should probably look at that.”
“I cleaned it up,” she said quickly, her anxious expression making him sad. The exuberance she’d had for the past hour was what he wanted to see.
“Okay, but how about you let me change the bandages when we drop you off? I’ve got Advanced First Aid and First Responder training. I only want to make sure it isn’t infected.”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine.”
Jordan had been playing with the kittens and giggling at their antics. One of them, the one with the purple ribbon, started jumping up and down like a piece of popcorn.
Snapping his fingers, he tried to get the little male to come closer. Instead, the cat pounced on the snapping fingers, backed away, and waited for another snap.
“Daddy, you snap for him, and this one pop at me,” Jordan said as Chelsea picked up the one with the pink ribbon.
“Then, I guess you, little lady, must be Crackle.” The kitten purred loud enough for them all to hear.
“Why, Mama?”
Chelsea pointed at the kitten attacking his snapping fingers. “Snap. Crackle,” she said holding her kitten up, then eyed the last one, who jumped up on cue.
“Pop!” Jordan fell on her back, laughing. Chelsea followed suit and soon all of them were giggling, little kittens wriggling everywhere.
Gasping for breath, Theo agreed with what Chelsea had said earlier. It was all perfect.
Chapter ten
“Thecarpet’sallpulledout in that back office, Ms. Woodridge.”
Chelsea swiveled to look at Brett Sheehan, the man she’d hired to peel wallpaper, remove the carpets, and help her move furniture around. He’d taken everything out of the back office, so she could have a spot exclusively for the animals while they adjusted to living here.
“Please, I asked you to call me Chelsea.” And it should be Lapierre.
“I made sure to get all the Tackless, those strips with the nails that hold the carpet in. I know you said you were putting your pets in there, and I didn’t want them getting hurt.”
“That’s so thoughtful, Brett. I appreciate it.”
The man nodded, surveying the kitchen where she’d kept Bandit and the kittens while he’d been working. “Is there anything else you need me to do while I’m here?”
She glanced at the clock above the stove. “I’m all set for now. It’s already after five, and it’s Friday night. You’ll be back Monday, right?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, his voice scratchy like he’d swallowed some sand, possibly rolled around in it, if his attire was anything to go by. He couldn’t be more than mid-thirties, but his clothes were old and worn and ripped in a few spots. His blond hair was longish, and his face hadn’t seen a razor in a few weeks. Underneath it all was a handsome man, yet he was broken in some way. The broken part of her could sense it and relate.
Approaching the counter where her purse rested, she took out her wallet and counted out some twenties. He’d been here all day yesterday and today, and she wanted to make sure to pay him for the time. It looked like he could use the cash.
After taking the money, he moved toward the door. “I’ll be back first thing Monday and start shifting the furniture, so I can peel the wallpaper off in the living room.”
Once he’d left, she puttered around the kitchen, made sure Bandit had enough food, scratched his belly a few times, then checked on Snap, Crackle, and Pop. They were still so young they napped a good deal of the day. She’d put them in a large plastic container. It was high enough they couldn’t get out but had plenty of room to scamper around in. An old blanket and some toys Jordan had picked out were in there, too.
Grabbing the old hammer she’d located in her grandmother’s broom closet, she took the step stool she’d also found and proceeded to the living room. If Brett was going to start on the wallpaper on Monday, she needed to take all the pictures off the walls and remove the nails.
“Lay down, Bandit. I’ll be right back,” she called to the dog. Having him underfoot while she tried to work would be a recipe for disaster. She’d spent a good portion of the day with him outside playing, so she didn’t feel too guilty.
As she reached up to remove one large picture from the wall, the injury on her side ached. Two days ago, when they’d gotten the animals from the SPCA, Theo had insisted he look at her side and shin and change the bandages. Why she’d been embarrassed she didn’t know. They were married and had been intimate for Pete’s sake. They had a child together. Yet that had been years ago, and as much as she wanted that back, she knew it would take time for both of them to adjust to being together again.
God, she hoped they’d eventually be together again. At least he’d allowed her to see their daughter almost every day. Supposedly, he was stopping by with Jordan, and food, tonight. Why did she doubt him when he’d kept every promise he’d made since she’d returned? Because of what had happened in the past? There was still a tiny part of her that couldn’t trust him, though she knew it was her father who had caused them to be apart.
After moving all the pictures and knickknacks into the back parlor, she positioned the step stool under the nails, picked up the hammer, and cautiously climbed on. Oh, how she hated heights. Silly, since she couldn’t be more than two feet in the air. But still, her body tensed.
