"It's just you and me, huh?"
She bounced on her toes. "We're going to the bookstore. It opened today."
"Oh? I didn't realize that it had."
"Miss Belle said it was a soft open because of Christmas," Ayla said.
"That makes sense." I think this was the first time I'd ever been alone with Ayla. I wasn't quite sure what to do with her.
"She wants to have a party to celebrate after Christmas," Ayla said, excitement in her voice.
I knelt on the floor. "You mean like a grand-opening party?"
"Yeah, like that." She dropped to her knees next to me.
There was something about her demeanor that made me smile. "You want to help?"
Her eyes got really wide. "Can I?"
"Sure." I got out the small crowbar I used to lift planks. "I'm careful not to chip any of the other pieces. We're keeping the ones that aren't damaged."
"You're getting rid of the bubbly ones?" Ayla asked as she watched me.
I smiled at her characterization. "That's right."
Once the piece popped out, I moved it to the side where I'd begun a stack of old wood. "Then we pop in a new piece."
I handed the newer piece of wood to her.
She looked at me. "I just place it there?"
"That's right."
She carefully dropped it in the open space. “That was easy peasy."
"There's something satisfying about making everything new again," I said as the door between the stairwell and the shop opened.
"But aren't you the pipe guy? Mom said you're the plumber?"
"That's right. But my brothers and I own a contracting business, so we all do a little of everything. If I replace the boards, we'll save a ton of money. If it was a bigger job, we'd hire a flooring company to handle it." But Angela's job was small, and we were all well-versed in simple flooring installation.
Angela stepped inside with a stack of boxes.
I popped up and took them from her. "Why are you taking your stuff to the bookstore?"
"I'm selling some of my products there, and Belle said the panties are already picked over. I need to restock."
"That's great." It relieved some of the guilt I felt for not being able to get her opened before Christmas.
Angela nodded, blowing a strand of hair out of her face. "It was generous of her. Come on, Ayla. We need to get these to Belle."
Ayla stood and brushed off her jeans. "Hudson let me help."
"Oh?" Angela asked.
I nodded. "I removed the old one. She just placed the new one. She's a good helper."
Ayla stood taller and smiled. "Maybe I can help another time?"
