“Do you have a plan?”
“No, I know nothing about it, but it’s gonna happen,” I said. “You said you know about orchards.”
“I do,” he replied. “And I’m happy to help.”
“I’m gonna take you up on that. I’m going to owe you a whole collection of jewelry when we’re done.” And I’d make sure he got my best work.
“Sounds great to me.”
Clouds started to move across the sky, and, for a few seconds, I thought maybe a storm was rolling in. There wasn’t, and they offered us some shade, which was good because it was getting toasty with the sun beating down on us.
Next was list time. It was the hardest part because I was overwhelmed and didn’t know where to begin. Thankfully, Corvus seemed to be as handy as he proclaimed. Soon, not only did we have a list of what needed fixing, but we also had another of supplies needed for each task.
The kitchen, sadly, was going to need a new faucet and a new sink, thanks to a crack in it from either something heavy falling on it or from not being winterized properly. A lot of it was easy stuff like a new floorboard on the step, a new lock on the window to keep it closed, thanks to some warping, new lightbulbs, and a new ceiling lamp, including the wiring. Whoever had put the last one in was a do-it-yourselfer.
“The biggest expense is going to be the roof,” I said. “The inspector said it needs to be replaced.”
“Hmm, it probably needs a lot of work, but I bet we could get another ten years out of it. Actually, probably more,” he said, his eyes. “It looks like they put tiles over slate.”
“Why would anybody do that?”
“I have no idea. But if it is slate, I can probably salvage enough tiles to fix it. It’s one of thosewe won’t know until we open it upkind of things.”
“Those are the most expensive, sometimes,” I noted.
“But sometimes luck is on our side.”
“I have been having luck here,” I said. “I found not one but two treasures here already.”
“Treasures?”
I reached into my pocket and pulled out both items. “I found this one in the orchard.”
“What is it?”
“I told you. It’s treasure.”
“I see,” he said, a look on his face I couldn’t cipher. “And the other?”
“More treasure.”
I folded my hand back up and put them inside my pocket, patting them. For some reason, I couldn’t leave them at the B&B this morning, I had to bring them with me.
“Well, may more treasures find you,” Corvus said.
“I’m sure they will. This is gonna sound…I don’t know…but I kind of feel like I was meant to be here.”
“Yeah,” he said softly. “I feel like that too.”
As the sun started to go down, I deemed it time for us to leave. Until we had all the light fixtures and wiring worked out, it was best to keep to daytime work. It was time to go to my truck, but I didn’t want to leave him. I didn’t know if I was reading too much into everything that was happening, but it felt like maybe he was my person.
It was ridiculous. I’d just met him, but also…
“Thanks for today,” I blurted out.
Before I could convince myself not to, I rose on tiptoe, kissed his cheek, and then ran to my truck, my face burning. I was so embarrassed, but I also couldn’t have left without doing it.
Hopefully, he thought it was cute or sweet and not creepy like that guy I met my first night here.Oh gods, please don’t let me be the creepy omega in his eyes.Anything but that.
