“Well, I wouldn’t mind getting better acquainted with him. If I had a decent house with a real kitchen, I might’ve invited him for dinner.”
“Oh?”
“Which might be something to consider, Riva. How will you feel about your tenants using your kitchen and inviting dinner guests over?”
Riva just shrugged. “That’d be okay. As long as we coordinate it somehow. In case I had plans, you know, to entertain.” She felthypocritical now. When had she last intentionally entertained anyone? Not since before Paul got sick. But seasons change.
“Yes, definitely. We might even want to post a social schedule on the fridge. Help keep us on the same page.”
Riva studied Laurel more carefully now. With her short gray hair, university sweatshirt, and “mom” jeans, she wasn’t the most stylish person. It was hard to imagine her actually on the lookout for an available man. But it sounded like perhaps she was. “So,” Riva started cautiously, “how long have you been interested in Marcus?”
Laurel waved a hand. “Oh, I don’t know. I’ve only just crossed paths with him casually. But Windy has mentioned that he was lonely. If I’d known I’d see him today, I might’ve spiffed up some.” She tugged at her stained sweatshirt. “Not exactly date bait, am I?”
Riva chuckled. “I think you’re pretty cute. And I admire your confidence to wear what you please.” Riva looked at her own ensemble—the same as yesterday. “And I’m no fashion plate myself. I’ve had these clothes on for two days.”
“But you always look pretty, Riva. Some of us have to work harder at it.”
“Well, I don’t know Marcus well, but he seems the type of guy who might look beyond appearances and see what really matters underneath.”
“I think you’re right.” Laurel returned to measuring and Riva excused herself to go back downstairs. She wanted to check on Marcus but didn’t want Laurel to think she was trying to put the move on a man that her friend already seemed to have set her sights on. Good for Laurel.
Riva was impressed at the progress her new tenants had made on their rooms in less than two weeks. Thanks to Marcus’s help and the way Laurel and Windy worked together, they had painted the attic a creamy white and removed the old carpet to revealthe original wide pine planks. Windy instantly fell in love with the wood, especially since Marcus knew how to restore it. He’d spent one day sanding and the next day sealing the wood with a product that was supposed to be dry by now.
As Riva surveyed the attic from the doorway, she was amazed at the transformation. Thinking the gleaming golden floorboards might still be tacky, she kneeled down to touch them. Smooth and dry. And the off-white walls looked clean and bright. Even the high windows, recently washed, seemed to sparkle with light. All in all, the space was fresh and roomy and livable. Such an incredible change from the previous dark, gloomy attic that Riva had never really liked. But Windy adored it and had been chomping at the bit to move up here. And today was the big day.
Riva went down to take a peek at the ensuite Laurel had been working on. Painted a powder blue and cleared of all furnishings, it appeared ready for occupancy too. Windy’s son Max and Marcus had been recruited to help. Just last night, Laurel had called to encourage Riva to make herself scarce by turning today into an errand day.
At first, Riva had resisted, but the more she considered it, the more it seemed like a good idea. It wasn’t that Riva wanted to get out of helping her friends, but she didn’t want to get in their way ... and perhaps more than that, she didn’t want to feel stressed by all the activity in her previously quiet home. She could imagine all the coming and going, up and down the stairs, banging into walls ... moving bulky pieces into her house. Laurel was right. Best to get out of here until they were done.
So, already in her car, she spotted Marcus’s familiar pickup pulling up. She backed up, eager to get her car out of the driveway for him. He called out a greeting and she waved to him, thinking about what a nice smile he had. As she drove down her street, she said a quiet prayer that the movers would have a good day—with no hurt backs or smashed fingers.
Riva’s errands list was long enough that if she took her time,she might be able to stay away from her house for most of the day. She wanted to stock up on groceries, which would be the final chore since she needed perishables and it was too warm to leave things in the car. She also needed to get some cleaning items. She hoped to get some flowering plants and other yard things at the nursery. Her plan was to brighten up her yard by freshening up the pots that had survived the past years of neglect and winter freezes.
It might not be much, but it would be a start. And Paul, if he could see her, would be pleased. Serious gardeners might think that planting a few pansies and petunias was like putting lipstick on a pig, but it would lift her spirits to see some color abloom around and about her yard. Not only that, but it might also inspire her new tenants to get their hands dirty too. It would be amazing to get the outdoor spaces into shape.
She’d promised to leave her phone on just in case her new tenants had any questions, but she’d already told them where everything was located and to make themselves at home. Laurel and Windy were intelligent women. They’d probably get along better without her hovering about.
Still, a part of her felt slightly left out as she shopped for some household items and cleaning tools. As she loaded her purchases in the back of her SUV, she wondered how things were going at home. She was tempted to slip back to drop these things off and sneak a peek. But she was curious what she hoped to see. Was it how the move was going? Or was this about Marcus? And why was she thinking about him so much? Especially since she knew by now that Laurel had her eye on the friendly handyman.
Riva would never admit this to anyone, but she was more than a little curious as to how Laurel’s plan for getting better acquainted with Marcus was going. Was Laurel’s attraction one-sided or did Marcus have interest too? And, really, she couldn’t blame Laurel for feeling drawn to the man. In the last several days, he’d shown himself to be thoughtful, helpful, kind, capable...So many qualities that single women considered in a seriously great catch. Not Riva though. She was content being single. At least, that’s what she always told everyone. And she meant it, didn’t she?
As she drove to her favorite nursery, she pushed thoughts of whatever was happening at her house, and with the people there, far from her mind. Then as she strolled around the nursery, taking in the plethora of beautiful plants that would brighten her yard, she couldn’t stop herself from filling first one wagon and then another! She knew she was going over her budget, but since getting the financial pad from rent money, her purse strings had been loosened a bit. Plus, she told herself, she was getting these things for her new tenants to enjoy too.
Not only that, but if Laurel’s predictions were right, the tenant population in Riva’s house should be on the increase soon. Already Laurel had directed an interested candidate Riva’s way. Laurel’s hairstylist Kitty Brinson had called Riva yesterday. Kitty owned a salon in town, and she’d actually been sleeping there at night. Apparently it was her only recourse to escape a bad relationship. But it seemed the city caught wind of this infraction and had given Kitty notice. They might ignore homeowners housing tenants, but business properties were strictly off-limits. Riva had invited Kitty to come check out the available rooms on Monday morning.
It wasn’t until Riva was paying for her plants that she realized her SUV wouldn’t have room for all of them, along with the purchases she’d just made and the groceries she still planned to get.
“Do you deliver?” she asked the cashier.
“Not on the weekends. But we can hold your plants for twenty-four hours. Or else schedule them to be delivered on Monday. But it’s fifty dollars for delivery.”
Riva considered. “I’ll pick them up tomorrow morning.”
“You got it.” He handed her a pad. “Just write down your name and phone number, and they’ll be safe in back.”
She wrote it down, took her receipt, and thanked him. As she drove away, she remembered Old Red. Paul’s classic ’66 Ford pickup had been handy for chores like this. But she’d let it go shortly after Paul passed. It had made her too sad to see Old Red sitting forlorn and forgotten in her driveway. But now she missed the old beast. Maybe she should’ve kept it.
As she cruised through town, she realized she was hungry. Her breakfast of yogurt and toast had not stayed with her, and it was already past one. Spotting a parking place in front of a bistro called O’Malley’s, she nabbed it and went inside. She’d never been in the bistro since it hadn’t been open too long. Seeing only a few customers inside, she wondered if this was a good choice. But a woman with silver hair pulled back into a thick ponytail greeted her so warmly from behind the counter, Riva couldn’t turn away.
