Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 108124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
I shut my eyes. Great. Just freaking great.
***
After I picked Presley up, I showed her the news article and gave her a heads up on what Tanner had said while we drove to the insurance broker to open a fire-damage claim. Then I drove her home. Her friend was going to drop off Alex soon, and she wanted to break the news about the fire before he heard about it from someone else. I’d told her I had a couple of errands to run, and I’d be back in a little while to help deal with the cleanup.
Early this morning, I’d called Ned to tell him what had happened. Obviously there was no need for him to come to apply a second coat of Spackle anymore. I’d asked if he could come take a look at the damage and see what he could do to get us back on track, but he’d said he had a few jobs lined up, and it would be a while before he could get back over to The Palm Inn for any extended period of time. I’d initially thought that was fine, until I watched Presley walk into the house. The look on her face was so defeated.
So I’d decided to stop by and speak to Ned again, this time in person. I knew he had to start a big job at the hardware store in town this afternoon, so that’s where I headed.
“Hey, Mr. Connor,” I called as I entered. “Is Ned here? I saw his truck parked outside.”
“Hey, Levi. Heard about the inn. Sorry, son. I know how much your grandpa loved that place. Hope the damage isn’t too bad.”
“It’s not. We got lucky.”
“Good. Good.” He pointed to the back of the store. “Ned’s in the back storage room. He’s building an extension. Help yourself in.”
I nodded. “Thanks a lot.”
I found Ned with his nose buried in a set of blueprints. “Hey, Ned.”
He offered me his hand. “Levi. How’s it going over at the inn?”
I shook my head. “That’s what I came to talk to you about. Is there any way you could juggle your schedule around to rip out that bedroom again and re-sheetrock it? The entire room, including the ceiling, needs to be done this time, not just the one wall.”
Ned rubbed the back of his neck. “I wish I could, but I’m booked solid for the next month.”
“Could your guys do some overtime, maybe? I’ll pay for it, and I’ll make it worth your while.”
“That’d be pretty expensive, Levi. My guys are paid pretty well, and overtime is double for them.”
“I can afford it.”
He smiled. “I know you can. But I don’t want to take advantage.”
“You wouldn’t be. I’m asking to pay the extra. Maybe your guys can come in the evening, when they’re all done here for the day.”
Ned still looked on the fence. So I thought I should sweeten the pot.
“And I’ll get you and your entire crew box seats on the fifty-yard line when the Broncos play the Panthers next year.”
Ned’s brows jumped. “Wow. Box seats. I’d have to run it by my guys, but my guess is they won’t pass up double time and seats on the fifty. Hell, they might’ve done it just for seats on the fifty and a few autographed balls.”
“Now you tell me.” I laughed. “I’m joking. I’m happy to pay the overtime and get them seats. Do we have a deal?”
“I have to talk to my guys. They’re over at another job right now. But I’m sure they’ll say yes with that offer.”
“Great. Will you let me know for sure?”
“Give me an hour. I’ll call you.”
“I appreciate that.”
Ned smiled. “I’m glad to see you decided to keep the inn. I’d heard through the grapevine that you were thinking about putting it up for sale.”
Had I decided to keep the place? Fuck if I knew. But I didn’t want Presley to give up. I extended my hand to Ned and avoided confirming my intentions. “Thanks again, Ned.”
On my way back to the inn, I made some phone calls and managed to book one of those fire-damage-restoration places that could start this afternoon. When I walked into The Palm, I found Presley sitting at the kitchen table. Her shoulders were slumped, and she looked lost in thought.
“Alex take the news about the fire okay?”
She nodded. “He wanted to see the room because he’d never seen a house that caught fire before. I debated showing him, because the charred walls look ominous, and I wasn’t sure if it would scare him. But he thought it was cool and asked if he could bring some friends over to check it out.”
I smiled. “That sounds about right for his age. You gotta show your buddies anything gross, scary, or wrecked. It’s sort of an unwritten rule.”