Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 76000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Hate is a strong word. I’d say he just annoys the ever loving hell out of me.”
We’re quiet for a minute, taking in the pretty lights of Huckleberry Bay and the sound of the surf on the cliffs below the lighthouse.
“I hope you’re nicer to each other more often,” she says softly. “It sucks when two of my favorite people fight all the time.”
I don’t answer her for a while, thinking it over. I guess I never really took into consideration how our bickering all these years has impacted Luna. Until now, she’s never said anything about it.
“I’ll try to be less bitchy,” I say at last.
“You’re not bitchy.” Luna immediately comes to my defense, and it makes me feel so much better. “You’re just stubborn.”
Now, that I can’t deny.
Suddenly, I smell the roses. “Rose is here.”
“She’s come and gone all day. I think she’s been supervising as we get the place put together. You know, I had a thought today as I was making one of the beds.”
“What’s up?”
“Maybe Rose hangs around the property because she’s not at rest. What if she’s stayed here because there’s something unfinished, or something that she needs?”
“I suppose that could be the case. I wish I were psychic because then I could ask her. Maybe it has something to do with Daniel, her one true love.”
“Maybe.” The smell of roses dissipates, and I can feel that we’re alone once more. “I don’t know why, but lately, I’ve had the feeling that she’s sad. I could definitely be wrong because I’m not psychic either.”
“No, but you’ve been with her your whole life. So if she’s sad, I’m sure you can feel it.”
“I wish I knew how to help her. She doesn’t bother me. I know she’s not harmful at all, but if she should be somewhere else, I wish I could help her go there.”
“One thing at a time.” I reach out for her hand, and she takes mine. “You’re exhausted, Luna. You worked your ass off today. I thought for sure that getting everything staged and put away would be a week-long project.”
“Once I got started early this morning, I couldn’t stop. I needed to get it all done.”
“I get it. You did so great. The whole place is beautiful, and I’m sure Rose loves it, too. When do you start hosting guests?”
“Our first reservations are for Monday.”
“That’s less than a week away.”
“Yep. The mayor and her husband will be in this room that night. We have two other rooms full, as well. I could have filled the whole place, but I thought we should start slow the first week to get our sea legs under us.”
“Excellent idea.”
“But then, starting next Friday, we’re full every night through the holidays.”
“All townspeople, on the house?”
“All townspeople,” she confirms. “But most of them insisted on paying something, even if it’s just to cover their food and utilities, which I thought was very sweet.”
“They want you to succeed,” I assure her. “Everyone is so excited and proud of you, Luna.”
“I’m so glad.” She pours more wine into her glass. “I’m so damn glad.”
Apollo ended up having to cancel our lunch because he ran into a snafu on one of his own job sites. So, instead, I took the day to drive to a job that my crew has been on to see how things are going. While I was there, I was even able to get some paperwork done, much to the delight of my accountant, I’m sure.
The sun is just starting to set when I get to settle in at the chapel, with a fresh pile of lumber and all the supplies I need to start framing in the walls of the interior of my new house.
This has always been my favorite part of any new project, seeing it start to form before my eyes. Sure, I can see what it’ll look like in my head, but watching it actually come to fruition is so satisfying.
I’ve just finished hammering in the last of the nails on wall number one when there’s a knock at the door.
“It’s open,” I call out and turn to see Luna and Sarah walk in, carrying a large tote between them. “What are you guys doing?”
“We figured you’d be hungry,” Sarah informs me. “So, we brought a picnic dinner, complete with an excellent wine and cake that I made myself for dessert.”
“I’m so hungry.” I power off the nail gun and set it aside before wiping my hands on the rag I always have hanging from the back pocket of my coveralls. “Thanks for this. You guys didn’t have to go to the trouble.”
“Are you kidding?” Luna asks. “We wanted to come check out the progress and have a girls’ night.”
“It already looks so different in here,” Sarah says, looking around.
“Honestly, I’m surprised you want to be in here after everything that happened.” I open a sandwich wrapped in parchment paper and take a bite. Flavor explodes in my mouth, and I sigh in happiness.