Page 5 of Better Together

Alexis smiled at him and took the paperwork. Tommy had proven to be a great addition to her team. “Thanks, Tommy. Let’s go inside and have a look.” She followed him up the back steps.

Normally she would hear the whining of saws or the pounding of nails. Today, nothing. Alexis’s stomach dropped. Shit. “Are you here all by yourself?”

He looked to the floor and then ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah.”

“Where’s Sean?”

He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “He got a call and rushed off. Something about his mom. He said he’d call you the minute he could.”

“Okay, I hope it’s not too serious. Thanks for staying. I appreciate you taking care of the lumber order.”

It wasn’t like Sean to take off without letting her know first. She said a quick prayer for his mom and hoped she was okay.

“So, you’re not mad I’m here by myself?”

“Heck no. I’m glad you’re here.”

Tommy was a good kid, but he’d gotten into trouble over shoplifting small items. Nick, the interim sheriff, had asked her if she would do him a favor and take him on as a work study for a few hours at the end of each school day. The kid was crazy smart and a proficient worker. What Nick didn’t realize was that he’d done her a favor by sending Tommy her way.

Alexis walked over to the blueprints and reviewed them. She pointed to the plans. “Let’s frame the rest of the walls so Zeke can run electric when he gets back to town.”

“Yeah, I wanted to frame, but I’m not the best at reading prints.”

“Not a problem. We’ll do this together.”

Once upon a time, she’d been like Tommy, eager to learn. Tommy took on a task like a duck to water; she only ever had to show him once. Unfortunately for her, Tommy was a senior and would leave for college next year.

Alexis’s phone rang. “Excuse me one minute.” She stepped away to answer. “Do-Over, this is Alexis.”

“Alexis. Susan Henning here. We talked briefly at the Veterans’ Center.”

“Yes, Susan, how are you?”

Alexis tried to hold back her giddiness. She hoped Susan was calling to discuss the Whitmore remodel.

“I’m well, thank you. Listen. James and I would like to meet with you tonight if you’re free. We have a proposition for you. Are you available for dinner?”

“Absolutely.” They planned to meet for an early meal. Alexis ended the call and slipped the phone into her back pocket.

Tommy looked up from dry fitting the two-by-fours together on the floor before nailing the wall together. “You’re smiling. Good news?”

“I sure hope so.”

* * *

Alexis hadn’t heard from Zeke since they’d texted after the grand opening. Busy saving the day, no doubt. She had plenty going on as well. She itched to call Maggie and share the exciting news of her upcoming meeting with the Hennings, but Maggie had texted earlier saying she and Owen were taking a quick trip to Las Vegas; Owen had business to attend to, and Maggie was excited to explore the Neon Boneyard and enjoy a couple days with her husband. They’d put their honeymoon on hold until the winter months, when they planned to jet off to some tropical destination.

Although excited about possibly landing the Whitmore Estate, Alexis worried she wouldn’t be able to assemble another crew to cover both jobs. She knew she was getting ahead of herself, but she’d always been a planner.

She found a parking space on Main Street and entered the Eagle’s Nest, once a rundown, hole-in-the-wall tavern. Alexis admired her handywork. The previous owner had sold the bar to a man from the Twin Cities, who contacted her a short time after she moved to DCF. The Eagle’s Nest was her first remodel in town. With the hip new look, the Eagle’s Nest had become a busy and sought-out place specializing in gourmet burgers, live bands, and weekend karaoke. Light rock played over the speakers, people chatted at the bar, and the smell wafting from the kitchen reminded her she hadn’t eaten lunch.

Susan waved her over to a secluded table near the back. As Alexis walked past the bar, she greeted her hair stylist and promised she’d make an appointment soon.

Susan stood and wrapped her in a hug like they were old friends. “It’s nice to see you again, Alexis. Thanks for joining us on such short notice. This is my husband, James.” James stood a foot taller than his wife. He had kind brown eyes, shoulder-length dark hair, and a close-shaved beard.

“Nice to meet you, Alexis. Please, sit.” James motioned for her to take the chair opposite Susan. “My wife can’t say enough good things about you and your friend Maggie.” He motioned to the surrounding space. “I have to say, I love what you’ve done with this place. I stopped here several years ago for a beer and I remember it being a friendly place, but it was a dive. But this . . . this is spectacular, with the reclaimed wood bar and the black industrial-looking open ceilings.”

“Thank you, yes, it was a dive,” she said with a laugh. Alexis always enjoyed people who appreciated good craftsmanship. She’d take his compliments as a good sign. Before the couple could say more, a young server she hadn’t seen before stopped at their table.