“Why is there a giant hole in your floor?” Dot asks in alarm. We explain the situation and she listens with a frown.
“Well, I’m afraid I’ve got more bad news for you,” she says. She looks gloomy. My heart sinks. Dot never loses her can-do attitude. This must be really bad. Mom and I exchange a worried glance. “What’s going on?” I ask.
Dot heaves a sigh and leans forward confidentially. “I heard this from Mary Beth over at the Nail Boat. Her husband works for the county, and he heard it firsthand. The county finally got around to voting to approve the new water and sewer codes they’ve been talking about for years.” Dot absentmindedly scratches Mr. Butters between his ears. “They go into effect in January. All the affected businesses are going to get a letter in the mail this week about what we’re going to have to do to upgrade our buildings to meet the new codes before January.”
We stare at her in dismay.
“What rotten timing,” I whisper, heart sinking. This is terrible news. “These are the new codes that everyone keeps saying are going to mean huge renovation bills for property owners?” I ask with a sick sense of foreboding in the pit of my stomach. They’ve been threatening to update the codes for years, requiring all local businesses in the county to comply with the new standards for water and sewer, but so far it hasn’t happened. Until now.
Dot nods. “Everyone who owns property in downtown is on the hook for the cost of getting their property up to code.”
I lean my head back and shut my eyes. This is turning into a truly awful day, and it’s not even noon.
“Oh dear,” Mom breathes, hand at her throat.
Dot shakes her head solemnly. “I’m not going to sugarcoat it, girls,” she says. “It’s bad news. And not just for you and me. There are a lot of folks who are not going to be able to pay. Some of the bigger stores can probably foot the bill, but I’m guessing at least half a dozen are going to have to close up shop and sell their storefronts because they can’t afford to upgrade. Maybe more. And I’m worried I’m going to be one of them.”
We look at one another in dismay. Just a few minutes ago, yellow dress on my arm, I felt like I was on top of the world. Now we’re facing some huge hurdles that threaten everything I’m working toward. And many of our friends and business neighbors are going to be affected too. This is going to be a big blow to our downtown business community. I think of the little shops owned by friends who are fellow small-business owners. The Cat’s Meow, Saltwater Vintage…Cargo Hold…the list is growing longer the more I think about it. This could be a catastrophe for historic downtown Poulsbo. What are we going to do?
Mom places her hand on my shoulder gently. “It’ll be okay, Emmie,” she says quietly. “Like your dad always said, there’s always a path, even if you can’t see it yet.”
“This path may lead me straight to bankruptcy,” Dot grumbles. “I’m just barely breaking even as it is. My mermaid-for-hire gigs are the only thing keeping me afloat, and I can only spend so many hours in the water without getting all pruney.”
I think of the napkin in my purse, of the two items I ticked so confidently last night. I glance at the hem of the yellow dresspeeking out of the bag on the desk. I need to open my own chocolate shop. Everything hinges on it. If I can’t make it happen, how will my vision ever come true? But the mounting cost of repairs is a big stumbling block, and now Dot’s news about the codes means our financial position is about to get even worse. How can I possibly make everything work out?
Chapter 23
Later that afternoon, after I pick Gus up from school, I swing by the store again to check in with Walt about the extent of the water damage.
“Got any good news for me?” I ask hopefully, standing over a gaping hole in the floor that is now much larger. Walt is beside me, gazing down into the hole. Jakob is actually standinginthe hole, since Walt has a bum knee and isn’t as spry as he once was. Next to me Gus is peering down into the hole with intense interest. He’s taken quite a shine to Jakob and has started to follow him around like a duckling. I think he’s even trying to copy Jakob’s long stride, but on a slightly-less-than-coordinated six-year-old, it looks like an exaggerated swagger. It’s making me giggle, which is good because all the other news is bad bad bad.
“Sorry, girlie, but looks like we’ve got to totally replace the subfloor in this quarter of the store too, which is going to set us back a little bit time- and money-wise.” Walt hooks his thumbs in his belt loops and chews his gum loudly.
Standing in the hole, Jakob nods in agreement. He’s got a streak of grime running down one cheek and his work shirt, pants, and big leather work gloves are all filthy. Apparently he’s been crawling around in the space under the floor, assessing the situation.
“Your galvanized pipes are at the end of their life,” Jakob explains, wiping his brow and leaving a new streak of grime across his forehead. “The whole plumbing system needs to be replaced or you’re in danger of us doing all this work and another pipe failing at any moment.”
“Seems you and the county agree then,” I say with a sigh of resignation. “Dot told us the county finally approved the new updated codes they’ve been threatening forever. Looks like we’re going to have to replace the entire plumbing and electrical system in this building.”
Walt whistles. “That’ll cost a pretty penny.”
“Can I get in the hole?” Gus asks, tugging on my arm.
“Not today, champ,” Jakob tells him. “But I’ve got an important job for you.”
Gus puffs up his chest. “I can do it,” he says confidently.
Jakob nods. “I know you can. That’s why I’m counting on you. Can you go to my toolbox and get me a hammer?”
Gus dashes off. Jakob sits down at the edge of the hole with his legs dangling into the void and drinks some water from a stainless steel water bottle.
“Can we still go ahead with the floor repair even if the city is going to demand we upgrade the plumbing in the whole building?” I ask Walt nervously. “I don’t want to do work that they’ll make us redo to meet the new codes.”
And how long of a delay are we talking here? Henry is only here until the end of summer. I have to get the store back up andrunning and turn my attention to my own shop. It feels like the clock is ticking fast. Not to mention that every day our store is closed is another day of lost business. We’re bleeding money at this point.
Walt chews his gum and considers. “I’ve got a buddy that works over at the county. I’ll ask him what the new codes are. We can bring whatever plumbing we do here up to the new code so it’s already done for you in here. Then you can worry about the rest of it later when the county tells you exactly what you need to do for the whole building. That’s out of my league. You’ll have to bring in a real plumbing outfit to handle that big of a project.”
“Okay, that’s good to know.” I sigh. I suppose we will wait to see what the letter from the county says, then start gathering quotes from contractors. “For now I guess just get the floor fixed as quickly as you can then.”
