Page 39 of Finding Forever

The restored windows gleamed beneath the winter sun. The new sign above the entrance had been installed two days earlier, and through the glass doors Beth could see the warm glow of the gallery lighting.

Kayla stared at the building. “Wow, Mom. You helped do all of this?”

Something about the wonder in her daughter’s voice made Beth’s throat tighten. “I had a lot of help.” She pulled into a parking space and switched off the engine. Kayla was still looking at the building. Beth followed her gaze, and for perhaps the first time, she tried to see the arts center through someone else’s eyes.

She remembered the sagging ceiling and water-damaged walls. The folders she’d carried everywhere because she was terrified she’d forget something important.

She also remembered the first morning she’d stood beside Dave studying a crack in the plaster and wondering whether accepting the job had been an enormous mistake.

So much had happened since then, and not all of it had been about the building.

“Come on,” Beth said, reaching for her bag. “I’ll show you around.”

They crossed the parking lot together and Beth unlocked the front door.

When they walked into the main events area, Kayla stopped beside the new reception counter and ran her hand across the restored oak. “This is gorgeous.”

Beth switched on the lights. “You should have seen what it looked like when we found it.”

The gallery illuminated in stages, warm pools of light spreading across the finished wall.

Kayla walked farther into the room, slowly turning in a circle. “Oh, Mom.”

Beth smiled. She’d imagined bringing Kayla here from almost the first week she’d started the job. Now her daughter was finally standing inside the place that had changed so much of Beth’s life. And Beth suddenly couldn’t wait to show her everything.

“Mom, this is incredible.” Kayla looked up at the tin ceiling, then at the man crossing the room toward them.

Beth was surprised that Dave was here. “Hi, Dave. I thought you were going to Polson today.”

He smiled at Beth. “We changed it to tomorrow. Mark had to fly to Denver at the last minute. Hank and I are finishing some skirting that wasn’t done yesterday.” He glanced at Kayla. “You have your mom’s eyes. You must be Kayla.”

Kayla held out her hand. “And you must be Dave, the person in charge of the renovation. I’ve heard almost nothing about you, which for my mother is basically a confession.”

“Kayla.” Beth felt her face go warm.

“I’ve heard plenty about you,” Dave said easily, shaking her hand. “Culinary program in Missoula. Wedding in May. Your mother’s very proud, in case that wasn’t obvious.”

“It’s obvious.” Kayla’s eyes went from Dave to Beth and back again, something bright and knowing working behind them. “You had to move the desk that wasn’t in the right place.”

Dave nodded. “I did.”

“Mom still isn’t sure it’s in the right place,” Kayla added.

Dave smiled. “I’m aware.”

Beth watched the two of them fall into an easy back-and-forth that took perhaps ninety seconds to make her feel entirely outnumbered. And she didn’t mind it nearly as much as she probably should have.

A few minutes later, Dave excused himself and went into the room at the far end of the corridor.

Kayla waited until he was out of earshot before turning to Beth.

Beth shook her head. “Don’t say it.”

“I haven’t said anything yet.”

“You’re about to.”

Kayla took Beth’s arm and steered her toward the opposite side of the room. “You’ve told me my whole life not to make myself small. Every time I doubted myself, every time I almost said no to Tyler because I was scared of wanting something that big—you were the one telling me to stop being careful.” The teasing tone in her voice disappeared. “Mom, look at what just happened. You lit up the second Dave walked over, and then you spent the rest of the time pretending you hadn’t. I think you really like him.”