Page 6 of Finding Forever

Beth followed Natalie past a sagging ceiling and water stains running down a wall.

Dave straightened as they reached him and set a measuring tape down on a sawhorse. He was just as tall as Beth remembered, only this time he was dressed for the cold in a flannel jacket.

“Dave, this is Beth Kowalski,” Natalie said. “She’s the arts center’s new manager. Beth, Dave McGuire. Dave’s making sure the building doesn’t fall down around us.”

“Trying to, anyway.” Dave nodded at Beth. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Beth held out her hand. “It’s good to meet you, too. I’ve heard great things about your work.”

Dave wiped the dust off his hand and shook Beth’s. “I’m only as good as the team who work with me.” He looked more closely at her. “Are you related to Ryan Kowalski? He’s part of my crew working at Finley Point.”

Beth nodded. “He’s my brother.”

Dave’s smile relaxed. “We’ve been working together for years. How’s his vacation?”

“He loves Australia,” Beth told him. “He’s been to every tourist hotspot I’ve heard about and a lot more that are new to me.”

Natalie’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen and her eyebrows rose. “I’m sorry, Beth. I have to take this. It’s the grant office. Dave, could you show Beth what you’re working on?”

“Of course I can.”

While Natalie moved away to answer the call, Dave walked Beth toward the north wall. “You would have noticed the water damage when you came in. It’s been here a while. The ceiling looks worse than it is, though. Once we get the leak sorted, most of what’s up there can be saved.”

“That must be reassuring,” Beth told him.

Dave nodded. “It helps the renovation budget. The bones of the building seem to be sound, and that’s what matters. Everything else is cosmetic. Natalie has probably mentioned the spring deadline. I know it sounds tight, but we’ll get there. I’ve worked tighter timelines than this one.”

Beth looked up at the ceiling. “I hope you’re right.”

“I usually am, when it comes to buildings.” Dave said it without any ego, just plain confidence. “People are a different matter.”

That got a small laugh out of Beth, and he looked pleased to have caused it.

He glanced at her notebook. “You’ve come prepared.”

“It’s just some notes about different programs the center could run.” Beth looked around the room. Dave had told her most of the renovations were cosmetic, but there was a long way to go before the space could be used. “How many hours a week will you be here?”

Dave picked up a hammer and slid it into his tool belt. “At the moment, I’m spending half my day at the Finley Point resort and the other half here. For the next few weeks, you’ll see more of Hank and my other builders than you will of me. Hank’s my foreman, and he runs a site as well as I do.”

Beth nodded. “It’ll be nice to meet him.”

“You’ll like Hank. He calls a spade a spade and does a good job.”

Natalie walked back into the room. Her smile told Beth it was good news. “Sorry about that. The grant office has confirmed the second funding disbursement. I hope Dave’s been telling you good things about this place, Beth.”

“He has. I can’t wait to see what the center looks like when it’s finished.”

“I’m looking forward to that day, too.” Natalie checked her watch. “We should get you settled. Owen’s let us set up a temporary office in his studio until this building is finished. We can go through your job description and I’ll answer any questions you might have.”

That sounded like a good idea to Beth.

Natalie said a quick goodbye to Dave.

He gave them a friendly nod before turning back to the window he was working on.

As they stepped out into the cold, Natalie pulled the door shut behind her. “I know I’ve said it before, but I mean it, Beth. I couldn’t have found anyone better for this job.”

“I’m grateful you’ve given me the opportunity.”