Page 67 of Finding Forever

Finally, Ryan nodded. “Okay.”

“That’s it?”

“No.” Ryan glanced toward the lake. “That’s just the beginning.”

Dave nodded and sighed. “Can we look at the lodge now?”

Ryan smiled. “Absolutely.”

That smile worried Dave more than an argument would have.

They entered through a side door. The interior of the main lodge had changed dramatically while Ryan was away. Drywall covered much of the framing, and for the first time the rooms were beginning to feel like actual spaces rather than a maze of timber walls.

Ryan stopped inside the main gathering area. “Wow.”

Dave nodded. “That was more or less my reaction when they finished this section.”

Ryan walked farther into the room, studying the walls and ceiling. “You can finally get a sense of the size.”

They spent the next half hour going over the work. Dave brought Ryan up to date on the drywall schedule, the electrical work, and the progress on the cabins. Ryan asked questions as quickly as Dave could answer them, occasionally stopping to greet someone he hadn’t seen since before his trip.

Within twenty minutes, he was discussing a delivery with one of the crew as though he’d never been away.

Dave smiled. He’d missed having Ryan around.

Eventually, they left the lodge and walked toward the lake. The construction noise faded a little as they moved away from the buildings. The morning was cold, but the sky was clear, and sunlight caught on the surface of the water.

Ryan stopped near the shoreline and looked back at Finley Point. “You’ve done so much since I left.”

Dave turned toward him. “You sound disappointed.”

“I am. I thought the whole place would fall apart without me.”

“We struggled bravely.”

Ryan laughed. “I can tell.”

Chapter 35

By the time Beth carried the last mug of coffee into her office at the arts center, Laurel had covered half the table with sheets of paper.

Beth stopped in the doorway. “I thought we were putting the finishing touches on the program.”

“We are.” Laurel looked up. “These are the finishing touches.”

Rachel laughed from the other side of the table. “She brought two versions of the schedule.”

“Three,” Laurel corrected.

Julie reached for her coffee. “Of course she did.”

Susan pulled out the chair beside her. “Sit down, Beth. You look worried.”

“I am worried.” Beth placed the mug in front of Laurel before taking the empty chair. “There are only two weeks until the center opens. I promised Natalie I’d give her the final program this week, but each time I think we’re finished, someone comes up with another idea.”

“That’s because we’re brilliant,” Rachel said.

Julie shook her head. “That’s not the word I would have chosen.”