Page 9 of Finding Forever

Beth stood beside him before he’d finished looking. “Is that the crack from the report?”

Dave nodded. “It is. The structural engineer took a look last week and wasn’t too concerned about it.” He kept his voice easy. There was no sense letting a hairline crack be the thing that rattled her on her first week.

Beth frowned. “Do you think it’s worse? If it is, I’d rather know now than after we’ve scheduled classes for that area.”

“That’s fair enough,” Dave said. “It hasn’t shifted, though.”

“You’re sure?”

“The engineer said the beams are almost as solid as the day they were built.”

“I know, but would it pay to have a plan B in case the engineer is wrong?”

“It’ll be okay, Beth. I’d rather give you that than different plans for a problem we don’t have.”

“Two plans isn’t excessive,” Beth said. “It’s responsible.”

Dave smiled.

“What?” Beth asked.

“You like being prepared.”

She sighed. “I do. Will that be a problem?”

Dave shook his head. “It will probably save us from at least three disasters before we’re finished.” He tapped the crack with one knuckle. “If it sets your mind at ease, I’ll ask the engineer to have another look.”

Beth studied the crack for a few more seconds, then sighed. “I’m not a building expert, so you can decide whether to call him. I just want everything to go to plan. We don’t have much time.”

Dave guessed that was as good as he’d get today. “If anything changes, I’ll let you know.”

The front door opened, and four people Dave didn’t know came in out of the cold. They all wore good wool coats and the type of shoes you didn’t wear on a construction site.

“We’re a little early,” said the smiling woman in front. “I’m Beverly Cantrell, from the Sapphire Bay Historical Society. We asked Natalie about coming here before you get too far into the renovation. We wanted to see the building’s original features.”

“Of course.” Beth picked up her notebook. “Natalie mentioned you might stop by. Have you met Dave?”

Beverly shook her head. “I don’t believe I’ve had that pleasure.” She extended her hand. “You worked on the restoration of the Anglican Church in Polson. My friends were impressed with your work.”

“It was a highlight of my career,” Dave told Beverly, then shook hands with the others. He’d seen all of them in town, but had only spoken to Percy and Allan. “You might want to leave your coats on. We won’t have the heating fully reinstated until next week.”

Beverly slipped her hands inside her coat pockets. “It’s just as well we’re used to old, drafty buildings.”

Beth smiled at the visitors. “Let me show you around. It will keep us a little warmer.”

Dave looked across at another wall. “If you’ll excuse me, I want to get ahead of the construction crew before they arrive. If you need me, Beth, I’ll be in here.”

Her relieved smile made Dave feel good about offering to help.

Beth led their visitors to where the gallery wall would be built, talking about light and foot traffic. From what Dave heard, she was doing a good job of answering their questions. Then Beverly asked when the building had been wired and whether the society’s photos from 1962 showed the original tin ceiling.

When Beth didn’t answer straightaway, Dave glanced up from where he was working.

Beth looked across at him. “I don’t know the answer to those questions, but Dave might.” She sent him an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but do you know when the building was last wired?”

“1968,” he said, coming over. “The old wiring was replaced with conduit, which is the only reason we’re not gutting the walls. As for the ceiling…” He looked up at the water-stained plasterboard. “If your photos show the original pattern, it could still be up there. We’ll know once we get a scaffold under it.”

Beverly’s eyebrows rose. “That’s wonderful. We’d love to see it once it’s uncovered.”