Page 38 of Always My Love

“Well, since you’re here, would you like some iced tea? I was just pouring some for myself.” Before he could answer, she turned and walked through the dining room.

Curious, he followed her through the room and into the kitchen.

The old cupboards had a new coat of white paint on them, making the countertops and the rest of the kitchen appear newer. If it wasn’t for the old appliances, he would have never known the kitchen was so dated.

“I guess it’s really true. Everything old is new again.” He motioned to the farmhouse sink.

She glanced over her shoulder and then smiled. “We lucked out that my uncle hadn’t changed much in the cabin since it was built. Do you know how much sinks like this run now?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I priced one out for my kitchen. Too much.” He shook his head. “Are you painting?” He motioned to her clothes.

She glanced down at herself and sighed. “No, I’m learning to tile.” She rolled her eyes. “I got it in my head to remodel our bathroom.”

“Yourself?” He frowned. “You should have called…” He dropped off when she glared at him. “Right, well.” He rolled up his sleeves. “I’m here now. Let me take a look at—”

“I can do it myself,” Harper said, firmly.

“I don’t doubt that,” he agreed. “But why not take some expert help when you can get it?”

She leaned on the counter and took a sip of the iced tea she’d just poured herself. “Fine,” she said when she was done. “Back here.” She set her glass down and started walking down a short hallway.

He followed her, trying not to look in each bedroom he passed. Which one was hers? The one with the soft teal walls or the darker sky-blue walls?

He could imagine her style being the softer color.

The bathroom sat at the end of the hallway and was a complete mess. It appeared that she had knocked out a half wall to expand the shower. Thankfully, he didn’t see any electric or plumbing in the wall. There were chunks of tile sticking to the new shower walls but most were slipping down or lying on the floor of what would be her new shower.

“I’ve been watching videos.” She motioned towards her phone, which was sitting on the sink area.

“Do you want my help?” he asked, turning towards her.

She frowned and then blew a piece of her hair out of her eyes. “At this point, I’m desperate for a shower.” She threw up her hands.

He smiled and walked over to pull off the rest of the tiles she’d put on the wall.

“First off, we need to clean all this up,” he said.

“But—” she started, but when he glanced back at her in question, she rolled her eyes. “I’ll get a trash can.”

They spent the next hour emptying the mess in the bathroom. Then, after he suggested removing the small sink area and rearranging the bathroom, they tore out the vanity until there was nothing left except the toilet.

Once the entire room was empty, he walked around and checked the existing plumbing and electric for options. Then he drew out his ideas on a piece of paper and estimated what the final cost would be.

They had removed the small single-sink vanity, simple square box shower, and a large, oversized cabinet space, which she’d already destroyed before he’d gotten there. There was room now for a double sink vanity, so each sister could have a sink with drawers on each side. Along with a much larger walk-in shower with tile walls, there would still be room enough for a small linen closet behind the bathroom door.

Harper jumped at the idea of having the massive shower that he showed her and told him that she and Hailey would figure out the cost of it all.

“How long do you think it will take to complete the work?” Harper asked once they had agreed on a plan for the room.

He thought about it. “Not long. Less than a week. Maybe less if I can get the days off from work. Tom owes me a few favors and might fill in for my on-call shifts.”

She bit her bottom lip and then he watched her shoulders lift slightly. “Okay, I’ll call and see if I can take the time off. Let’s do this,” she said cheerfully. “What do we need to start?”

“First, I have to go borrow my dad’s truck and some power tools. Then we hit the hardware store.” He pulled out his phone and shot a text to his father, who immediately replied.

“You know where the keys are. Fill it up with gas when you return it.”

Nick smiled and slipped his phone back in his pocket.