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SIX
Nate
Ignoring the little zing I got every time I was in kissing distance of the fiery woman was a problem. Which was why I hadn’t insisted on getting her name. I’d guessed she didn’t live in town because I’d remember her. She could have moved in, but something told me no. The likelihood was that she lived in a neighboring town, which was better for me. The more I ran into her, the more cracks formed in my resolve to stay away from any woman for the foreseeable future.
I ran a hand over my head and put my energy into the sander. Growing up, I’d learned how to fix, repair and create various things. It was how my dad had raised us. But sanding floors was a first. I sat down on the dusty couch I’d pushed to the side and read the manual cover to cover. Then I watched a YouTube video created by the manufacturer. I’d already moved everything else out of the front room, which was how I’d found the Matchbox car.
Mitch would kill me if he knew I’d given away one of his precious cars. Seeing that he had forgotten about it for years, he wouldn’t have to know. Plus, I’d seen the gleam in the little girl’s eyes and thought she would get more use out of it than him. I smiled at that before setting to work.
Despite the sander I’d gotten boasting that it was dustless, there was dust when a knock came at my door, albeit probably less than without the bag attachment. I wiped at my brow before removing the protective glasses I’d purchased for the job and headed to the door.
A woman I recognized was at the door with a tablet in her hand and a welcoming smile on her face. “Well, if it isn’t Nate Bowmen.”
“Hey, Jane,” I said and ushered her inside. “Excuse the mess. I thought I’d be meeting your dad.”
Jane had gone to high school with me, though she’d been a few years behind me.
“These days, it’s more likely to be me. We’re all trying hard to get Dad to retire and travel with Mom. What about you? Are you back for good?”
I shook my head. “No, just getting the place back in shape. I hope you’ll be able to quote me a price on getting the electrics up to code and maybe adding a couple of outlets here and there.”
“Can I walk through?” she asked.
I swept my arm out and said, “Sure thing. Do you need me to go with?”
“Nah. I’ll holler if I need anything.”
As she walked toward the back, I noticed a baby bump but decided in my best interest not to comment in case I was wrong. She wore a wedding ring, and I’d heard she’d married her high school boyfriend. It seemed like everyone in town was happy.
While she walked through the house, I swept up the small amount of dust that had accumulated. I was admiring my handiwork when Jane appeared. “Your electric panel needs an upgrade, along with all the wiring, if you want to bring the house into the twenty-first century.” I laughed. “That will mean we’ll need to open walls. I have a preliminary budget. I had to guess on the amount of wire needed. The price will probably change, but not much. Labor is your biggest cost. If you give me your email, I’ll shoot it over to you.”
I rattled off my email address and in seconds, I opened the quote on my phone and my eyes widened.
“We aren’t the cheapest, but our work is guaranteed, and you will be hard-pressed to find someone more qualified than us to do the job.”
“What if I needed you to start right away? I hope to have all the work done before Christmas.”
Her brows shot up. “I can check the books to see if we have an opening.”
“Please do. If not, can I trouble you to give me a recommendation for someone else?”
She grabbed her belly, and a look of distress crossed her face.
“Are you okay?” I asked, reaching out, ready to grab her if she was about to fall.
“No, it’s fine. The baby kicked.”
I was right. “Congratulations.”
She smiled. “I don’t know why it’s such a shock. This is baby number two.”
“Double congratulations then. Boy or girl?”
“Tommy is our first. I have my fingers crossed for a girl, so I’m not outnumbered at home, but we are waiting.”
“Maybe you can give me an idea of what to get Aiden and Emma. There aren’t any other pregnant women in my life.”
She laughed. “Doesn’t she have a registry?”
“Yes and no. Yes, she had one, but everything’s been bought. I want to surprise them with something unique, maybe.”
Jane nodded. “There is a hidden gem in Mountainside. An antique shop of sorts—they sell new things as well. They have a lot of baby furniture and other things. You might find something there.”
