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ChapterNine
Hadley rolled over in bed and stared at the ceiling.It was early yet, the sun just starting to make an appearance, but thanks to limiting herself to two glasses of wine and then water the rest of the night, she wasn’t suffering a repeat of yesterday morning.
Thoughts of Zoey’s dilemma filled her head and Hadley frowned.She understood Zoey’s hesitation in dating Logan—if that’s what he wanted—because one misstep could cause major friction.They were family by choice, but it worked because they weren’t romantically involved.Things tended to get messy when that happened, as Oz and Devon would attest.Ever since their breakup, things had never quite been the same, even though Oz was Michael’s best friend and not an actual “cousin.”
Would Zoey say yes?As of last night when she’d left, she hadn’t decided what her response was going to be.
Hadley stretched and rolled to the edge of the bed, excited to get started on her day.
Izzy had given her some great tips last night on the best way to prep for painting, and along with what the guy had said at the box store, Hadley felt she had a good handle on how to begin.
She changed into the same shorts she’d worn yesterday since she was sure to get messy and added a simple tank top before making her way downstairs.If she planned to stay much longer, she really needed a trip to Raleigh to pack up her clothes and the items she wanted brought to Carolina Cove.But that also meant dealing with Kyle, and she wasn’t quite ready to face him just yet.
After learning of his cheating, she’d discovered it took a certain mindset for her to speak to him and keep a civil head about her because the hurt and betrayal ran so, so deep.Forgiving was one thing, forgetting another.Being in the same room, hearing his voice, smelling his cologne—it took shoring up her defenses to cope.
Coffee first, breakfast.Then thinking serious thoughts.
She shoved her wonderings away and forced herself to focus.
While the coffee perked in Nan’s old-fashioned machine, Hadley moved through the lower level of the house.She knew to start small and that whatever room she chose to tackle first needed to be easy since it was her first try at DIY.
She knew how privileged she’d been in that she’d never had to worry about such things until now, but that fact was also a motivating one.She felt the urge—need—to create her new home with her own two hands.
She finally chose the downstairs powder room because it was tiny and the gloomiest of all since it had no window.
After a breakfast of peanut butter and banana toast and two coffees, she set to work removing everything she could from the bathroom walls.Nan had a three-tiered shelf stacked with knickknacks above the toilet along with various pictures that were too large for the space with their thick gold frames.
She couldn’t wait for the bathroom to be light and bright with only a simple seascape and maybe some shells for decoration.
She found a screwdriver and removed the towel holder and then wiped down the dusty walls before getting the hole filler and the thingamabob that scraped the gunk flat.It didn’t take long for the patched holes to dry, and she opened the packet of sandpaper next, remembering the comment to make sure the walls were as smooth as possible or else the flaws would show beneath the paint.
She might’ve overdone the sanding because that took her the longest since she was OCD about the patches being smooth to the touch.Finally finished, she realized she needed to wipe down the wallsaftersanding rather than before.
Groaning, she cleaned the walls again, vowing as she sneezed that she wouldn’t forget next time.She was also thankful she’d started in the smallest room since it didn’t take long to redo the step.
She put down the painter’s plastic and taped it in place, then stood back to survey her handiwork.
That was everything, right?
Hadley managed to pry open one of the five-gallon paint buckets, but since she couldn’t lift it, she found an old plastic ladle and managed to scoop it into her paint pan without making too much of a mess.She turned on music, grabbed her newly purchased roller, and was about to make her first dip into uncharted paint territory when she heard a car door slam.
A peek out the front window left her gasping and she hurried out of the house.“Hershey!”
The dog’s tail began wagging, and a goofy smile broke across the Labradoodle’s face at her greeting.
“I thought you might like this surprise,” Amie, the rescue manager, said.“Everything was approved and she passed her vet check with flying colors.”
Hadley knelt on the ground and cuddled Hershey, rubbing the dog’s big, fluffy ears and head while staring into her soulful eyes.“Oh, youarea surprise.A wonderful surprise!”
“You have a beautiful home.And that view!”
“Thanks.It’ll be nice to have someone to share it with.”
“You’re a lucky dog, Hershey.I hope it’s a good time to drop her off?I could tell you had your heart set on her, and I hated to take her back to the kennel when she’d been given the all clear.”
“Oh, you’re sweet.Both of you,” Hadley said, smiling at the younger woman.“Thank you for bringing her.I’m so happy to get her.”
“No problem.She comes with a small bag of food that should last several days, a few toys, and the bed the family left her with.”
