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Cate parallel parked near the quad and got out. The streets bustled already with tourists arriving for the holiday festivities. A work crew busily erected small white tents that would house the craft and food vendors.
Red-white-and-blue bunting festooned the eight sides of the gazebo. Though the Fourth was still a few days away, a celebratory tone filled the air. Cate turned her back on the park and looked atherstore. Despite everything she had done inside, it still appeared abandoned and empty. And it was.
Harry must have sensed her ambivalence. “It’s going to be great,” he said. “Don’t worry.”
Cate unlocked the front door. Harry looked around with interest. She could almost see the gears turning in his brain.
“Well,” she said. “What do you think?”
He pulled a laser measuring device from his pocket. As Cate watched, he pointed, clicked a button and jotted down a number. Since he was doing all that while on crutches, she was even more impressed.
He still hadn’t answered her question.
“Harry? Say something.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you like it?”
“Sure. It has good bones. And the colors you’ve used are perfect.”
“Thanks.” She still had the feeling he wasthinkinga lot. “You ready to go upstairs?”
“Yep.”
“You first.”
He was a lot faster now. The crutches barely slowed him down. On the second floor there wasn’t much to be impressed about. Harry walked from one side to the other. Measuring. Making notes.
“This wall isn’t weight-bearing,” he said, kicking at the baseboard. “No problem at all to move it.” Then he looked at the commode. “Has this thing been flushed in years?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“Well,” he said. “It seems to me you’d rather have a slightly bigger apartment and less storage, but that’s your call.”
“I thought the same thing.” She hesitated. “Will you be honest with me? I’d really like to hear any negatives.”
He wandered over to the large windows and looked out at the street. “I like it, Cate. I really do. I can definitely see you setting up shop here. Selfishly, I hope you won’t abandon Atlanta for good, but you’ve made a solid business decision.”
Relief and warmth flooded her midsection. “That makes me feel better. If an architect of your caliber signs off on the idea, I guess I’m moving forward.”
His grin was quick and charming. “You can quit buttering me up. I’ve already said I’ll work for free.”
“You don’t have to,” she said. “I’m not a charity case.”
He chuckled. “Take the offer while it’s on the table.”
They ended up spending another hour in the old store. Harry agreed with most of her ideas about preserving the nuances of the original structure. But he burst a few of her bubbles.
“Sorry,” he said, poking at some decorative molding alongside a cabinet. “This has to go. Dry rot.”
“But I love it.”
“We’ll find something similar.”
Harry insisted on exploring the gloomy basement. Cate had been down only once, creeped out by the vibes. A psychopath could have buried bodies down there for all she knew.
When she said as much, Harry laughed. “I seriously doubt that. Blossom Branch may be atmospheric and picturesque, but I’m sure the town forefathers would have noticed a serial killer in their midst.”
