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Kent: Nope. Don’t worry. It’ll look fantastic.
Josie: *frowning emoji* I’m counting on it.
He just hoped itwouldlook fantastic. Without the floor in and the trim work not done, it was so hard to tell if this was going to turn out the way he’d envisioned. Even if it didn’t, he’d do whatever it took to make it look good.
Sara had been worried about the kitten being with Birdie for too long, so he sent her home an hour ago. There was just some trim work that he wanted to finish up. Even though there wasn’t nearly as much trim to paint versus the walls, it was taking him two or three times as long to paint it because of the grooves and trying not to get the bright white paint on the walls. Perhaps he should have done the trim before he painted the walls. He’d keep that in mind for the next time—if there was a next time.
He was quickly realizing that this refresh project was a lot more involved than he’d originally imagined. There was no way he could keep his office job at the store and do the refresh work. He would have to make a choice.
To complicate matters, he was already exploring job opportunities on the mainland. After all, his older brother, Grant, lived in Boston. It wasn’t like he wouldn’t have any family around. And Kent had just received a call from a potential employer.
It was a lot to think about. And he had only twelve days to make up his mind. He was determined to have a decision by the end of his vacation. He just didn’t know what that decision would be—at least not yet.
With all of the supplies taken care of, he was ready to call it a night. He was just about to turn off the lights when he noticed Sara had forgotten her phone. He knew she must be going crazy trying to find it.
He picked it up. He’d drop it off at her place on his way home. It was nice to have an excuse to stop by her place. He assured himself it was just the kitten he was looking forward to seeing—not the beautiful woman who was caring for the kitten.
In his cart, it didn’t take him long to get to Sara’s place. The sun was already sinking low in the horizon. As he made his way up her steps, he was amazed at the fantastic view she had. If it wouldn’t have seemed strange, he would have stood on her porch and stared out at the colorful sunset that was sending color cascading over the water.
With the greatest of regret, he turned to her door and knocked. He heard something crash inside, followed by anoof!What in the world?
“I’ll be right there,” Sara called out.
He couldn’t help but wonder what was going on inside. A minute or so later, the door opened. Sara looked tired. And her usually perfectly styled hair was a bit mussed up.
“Oh. Hi.” She sent him a smile, but it didn’t go all the way to her eyes. She tucked a few of the dark strands of hair behind her ear. “You didn’t happen to see my phone at the inn, did you?”
He pulled it from his pocket. “Do you mean this phone?”
Her whole face lit up, and her eyes twinkled with happiness. “Thank goodness. I’ve been ripping this place apart, searching for it. I thought I’d dropped it when I was hauling the kitten’s things back from Birdie’s.” And then as though she realized her manners, she backed up and opened the door wide. “Come on in before the kitten gets out.”
He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. He glanced around and spotted the kitten all curled up on a blanket on the couch, sound asleep. Apparently Sara wasn’t the only one who was tired.
“Thank you so much for dropping off my phone. I feel so guilty that you had to come over here to give it to me.”
“Because it was all of what, a three-minute drive from the inn? Don’t worry about it. I know how much you’re anticipating a call from the kitten’s owner.” As he noticed her checking her calls, he asked, “Did you hear anything?”
She shook her head. “My usually busy phone didn’t have one phone call this evening.” She sighed. “Is it possible the kitten doesn’t have a home?”
His gaze moved from Sara to the couch, where the kitten looked quite content. “I don’t know if I would say that.”
Her gaze followed his. “Oh no. I’m not keeping him.”
“Why not?”
Her mouth opened and then closed wordlessly as though she were struggling to find a legitimate reason not to keep the kitten. Then she said, “I’m not home much.”
“Not that I know much about cats, but I think they’re pretty self-sufficient. And you said your landlord allows cats. Sounds like you’re all set.”
She frowned at him. “You know you could take him.”
Kent shook his head. “I can’t have pets at my place, remember?”
Her frown deepened. “You could move.”
He let out a laugh. “You want me to find a new place to live on an island with limited housing just so I can take a cat that looks immensely happy with you. I don’t think so. When I move, it’s going to be to the mainland.”
Her fine eyebrows rose. “You’re moving?”
