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"Of course, Ariel. We'll get someone out there right away," Randy replied, his voice steady and reassuring. “Is the water turned off? That might buy you some time.”
She leaned down and peered at the pipe. Relief flooded her. The shutoff valve under the pedestal sink was behind the leak. Reaching under, she wrenched the valve closed, and the leak slowed, and then stopped.
"Thank you, Randy. It’s stopped for now, but I can see the pipe where it’s cracked.”
“Sit tight. We’ll be there in a jiff.”
“I really appreciate it." As she ended the call, Ariel pictured more piping giving way to the winter cold, water dripping down the walls, seeping into the floorboards, and destroying the home she had poured her heart into. Shaking off the dire images, Ariel focused on the task at hand – containing the damage until the plumber arrived. With haste, she gathered an assortment of buckets and towels, mopping up as much water as possible. Though her movements were swift and determined, Ariel couldn't help but feel the weight of everything bearing down on her – the responsibility of running the B&B, the still-present ache for her father, Katie’s mystery boy, and even Dale Swanson and the possibility that she might be following a false lead. It was a delicate balance, this life she had built in Endless Harbor, and she sometimes felt that she was trying to find that balance on a tightrope.
Mopping done, she put the wet towels into two buckets and hauled them down the hall. As she reached the front foyer, her eyes flicked to the front door. She could see the plumber's van pulling up to the curb, its arrival heralding a much-needed reprieve from the impending chaos.
"Thank goodness," she breathed, relief flooding her veins. She set the buckets down and opened the door, stepping aside as the plumber entered, his heavy boots leaving damp footprints on the hardwood floor from the melting snow.
"Thank you so much for coming so quickly," Ariel said, her gratitude palpable. "The leak is in one of the guest rooms. I've done what I can to contain it, but I'm afraid the pipe has burst."
"Name’s Steve. Lead the way," the plumber replied, his voice gruff and reassuring.
They marched back down the hall.
"Here we are, Steve," Ariel said, gesturing as she stood at the open door of the bathroom at the back of the guest room. "Please let me know if there's anything else you need."
"Will do," the plumber replied, setting down his toolbox and getting to work on the damaged pipe.
Ariel watched for a moment, relief coursing through her as Steve set about fixing the problem. Finally, she allowed herself to exhale. The rhythmic sound of the plumber's tools filled the air, punctuated by the gentle sloshing of water as Ariel wrung out over the tub a soaked towel that she had forgotten when she’d left prior. She glanced over her shoulder, watching as the plumber cut out the cracked pipe section and then skillfully replaced the damaged pipe with expert precision.
Well, that seemed easy, she thought. She’d been hovering a little, but she had expected things to take much longer.
"Almost done here," Steve called out, verifying her thoughts, wiping his hands on his coveralls. "Just need to tighten everything up a bit and check for watertightness."
"Thank you," Ariel replied, her voice warm. "I can't tell you how much I appreciate your quick response."
"Least I could do," he grunted, twisting the wrench with a final flourish. "You’re the lady who helped Mabel get elected Mayor, right?”
At the mention of her librarian friend—well, former librarian and now Mayor of Endless Harbor—Ariel smiled. “I did! Well, Mabel got elected on her own merit. I just made signs. How do you know her?”
The man grinned. “She helped me get this job. I came to Endless Harbor about five years ago and went to the library to look up job listings on the computer. I’m terrible at it, but Mabel sat with me for an hour, and we made a list I could call or stop by. She even typed up and printed me a resume. Got this job two days later. She’s good people, and any friend of hers is a friend of mine.”
Ariel’s heart warmed. “She’s been so busy with her new job, we haven’t seen each other in a week. But I’ll have to tell her how her kindness paid off.”
Steve nodded, and then returned to tighten the new piping and test the water. “Give it a few minutes, then test the water again. Should be good as new."
"Of course," Ariel said, nodding. As the plumber began packing up his tools, she turned her attention back to ensuring that every drop of water was cleaned up and the bathroom restored to its former pristine condition. Her keen eyes scanned every tile, every fixture, searching for any lingering traces of moisture or damage.
"Is there anything else I should look out for?" Ariel asked the plumber as he prepared to leave, her professional curiosity piqued.
"Hard to say. But if you have any more issues, give me a call." He handed her a business card, then pulled on his jacket and trudged down the stairs, leaving Ariel alone in the now-dry room.
As the front door clicked shut, Ariel allowed herself a deep breath, her body and mind still humming with adrenaline. She moved through the room with deliberate care, adjusting towels, straightening bed linens, and fluffing pillows until she was satisfied that the space was once again inviting and comfortable. The crisis had been averted, the B&B was safe, and her guests would be well taken care of.
As she walked down the hallway, the worn wooden floor creaked beneath her feet, reminding her of the countless steps she'd taken within these walls since returning to Endless Harbor. With family. With friends. The plumber’s story about Mabel made Ariel remember her Dale Swanson plan—maybe it was a sign that she had been so strongly reminded that the ties between people could yield touching and beautiful results.
Upon reaching the bustling kitchen, with the remembered towel buckets in hand, Ariel spotted Darcy expertly scooping sugar cookie dough onto huge cookie sheets laid out at the stove. His tattooed arms moved with practiced ease, his dark hair pulled back into a loose ponytail. A playful smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he listened to Jill, who sat at the kitchen island, recounting a humorous story about a bar patron from the previous night.
"Hey, Jill. Hey, Darcy," Ariel called out, her tone warm yet authoritative, "I need to step out for a bit."
Darcy raised an eyebrow, curiosity sparking in his eyes. "Oh? What's the occasion?"
"A surprise Christmas gift for Miles," Ariel replied. She looked between Darcy and Jill, wanting to say something to the pair about their comfortable little scene, but she refrained. "And then I have to drop by and do my final dress fitting once I get back into town."
