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Parker’s tone made it clear he wasn’t going to tell her anything. He probably wouldn’t even mention Conner had stopped by. With a nod, Conner walked back to his squad car and sent her another text before he pulled away.
Stopped by to see you. Parker said you’ve been sick. I hope you’re feeling better. I’m available to do anything you need for the gala. Just send me tasks.
The three little dots of a reply text hovered and then disappeared. Which meant she’d probably been awake but maybe didn’t want to see him. On instinct, he pulled up the flower delivery site he’d been using. This time, he ordered the biggest, most cheerful bouquet of yellow and pink daisies they had, along with more white roses, a get-well card, and a teddy bear. Then he added another bouquet of white roses to really hammer home he missed her.
His next stop was the wharf warehouse, where the gala would be held. One day, it would be a new community center if Hannah got her way. But if she was sick, it was up to him to figure out what needed to get done. There were a few volunteers from the local university there who also worked at the original community center and a lot of boxes.
“Hey, Sergeant, are you here to help us set up?” one of the college kids asked.
“I guess so. I don’t have the plans for the space, but since Hannah has the flu, we’re going to need to handle some of this on our own.”
“We have the layout and she was very detailed, but we need a ladder and some tools.”
Conner accepted the printed schematic Hannah had left them and realized what an undertaking executing the event was going to be. There was a list of the expected vendors for sound, lighting, rented tables and linens, a caterer, and they were supposed to construct a makeshift stage.
“Okay, you call every vendor and confirm they are on track for delivery on Friday. I will find someone with a ladder and tools.”
The students gladly accepted some delegation and his plan. Next, he called Rory, who was his go-to brother for any and all Mr. Fix-It issues. He said he could bring a ladder and the tools, but not until after work. Conner explained to the kids that they probably wouldn’t be able to get much done until that evening, so just plan to be ready to help on Friday.
Before he could leave, several trucks pulled up with a delivery. It was a company that built custom playgrounds; Hannah had convinced them to donate several large, colorful items. He confirmed on her schematics where she intended for them to go and helped the men unload everything. Then he got sucked into learning how to construct a slide and helped mulch the newly designed play zone.
“You look like you learned a thing or two today,” Rory called out as he approached the warehouse with a ladder and his tool box.
“This day won’t end.”
“Hey, you called me, remember,” Rory said.
Conner was sweating through his uniform after helping construct the playground, and now they needed to hang lights. His arm with stitches was throbbing, but the work had to get done.
“Alright, let’s get started before it gets too late. I’ll even feed you,” Conner said.
Once he showed Rory the schematics, they unboxed all the lights. Two new outdoor barn lights needed to be hung on either side of the main doors and six new lights inside. Then Hannah wanted ten strings of twinkly lights hung to zigzag above the warehouse floor. He knew her vision was to make the warehouse look inviting, but the ceiling was high, and he’d never even hung Christmas lights before.
“Is that ladder going to be big enough?” Conner asked.
“I have another one in the truck. But you better order that food ’cause it’s going to be a long night.”
Three hours later, they’d eaten two pizzas and had all the lights hung. It took them a half hour to figure out how the interior lights would work via batteries and remote, but they were up. Stringing the twinkling lights was worse because they got tangled, and if one bulb was loose, it took out the entire string. Conner snapped a few pics and then used the remote to turn everything off so they could lock up.
“Do you have a lawn service coming to mow again? You may want them to put down some stones or carve out this path better,” Rory said.
“Damn it.”
“Love is a lot of work huh? Where is Hannah, by the way?”
“She got the flu, and she won’t take my calls.”
“Well, she can’t be mad at you for doing all this, unless of course she is.” Rory laughed. “I’ll call my lawn guy and see if he’s able to handle this last minute.”
“That would be great. It has to be done by Friday; it’ll be too hectic to do it the day of. Just tell them to send me the bill.”
“A fool for love.”
“It’s for a good cause. If this gala is a success, Hannah will raise enough money for the new community center.”
“And if you help her, maybe she’ll stand up to her brother, after all?”
“Something like that.”
