by Syndi Powell
“I didn’t call you for that.”
“You know you need to turn yourself in.”
A pause. “I definitely didn’t call to debate that.”
“So why did you call, Daddy?”
“Something you said about the sabotage has been bugging me.”
Her father called to talk about the vandalism? She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. It hasn’t happened since John got hurt. Must have scared him off.”
“Listen, I had this competitor years ago who liked to ruin my work with spray paint and filling the house with garbage. Thought it gave him a better chance at getting jobs and new clients. But all it did was make him look bad. Others in the business heard about it.” He sighed on the other end. “Maybe I’m wrong, but it feels really similar.”
She didn’t think it was irrelevant. “Who was that competitor?”
“Doesn’t matter. He died years ago.”
She hung on to the phone, unsure of why he had called then. Was it to say something more? She suspected so. “Daddy, why do you keep calling me? Mother misses you and would love to talk to you.”
“I’m sure she doesn’t.”
“But she does. And Andromeda—”
“Stop.”
His tone was so forceful that it almost made her drop the phone. “Please come home.”
“And face a possible prison sentence? I don’t think so.”
“Daddy—”
“I’ve already been on this phone call too long. Goodbye.”
And then he was gone. Cassie stared at the cell phone and brought it to her forehead. Biggie stood nearby, watching her. She placed the phone in her pocket and retreated toward the house. “Best get back to work.”
In the kitchen, she carefully stepped up the ladder. Biggie had followed and now handed her the stained glass dome that would hang above the kitchen table. She fastened it to the chain and the light bulb, then released it with a held breath. The chain should be able to hold the weight of the light fixture if her calculations were correct, but there was always that moment of doubt. But it held.
Biggie snapped the light on, and they both smiled at how it shot pretty shards of light in the sunny kitchen.
She came down from the ladder and turned to Biggie. “Did you ever know a competitor of Dad’s that would sabotage his work?”
The man paused, then nodded slowly.
“I guess he’s dead, but does anything about the sabotage we’ve faced remind you of him?”
Biggie didn’t say a word but turned on his heel and left the room. Well, she guessed that answered that question. She folded the ladder and propped it against a blank wall and surveyed the kitchen. The last inspections were slated to happen soon; then John would decorate it for the judges’ review next week. Only days left, and still so much to do.
She sighed and put thoughts of sabotage out of her mind so that she could concentrate on what was most important: the final result.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THE HEAT OF mid-August would not let up, and tempers got shorter the higher the temperature rose. Cassie had taken to eating her lunch alone under the tree in the backyard so she wouldn’t have to play referee between the brothers, who could fight over who had more pepperonis on their slice of pizza. Or who could paint a straighter line. She didn’t care who was better. She wanted this project completed. The final inspection was tomorrow, and she had a list that was four pages long of items still to be completed.
Evie nuzzled beside her, and Cassie fed her a pizza crust, then buried her hand in the dog’s thick fur. “You won’t drive me crazy, will you, baby?”
John turned from the vegetable garden, where he was using a hoe to turn over the earth. “I promise you I won’t.”
“I was talking to Evie.”
He smiled at her, making her heart skip a beat. “I know.”
Cassie got up and walked to the edge of the garden. “It’s too bad the Tanners won’t be able to enjoy the fruits of your labors this summer.”
“They will be next year. Loretta gave me a list of things they’ll need to plant in the spring.” He leaned on the hoe. “If I ever buy a house, I’m definitely putting in a garden.”
“Why do you live in an apartment?”
“Thought I’d buy a house when I got married, but that never happened.”
“Why didn’t you get married? You’re good-looking. You’re talented. Kind. Funny.”
“Well, as I told you, I was engaged, but she left shortly after I got laid off. And any plans I had for buying a house left with her.”
Cassie winced. “Oh. Right. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. I don’t want someone who’s going to run at the first sign of trouble.” He attacked the ground with a little more energy. “I don’t know any marriage that hasn’t had their share of troubles. Do you?”
“My parents had their issues, but I always thought they had a good marriage. But now I’m not so sure. My dad is one of those who run away, rather than sticking it out and dealing with the problem.”
“I’m sorry, Cassie.”
“Don’t be. I made a hero out of my dad, but it turns out it’s my mother that’s the strong one. Who doesn’t flinch at any trial but faces it with grace and dignity.” She wrapped her arms around her middle. She’d really shortchanged her mom all these years. She’d been so wrong. Regret clogged her throat, and she swallowed. “I better get back to work.”
“Did you ever tell your mom that?”
Cassie could never admit when her mother had been right. Maybe she was like her dad. “No.”
“She might like to hear you share that with her. Just saying.” He gave her a nod, then returned to his work.
Cassie headed to the house but turned back to look at him. “I’m almost done with my part. Tomorrow it’s up to you. I expect you to win us this contest with your ideas.”
He stopped hoeing and blinked several times. “Our ideas.”
She gave him a short nod. “Our ideas.”
She only hoped they’d be successful.
* * *
AT THE KNOCK on the front door, John took a deep breath. Well, here went nothing. Cassie opened the door and welcomed the plumbing inspector. “Mr. Daniels.”
The inspector glanced anxiously around the living room. “My colleague mentioned a dog?”
John saw Cassie squelch a smirk before she answered, “I left her at home today since I knew you were going to be here.”
Mr. Daniels gave a sigh of relief. “I’ll look around and we’ll go over my notes when I’m finished.” When they started to follow him, Daniels held up his hand to stop them. “I’ll do this alone.”
“I was going to answer any questions you might have,” she said.
“We’ll leave it for the end.”
Cassie raised her eyebrows at John. He gave her a skeptical look and walked out on to the newly constructed front porch, where he took a seat on the top step.
Cassie soon joined him and patted his shoulder. “Remember, he’ll have a list of things we need to fix before giving us the certificate of occupancy.”
“But—”
“They always come back with something. I think they believe they’re not doing their jobs if they don’t find at least three things to change. I’ve been through this many times before, relax.”
He was glad for her expertise. If it hadn’t been for her, he couldn’t imagine how they’d have come as far as they had.
He stopped short at that thought. He’d started this contest wishing that he’d been paired with anyone but her, and he recognized he wouldn’t be the improved designer that he was now if he’d had someone else. She’d listened and challenged him. Encouraged him. Taken his ideas and made them better. Then he’d tweaked it until it was perfection. They made an amazing team.
He
opened his mouth to say something when a Detroit Police car pulled up to the curb and parked. Cassie frowned and stood, approaching the two police officers who got out of the vehicle. Another car pulled up, and Detective Tyler Matthews joined them. The detective asked, “Cassie, do you know where the Buttucci brothers are?”
John moved to stand shoulder to shoulder with her. “They were in the garage the last time I saw them. Are they in trouble?”
“No. Not at all,” Matthews said. He addressed the officers and pointed to the house next door. “You’ll find him over there. I’ll join you after I thank the brothers.”
Cassie glanced at John, but he had no explanation, either. He and Cassie both followed the detective to the garage. The sliding door was up, allowing a view of Tiny and Biggie, who were hanging tools on the corkboard above the carpenter’s bench. Detective Matthews rapped on the garage wall. “Thank you both for your information. They’re arresting the culprit right now.”
Cassie looked as shocked as John felt. “Who is it?” he asked.
The detective motioned with his head to the neighboring house. “Nick Butler.”
John thought about the attack. “He’s the right height for the person who attacked me.”
“He was also an employee of Luke Manchester, an old competitor of your father’s. But I’ll let the Buttuccis tell you that story.” He gave the brothers a salute, then he was gone.
Cassie turned to Tiny and Biggie. “The sabotage from before?”
Biggie nodded as Tiny said, “You were right, Cassie. It was similar to what had happened. Down to the spray paint and spreading the garbage. Once we remembered, we knew it had to be someone associated with Manchester.” He looked at John. “Though he never hurt anyone before.”
“Not so glad to have been the first.” John put a hand to where he’d been hit. It still ached sometimes.
“We did some digging and found Nick’s connection to Manchester before he and his brothers started their own company. Then went to the police with what we knew.”
John could see tears filling Cassie’s eyes. “I’m sorry for not being more loyal. A better friend. I didn’t really think that it was you two who did it.”
Biggie took a step toward her. “We know. But the fact that you could doubt us nearly killed us.”
She slipped a hand into Biggie’s. “Forgive me?”
The two brothers engulfed her in their arms, pulling her close as she kept apologizing. John felt like an intruder in an intimate moment but stood transfixed. These two tough, burly men let their tears fall unapologetically as they embraced their girl.
Someone cleared their throat behind them. John saw the plumbing inspector, who handed him a sheet of paper. “I’ll be back in two hours to check these last couple items, but you’ve passed. I’ll let the committee know.”
John nodded and glanced at the two notations and smiled. He held the piece of paper up for them all to see. “We’ve passed!”
The brothers chuckled as they wiped their faces on bandannas yanked from their back pockets.
* * *
JOHN MET CASSIE in front of the house early Saturday morning. The back seat of his car was packed with all the items he’d been purchasing as he waited for this day. This would be only the first trip of many back to his apartment to retrieve the rest of the items. Some would work in the final design while others would have to be discarded. Kept for perhaps a future project. He wondered if that future would include Cassie.
They expected the furniture delivery truck at eight, so they had a moment before the chaos started. Cassie held out a cup of coffee to him. “You ready for this?”
He took a deep breath and tried to smile. That was the big question. Would they be ready for it to be all over? Then to face the judges and the Tanner family?
“Nick pleaded guilty to all charges,” she told him. “Him and his design partner, Tiffany. Though it was Nick who beaned you on the head.”
John rubbed the spot. “I wonder what’ll happen to their house? And the family who was supposed to live there?”
“Yeah. I don’t know. But it’s not our problem.” She nodded at the curb, where the delivery truck had stopped. “Let’s focus on our house for now.” She poked him gently in the ribs. “Hey, John. Get your head in the game. We lost a worthy competitor, so we only have to beat three teams, not four. We can do this. But only if you focus on what we have to do.”
The thought of the unfinished house haunted him as did the image of the family who wouldn’t be calling it home. Nevertheless, he directed the movers to the room each piece belonged. After he’d unloaded his car, both he and Cassie drove back to his apartment and packed their vehicles with more items—some salvaged, some not—to decorate the various rooms. Back at the reno house, they emptied boxes and put linens and dishes away.
He pointed to the rug that he and Cassie had laid on the wooden floor in the living room. “No, it goes the other way.”
She looked down at the rug and the dimensions of the room. “Are you sure? This seems right.”
“It is.” He placed two fingers in the space between his eyebrows and pinched the skin slightly. “I’m sorry, Cassie.”
“You have a headache? I’ve got aspirin.”
It was more than a headache. It was the knowledge that he knew he was about to suggest something so ludicrous that Cassie would likely fire him from the team. “We need to decorate the house next door, too.”
Just as he suspected, her mouth dropped open and she stared at him. “Are you kidding? We haven’t completed this house. The one we’re going to be judged on. And you want us to waste time on the house next door?”
“It wouldn’t be wasted, Cassie—”
“No.”
“Just listen to me.”
She marched into the kitchen, where boxes littered the floor. He followed her and put a hand on her back. “Cassie, it’s the right thing to do. That family shouldn’t be punished because they got stuck with a team who wanted to win no matter the cost. They shouldn’t have to pay that price.”
“I love that in your heart you feel it’s the right thing to do. That you’re so compassionate of others. But now is just not a convenient time for this.”
“I’ve bought more things than we can use here. I can ask the other designers for their castoffs. Maybe ask neighbors on the street for donations.”
“When? I need you here staging the house.” She glanced at her watch. “We have a little more than twenty-four hours and that’s it.”
He knew she was right. They had judges reviewing the homes the next morning, and time was tight. But he couldn’t let it go. “I have to do this.”
“This is not one of the twists courtesy of the Belvedere Foundation.”
“It’s not all about winning, Cassie.”
She stared at him for a moment. Then she clenched her jaw, and he could see the war going on in her eyes. “It is for me.”
* * *
CASSIE SET THE table under the stained glass light and stood back before moving the shade an inch to the right. There. Perfect.
She glanced around the kitchen at the boxes left to unpack. John had decided to set up the bedrooms and media center by himself. Part of it she knew was because of his disappointment in her attitude. She felt badly, but they had too much going on for him to be working at a house that didn’t belong to them. He owed himself and the team his total focus. They’d come too far to lose sight of the finish line.
She opened the next box and pulled out a clay bowl painted in colors that mirrored those in the stained glass dome. She placed the bowl on the island and pictured bananas in it that would be handed to the Tanner boys for a snack or sliced to go on top of their cereal. The dishes he’d bought picked up the gray flecks in the countertop. The glasses had a hint of the same blue that matched the cushions on the window seat and other kitchen chairs
. It all fitted together.
She had thought they did, too. That they complemented each other. But she couldn’t get behind his notion of working on the other house, as well.
A soft knock on the front door. Cassie shook the thoughts away and left the kitchen to answer the door, but John beat her there. It was the Tanner family. Jo gave them a pained smile. “I know we’re not supposed to be here until tomorrow morning, but I brought something for John.”
Cassie and John stepped back to let them inside. Donny firmly held the hands of the squirming boys while Jo held out a stack of picture frames. “You had asked for family pictures.”
He nodded and took them from her. “Thank you.”
There was a moment of awkward silence while the Tanners glanced around the living room. Cassie said, “Since you’re here, do you want to see what we’ve been doing?”
They both nodded, and Jo reached for the hands of both boys while Cassie led them down the hallway to the bedrooms. “We’re not quite finished here.”
“That’s okay,” Donny answered. “We’ll see it all done soon enough.” He entered the master bedroom and whistled. “This looks completely different.”
Cassie appreciated his enthusiasm, although she noted the mattress that was propped against one wall, the plush rug that was still rolled up and a box of linens. The old door that John had repurposed for their headboard was the only thing in place. “That’s really kind of you.”
Jo approached the intricate customized closet, letting go of her sons’ hands. Her jaw had dropped. “This is amazing. Did you actually make this?”
Cassie gave a shrug, as if it didn’t matter. But she was pleased that Jo recognized her workmanship. “It’s nothing big. Just some shelves.”
Jo laughed. “No way. This is huge. I’ve never had such a beautiful closet. I’ll be able to get so much stuff in here.”
Cassie led them out of the master bedroom, but John sprinted past her to close the doors to the boys’ bedrooms. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to keep these a surprise until the reveal.” He suggested they try the media room, where he’d designed built-in bookcases with extra storage space. A large, comfy sectional sofa and two beanbag chairs faced the massive flat-screen television she’d hung on the wall the day before. John had found a small popcorn machine and neon lights that looked like a concession stand to include in the room. “But this...”
