The Restarting Point

by Marci Bolden

  “How much is that going to cost?” Darby asked.

  “Well, with labor and material…a couple thousand.”

  “Whoa,” Darby said. That one word said so much more. The sound of discouragement filled the air. More than discouragement. Defeat.

  It was also the sound of someone being taken advantage of. Rage lit in Jade. She’d spent a lot of time climbing those corporate ladders and ignoring how those around her were treated. She’d also spent a lot of time ignoring that she was capable of stepping on people herself. That was a bad trait that had filled her with shame when she’d realized she’d turned into one of “those” executives. Staring down death had cleared her head of a lot of things and made her see that she hadn’t always been a good person. That was another item on the long list of changes she intended to make.

  One of the promises she’d made God or Buddha or the Universe—whatever the hell was out there—was that if she recovered, she wasn’t going to be that person any longer. More than that, she would speak up when she saw someone being taken advantage of. Darby was that person at the moment.

  Jade stumbled to her feet and hissed as pain shot through her ankle. She sucked up the discomfort as she scrambled to grab the crutches. “Thank you.” Putting herself between the contractor and Darby, she scowled at him. “Thank you for stopping by, but you can go now.”

  He creased his brow and looked at Darby.

  “No.” Jade stared him down. “You need to go.”

  “But…” Darby started.

  “He’s going,” Jade insisted. “Now.”

  The man held out his card, and Jade snatched it before Darby could. He lifted his hands as if he were giving up trying to talk sense into the madwoman before him. “I’ll write up a quote—”

  “No,” Jade insisted. “We don’t need your quote. Get out.” She used the crutch to point toward the turquoise-painted door. “Go.”

  He hesitated, as if waiting for Darby to intervene. After several uncomfortable seconds, he muttered under his breath and left the cabin.

  “What was that about?” Darby asked.

  “He was lying to you,” Jade said. “He could fix the damage to the porch without tearing up the kitchen floor.”

  “Oh, no. See the…support things…come all the way under the kitchen.”

  “I didn’t fall through the floor of the porch, Darby. I fell through the banister.”

  “Yes, but…”

  Jade lifted her brows, waiting for Darby to catch on. Darby opened her mouth, closed it, and opened it again. Furrowing her brow, Darby rolled her eyes back.

  “He does not have to rip out the entire porch to fix the banister. He was telling you that you needed more work than you do,” Jade explained, trying not to let the fury she felt for the handyman bleed out on Darby.

  “But…if the banister is rotten, then…”

  “Even if there is rotten wood on the porch, there is no way the entire thing needs to be replaced. Maybe a few boards, but not the entire porch.”

  As the reality of what Jade was saying sank in, Darby gasped and put her hand to her chest. “He… He lied?”

  “Yes. You’re not hiring him,” Jade insisted. “He’s a thief.”

  Darby looked out the window to where he was still making his way to his truck. “But he has a nice bum. Doesn’t he?”

  Jade looked out at the man walking away. “Yeah. But do you really want to hire someone because he looks good in jeans?”

  Again, Darby opened her mouth.

  “No. You don’t, Darby.” After hobbling back to the couch, Jade grabbed her phone. “We’re going to find you someone who won’t take advantage of you.”

  Darby parked directly in front of the doors to O’Shea Construction. The office, located in Chammont Point’s only strip center, had big, tinted windows that reflected the midday sun back into Jade’s eyes. Getting in and out of cars was still something she hadn’t mastered, and Darby’s old Mustang sat low with bucket seats that practically swallowed Jade. Though Jade was slightly taller than average, sitting in the car was like sinking into a pit.

  Darby rushed around the front of her convertible and grabbed the crutches from the back before opening the passenger door. After handing the crutches to Jade, Darby opened her arms as if bracing for impact should Jade tumble into her. Jade was hoping to have more help getting out of the bucket seat. But she decided she was likely better off figuring this out on her own. She planted her good foot on the ground, grabbed the frame, and braced herself for the struggle.

  After several false starts, she held out her hand and gestured for Darby to come closer. Darby’s smile spread, and she looked like she was about to start gushing. However, she kept her cool enough to take Jade’s hands and pull her from the car. As much as Jade hated the crutches Darby held out to her, she gratefully accepted them.

  “I feel like a mama watching her baby take her first steps,” Darby said as she stepped back. She pressed her fingertips to her cheek, batted her eyes, and grinned. “Look at you, being so independent. You’re growing up so fast.”

  “Watch yourself, Mama. I have a sprained ankle and a broken marriage. I wouldn’t need much to convince me to beat someone with these crutches right now, and you are making it incredibly tempting.”

  “Oh. You’re already acting like a rebellious teen. I might cry.”

  Jade made her way onto the sidewalk and waited for Darby to hold open the door to the office. Once they stepped inside, Jade realized why no one had answered her calls. The office of O’Shea Construction was practically bare. One desk sat in the middle of the room with one chair. There wasn’t even a place for consulting or a lobby. The only other bit of furnishing was a table with a coffeepot against one wall.

  “This is very chic,” Darby said. “Very minimalist. I like it.”

  “I don’t think that’s what they’re going for,” Jade said. “They must be closed.”

  “You are correct” came a voice from behind them.

  They turned as a woman walked in carrying an empty box. She bypassed them, not quite stomping, but she definitely had a mission. Her dark, straight hair had been pulled back into a ponytail that swayed with each determined step. Her gray cargo pants and white tank top made it clear she wasn’t a member of the office staff, but Jade wasn’t sure who she was.

  “Excuse me,” Darby said. “We’re looking for Mr. O’Shea.”

  Jade lightly swatted Darby’s arm. “Ms. O’Shea.”

  Scrunching her face, Darby turned her attention toward Jade. “Ms.? Are we hiring a female contractor?”

  Instead of answering, Jade simply stared back. She’d already explained that they were. Out of all the contractors she’d looked at, Jade had chosen O’Shea Construction because the owner was female. Not that she was hating on male contractors, but in the last twenty-four hours, her contractor husband had ditched her and the eye candy Darby had been tempted to hire had tried to take advantage of her. So, she wasn’t hating on men. She was simply fed up with their shit at the moment and wasn’t going to suggest Darby hire one if she could help it.

  Jade turned her attention to the woman who was now packing away the coffeepot and asked, “Are you Taylor O’Shea?”

  “I am,” the woman said, carelessly dropping a container of coffee grounds into the box.

  “We have a project—”

  “I’m not taking any projects.” She lifted her free hand and gestured around her. “Ever. I’m closed.”

  Jade blinked several times before asking, “Why?”

  Taylor tossed the box down carelessly and pinned Darby with a harsh stare. “Because I’m a female, as you pointed out. And nobody in Chammont Point will hire a female contractor.” With a dramatic gesture, she extended her hand toward the big window at the front of her office space. “This town is so goddamn backward that even when I submit the most reasonable quote, I can’t get a job. Even when I am honest about what needs to be done, I can’t get a job. Even when—”


  “We’ll give you a job,” Darby interrupted. “That’s why we’re here.”

  “Well, it’s too late,” Taylor said. “I’m done.”

  Jade shuffled closer to her. “We really need an honest contractor. Just this morning—”

  “I’m done,” Taylor said again.

  Jade straightened her back and held Taylor’s determined gaze. “Okay. I understand. I mean, if you’ve already gotten another job to pay your bills, we shouldn’t stand in your way. That wouldn’t be right.”

  As she expected, the frustration on Taylor’s face eased and a hint of despair flashed in her dark eyes.

  Jade casually shrugged. “I’m assuming you already have another job lined up, because you can’t just close your company without a plan.”

  Taylor cursed under her breath. Planting her hands on her hips, she looked around the barren office space. She closed her eyes for a few seconds before frowning at Jade. “What do you need?”

  Jade waved her hand. “Oh, no. We wouldn’t want to be an imposition. Come on, Darby. There are other contractors we can try.”

  “Stop,” Taylor called. She let out a dramatic breath. “I don’t… I don’t have another job lined up, so…” She shook her head and pressed her lips together. “These people are ridiculous. I’ve worked for contractors all my life. I know what I’m doing.” She gestured at a framed piece of paper on the wall. “I spent three years taking online classes to learn how to run a business, and they won’t give me a chance because I don’t have a…guy part.”

  “We’re here because you don’t have a guy part,” Jade said. “Guy parts aren’t our favorite things right now.”

  “Speak for yourself,” Darby said.

  Jade ignored her and asked Taylor, “Can you replace the banister on her porch? You could be done in a day.”

  Darby shook her head. “No, Eye Candy said the entire structure is bad and the…” She rolled her eyes back. “The strippers are rotten because there weren’t flashers.”

  The crease between Taylor’s brows deepened. “I don’t know what you’re saying. Eye Candy?”

  Darby nodded. “Oh, yeah, this contractor gave me a cavity. He was so sweet.”

  “And there were strippers and flashers?” Taylor asked, clearly not connecting the dots.

  Opening her mouth, Darby hesitated before confirming. “Yes. Apparently, the flashers protect the strippers, and without them, the strippers go bad.”

  Taylor focused on Jade. “I’m getting nothing here.”

  “He told her the stringers were bad because there was no flashing,” Jade clarified.

  Widening her eyes, Taylor said, “Oh. Okay. That makes sense.”

  “That does make more sense,” Darby said.

  “Maybe,” Jade said, “but what doesn’t make sense is he told her he needed to tear out the kitchen to replace all the boards and fix this. Now, granted, I didn’t do a full inspection, but the only damage I noticed was to the banister I fell through.”

  “Were you drunk?” Taylor asked.

  Darby cupped her mouth and whispered loudly, “She doesn’t drink.”

  Taylor cocked a dark brow and eyed Jade. “You don’t drink?”

  “No.”

  “Like the hard stuff or…”

  “Nothing. For health reasons,” she said, as if she owed anyone an explanation. “Are you interested in helping us or not?”

  Taylor turned her focus back to Darby, pursed her lips for a moment, and said, “I’ll take a look at your porch, but I’m not making any promises. If Eye Candy was right, and this requires tearing out the kitchen, I’m out. Got it?”

  “Got it,” Darby said.

  When the other two women looked at Jade, she shrugged. “Got it. Let’s go.”

  Within fifteen minutes, Darby and Jade stood in the shade of an old tree while Taylor inspected the decking and banister.

  “Do you really think we should hire a woman?” Darby whispered.

  Jade glanced at her. “Do you think we shouldn’t?”

  Darby frowned. “I was really looking forward to sitting in the shade with a drink while sweaty men pounded on my deck.”

  This time, Jade’s laugh rolled from her, and Darby’s lips curved up. Darby wrapped her arm around Jade’s shoulders and giggled. “Aw, honey, you’re getting over him already.”

  The reminder of Nick’s betrayal flared in her mind, and Jade’s smile faded. “I wouldn’t say that. I just forgot for a few seconds. Thanks for reminding me.”

  Taylor brushed her palms together and crossed the yard. “There is some damage to the stringers, but they don’t need replacement, and you definitely don’t need the extensive work Eye Candy told you. I can reinforce them, add the flashing, and replace the banister. That will take care of the porch. But you do have some settling around the foundation you’ll want to look into in the near future. I need to take some measurements and price the supplies before I give you a quote.”

  “Does that mean you’ll do it?” Jade asked.

  Taylor looked back at the cabin and then nodded. “Yeah. I’ll do it.”

  Darby clapped her hands. “Yay! We need to celebrate.” She rushed toward the cabin, talking about the brownies and wine she’d brought Jade the day before.

  “So, um…” Taylor started. “What’s her… What’s up with her… Why does she…”

  “Dress and act like a 1940s bombshell?”

  “Yeah, that.”

  Jade shrugged. “I can’t really say. I only met her yesterday. She’s very sweet, though.”

  Taylor lowered her sunglasses to eye Jade. With her thin face and long nose, her dark eyes seemed more suspicious than curious. “You met her yesterday?”

  “Yeah. I’m just renting the cabin for the next week.”

  Taylor leaned back as if she couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing. “You fell through the banister of a rental and you’re staying?”

  “Well. I did go home, but…” She debated how much to share. “My husband is moving out.”

  Taylor’s eyes softened. “Oh. I’m sorry.”

  “Being here made more sense. I don’t really want to witness him leaving me. That seems…depressing.” She managed to smile, but the effort was almost painful.

  “Being here is better.” Taylor looked toward the water in the distance. “The lake is great for calming the mind when the rest of the world seems to be on fire.”

  Jade thought there was more to that statement, but Taylor gestured toward the cabin where Darby was waiting for them. Much like Darby, Taylor held her arms out as if she would catch Jade should she fall. Jade appreciated the unspoken offer, but she managed to get up the stairs on her own. By the time she and Taylor got to the kitchen, Darby was pouring two glasses of wine. In the third, she added cranberry juice and a few ice cubes as she rambled on about how excited she was to support a local business.

  Jade sat at the table as Darby fussed in the kitchen.

  “She doesn’t eat brownies either,” Darby explained, drawing Jade’s attention. “She’s very healthy.”

  Jade ran her fingers over the scar on her chest where the doctor had placed a port prior to the start of her treatment. She fought the need to amend Darby’s assessment with the word now. She was very healthy now. The raised tissue was a constant reminder of the treatment she’d received. She was healthy now.

  Taylor slid a plate of fresh fruit and a glass of cranberry juice in front of Jade. “This is how you’re celebrating?”

  “Well, I like to live on the edge.”

  “Slow down. Let the rest of us catch up,” Taylor said with a smile and went back into the kitchen. Moments later, she slid into the booth across from Jade with a large slice of the mint brownie and her wine.

  Darby dropped down and held her glass up. “Here’s to dessert and wine in the afternoon.” She glanced at Jade’s plate. “Here’s to meeting new friends.”

  Taylor and Jade cast glances at each other before lifting their glasses and joining
the toast.

  Four

  Early the next morning, Jade frowned as she once again clumsily climbed out of Darby’s car. The gravel parking lot made using her crutches much more difficult, but Jade got her balance and took a few wobbly steps toward the entrance of the store.

  As she tended to do, Darby held her arms out, ready to catch Jade should she tumble over. That would be reassuring, but Darby didn’t seem to be faring much better, thanks to her high-heeled black-and-white Mary Janes. Her knee-length halter dress was cut like one from the 1950s, but the material was red with black teardrops and the bottom was lined with green tulle, making her look like a slice of watermelon.

  No doubt that was the point, but Jade had no idea why. She stopped, closed her eyes, and blew out a slow breath. Her irritation wasn’t with Darby or her spunky outfit. Jade’s irritation was from the pain in her ankle limiting her activities and with herself for not realizing Nick’s master plan sooner. Now that her shock was wearing off, her broken heart was hardening with the anger of humiliation from catching him leaving her like she had.

  That wasn’t anything Darby had done. Jade inhaled again, held the air, and then exhaled through her lips, doing her best to center and calm herself. When she opened her eyes after another deep breath, she actually smiled. The reality was Darby did look like a slice of watermelon. But who could possibly look at her without smiling? Who the hell was Jade to resent that?

  “Are you sure about this?” Darby asked.

  Jade let the last of her irritability slip away. “I’m positive.”

  “I think you should wait a few more days.”

  Jade shook her head and continued her journey across the gravel lot. “Nope. I am not wasting one more minute of this vacation. Come on.”

  The small shop across the street from one of Chammont Point’s more popular beaches was empty. So empty, Jade had to wonder if Lakefront Rentals was open. Life vests, bathing suits, and water sport accessories filled racks and lined walls. Several spinning displays had sunscreen of varying brands and strengths. There was even a vintage ice chest filled with unopened soda cans and plastic bottles of water, but there wasn’t an employee to be seen.