Page 6 of Better Together

“I’m Hannah. I’ll be your server tonight.” She set down a glass of ice water in front of Alexis. “Can I get you something from the bar?”

Alexis noticed the Hennings each had a glass of beer in front of them. “I’ll take what you have on tap from Northern Lights Brewery.”

“We have an amber, Lake Lounger.”

“Perfect.”

“I’ll be back to take your order.”

When their server returned, Alexis followed the Hennings’ lead and ordered a burger and fries. She chose her favorite, a ground chuck burger topped with barbeque sauce, crispy bacon, and melted cheddar cheese, along with the sweet potato fries—a healthier option, even if they did come with a sour cream and maple syrup dipping sauce. The great thing about working construction was that she could eat pretty much anything she wanted and maintain her weight.

As they enjoyed their meal, they talked about the community and how much Susan and James looked forward to belonging somewhere after traveling for work the past decade. Alexis wondered how old they were. They said they’d retired, but they looked nowhere near retirement age. Buying and remodeling the Whitmore Estate meant they obviously had money to spend. Although she enjoyed talking with the couple, she hoped they’d soon steer the conversation to the reason for their meeting. Patience wasn’t one of her strong suits.

The server returned, filled their water glasses, and removed their empty plates. Addressing the server, James said, “Thank you so much. That was the best burger I’ve had in a long time.”

Susan nodded in agreement.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Hannah left the check next to James.

“So, we should probably talk business,” Susan said, and placed her napkin on the table. “We have a proposition for you, something that will give back to the community and benefit the town in the long run.” She motioned for her husband to continue.

“As you know, we bought the Whitmore Estate, which has seen better days and needs quite a bit of work.”

Susan nodded. “But the estate is livable.”

“Definitely,” James said, and smiled at his wife. “We decided, after much deliberation, to put our remodel on hold for a while, but we have another idea.”

Alexis enjoyed watching Susan and James as their excitement grew, but wished they’d get to the point. She had no idea where they were going with this so-called proposition. She had counted on the money she’d earn from the Whitmore Estate.

Susan continued. “Yes, the estate is on hold because we are at an impasse.”

James said, “You do excellent work, Alexis. Please don’t take offense, but I’d like to use a contractor from the Twin Cities, someone we’ve hired to do work before.”

Alexis’s heart sank. “None taken.” She hoped her face didn’t show her disappointment and overall sense of death to her career.

“But . . .” Susan said, “after seeing what you’ve done at Turner Books, here at the Eagle’s Nest, and at the Veterans’ Center, I want to hire you.”

Okay, she might not have lost this deal yet. She sat up straighter. “So, what is this proposition?”

“We’ve established a non-profit organization and purchased two small homes in town. After they are remodeled, they’ll be used for additional housing for veterans who have to rehabilitate for an extended time. We’re holding a contest of sorts: James’s contractor of choice, and you . . . my choice.” She smiled. “That is, if you accept. You’ll each be paid to remodel one of the homes. Through my husband’s contacts, the houses will be featured in a national online magazine and voted on by the public. We hope the coverage will bring in donations and if nothing else, more businesses and tourists to town. Whoever wins will earn the contract to remodel the Whitmore.” Susan grinned. “What do you think?”

“Wow. I’m speechless.” Alexis took a sip of her water to suppress her excitement and nervousness. She didn’t want to seem too eager. “First, thank you both for the extremely thoughtful gift in support of our veterans. Second, I accept the challenge.”

“Great! I hoped you would.” Susan beamed with pleasure.

“May I ask about the timeline, and who the other contractor will be?”

James placed his hand on his wife’s. “Ryan Anderson of Harmony Construction.”

Alexis, having just taken another sip of water, started coughing.

“Are you okay?” Susan asked.

Red-faced, Alexis nodded and coughed into her napkin, managing not to spew water across the table. When she gained control and could finally take another sip of water, she said, “Excuse me.” She coughed again. “Went down the wrong pipe.” They had to be kidding. Ryan Anderson, her ex-fiancé? What were the odds? She thought she’d left her life with Ryan behind when she was forced to sell her home and move north.

Susan’s brow raised. “Do you know Ryan?”

Alexis had to come clean and tell the Hennings. Hopefully, they’d still be okay with the arrangement. “Yes. We dated a long time ago. It’s fine, though,” she rushed on, “it won’t be a problem.”