Page 24 of Christmas Home

Of course, I didn’t realize that when I’d started dating him. Not that I was paying attention. I was drunk the night we met in a bar, not unlike the one across the street from here. I’d let the girls from work talk me into going, and we drank too much, and then he’d come sniffing my way.

Jimmy wasn’t that good-looking, but was tall and strong, despite having a gut. I should’ve kicked him out of my life the following day like any sane person who’d woken up next to a loser after a drunken night of frolicking. Instead, I let him woo me into a false sense of security.

Then, as it always did, came the hitting and the apologies. Shit, I was pathetic. I was barely attracted to Jimmy—nothing like how I felt when Ruther looked my way—and I didn’t even like him as a person very much.

Idiot!I chastised myself before I finally shook my head and headed into the shower. It did no good to rehash this time and time again. It’d happened, I’d let it happen, and now all I could do was move on with my life.

I’d keep Ruther on a very long leash, though if tonight was any indication, he wasn’t one to push himself or an agenda. As long as he kept to that, I’d be fine. Well, mostly fine. I still liked himmore than I had any other man in…maybe ever, but that didn’t mean I’d act on it.

I wouldn’t.I liked where I was too much to jeopardize it. If I could save up some money and maybe find a cute little apartment somewhere downtown, I could keep ahold of a life that wasn’t quite as shitty as the one I’d had before. If that meant not having a man, then so be it.

twenty-one

Ruther

The following week flewby. I roused Corey every day to go to the café by nine in the morning to catch Clyde for his break. The two men seemed to get along fine, although Corey was often preoccupied with dealings in New York, meaning the ongoing renovations in my apartment.

“Oh, Lord, you should’ve seen it,” Clyde said in the middle of one of his engaging stories. Sometimes, one of the townspeople would pull up a chair to join us, but most had already come and gone by the time Corey and I got to the café. I liked it that way.

Besides, Jake and Lance had begun to pull Corey and me into their lives since we’d all gone to the winery together.

Lance invited us for dinner a few days after the winery trip and showed me his concept for a housing development at the motel site. It was impressive. None of the homes were larger than fifteen hundred square feet, and all of the little bungalows had front porches big enough for a swing or rocking chair. It all looked very homey and quaint in all the best ways.

“So, you want to recreate homes from the thirties or forties?” I asked after Lance showed me all his preliminary designs.

He nodded, as did Jake behind him. “If Crawford City instead of Mayville had grown into the town it should’ve, with a railroad coming through it, these are the kinds of homes we could’ve expected to see on the outskirts of downtown. Since the railroad all but abandoned Crawford City before that could happen, we have the land you are looking at, but we can still recreate that old-fashioned feel.”

I stared at the plans and could tell Corey was excited about the idea, but I wasn’t entirely convinced. “So, you think this is what people want? Not more modern designs?”

Jake stepped in then. “We have a lot of modern houses being built out in rural areas. Some rather large estates for people with money to burn. But for folks wanting to live close to town and who don’t have millions in the bank, yes, we both think more traditional designs would be better. Hardwood floors, wide plank woodwork, but with a modern twist. Open floor plans, for example.”

I almost elbowed Corey, who, in a very out-of-character way, said, “These are perfect. Charming with a historical feel but not dated. Brilliant.”

I nodded and sighed. “I agree. How many do you think we could put in that area?”

Jake and Lance glanced at one another, then Lance clicked another page on his proposal. “We think you should tear down the motel and add townhouses across the front. You could sell them, but you could also lease them out.”

Jake sighed. “We hate the idea of losing tourist money, and even though the motel is run-down, it is a place to stay for people who aren’t looking for what we provide here at the hotel. The finances don’t support me adding the next addition unless I can charge what we do now, but if you had a few units thatcould be used as vacation rentals, it could provide an affordable alternative and ensure the investment is worth it.”

“I have no intention of running a bed-and-breakfast. Who do you see managing this?” I asked, already assuming I knew where this was going.

“Catherine could manage them for you. She has been in the business since she was a child, and we already have cleaning staff.”

When they paused, I laughed. “Okay, I’m not going to fight you on this. I just need to see the numbers. I’m not opposed to keeping an asset, although, to be honest, if we build the vacation units, you should consider purchasing it yourself, let it become part of your portfolio.”

Jake and Lance looked at each other and exchanged some sort of unspoken communication. “We can talk to our partners about that,” Jake said. “Now, let’s discuss a possible builder.”

I listened as they sang the praises of Amos’s son, Todd. My father had liked Todd’s grandfather and had used him on multiple occasions to work at the estate. I forced the nerves to skim past that thought.

If all the praise Jake and Lance were giving Todd was any indication, it’d be worth talking to him. Being the third generation to provide quality workmanship in the same community also bode well.

“We need to warn you though. Todd is booked out for at least a year.”

“Do I have any other options locally?” I asked. “I’m guessing bringing in a builder from the outside wouldn’t be the town council’s preference.”

“The Richards brothers have experience building new construction, and I happen to know they’re about done with a joint project with Todd and Amos.” Jake looked at me thoughtfully, and I saw the shrewd businessman behind hischarming persona. “Would you let us take point on this? I can find and recommend an available builder, one we trust and the town council won’t balk at.”

“No,” Corey interjected. “I’m happy to accept your recommendations, but we have a set way of doing business. However, if you’d like to help me as I set up a feasibility plan and meet with potential contractors, I’d welcome your assistance.”

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