Page 36 of Threads of Kindness
The six women gathered around the worktables nodded in acknowledgement.
“I’d better get back to it,” the supervisor said.
“Me too,” Anita sighed. “Standing in front of this window isn’t hurrying things along over there. I can’t seem to help myself. I’m like a moth to a flame.” She returned to her desk andbusied herself with the week’s payroll. When she was done, she refilled her coffee cup and resumed her surveillance.
Anita mannedher post behind the shop window for the next several days. She pulled her cardigan close around her and stepped out the door to take a better look at the action across the square.
The pest control company had cleared the property of rodents, and the crew from Ace Janitorial Services had begun work the previous morning. A team of six had entered the building with buckets, mops, a shop vac, stacks of microfiber cloths, and a trolley of cleaning supplies. She had seen them leave the building at 11:47 a.m. for lunch and return promptly at 12:45 p.m. They’d departed for the day at 5:00 and returned at 8:30 that morning. Although she’d kept a close eye on Candy Alley, there had been nothing for her to see.
Until now.
The crew was stowing the shop vac, the trolley of cleaning products, and green vinyl trash bags filled with dirty microfiber cloths into the back of their van.
Anita clasped her arms over her chest, hugging herself. Her breath crystallized into tiny droplets as she exhaled.I’ll catch my death,she told herself,but I want to be sure of what I’m seeing.
The cleaning crew finished packing up, locked the door of Candy Alley, climbed into their van, and drove away.
Anita swung around and hurried inside Archer’s Bridal. She crossed the workroom in five quick strides. Her phone lay on her desk, and she lunged for it.
She held it in her hand, debating whether to text Tim or call him. He’d assured her she could tour the premises again as soonas the work the executor had promised had been completed. Cleaning was the last step. She practically vibrated with excitement at the thought of getting inside the newly sanitized space. Anita was tapping out a text to Tim when her phone rang with a call from him. She abandoned her message and swiped to answer.
“Hello, Tim,” she said. “I was just texting you.”
“I bet I know what was on your mind,” Tim replied, his tone teasing.
“Try me,” Anita said.
“You were going to tell me the cleaning crew is done, weren’t you?”
“They just left!” Anita said. “How did you know?”
“They called the attorney who represents the executor, as they were preparing to leave,” Tim said. “Have you been monitoring the progress at Candy Alley these past few days?”
“You know me too well,” Anita said. “I have a bird’s-eye view of the place from my shop. Other than processing this week’s payroll, I’ve done nothing else but watch the comings and goings of the various service companies.”
“I’d have done the same if I were in your position,” Tim said. “So, you know the place is ready for another look?”
“I sure do,” Anita said.
“That’s why I’m calling. When would you like to tour the property again?”
“I’m readyright now!I’ll put my coat on and be there in under a minute.”
Tim chuckled. “I need a bit more time than that. Actually, I was going to propose we meet there later this afternoon. I talked to Sam yesterday, and he confirmed that he and Jeff can meet us there any day this week after three. Would you like me to ask them to stop by to help assess the property?”
“I’d love nothing more,” Anita said. “If I still feel the way I felt after seeing it the first time, I’d like to make an offer as soon as possible.”
“They’ve given me their asking price,” Tim said, and disclosed it to her.
“Oof,” she groaned. “That’s at the top end of my budget.”
“They’re throwing a number out there,” Tim said. “It’s too high. I analyzed the comps. The price they’re asking is for a property in pristine, move-in-ready condition. As we’ve seen, Candy Alley will require major refurbishment. That’s why we need Sam and Jeff to get in there as soon as possible. We’ll use their estimates for the required work, with a generous cushion for cost overruns, to come up with our offer.”
“That makes sense to me,” Anita said.
“I’ll call Sam now,” Tim said, “and we’ll meet you there.”
“Oh, I can’t wait!” Anita said, her voice as giddy as if the captain of the football team had asked her to the senior prom.
