Page 8 of Bidding on a Second Chance
She stepped forward, and he showed himself out.
ChapterFive
At the mention of the Rasinskis, the four others in the office area of the station abruptly headed for the lobby. The phone tethered Graham to his desk, or he’d join them before they made quick work of whatever treats the owners of Donut Haven had brought by. He tried to signal Cody to set something aside, but his friend didn’t spare him a glance.
Graham’s stomach rumbled with impatience. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll have a word with him about playing music at that volume, but—”
His elderly caller cut him off—awfully eager to speak for someone who wasn’t reporting the noise complaint until hours after the neighbor had shut off his stereo. When he finally wrapped up the call, he headed after the others.
Cody, halfway through a vanilla donut caked in sprinkles, stood near Rebecca Rasinski.
Todd, her husband, lifted the one white paper bag the vultures hadn’t taken off his hands. “It nearly cost me my life, but I saved your favorite. One glazed cinnamon twist.”
“You are a true hero.” Graham accepted the treasure with both hands. Even without opening the crimped top, the scent of cinnamon set his mouth to watering. “If I fail my next fitness test, these are going to be to blame.”
Laughing, Rebecca passed him napkins. “That’d be counterproductive, since this is a thank you. We’ve been dropping off deliveries around town, since we’re just so grateful to everyone. Everywhere we turn, we see another flyer for the auction.” She lifted her hand toward the community bulletin board in the station foyer.
A bright red-and-green poster extended a cheery invitation to the auction benefiting the Rasinski family on December twenty-third. Little Riley Rasinski had battled cancer, and all of Redemption Ridge had breathed a sigh of relief when she’d been declared cancer-free. Yet the disease had bottomed out the family’s finances. If all went well, the donated items sold at the auction would put them back in the black. Then, they could officially close the painful chapter and move forward.
“We’re all behind you. One hundred percent. In fact, what do we owe you for this delivery? It’s worth at least thirty dollars.”
“We should have you price everything for us.” Todd laughed and waved him off. “Redemption Ridge has been good to us. More than we ever expected.”
Graham unrolled the top of the bag, revealing the large, glazed cinnamon donut. The couple got pulled into conversation with other officers. Once they were gone, an elbow to his side interrupted before he got the donut from the bag.
Cody polished off the last of his treat, wiped a sprinkle from his lip, and tipped his head toward the flyer. “We have a problem.”
When he didn’t expand, Graham skimmed the poster. The date, time, and cover fee weren’t the issue—he and Cody had bought tickets weeks ago. And then, he saw it. The advertisement promisedSecond Chances signature refinished furniture, including a complete bedroom set.
“Since when does Second Chances refinish furniture?” Back when he and Piper dated, he had sanded and repainted a china cabinet for her. She’d been amazed by the transformation, and they’d gone on to refinish a dresser together. Now she had incorporated the process he’d taught her into her business? He glanced at Cody. “Even without an injury, she’s got a full plate raising her nephew, dealing with that puppy of hers, and running the store. When did she throw furniture into the mix?”
“A while ago.” Cody turned.
Graham stepped into his friend’s escape route. “How do you know that?”
The only way Cody’s look of feigned innocence could become more conspicuous would be if he started whistling.
“You shop at her store?”
“My house was empty.” Cody’s shoulder lifted nearly to his ear with a helpless shrug. “I heard she’d started refinishing furniture and selling house stuff, so yeah, I went in.”
About eight or ten months ago, Cody’s living room furnishings had filled out with framed artwork, a storage chest, a couple of throw pillows, and a bookshelf with old military and aviation books. In comparison, Graham had begun to reconsider his own cheap, some-assembly-required furnishings.
“You ought to see the dressers and desks she does. She can’t keep them in stock. I don’t know how you didn’t hear about it sooner.”
“The whole town is on her side?”
Cody laughed, disturbingly unapologetic. “We know good work when we see it. It’s not supposed to be a personal insult.”
Across the room, Rebecca and Todd waved good-bye and stepped toward the door, smiles wide. Carefree.
As they should be.
Piper’s donation was part of ensuring that would continue. To think he’d been focused on how she’d keep up with inventory and driving, totally oblivious to this huge undertaking.
Graham forced a deep breath. “The bids on furniture could run in the thousands, so it’s important. How’s she going to refinish a whole bedroom set and who knows what else when she can’t even walk?”
“She’s going to need help.”
