Page 81 of The Only Purple House in Town

Henry Dale watched her write things down for a bit, then he tapped the “gingerbread” one. “I have plenty of wood, and IthinkI can replicate those pieces if you let me take one down to use as a sample. Do you want me to try?”

“If you don’t mind. You’ve already done so much, and I feel like I’m taking advantage.” She should probably decline, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Not when everyone was counting on her to make this work. Screw my pride.

“No, I’m looking forward to it. I found a saw in the shed that makes complicated cuts, and I’ve been wanting to try it.”

“Huh. I wonder why auntie had so many tools.”

“Maybe she lived with someone who used them?”

Iris blinked. While Gertie had never married, Iris had no clue whether she’d always lived alone. Hazel might know more? Although that wasn’t her most pressing concern.

“Anyway,” Henry Dale went on, “I imagine you’re joking about the bribery thing, but it might help if we could get in touch with someone who works for the city.”

“Leanne’s on the city council,” Mira said.

Iris jumped a little, as she hadn’t even heard Mira come in. “Oh wow, you’re home already? How long have I been staring at these forms? What day is it?”

Laughing quietly, Mira sat down at the table. “I’m a professional at forms. Let me fill some of it out. Ah, lots of repeated data blocks. Give me five minutes.”

Henry Dale got up. “That’s my cue. I’ll roust Rowan and start those measurements.”

It took all of Iris’s composure not to burst into tears. She was so bad at…freaking everything, and here her housemates were, taking up the slack.Why am I like this?

“There.” With a satisfied pat, Mira angled the pages so Iris could see the parts she’d filled in. “It’s not as bad as it looks, I swear.”

“The paperwork or my life?” Iris asked wryly.

Mira chuckled. “Would you believe me if I said both?”

Later, Iris put the application in the mailbox and retrieved her mail. She had two letters from a new collection agency, telling her one of her cards had been closed and charged off. Now the real fun would begin. She sucked in a breath and tried not to cry as she opened the statement for the one card she’d managed to keep active. Even the minimum payment was too much.

Right now,everythingfelt like it was too much.

When Eli spoke to Henry Dale the next day, he had misgivings about stepping in.

But the more he saw of Iris’s worried face, the less he liked it.They still hadn’t heard from the city, but at least she’d submitted the application. So if the inspector came regarding the complaint, they’d started the approval process. Liz said that should muddy the waters a bit, and at worst, they should receive a fine and time to get their documentation in order.

But Iris would panic if she got fined. Money matters scared the crap out of her since she was already in debt. After wrestling with the issue, Eli decided he couldn’t wait it out. Money could solve a lot of her problems, and he had that. It really was that simple.

First he put in an order for the alarms, detectors, and extinguishers, then he quietly texted Sally, asking her if she could arrange for him to meet with Mira and Ethel’s coven. She sent him a map pin to Fix-It Witches. Belatedly, he recalled Iris chatting with some witches outside during that graffiti incident. Apparently, those two belonged to Ethel’s coven, and since it was a business, he could show up without an appointment.

He didn’t say anything as he headed out because there was no guarantee this would work. Outside, he found a tall man in his early seventies on the front porch, and his heart sank when he realized Awful Susan from next door stood behind him, a smug smile creasing her cheeks. The two had just been about to knock.

“Can I help you?” he asked in an icy tone.

“I’m from HAPI. Susan has made a troubling report. Is it true that you’re housing multiple paranormals here in violation of all city housing regulations?”

Suddenly, he recognized the man. Dan Rutherford was a big mouth who’d built himself a reputation for targeting paranormalcitizens. He was wealthy, and he’d drawn support from a certain type of human. This didn’t bode well.

“I don’t see why I should answer that,” Eli said. “There’s no law that says we have to report where we live or with—”

“That will change if I have anything to say about,” Rutherford cut in. “I’m talking to my pal about it. You might know him. He’s proposed some protective legislation.”

Eli needed to get rid of these two assholes immediately. Before Iris discovered that the situation could potentially get worse.

She’ll find out if you do this.But even that awareness couldn’t dissuade him. Whatever the personal cost, he’d fix things for her.

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