Page 16 of Chance

When the violence had started, she’d actually gone to the police and reported it. They’d taken Brian in, but not before he’d pleaded with her. He’d told her that it was just a mistake and she’d provoked him. He’d been brought up that way, and he would do better. Didn’t he deserve a second chance? Part of the reason she and Brian had grown close in the first place was because he didn’t have family. He had no parents, and he’d been in foster care. It had been the two of them against the world. So she’d caved.

When it happened again and again, each time he’d feel so terrible, he’d be so pathetic, he’d have so many excuses. Then he would become Mr. Prince Charming. He knew just how to play her. She hated herself for putting up with it.

Well, it was over now.

Kelly sucked in a long breath and let it out slowly. She still wasn’t sure what to do about being pregnant, but she couldn’t think about it today. She had to go check out her soon-to-be gallery and see how the painters were doing.

She paused next to the potter’s wheel and stared at her creation. After she’d thrown different parts of it, she’d worked intricately on the piece to make it perfect. Now she picked it up and smiled. It looked just like the cross from the church. Of course, it wasn’t as big, but she’d remembered the intricate carvings and where the jewels were. She could already picture the end result. She knew someone who owned a kiln; she would call him in the next day or two. Then it would be perfect.

She hesitated. Could she cut the top off so it had a secret compartment? Maybe.

A strange sensation crept over her, and she looked around. When she glanced out the window, she saw the back of someone who was now walking away from her place.

Brian?

Her heart raced, and she wanted to rush out of the house to see if it was him, but she was afraid. It couldn’t be him, right? No. She wouldn’t allow herself to think it was him.

After a quick shower and assembly of a light summer dress and just the right amount of makeup, she headed toward her gallery. She still wasn’t sure what to call it. Something magnificent, of course. Something creative and meaningful. She needed the right words.

It was ten in the morning when she parked her car and got out, and most of the shops were just starting to open. It made sense, as most of the tourists weren’t out and about until around lunchtime. She liked that about having a gallery in a beach town. She didn’t have to get up too early, and if she did, she could work or exercise or just live her life before coming into work.

Kelly unlocked the doors and stepped inside, pleasantly surprised that the first coat of paint was on the walls. Just like the painter had said. It was a nice, soft gray-blue color. She could never be certain how much she would like some pieces of art until it was finished, but she was already starting to like this gallery.

Giddiness swept through her. She was so close to achieving her dream. If construction stayed on course, she’d probably be able to open in two or three weeks.

As if on cue, the guy she’d hired to ‘general’ this project for her showed up. “I hope you’re satisfied with the first coat.” He put his hand out. “Good morning.”

Kelly smiled. This guy felt like one she could trust. He was married to Lucy, the boutique owner down the street. “Matt, good morning. Your guys did a good job.”

Matt nodded and then pulled out some paper plans from his bag. “I was hoping you would be around. I want to go over the design of the shelves and how you want them. If the second coat of paint gets on today, I’m thinking we can start putting the shelves up and designing this with all the cupboards and the storage in the back office pretty quick.”

Delighted, she moved with him to a makeshift table in the center of the space. Matt spread out the plans. She had worked on them extensively, and with Matt’s help, they’d created a vision.

Matt pointed to the back wall. “As we talked about, we demolished this wall yesterday, and I will have my drywall guy fix it today. That will open up to make your office bigger.” He pointed to a different area of the shop. “And then you want this whole room back here for storage. That comes in from the street, right?”

She nodded. “Exactly. Can we go look at it?”

Matt looked over the paper and then grinned at her. “Let’s go.”

She followed him to the back and was impressed by the wall that had been removed and already reframed. He would be able to put drywall up today. “You work fast. I’m grateful.”

When you hired people, you never knew how things would turn out, but she’d been lucky to stop in at Lucy’s boutique and get a referral.

“I like working hard and getting done fast. And I pride myself on both quality and speed.”

Kelly grinned up at him. “Who knew contractors would have those two principles work hand in hand?” She followed the hallway back to the room that would be her office, and then they headed into the storage room. “This will be perfect.” She pointed to a wall. “Could you just make sure there are three shelves that give plenty of room for me to put paintings there and other collectibles? I want cabinets that can lock to keep them safe when they’re in storage.”

Matt nodded. “Of course. If you want to go look at Lucy’s storage, you might like it. We can actually push this wall out into the street and give you another five feet. That’s what we did with hers. The easement on the property allows that. Of course, you’d have to check with the owner, but it’s Ms. Roxie next door. I bet she won’t mind.”

That thought delighted Kelly. Five more feet of space would certainly help; she could store things without needing a rental unit. “I’d like that.”

Matt moved toward the back door. “Ms. Roxie gets in about now. Let’s go talk to her.”

Chapter 11

Chance woke the next morning in a 007-themed room. He was getting used to the themed room and it made him smile. Ava had told him the night before that it was normally Brooks’s room, playing along with the whole FBI thing. It was one they usually didn’t rent out, and Brooks had agreed that Chance could stay here.

He stretched in front of the window that faced the beach, admiring the beauty of the ocean. A beach town had its perks; he could see why Kelly would choose this place. He thought of that summer when her grandparents had taken them all here. Even though they had only been twelve, it had been so much fun.

---