Page 53 of Hidden Nature

He met the mayor, a sharp-eyed woman of about fifty who barely topped five feet. She and her husband also owned the hardware store on the far end of town.

Since Nash figured they’d do plenty of business there—keep it local—he had no trouble cooperating when she pumped him for information.

He left flyers and business cards.

Since it was right next door, he did the same in the town library, where the head librarian, a gangly guy of around thirty with a massive black beard, pinned a flyer to the bulletin board, took another handful.

Then asked Nash what he would charge to replace a bathroom vanity and sink, and paint.

They discussed; Moose, as he introduced himself, called his wife. Before he left, Nash had an appointment to meet Mrs. Moose at eightthe next morning before she left to teach third graders at Heron’s Rest Elementary.

More than satisfied, he stepped out, texted Theo.

Where r u?

Happy Trails.

I’ll work my way up.

He handed out flyers, had conversations. And booked another job at the Snip and Style when Suze—with pink-streaked hair and freckles—asked him to come look at a leaky faucet.

“My no-good, lazy ex-boyfriend promised to fix it,” she told Nash, “but I booted him out before he did. Like he ever would anyway.”

After two more stops, he met Theo on the street. And stared.

“What the hell, Theo?”

“You give some to get some.” Theo shifted his mass of shopping bags. “Plus, we need Christmas stuff. And, this isn’t even the big news, we’ve got a job.”

“Doing what?”

“Replacing three bedroom doors. Ms. Haver knows what she wants—I got pictures. Her husband was going to do it, but he broke his foot playing with the dog, and they’re having their kids for Christmas. I checked, and the lumber center between here and Deep Creek has them in stock—I got them on hold, contractor’s rate. I gave her our hourly rate, an estimate of time, considering we have to pick up the doors, and said we could do it tomorrow.”

Theo grinned. “She pinched my cheek.”

“Let’s get this crap you bought to the truck. I’m nearly out of flyers anyway. And we’ve got to be back in town tomorrow to look at two other jobs.”

“Two?” Stopping, Theo beamed like the sun. “Are you serious?”

“Eight a.m., possible bathroom vanity and sink replacement, and new paint. Another’s just a leaky faucet, but—”

“No job too small. We did good, man.”

“We got lucky on top of it, as the local guy who’d probably handle most of this retired and moved south. Just. We’ve got an opening.”

“Charging through! We could pick up those doors now. Get them installed tomorrow. She wants these glass doorknobs—they’re in stock. Then if the faucet just needs a washer, or tightening, a simple fix, we could say it’s on the house. Good marketing.”

“Good marketing. And the faucet owner just kicked out her boyfriend. She’s cute. Looked like your type.”

“Nope.” Theo shook his head as they reached the truck and loaded the bags in the back. “Not for me.”

“You haven’t even seen her. She has freckles. You always went for freckles.”

“Not anymore.” He got in the shotgun seat, laid a hand on his heart. “Big news? Nash, I met the girl of my dreams.”

“That was quick.”

“Years in the making. Maybe centuries. I really have to marry her.”

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