Page 119 of Take My Heart
Kate
‘Those can go over there,’ I say to the guys bringing in the shelves. ‘Just set them against the wall.’ I point to the back of the store, or what will soon be a store.
I’m doing it. I’m opening a store filled with decorative home items that I get to shop for, order, and display in a space I got to design. It’s an absolute dream and one I never imagined would ever come true.
The store is in downtown Haydon Falls at the end of Main Street, right next to a bakery and a coffee shop, and there’s a large public parking lot in the back. It’s a great location. Everyone walking from the parking lot to downtown will pass the store. Matt got me a great deal on the lease because the building’s been empty for so long. The place needed a lot of work, which is why nobody wanted it, but Brody and I are getting really good at renovating and we enjoy it. We couldn’t wait to fix the place up.
It’s been mine for a few weeks now, which was enough timefor us to refinish the wood floors, repair and paint the walls, and install a front window display area. This morning we’re installing the counter where I’ll have the sales register, then we’ll get to work putting up the shelves. Nash is going to stop by today to change out the light fixtures and check on our work to make sure we did everything right. He’s been helping us whenever he’s in town. He’s here a lot because his aunt, Brody’s mom, insists on seeing the baby.
‘The place looks great!’ I hear Callie say.
Turning around, I see Nash and Callie coming into the store.
‘You brought Addison?’ I race up to Callie, who’s holding the baby. ‘Let me see her.’
‘You can hold her if you want.’ Callie offers her to me.
‘You know I want to.’ I take Addison and smile at her. ‘You’re getting so big.’
‘We had to pry her out of Aunt Martha’s arms to get her here,’ Nash jokes. ‘She didn’t want to let her go.’
‘We decided to stay another day so she’d have more time with her,’ Callie says.
‘Does that mean you can help us with the shelves?’ Brody asks, coming out from the back office.
‘Brody, he’s done enough,’ I say as Brody comes over to me. ‘Nash isn’t even letting me pay him to switch out the light fixtures.’
‘You can pay me by having us over for dinner when your house is done,’ Nash says.
‘We’d love to!’ I gently bounce the baby as she fusses a little.
‘You want me to take her?’ Callie asks.
‘Not yet. I need more baby time.’ I kiss her tiny head. ‘If you want a night out with Nash while you’re here, I’d be happy to watch her for you.’
‘You’d have to fight my mom for that,’ Brody kids. ‘She’s got first dibs on babysitting.’
‘Lyndsay and Nick need to hurry up and have some kids,’ Nash says. ‘Addison’s got Aunt Martha wanting grandkids more than ever.’
‘Yeah, I know.’ Brody rolls his eyes. ‘She was even hinting at me to have them the other day.’
‘She was?’ I smile at Brody, imagining him as a dad. He’ll be a great dad. He’s so patient and easygoing.
‘Don’t be getting any ideas,’ he says to me. ‘I’m not even close to being ready for that.’
‘I wasn’t either,’ Callie says. ‘I was a nervous wreck when I found out I was pregnant.’
‘But it all worked out.’ Nash puts his arm around Callie.
‘How’s the house coming along?’ Callie asks.
‘Good,’ I say, gently rocking the baby. ‘Brody tore down a wall last night, so that was fun.’
He smiles. ‘It was. Tearing shit down is one of my favorite parts of remodeling.’
‘You were careful, right?’ Nash says. ‘You checked to make sure it wasn’t holding anything up?’
‘Yeah, but I wouldn’t mind having you stop by and check my work, not just with the wall, but some of the other stuff I’ve done.’
