Chapter
One
“Oh Lord! Where did that fog come from?” Sue said as soon as she got out on the highway. It seemed to swirl around her out of nowhere. Even though it was very thick, she could still see about a car length ahead of her. It still took her over half an hour to reach the next town. By the time she approached the gas station on the corner, the fog had disappeared. She turned north on to main street and realized something was different. That gas station had been closed for several years the last time she was in town. But now it was very busy.
“Why not”? She muttered. ”Gas is only 35¢ a gallon and I paid over forty this morning.” She drove up Main Street, past the funeral home. It seemed different too. Duncan’s drugstore was busy as usual.
“Looks like the same old snooty bunch going in.” She muttered, just before she crossed the railroad tracks. Stopping at the corner of Main and Sale, she looked around. One corner had the Starr store that sold dry goods. The Douglas Hotel stood on the opposite side with a barber shop in it and a café in the basement. On the third corner was a bank and on the fourth stood the candy kitchen. After making her turn, she drove several blocks until she came to the old High School corner. Her heart began beating faster as she turned back north for the three blocks it would take to get to the Brookside café. “Will Nelson be there?” she wondered. Pausing just inside the door, she didn’t realize how lovely she looked. Short and curly, dark brown hair, baby blue eyes with a sweet smile and a nice figure. Even though she had worked hard to regain her slim body, she still thought of herself being chubby.
“Hi Love! Over here.” Someone called and waved at her from a corner booth. She would know those broad shoulders on a six foot body, dark hair, twinkling bright eyes and big smile anywhere. They gave each other a long awaited hug before sitting down.
“Hello Nelson! I’m so glad you were able to meet me here. How long can you visit with me this time?”
“I’m sorry Sue, but I only have a couple of hours before I have to be back to work. I’m the new manager of the Douglas Hotel and Café here in Tuscola. If you remember when we were in school, I told you I’d be a manager of a big restaurant somewhere. I’ll get there yet, but it may take a few more years.” Sue remembered very well. The last time they were together he told her he had been a ditch digger, a farm hand, a dishwasher and a cook in several counties around Central Illinois. “I know it’s a little early for dinner, but would you eat with me at the Hotel before I have to go to work?” Nelson said. ”Or do you have another date this time?”
Sue thought. “He’s remembering the last time we met that I had an appointment and refused to cancel. If I had, I wouldn’t be the owner of two hotels plus co-owner of another.” Sue said out loud. ”I would love to have dinner with you.” Nelson excused himself to make arrangements.
”I have to make a call.” He used the phone at the back of the room to call the restaurant and to reserve the most private table they had to be set with candles and a single rose. The dinner he ordered was romantic and included a bottle of wine.
There was still time after eating for a quiet walk around Sale Street holding hands and window shop. Sue would’ve been just as happy with a hot, roast beef sandwich with mashed potatoes, covered with mushroom gravy. She still couldn’t get used to fancy food after all her years in the business world. Back at the hotel, Nelson got her registered and handed her the key to the room. They slipped their arms around each other and climbed slowly up the stairs. The door was unlocked and they stepped inside. Nelson took her in his arms and kissed her.
“I’ve waited so long for you to come back so I hope those days are over.” As Sue started to respond, his kisses deepened and it was several minutes before they realized her phone was ringing. His kiss was so powerful that she answered it while holding on to him for support.
“Hello…Yes he’s here…It’s for you, a woman.” She said, holding the phone out to him. Even before taking it from her, he knew something tragic was about to happen, again.
“Hello…Yes, this is Nelson Petrone.” As he listened, his eyes became glazed and he turned white with shock. Dropping the phone, he sank into a chair behind him. Sue picked it back up and talked quietly to the person on the other end. Nelson’s daughter and his housekeeper had an accident caused by a drunken driver just the same way his wife was killed several years before. As Sue hung up the phone, Nelson got to his feet and said. “I must go!”
“I’ll drive. You are in no shape to do that right now.” She said as she took him by the arm. Leaving word at the desk, she quickly drove to the E.R. Once there, she approached the desk. “How is the Petrone family? This is Mr. Petrone.” The nurse looked at Nelson and saw how pale he was.
”Just a minute and I’ll check to see if the Doctor is done treating them yet.” As she left, another nurse handed Sue and Nelson a cup of coffee.
” Please sit down and relax till the Doctor comes.” His eyes were still glazed a little later when the nurse came back with the physician.
“How is she Doc?” Nelson enquired.
“She’s better than we first thought. She has a bump on her head and cuts from broken glass, but otherwise she’s okay. Your housekeeper has a slight concussion and a broken arm. She covered Suzy with her body the second before impact. I want to keep your daughter overnight to be sure she doesn’t have a concussion. Can you find someone to take care of her if I let her go home in the morning?”
Sue said. “I’m on vacation now so I can stay and help out with…Suzy? Her name is Suzy? Why didn’t you tell me?” She said in a stunned voice.
“I thought you would already know by the way I feel about you!” Nelson said softly enough that the doctor or the nurse couldn’t hear him.
The doctor asked. “Would you like to see them before they are taken to a room?”
“Yes we do.” Nelson said, and in a softer voice to Sue. ”I know Suzy will love you on sight and we have a lot to talk about before morning.” Nelson took Sue by the hand and neared the table where his daughter was sitting. As the nurse closed the door behind her, Nelson said. ” Suzy do you remember when I told you about the lady you were named after?” Suzy’s eyes started to sparkle and with a big grin she said.
”Oh Daddy! Is this her? I just knew it was. She looks just like you said she would. Oh..! I think I saw you in the paper today. It was on the corner where we stopped to mail a letter, just before we got hit by that crazy man.”
“What was your picture doing in the paper?” Nelson asked, frowning at Sue.
“I was interviewed about the job I have helping hotels with problems. I’ll tell you more about it when we get back to the Douglas. It’s time for this little one to be in bed. Here’s the nurse to take her up now. Good night darling. We’ll see you in the morning and we’ll bring you clean clothes when we come to pick you up.” Sue gave her a hug and stepped back so Nelson could do the same. Suzy whispered to Nelson, not knowing Sue could hear her.
“Oh daddy, I like her.”
“So do I sweetheart!” Nelson replied. ”So do I.”
“If he didn’t like me, why did he kiss me like he did?” Sue giggled to herself. Nelson had known his little girl would like her name sake when she saw her but he didn’t know the feeling would be returned several times over. Later at the hotel when Nelson and Sue were alone, other feelings soon took over and they soon forgot about the talk they were planning to have.
The next morning, Sue went on up to Suzy’s room while she was waiting for Nelson to join her. As she passed the coat room, she heard someone crying. ” What’s wrong sweetie? Do you need someone to talk to?”
“I was fired for something that wasn’t my fault. My car wouldn’t start this morning so I had to call a taxi which made me late for work. When I was hurrying down the hall, the head nurse came around a corner and we ran into each other. The tray she was carrying flew out of her hands and the medicine scattered all over the floor. That made the patient’s getting their medicine later than usual and also made the nurse madder than she already was. She was busy watching a new, good looking Doctor coming from the other way.”
“Would you like a job being a housekeeper for Suzy Petrone and her father?” Sue asked. “They live in the country, just a few minutes from town.”
“I know where he lives. When do you want me? Do you want me to go to the house?” Sarah replied.
“Since you had to call a taxi to come to work, you can go with us when we take Suzy home. Will you pick up your things and meet us at the checkout desk? I’ll talk to the manager for you.” Sue met up with the person in charge and told him what took place. She also told him if the price of the medicine is taken from Sarah’s check, the hospital wouldn’t get their usual donation from her and highly recommended that the nurse should apologize to Sarah. Since the donation was a large one, the manager lost no time in finding the head nurse.
“I know what happened this morning between you and Sarah Mercer. If you had been watching where you were going instead of that Doctor, it wouldn’t have happened. If you want to keep your job, you better apologize to her at once and tell her to come to my office before she leaves the hospital. She’s waiting at the checkout desk for the Petrone girl.” The nurse rushed away when she saw the young girl approaching. As she reached the desk, she spotted Sarah talking to a man and woman.
“Excuse me. May I speak to you Sarah?” She nodded. ”I’m sorry for what happened this morning. Will you forgive me? I had just seen a friend I had gone to school with and I didn’t know that he was a Doctor”. As she started to walk away she turned back. ”Oh Sarah. The manager wants to see you for a minute before you leave. Please?” Sarah looked at Sue with a puzzled look.
“What’s happened to her? She’s a different woman!”
“Why don’t you run on and talk to the manager. Maybe he’ll tell you. We’ll be waiting for you in the gift shop.” Sarah knocked before stepping inside his office.
”You wanted to see me sir?”
“Yes, I did. I presume the head nurse spoke to you and apologized for this morning?”
“Yes sir, she did.”
“I thought you might need your check before the end of the month. I had it made out for you with an extra week added for the hassle to your nerves. The nurse had no right to treat you as she did.”
Sarah felt like she was walking on air as she descended the stairs to meet back up with the others. It had been a long time since anyone, except for Sue, had treated her as nice as the manager had. As she approached the others, she had such a joyful look on her face that Sue almost giggled out loud. She knew why Sarah was happy and was pretty sure what the manager had told her.
When they arrived back at the Petrone’s home, Sarah called her husband Sam. ”I got fired at the hospital today but I have a new job as housekeeper for the Petrone’s. You can reach me here if you need me for anything.”
“We got a letter from the Landlord today telling us we have to move by the end of the month. He sold the house without even telling us it was for sale.” Her husband explained.
“We’ll try to figure it out when I get home.”
A few days later, Sarah wandered out into the back garden. She stopped and stared. It looked like a jungle and it had been ignored and neglected for years and all the trees and shrubs needed trimming. The weeds were waist high in most of the flower beds and grass had fallen over where the walks were supposed to be. A narrow path peeked through the tall grass. Sarah followed it. She saw a small shed and started to open the door wider when she heard a sound like a motor running. Inside there were several kinds of garden tools hanging from the walls and scattered on the floor. The sound was coming from a box in the far corner. Tiptoeing toward the sound, she saw lying on some old rags, the prettiest mother cat she had ever seen. She was the color of the setting sun after a spring rain. In the ray of sunshine that was coming through a hole, she noticed the mother cat had three little ones. Two were the same color as she was and the other one was dark grey. Sarah spoke softly to her.
“Well hello. Aren’t you the pretty one? May I see your babies?” She placed her hand on the feline’s head, scratched behind her ears and down her side.
”Meeoow!” And purred louder than ever. Sarah picked up one of the babies and saw that it needed more milk than it had been getting. She guessed they were two or three weeks old. Momma could do with some more meat on her bones too. Sarah went back to the house to get some tuna casserole left from lunch and some milk from the refrigerator. She took a tuna can from the trash and a pie pan from the cabinet before heading back out the door. Just then Suzy came into the kitchen.
“Where are you going with all that stuff?”
“I found a gold colored cat in the shed and I think she might be a little hungry.” Suzy’s eyes got big.
“Goldie! Do you think it’s her? She got out the door again a long time ago and I couldn’t find her. I put food out on the steps but I don’t know if she was the one that ate it.” Sarah handed the containers to her and they went back out to the shed. Suzy and Goldie were very happy to see each other. The Mother cat and kittens were placed on the floor with the food as they watched Momma lap up all the milk and gobble the tuna casserole. The little ones tried tasting the meat dish while the bigger kitten attempted to growl at them. Suzy spent a few more minutes watching and playing with the little family before going back inside and letting them catnap. When Nelson came home for supper, Sarah asked him about a gardener and filled him in about the cat and kittens in the shed. He was very happy that they were found. He had also missed her just as much.
“Sarah, can Sam do garden work? I should have had something done about it before now, but I lost all interest in it after Ann was killed.”
“Yes. He’s been looking for that kind of work.” Sarah replied.
“Call and tell him to come over and I’ll show him around. The apartment over the garage goes with the job. You can move in as soon as it’s been cleaned up.” Nelson said. He had recalled Sarah’s predicament they were in. Her landlord didn’t give her any option but to move out. When Sarah had asked about the gardener job, he remembered about the apartment over the garage. It had been used by the handyman and the housekeeper before he bought the property. Sue came in just as Nelson was telling Sarah about it.
“I’ll help you two do the work if we can’t find anyone to do it right. The hardware store is open late tonight so we can order it if they don’t have it in stock.”
Nelson turned to Sarah. ”Does supper have to be eaten now or can it wait for a while?”
“It’s just sandwiches, so it can wait. Why do you ask?”
“You’re not leaving me out when you buy paint. We’ll go as soon as Sam gets here and then we’ll all eat when we get back from the store.” Sam pulled up and they were on the way. At the store they found everything they wanted and needed in stock. They enquired about hiring someone to do the work for them.
“Our man is able to start work in the morning if you want him to. His next job was cancelled, actually just a few minutes before you came in.”
On the way back to the house, Sarah said. ” I’d like to see if I can do some of the cleaning in the apartment tonight if you don’t mind.”
“Me too!” everyone said. When they got back to the house Nelson said.
“Sarah, you and Suzy get the cleaning supplies while the rest of us fix sandwiches.” By the time they had found everything they would need, their supper was on the table. Everyone made short work of the meal as they were all ready to get started.
By the time Suzy had gone to sleep on an old couch in the living room, it was already midnight and everyone was very tired. The kitchen, bathroom and all the cabinets had been cleaned. The woodwork in the living room and bedroom would have to be cleaned after the painting and papering was done. Everything was finished the next day including packing and moving furniture.
“Oh Lord! Where did that fog come from?” Sue said as soon as she got out on the highway. It seemed to swirl around her out of nowhere. Even though it was very thick, she could still see about a car length ahead of her. It still took her over half an hour to reach the next town. By the time she approached the gas station on the corner, the fog had disappeared. She turned north on to main street and realized something was different. That gas station had been closed for several years the last time she was in town. But now it was very busy.
“Why not”? She muttered. ”Gas is only 35¢ a gallon and I paid over forty this morning.” She drove up Main Street, past the funeral home. It seemed different too. Duncan’s drugstore was busy as usual.
“Looks like the same old snooty bunch going in.” She muttered, just before she crossed the railroad tracks. Stopping at the corner of Main and Sale, she looked around. One corner had the Starr store that sold dry goods. The Douglas Hotel stood on the opposite side with a barber shop in it and a café in the basement. On the third corner was a bank and on the fourth stood the candy kitchen. After making her turn, she drove several blocks until she came to the old High School corner. Her heart began beating faster as she turned back north for the three blocks it would take to get to the Brookside café. “Will Nelson be there?” she wondered. Pausing just inside the door, she didn’t realize how lovely she looked. Short and curly, dark brown hair, baby blue eyes with a sweet smile and a nice figure. Even though she had worked hard to regain her slim body, she still thought of herself being chubby.
“Hi Love! Over here.” Someone called and waved at her from a corner booth. She would know those broad shoulders on a six foot body, dark hair, twinkling bright eyes and big smile anywhere. They gave each other a long awaited hug before sitting down.
“Hello Nelson! I’m so glad you were able to meet me here. How long can you visit with me this time?”
“I’m sorry Sue, but I only have a couple of hours before I have to be back to work. I’m the new manager of the Douglas Hotel and Café here in Tuscola. If you remember when we were in school, I told you I’d be a manager of a big restaurant somewhere. I’ll get there yet, but it may take a few more years.” Sue remembered very well. The last time they were together he told her he had been a ditch digger, a farm hand, a dishwasher and a cook in several counties around Central Illinois. “I know it’s a little early for dinner, but would you eat with me at the Hotel before I have to go to work?” Nelson said. ”Or do you have another date this time?”
Sue thought. “He’s remembering the last time we met that I had an appointment and refused to cancel. If I had, I wouldn’t be the owner of two hotels plus co-owner of another.” Sue said out loud. ”I would love to have dinner with you.” Nelson excused himself to make arrangements.
”I have to make a call.” He used the phone at the back of the room to call the restaurant and to reserve the most private table they had to be set with candles and a single rose. The dinner he ordered was romantic and included a bottle of wine.
There was still time after eating for a quiet walk around Sale Street holding hands and window shop. Sue would’ve been just as happy with a hot, roast beef sandwich with mashed potatoes, covered with mushroom gravy. She still couldn’t get used to fancy food after all her years in the business world. Back at the hotel, Nelson got her registered and handed her the key to the room. They slipped their arms around each other and climbed slowly up the stairs. The door was unlocked and they stepped inside. Nelson took her in his arms and kissed her.
“I’ve waited so long for you to come back so I hope those days are over.” As Sue started to respond, his kisses deepened and it was several minutes before they realized her phone was ringing. His kiss was so powerful that she answered it while holding on to him for support.
“Hello…Yes he’s here…It’s for you, a woman.” She said, holding the phone out to him. Even before taking it from her, he knew something tragic was about to happen, again.
“Hello…Yes, this is Nelson Petrone.” As he listened, his eyes became glazed and he turned white with shock. Dropping the phone, he sank into a chair behind him. Sue picked it back up and talked quietly to the person on the other end. Nelson’s daughter and his housekeeper had an accident caused by a drunken driver just the same way his wife was killed several years before. As Sue hung up the phone, Nelson got to his feet and said. “I must go!”
“I’ll drive. You are in no shape to do that right now.” She said as she took him by the arm. Leaving word at the desk, she quickly drove to the E.R. Once there, she approached the desk. “How is the Petrone family? This is Mr. Petrone.” The nurse looked at Nelson and saw how pale he was.
”Just a minute and I’ll check to see if the Doctor is done treating them yet.” As she left, another nurse handed Sue and Nelson a cup of coffee.
” Please sit down and relax till the Doctor comes.” His eyes were still glazed a little later when the nurse came back with the physician.
“How is she Doc?” Nelson enquired.
“She’s better than we first thought. She has a bump on her head and cuts from broken glass, but otherwise she’s okay. Your housekeeper has a slight concussion and a broken arm. She covered Suzy with her body the second before impact. I want to keep your daughter overnight to be sure she doesn’t have a concussion. Can you find someone to take care of her if I let her go home in the morning?”
Sue said. “I’m on vacation now so I can stay and help out with…Suzy? Her name is Suzy? Why didn’t you tell me?” She said in a stunned voice.
“I thought you would already know by the way I feel about you!” Nelson said softly enough that the doctor or the nurse couldn’t hear him.
The doctor asked. “Would you like to see them before they are taken to a room?”
“Yes we do.” Nelson said, and in a softer voice to Sue. ”I know Suzy will love you on sight and we have a lot to talk about before morning.” Nelson took Sue by the hand and neared the table where his daughter was sitting. As the nurse closed the door behind her, Nelson said. ” Suzy do you remember when I told you about the lady you were named after?” Suzy’s eyes started to sparkle and with a big grin she said.
”Oh Daddy! Is this her? I just knew it was. She looks just like you said she would. Oh..! I think I saw you in the paper today. It was on the corner where we stopped to mail a letter, just before we got hit by that crazy man.”
“What was your picture doing in the paper?” Nelson asked, frowning at Sue.
“I was interviewed about the job I have helping hotels with problems. I’ll tell you more about it when we get back to the Douglas. It’s time for this little one to be in bed. Here’s the nurse to take her up now. Good night darling. We’ll see you in the morning and we’ll bring you clean clothes when we come to pick you up.” Sue gave her a hug and stepped back so Nelson could do the same. Suzy whispered to Nelson, not knowing Sue could hear her.
“Oh daddy, I like her.”
“So do I sweetheart!” Nelson replied. ”So do I.”
“If he didn’t like me, why did he kiss me like he did?” Sue giggled to herself. Nelson had known his little girl would like her name sake when she saw her but he didn’t know the feeling would be returned several times over. Later at the hotel when Nelson and Sue were alone, other feelings soon took over and they soon forgot about the talk they were planning to have.
The next morning, Sue went on up to Suzy’s room while she was waiting for Nelson to join her. As she passed the coat room, she heard someone crying. ” What’s wrong sweetie? Do you need someone to talk to?”
“I was fired for something that wasn’t my fault. My car wouldn’t start this morning so I had to call a taxi which made me late for work. When I was hurrying down the hall, the head nurse came around a corner and we ran into each other. The tray she was carrying flew out of her hands and the medicine scattered all over the floor. That made the patient’s getting their medicine later than usual and also made the nurse madder than she already was. She was busy watching a new, good looking Doctor coming from the other way.”
“Would you like a job being a housekeeper for Suzy Petrone and her father?” Sue asked. “They live in the country, just a few minutes from town.”
“I know where he lives. When do you want me? Do you want me to go to the house?” Sarah replied.
“Since you had to call a taxi to come to work, you can go with us when we take Suzy home. Will you pick up your things and meet us at the checkout desk? I’ll talk to the manager for you.” Sue met up with the person in charge and told him what took place. She also told him if the price of the medicine is taken from Sarah’s check, the hospital wouldn’t get their usual donation from her and highly recommended that the nurse should apologize to Sarah. Since the donation was a large one, the manager lost no time in finding the head nurse.
“I know what happened this morning between you and Sarah Mercer. If you had been watching where you were going instead of that Doctor, it wouldn’t have happened. If you want to keep your job, you better apologize to her at once and tell her to come to my office before she leaves the hospital. She’s waiting at the checkout desk for the Petrone girl.” The nurse rushed away when she saw the young girl approaching. As she reached the desk, she spotted Sarah talking to a man and woman.
“Excuse me. May I speak to you Sarah?” She nodded. ”I’m sorry for what happened this morning. Will you forgive me? I had just seen a friend I had gone to school with and I didn’t know that he was a Doctor”. As she started to walk away she turned back. ”Oh Sarah. The manager wants to see you for a minute before you leave. Please?” Sarah looked at Sue with a puzzled look.
“What’s happened to her? She’s a different woman!”
“Why don’t you run on and talk to the manager. Maybe he’ll tell you. We’ll be waiting for you in the gift shop.” Sarah knocked before stepping inside his office.
”You wanted to see me sir?”
“Yes, I did. I presume the head nurse spoke to you and apologized for this morning?”
“Yes sir, she did.”
“I thought you might need your check before the end of the month. I had it made out for you with an extra week added for the hassle to your nerves. The nurse had no right to treat you as she did.”
Sarah felt like she was walking on air as she descended the stairs to meet back up with the others. It had been a long time since anyone, except for Sue, had treated her as nice as the manager had. As she approached the others, she had such a joyful look on her face that Sue almost giggled out loud. She knew why Sarah was happy and was pretty sure what the manager had told her.
When they arrived back at the Petrone’s home, Sarah called her husband Sam. ”I got fired at the hospital today but I have a new job as housekeeper for the Petrone’s. You can reach me here if you need me for anything.”
“We got a letter from the Landlord today telling us we have to move by the end of the month. He sold the house without even telling us it was for sale.” Her husband explained.
“We’ll try to figure it out when I get home.”
A few days later, Sarah wandered out into the back garden. She stopped and stared. It looked like a jungle and it had been ignored and neglected for years and all the trees and shrubs needed trimming. The weeds were waist high in most of the flower beds and grass had fallen over where the walks were supposed to be. A narrow path peeked through the tall grass. Sarah followed it. She saw a small shed and started to open the door wider when she heard a sound like a motor running. Inside there were several kinds of garden tools hanging from the walls and scattered on the floor. The sound was coming from a box in the far corner. Tiptoeing toward the sound, she saw lying on some old rags, the prettiest mother cat she had ever seen. She was the color of the setting sun after a spring rain. In the ray of sunshine that was coming through a hole, she noticed the mother cat had three little ones. Two were the same color as she was and the other one was dark grey. Sarah spoke softly to her.
“Well hello. Aren’t you the pretty one? May I see your babies?” She placed her hand on the feline’s head, scratched behind her ears and down her side.
”Meeoow!” And purred louder than ever. Sarah picked up one of the babies and saw that it needed more milk than it had been getting. She guessed they were two or three weeks old. Momma could do with some more meat on her bones too. Sarah went back to the house to get some tuna casserole left from lunch and some milk from the refrigerator. She took a tuna can from the trash and a pie pan from the cabinet before heading back out the door. Just then Suzy came into the kitchen.
“Where are you going with all that stuff?”
“I found a gold colored cat in the shed and I think she might be a little hungry.” Suzy’s eyes got big.
“Goldie! Do you think it’s her? She got out the door again a long time ago and I couldn’t find her. I put food out on the steps but I don’t know if she was the one that ate it.” Sarah handed the containers to her and they went back out to the shed. Suzy and Goldie were very happy to see each other. The Mother cat and kittens were placed on the floor with the food as they watched Momma lap up all the milk and gobble the tuna casserole. The little ones tried tasting the meat dish while the bigger kitten attempted to growl at them. Suzy spent a few more minutes watching and playing with the little family before going back inside and letting them catnap. When Nelson came home for supper, Sarah asked him about a gardener and filled him in about the cat and kittens in the shed. He was very happy that they were found. He had also missed her just as much.
“Sarah, can Sam do garden work? I should have had something done about it before now, but I lost all interest in it after Ann was killed.”
“Yes. He’s been looking for that kind of work.” Sarah replied.
“Call and tell him to come over and I’ll show him around. The apartment over the garage goes with the job. You can move in as soon as it’s been cleaned up.” Nelson said. He had recalled Sarah’s predicament they were in. Her landlord didn’t give her any option but to move out. When Sarah had asked about the gardener job, he remembered about the apartment over the garage. It had been used by the handyman and the housekeeper before he bought the property. Sue came in just as Nelson was telling Sarah about it.
“I’ll help you two do the work if we can’t find anyone to do it right. The hardware store is open late tonight so we can order it if they don’t have it in stock.”
Nelson turned to Sarah. ”Does supper have to be eaten now or can it wait for a while?”
“It’s just sandwiches, so it can wait. Why do you ask?”
“You’re not leaving me out when you buy paint. We’ll go as soon as Sam gets here and then we’ll all eat when we get back from the store.” Sam pulled up and they were on the way. At the store they found everything they wanted and needed in stock. They enquired about hiring someone to do the work for them.
“Our man is able to start work in the morning if you want him to. His next job was cancelled, actually just a few minutes before you came in.”
On the way back to the house, Sarah said. ” I’d like to see if I can do some of the cleaning in the apartment tonight if you don’t mind.”
“Me too!” everyone said. When they got back to the house Nelson said.
“Sarah, you and Suzy get the cleaning supplies while the rest of us fix sandwiches.” By the time they had found everything they would need, their supper was on the table. Everyone made short work of the meal as they were all ready to get started.
By the time Suzy had gone to sleep on an old couch in the living room, it was already midnight and everyone was very tired. The kitchen, bathroom and all the cabinets had been cleaned. The woodwork in the living room and bedroom would have to be cleaned after the painting and papering was done. Everything was finished the next day including packing and moving furniture.