Love on the Lake

Chapter 2 : To Do List

*Juliet*

My internal alarm wakes me up at 6:30 in the morning and it takes me a few seconds to realize where I am. The events of yesterday come rushing back to me so I lay in bed staring at the ceiling for a few minutes before I push myself to get up. Taking a cold shower helps wake me up even more and it gives me a little more energy for the day ahead.

When I am dressed for the day, I go to sit at the desk in my room. I grab my tablet from my bag and pull up my “to do" list. I already have a few things on the list but I know it's about to get a lot longer today after I take inventory of the house and everything that needs to be done.

Daniel gave me the contact information for everyone that I might need, including a local real estate agent. I still haven't decided what I'm going to do with the house but I am leaning toward selling it. It just makes the most sense to me.

My school, friends, and career are in a different city in a different state. I wouldn't be able to live here and I don't think I would be able to afford to have a second home. My parents have already offered to help if I want to keep the house but are also supportive of me selling it if that is the right thing.

I add speaking to the realtor to my list.

The first thing I add to my list is the easiest: pack up my grandparents' closets. I can do that quickly because I won't want to keep anything and then I can make a run into town to donate them and run some errands.

I tap notes on my tablet and try to make a schedule for the time I'm here. Mapping out a schedule helped me during school so I figure it will help here as well.

I push back from the desk and take a deep breath before opening the bedroom door, stepping out into the hallway, and making my way down the hall into the living room. I can see some sunlight peaking through the cracks in the frames and realize Logan was right. Ouch, that is going to cost a lot. Hopefully, it's only a few windows and not all of them.

I push the thought out of my mind. I'm sure Logan will bring it up when I see him in about an hour anyway.

“Okay, where to begin," I say to myself, holding my tablet to my chest. While I survey the room, my stomach starts to rumble and I make my decision. “I guess I'll begin with breakfast."

The kitchen will probably be the most costly part of this project. It's a big kitchen but it is also very, very outdated. My grandparents loved the original kitchen but had to upgrade it in the 80s so while it is still functional, it is in great need of renovation.

I dig through the cabinets, the fridge, and the freezer and eventually find some bread and jam that is expiring soon. I make myself some toast and spread the jam on thick. While I munch on the toast, I start to take inventory of the items in the kitchen. I find a few old plastic plates, cups, bowls, etc. I set all of those aside in a pile for trash because I think they are too worn out to be donated.

I get most of the dishes sorted out, keeping sets together and designating a corner of the counter for items to donate. Everything is clean which makes it easier for me. I just need to bag everything and haul it to my car and get it to the donation center. I will probably be making a lot of trips there.

Working in the kitchen brings back a lot of memories. I find my favorite plate from when I was younger. My grandmother brought out the same plate every visit and served a steamy breakfast.

There's a knock on the door that halts my progress. I look at the clock on the wall and it shows that it's five till nine. That must be Logan.

“Just a second!" I call out, hoping he can hear me from back here.

I quickly put my dishes in the dishwasher. I wipe my hands on my jeans and head to the front door. I check my reflection in the mirror and scold myself. Logan is my contractor, he is here to work.

“Hey!" I say when I swing the door open and find Logan on my front porch. My voice is way too loud and cheerful so I cough to clear my throat. “Sorry to keep you waiting, I was working in the kitchen. Come in." I step back and hold the door for him to enter.

“Thanks." Logan steps into the house and surveys the rooms in front of him, holding his clipboard by his leg.

“Before we get started," Logan turns to face me, “I just wanted to apologize for freaking you out last night. I knew you were coming into town soon but wasn't expecting you to show up while I was here. I know it must have been startling to find a strange man on your porch in the late evening."

Logan is very professional and kind of stiff. I can't tell if I find that attractive or if it's helping me cool on him.

“Oh, no, you're fine. It was definitely sketchy because you were surveying the house but that makes sense now that I know you are a professional." I chuckle about the awkward first meeting and Logan smiles slightly.

“Are you ready to get started? I wanted to have you walk around the house with me so we can check everything and discuss any ideas you have for renovations, whether they're major renovations or just something minor," Logan explains and he starts walking to the hallway leading to the bedrooms. “Let's start in the bedrooms."

“Okay." I step into the first room with him. My mom's room.

“For the bedrooms, I don't think we need to do much besides some cosmetic changes. The carpets, we can take up and there might be wooden floors already under them but I have some samples at my office if we need to put down new flooring. We can also talk about putting new carpet in if that is something you would prefer," Logan comments.

We leave Mom's room and go into the bathroom. “For this bathroom, I think the layout is great but it needs an update."

“Oh no, really? I love the pink tiles and leaf sink bowls," I say with a straight face. Logan looks like he's trying to tell if I am serious or not. “I'm kidding, sorry. I actually do love the pink tiles but I know they're outdated and most people don't like them."

“Well, if you are fond of them, we can figure out a way to keep some. Maybe we add the pink tiles as the insert in the new shower. That little indent in the shower where you put your products," Logan explains, wanting to find a solution.

“Yeah, that sounds cool. Thanks." I grin, happy at the idea. Logan nods and smiles down at his clipboard, making notes.

“Okay, let's go to the master bathroom." Logan exits the Jack and Jill bathroom and we head across the hall to the master bedroom.

“Same thing I said about the other room applies here. New flooring and new paint on the walls." Logan gestures around the room as we walk through it and into the bathroom.

“For the bathroom, I think there are better layouts that we should implement. We can't move too much because of where the pipes are but I've already drawn up some options that I think would work better for a master bathroom," Logan continues and he opens his clipboard to pull out a folder with his company name on it.

He hands the folder to me and I open it to find different configurations of the master bathroom. I keep flipping through the papers and find layouts for the kitchen as well as for the other living spaces, in case I want to open the floor plan.

“You can hold onto that folder. Think about which option you'd prefer or if you have ideas of your own. I am open to hearing them as well."

“Okay, this is great. Thanks." I shut the folder to focus on what Logan is saying, excited to look at the layouts later.

I follow Logan out of the bathroom a few minutes later and we continue around the house. Before I know it, a few hours have passed and we'd covered a lot of the renovation ideas for the house. We take an hour break for lunch and then Logan comes back and we finish the walkthrough around the house. Logan also looked over the list of names Daniel gave me and agreed with most of them but also said he has a few of his guys that he could have come out for cheaper and better labor.

“Thank you for making yourself available today. I know this house pretty well after working on a few projects for your grandparents but the walk-through was a great help. I already have an estimate in mind for this project but when I get back to my office I'll make sure everything is correct then I will get back to you with the official estimate. I should have it ready tomorrow but I have to reach out to some of the suppliers I use," Logan explains as he checks his watch. “Okay, I should get back to my office and make those calls."

“Okay. Hey," I say quickly, “they used to have summer bonfire parties here, do they still do that?" I ask Logan as he is starting to pack up his things. “I know the teenagers still do, but obviously I don't want to join that party." I chuckle and Logan ponders the question.

“Actually, yeah. There is something tonight. Do you know the bar off of Main Street, down by the lake? Craters?" Logan asks and I nod in acknowledgment. “I helped them build a bonfire down on the beach and they started hosting Thursday night parties out there. I've heard it's pretty popular."

“You ever been?" I ask, nodding at the idea. I've only been to Craters a couple of times since turning 21 but that was before they put in the firepit.

“Ah, no. I did swing by to make sure the pit was working but I've never stuck around for one of the parties. I'm fine sitting at the bar whenever I need a drink." Logan grunts a little as he picks up his things and hands me his clipboard. “I'll need you to fill out your contact information to make future communication and scheduling easier."

Logan switches back to a professional when asking for my information and I have to stifle a smile. It shouldn't be awkward to ask for my phone number because he needs it for professional reasons but I can feel the tension between us as I take the clipboard from him. I fill out my information and hand it back.

“I will see you tomorrow with the official offer. Do you need packing boxes?" Logan asks as a second thought on his way to the door.

“Yeah, I was going to run into town tomorrow to load up," I explain.

“I have a few extras that you can have. I'll bring them tomorrow," Logan offers. He doesn't wait for me to accept or decline, he just decides for me.

“Thank you," I say as I walk him to the front door. “Same time tomorrow?"

“Sounds good," Logan responds in all seriousness.

When I close the door behind him, I check my phone and see the time is still early, around 3:30 p.m. I should probably get in another hour or so of work before I head to the bonfire at Craters.

I grab a trash bag from the kitchen and head back into my grandparents' room. I start pulling clothes off the racks in their closet and lay everything out on the bed. Even though I know the clothes will more than likely get jumbled in the bag, I still fold them before placing them into the bag.

I clear out my grandfather's side of the closet and then sit down on the bed, looking around the room. It is going to take a lot longer to clear out my grandmother's side of the closet. I chuckle, looking at all her shoes and purses. I might have to go through the shoes to see if I want to keep any of them. She always had great taste.

I check my phone again and see that I've killed a few hours and once again my stomach grumbles at me that it needs food. I decide to freshen up before heading out.