and then into the open dining room.
“So, the first few layers weren’t lead, huh?” He asked as he knelt down in front of the cabinet and ran his hands along the rough layers of various paints.
“Yeah. I thought I was all clear, but layer three was lead. Do I need to call in a remediation company?”
He could hear the slight worry creeping into her voice. “Well, lead is serious business. The EPA needs to be notified and you need to use a certified contractor for proper disposal.”
“Any idea how much something like that will cost?”
Knox straightened up and noticed for the first time the broken panels of stained glass. “Well, I can’t help you on the disposal. That’s regulated by the state and I expect it’ll cost a couple thousand. As far as a contractor that’s licensed to remove the lead, I can do it for you.”
“Oh, no I couldn’t.” She babbled. “I mean, you have your own work to do.”
Knox crossed his arms over his chest and waited for her to run out of steam. She was adorable when she was flustered.
“Well, Jerry’s certified too.”
“Jerry? Oh, Jerry.”
She couldn’t believe this was happening! Having Knox here working everyday would be a nightmare—or a dream come true. Would she be able to get any work done while he was here? But if she said no, she’d be insulting him.
“I’d be thrilled if you’d take on this project. What do you charge?”
“Like I said, the disposal of hazardous materials will be a couple grand, but I’ll do the work. No charge.”
Now she was speechless.
Knox realized the gigantic mistake he’d just made. Why on earth had he offered to do the work for free? He may as well have hired a sky writer to say, “I LIKE YOU.” God, he was an idiot.
“I have time between projects and I don’t mind keeping busy on something like this.” He gestured to the house. “It’ll be fun.”
Madeline laughed. “Not a lot of people think this kind of work is fun.”
“I guess we’re not most people.”
She swiveled back around at his serious tone and studied his face.
“No.” She answered softly. “I guess we’re not.”
“I’ll start tomorrow.” He nodded and headed for the door.
“Wait. Is Kayla here? I thought I heard her car.”
“No, she dropped me off.”
“Oh.” Madeline responded, wondering how he was planning to get back to town. “I was going to call it quits for the day. Can I give you a lift?”
Knox warred with himself. He’d told Kayla to pick him back up in a half an hour, but with Madeline leaving, he’d seem like an idiot for not accepting the ride.
“Sure.”
“I just have to clean up my tools and lock up.”
“Okay.” He nodded and went out the front door and sat on the stoop. The old Knox would’ve offered to help her. He wondered if she thought him rude for not offering. Had Kayla told her anything about his eyes? Knowing his sister, she probably had. But then again, Madeline had agreed to have him do the woodwork without a second thought. He kicked at the gravel path. He needed to bite this particular bullet if he was going to be around her every day. He hated it, but he had to do it.
When he heard her coming through the door, he turned.
“Um, listen. I should probably tell you something before I start on the woodwork.”
Maddie stopped midway down the brick steps and waited. “What’s the matter?”
“Did Kay mention anything to you about me? About…my eyes?” He asked and ducked his head; thrusting his hands deep into the front pockets of his jeans.
“She said you were injured in Iraq.”
“Yeah. I, ah, I don’t see as well as I used to.” Now he looked up and smiled. “Don’t worry, I can still see fine close up. I won’t start gauging the woodwork or anything.”
“No, I mean, yeah. I’ve seen your work and I’m not worried.” She offered.
“I don’t drive anymore, though.”
“Oh.”
“You about ready?” He asked, trying to steer the conversation anywhere
“So, the first few layers weren’t lead, huh?” He asked as he knelt down in front of the cabinet and ran his hands along the rough layers of various paints.
“Yeah. I thought I was all clear, but layer three was lead. Do I need to call in a remediation company?”
He could hear the slight worry creeping into her voice. “Well, lead is serious business. The EPA needs to be notified and you need to use a certified contractor for proper disposal.”
“Any idea how much something like that will cost?”
Knox straightened up and noticed for the first time the broken panels of stained glass. “Well, I can’t help you on the disposal. That’s regulated by the state and I expect it’ll cost a couple thousand. As far as a contractor that’s licensed to remove the lead, I can do it for you.”
“Oh, no I couldn’t.” She babbled. “I mean, you have your own work to do.”
Knox crossed his arms over his chest and waited for her to run out of steam. She was adorable when she was flustered.
“Well, Jerry’s certified too.”
“Jerry? Oh, Jerry.”
She couldn’t believe this was happening! Having Knox here working everyday would be a nightmare—or a dream come true. Would she be able to get any work done while he was here? But if she said no, she’d be insulting him.
“I’d be thrilled if you’d take on this project. What do you charge?”
“Like I said, the disposal of hazardous materials will be a couple grand, but I’ll do the work. No charge.”
Now she was speechless.
Knox realized the gigantic mistake he’d just made. Why on earth had he offered to do the work for free? He may as well have hired a sky writer to say, “I LIKE YOU.” God, he was an idiot.
“I have time between projects and I don’t mind keeping busy on something like this.” He gestured to the house. “It’ll be fun.”
Madeline laughed. “Not a lot of people think this kind of work is fun.”
“I guess we’re not most people.”
She swiveled back around at his serious tone and studied his face.
“No.” She answered softly. “I guess we’re not.”
“I’ll start tomorrow.” He nodded and headed for the door.
“Wait. Is Kayla here? I thought I heard her car.”
“No, she dropped me off.”
“Oh.” Madeline responded, wondering how he was planning to get back to town. “I was going to call it quits for the day. Can I give you a lift?”
Knox warred with himself. He’d told Kayla to pick him back up in a half an hour, but with Madeline leaving, he’d seem like an idiot for not accepting the ride.
“Sure.”
“I just have to clean up my tools and lock up.”
“Okay.” He nodded and went out the front door and sat on the stoop. The old Knox would’ve offered to help her. He wondered if she thought him rude for not offering. Had Kayla told her anything about his eyes? Knowing his sister, she probably had. But then again, Madeline had agreed to have him do the woodwork without a second thought. He kicked at the gravel path. He needed to bite this particular bullet if he was going to be around her every day. He hated it, but he had to do it.
When he heard her coming through the door, he turned.
“Um, listen. I should probably tell you something before I start on the woodwork.”
Maddie stopped midway down the brick steps and waited. “What’s the matter?”
“Did Kay mention anything to you about me? About…my eyes?” He asked and ducked his head; thrusting his hands deep into the front pockets of his jeans.
“She said you were injured in Iraq.”
“Yeah. I, ah, I don’t see as well as I used to.” Now he looked up and smiled. “Don’t worry, I can still see fine close up. I won’t start gauging the woodwork or anything.”
“No, I mean, yeah. I’ve seen your work and I’m not worried.” She offered.
“I don’t drive anymore, though.”
“Oh.”
“You about ready?” He asked, trying to steer the conversation anywhere
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