My chest warmed at Nathan’s offer, at the knowledge that he and Vic would always be there for me. “If you do that, you’ll piss off who knows how many clients. And I know your waiting list is almost a mile long.”
“Doesn’t matter,” he clipped. “We always have time for you.”
“I know. And I love you for it. But I’m excited to tackle this on my own.” And terrified that I would fall flat on my face.
“All right,” Nathan grumbled.
The video was grainy thanks to barely-there cell service, but I could still make out Vic elbowing Nathan. “What is it?” I asked.
Vic grinned. “We got the Henley house.”
“No way! That’s amazing.” My uncles had been dying to get their hands on one of the historic mansions on Queen Anne for as long as I could remember. It needed more than a little tender loving care, but they were up for the job. “Why didn’t you tell me it had gone up for auction?”
Vic’s expression gentled. “You’ve had a lot going on lately.”
“Never too much to hear about things like this. I’m so happy for you guys.”
“Thanks, Munchkin. We’ll want your input, as always.”
I chuckled. “I live to give my opinion.”
“You know,” Nathan began, “you could sell the resort after you rehab it. Come work for Vic and me. No one has a better design eye than you.”
I tried to reel in the flicker of annoyance. “This has always been my dream. Owning my own place, getting to make it mine. And there’s something really special about it being somewhere that holds so many wonderful memories.” My words hung in the air, no one speaking for a moment.
“I know this is what you’ve always wanted. But we worry about you, Pipe.”
The use of Nathan’s favorite nickname for me softened his words, but not enough. I pushed to my feet. “It’s important to me.”
“We know,” Vic said, sending Nathan a stern look. “And we’ll do anything we can to support you along the way. We just wish we could be there to help you.”
The set of my shoulders eased a fraction. “I appreciate that. But I really can handle it. And if I have a crisis, I’ll call.”
“Good. I don’t know how much it will ease this one’s worrying, though.” Vic ruffled Nathan’s hair. “He doesn’t like you running that place alone.”
I rolled my eyes. “I have Bruno. And pepper spray. No one’s going to mess with me.”
Bruno lifted his head as if to ask, “Really?”
Nathan frowned at the camera. “Maybe I should come out there for a week and get some security installed. Check out this construction crew and make sure they’re legit.”
I sent Vic a pleading look. “Keep him under control, would you?”
“I’ll do what I can, but I make no promises.”
I let out a groan. “Just remember, all my money is tied up in this resort. I won’t have anything for your bail if you get arrested for punching someone because they showed up at the Falls. You might be stuck there until your trial.”
Nathan grinned. “Worth it.”
“All right, guys, I need to go. My interview should be here any minute. Love you both.”
“Love you, too,” they echoed.
“Don’t forget to send photos of the Henley house,” I called as I hung up. Leaning down, I rubbed Bruno behind the ears. He let out another grumbling rumble. “I know. I miss them, too.”
With one final scratch, I pushed to my feet. Surveying the space around me, I gave myself a nice pat on the back. It wasn’t looking half-bad. I’d vanquished all the dust bunnies and scrubbed and polished every inch of the place. I hoped that people wouldn’t notice some of the rougher edges once I’d filled it with furniture and décor.
I headed outside just as an older Volkswagen Camper van came to a stop with a puff of exhaust smoke. The only thing missing on the sky-blue van was a peace sign painted on the side. Crystals of all shapes, sizes, and colors littered the dashboard. A dreamcatcher hung from the rearview mirror. And the woman behind the wheel looked as if she should be headed to Woodstock instead of a job interview.
I blinked rapidly as she climbed out of the van. Somewhere in her mid-sixties, if I guessed correctly, she wore flowy, wide-legged pants covered in tiny flowers. The number of necklaces looped around her neck would’ve given me a headache, but she seemed to be full of energy as she crossed the space between us in a few long strides.
“You must be Piper.” She extended a hand, taking mine. “I’m Celeste.” Her eyes widened. “Oooooh, good energy.” Then she frowned. “But there are some shadows around your aura. Death in the family? No…breakup?”
I couldn’t find words for the woman in front of me. I simply kept shaking her hand until I realized that it had been a good fifteen seconds. “It’s so nice to meet you. Corrie, my realtor, said you used to work for Mr. Crowley.” She didn’t look familiar, but I hadn’t been overly focused on the staff when I’d come here as a child and teen.
She looked around at the property. “For more years than I can count. I’ll admit, it’s nice to be back at the old place. I’ve missed it.”
“And you’re interested in taking on the housekeeping duties again?” It seemed like a lot of back-breaking work for someone Celeste’s age. But I knew I couldn’t handle it alone.
She laughed. “I’m stronger than I look. And I’ve been bored as sin lately. I liked working here—most of the time anyway. Got to meet all sorts of interesting people. And it kept me busy.”
“Well, I’d love to have you if you want your old job back. I could use someone who knows their way around.”
Celeste beamed. “I know all the nooks, crannies, and hidey holes. And, trust me, in a place like this one, there are a lot.”
I laid out the salary terms, and she was more than agreeable. “Welcome aboard.”
She reached out a hand to shake, making it official. “Happy to be back. Now, let’s talk about regular cleanings.”
Celeste and I walked the grounds, surveying the cabins that still needed cleaning in hopes of having a few more summer tenants taking up residence. She was far sprier than I could’ve ever expected as she started a to-do list on a cell phone that somehow didn’t quite fit with the rest of her persona.
She glanced up. “You’re starting the restorations on the south-end cabins?”
“That’s the plan. Real construction will begin in a couple of weeks, but the contractor, Hunter, is getting a jump start now.”
Celeste waggled her eyebrows. “Best-looking construction crew on the island. Good choice.”
I chuckled. “Let’s hope their work is just as good-looking.”
“Oh, it is. And if you need help clearing the cabins of furniture, I’ve got two grandsons who work for little pay and need to be kept out of trouble this summer.”
“I think I’ll take you up on that. Maybe they can come out tomorrow when you start? I was thinking of storing everything in the old barn.” The property had housed horses at some point, and I could only dream of doing that again someday. But in the meantime, the barn was in pretty decent shape for storage.