“That I can do.”
After spackling for the rest of the day, I clean up and head outside with a bag of scraps to toss into the trash.
But when I get to the side of my house, my garbage pail is missing.
“I rolled out the garbage for you, Miss Bridges. Pickup is tomorrow.”
My head snaps up toward Jim Russo’s voice. He’s standing on his porch in his uniform.
“Thank you, sir. You didn’t have to do that.”
“It’s not a problem at all.” His gaze flicks down to my stained clothes. “How’s it going in there? My boys mentioned you’re doing some renovating.”
“I’m just doing minor things for now. I’ll have to hire someone to take care of the roof, and the deck out back.” I give him a sheepish smile. “It’s overwhelming when I think about it all at once, so I’m starting slow.”
“I have a guy who can take a look at your bulkhead. I have a roof guy too.” He chuckles. “I know a lot of guys. I’ll get you their business cards.”
“That’d be great. Thank you so much.”
I turn to walk down the driveway, but he calls out to me again. “Miss Bridges, do you have dinner plans?”
“No, sir.”
“Why don’t you join us tonight?”
I shake my head. “I wouldn’t want to impose. Thank you for the offer though.”
He waves a dismissive hand. “Nonsense. It’s not an imposition. We’d love to have you.”
I stare into his kind eyes.Won’t it be awkward to have dinner with people I hardly know?
His round cheeks push up as he smiles. “All my sons do is argue at the table. Put me out of my misery so I have someone to talk to.”
I bite back a smile. “They do argue a lot, huh?”
He scrubs a hand over his jaw. “Miss Bridges, you have no idea.”
I take a deep breath. “Let me get cleaned up, and I’ll be there.”
“Fantastic. I’ll see you soon.”
I change into a pair of jeans and pull on a black long-sleeve top. I rake a brush through my long strands and staring at my plain reflection in the mirror, I figure a little mascara won’t hurt either. I know I’m not as put-together on the inside as I look on the outside right now, but Dr. Erica told me to fake it until I make it. It’s the first time I’ve put effort into my appearance, and it feels kind of good.
After I grab a box of cookies from the mini-mart down the road, I head over to the Russo’s. My father taught me to never show up anywhere empty-handed, and I smile down at the box in my hands.
Miss you, Dad.
The door swings open, and Leo’s wide grin greets me. “Hey, neighbor.”
I sweep my hand in front of my body. “See this? This is how to enter a neighbor’s home. One person rings the bell, and the other person lets them in.”
“Very civilized. I prefer climbing in through the window.” He smirks as he grips my forearm and yanks me into the house. “Come on. We can watch my brother have a meltdown in the kitchen.”
“Why is he having a meltdown?” My eyes bounce around as I’m dragged through the hallway. Their house is the exact model as mine, except theirs looks more like a home. Lived in. Pictures hang from the walls, and shoes are scattered around the entryway.
“Because he takes his cooking very seriously, and you’re the first guest we’ve had in forever.” He eyes my chest. “Well, the first female guest.”
I swat his arm. “Don’t look at my boobs unless you want to eat your dinner through a straw tonight.”