Paradise on the Dunes

Chapter 5

  "Matt is here".

Jenny's cheerful voice echoed up to the second floor, where her mom was moving clothes from the suitcase to the closet. Shelly left the last pile of neatly folded shirts and scarves on the bed and looked down through the window. The caramel Labrador jumped from the bed of the pickup truck as Matt got out of the cabin.

Anxiety crawled up Shelly's legs. Her first impression about Matt, the threatening muscular man at the beach the day before, had faded, giving way to a more realistic perception of who he was. However, she couldn't shake off her nervousness about the upcoming renovation. Every change would solidify the commitment to Paradise. Was this the right move? Wouldn't it be wiser and easier to just call the fine, nosy realtor, Aurora Davis, and put Paradise on the market? Jenna would object again and again, but Shelly was the mother, right? She was the one in charge of all the decisions regarding their future.

With a grunt, Shelly watched Jenna throw a stick for the dog to fetch. She laughed and tapped her hands on her thighs, calling the Labrador back. Those easy laughs hadn't come easily since Marco's death. Light moments like that were a rare commodity in their home lately.

Shelly pulled a white linen scarf from the pile in the closet and threw it around her shoulders. If only she could blink and be back home, with all the troubles of the approaching summer behind her. But she wasn't Jeannie of that seventies' show, and summer was just beginning.

"Mom," the clear sound of Jenna's voice rang on Shelly's eardrums like bells at Christmas.

"Coming." She shut her eyes for a second and savored the liquid love flowing in her chest like warm sap. She framed her mind as to think about the renovation project step by step. Fixing a leaky tap, putting up the kitchen cabinets, giving some walls a fresh coat of paint.

Done. Gone.

Jenny would be happy, and they could go back home at the end of the summer, possibly leaving a 'For Sale' sign in front of Paradise. By then, Jenna would be too eager to go back home and see her friends to dispute the decision.

"Mom, can you believe Hunter knows the name of some tools?" Jenny swung her body as she held onto the staircase banister.

Shelly nodded mindlessly and looked at the man under the archway between the living-room and the kitchen. His lips formed a straight line as his eyes perused the room. The dog barked somewhere outside the house.

"Hi, thanks for coming." Shelly ambled halfway in Matt's direction and stopped.

He looked at her. His furrowed eyebrows relaxed. He attempted a smile. "Not a problem."

"If you say 'hammer', Hunter sniffs Matt's tool belt and barks when he finds the hammer." Jenna pulled her cellphone from her shorts pocket and flashed a video to her mom. "See?"

Shelly watched the short video and looked back at Matt. "Smart dog."

"No harm in training a dog to be useful," Matt said.

Shelly nodded and cleared her throat. "I guess you must be busy. Why don't we start in the kitchen?"

Jenna stepped in first. "We desperately need cabinets."

"I believe my husband asked you to remove the cabinets a while ago." It seemed like so long ago, and yet, the pain was fresh in Shelly's heart.

"That's correct. He wanted new ones. You wanted the original cabinets. Refurbished." He took the tape measure from his belt and pulled out the blade.

"Yes, yes. We want practical cabinets with clean lines." Shelly watched him as he took some measurements above the counter.

"Practical cabinets?" In disbelief, Jenna's gaze locked onto her mom. "You make it sound like cabinets in a doctor's office. She turned to Matt. "Clean lines, yes, but elegant."

That was going to be a long summer, Shelly considered. "I didn't mean that, but since we won't live here permanently—"

"Dad would've liked nice cabinets." Jenna stood tall, resting her hands on her hips.

"I understand what you both mean. Don't worry. We can find what you like." Matt released the lock of the tape, and the blade slashed back in. "You can send me pictures of what you like and will go from there."

Shelly sighed softly. "Thank you."

"What else would you like me to do?" he asked.

"Renovate the bathrooms," Jenna jumped in. She strolled to the stairs. "Let's go upstairs."

Shelly pursed her lips. She glanced at Matt when he said:

"It's OK."

What did he mean? OK to renovate? OK that Jenna was too excited about the project, not worrying about the cost?

She toyed with the hem of her scarf and motioned Matt to the stairs.

Matt measured while Jenna asked about tiles and vanities in the first bathroom. Shelly leaned against the wall, hoping Jenna would realize the futility of spending money on granite tops and iron-claw bathtubs. Her daughter was well-versed in home improvement terminology from watching too many shows. However, she lacked knowledge about the cost.

"The tiles are in good shape," Matt said. "Fresh paint on the walls, a new showerhead and a big mirror would spruce up the place."

Thank you, Matt Carter, Shelly thought. "Agree."

"Can we at least have a new bathtub?" Jenna made a face and pointed at the old bathtub.

"Maybe," Shelly said.

Fortunately, Jenna wasn't too interested in discussing the master bedroom ensuite. Shelly found it peculiar when her daughter announced she was going outside to check on Hunter.

"She's excited, but this is difficult for her." Shelly clasped her hands.

"What is?" Matt put the tape measure back in his belt and crossed his arms.

"This renovation without her dad. He passed, you know."

Matt nodded and uncrossed his arms. "I heard. I'm sorry."

Small town grapevine. Shelly glanced over to the blue sky framed by the window, then back at the man in front of her. "Thanks."

After discussing the options to refresh the bathroom, they went back downstairs. Shelly heard laughter and barks coming from the open front door.

"I'll send you a quote of the project later." Matt typed a few notes on his phone.

"And when can you start?" Shelly asked.

"You pick the material, and I'll start as soon as I buy it."

They stepped out onto the porch. Hunter sprinted towards Jenna, carrying a stick in his mouth. Matt thanked Shelly and whistled for the dog, who looked torn between being faithful to his owner and playing with Jenna. At last, Hunter jumped onto the bed of the pickup. Leaving a trail of dust, the car rode down the driveway toward the road.

"When is Matt starting the reno?" Jenna cleaned her hands on the jean shorts and walk to her mother.

"As soon as he buys the material. He'll send a quote later." Shelly pulled off her scarf and folded it.

"Very efficient. I'm glad Matt has time for our small project." Jenna rolled her eyes.

"Jenna," Shelly sighed. "We don't have a lot of time or money to waste."

Her daughter clenched her fists. "A cheap job for Dad, that's what this is." She walked past her mom and disappeared inside the house.

Where was the girl who was laughing minutes ago? Shelly pressed her folded scarf on her forehead. The breeze did little to cool the heat that burned her chest. Things were so much easier to solve with Marco by her side, even when he acted on a whim, like buying Paradise. At least Shelly didn't have to deal with the implications of his impulsive decisions.

That was then. Now Shelly was on her own to deal with the outcome of the purchase of the house and Jenna's moody attitudes.