Mr.Brightside

chapter 135

Building Momentum

The Council House buzzed with activity as the first stages of renovation began. Clara stood in the middle of the main hall, now filled with the hum of drills and the chatter of workers. Ladders leaned against the high walls, and drop cloths covered the floors. The air smelled of fresh wood and sawdust, a tangible reminder that progress was finally happening.

Jordan waved at her from across the room, a clipboard in hand and a pencil tucked behind his ear. "Hey, Clara! Got a minute?"

She weaved through the workers and joined him near the stage. He pointed at a section of the blueprint that had been taped to the wall.

"We're ahead of schedule on the roof repairs, but there's an issue with the plumbing in the east wing. Pipes are older than we thought, so we'll need to replace more than planned. It's going to eat into the budget."

Clara frowned, leaning in to study the plans. "How much are we talking?"

"Rough estimate? Five to seven grand," Jordan said.

Clara sighed, rubbing her temples. "We've got some cushion, but we'll have to shuffle things around. Let's prioritize the essential repairs for now and put any cosmetic upgrades on hold if we need to."

Jordan nodded. "Got it. I'll update the team."

By lunchtime, Clara stepped outside for some air. The crisp autumn breeze carried the scent of fallen leaves, and she allowed herself a moment to breathe deeply, centering herself.

She heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Jack approaching, two steaming cups of coffee in hand.

"You looked like you could use this," he said, offering her one.

"You're officially my favorite person today," Clara said, accepting the cup with a grateful smile.

Jack chuckled. "Rough morning?"

"Just the usual surprises," she replied, blowing on the coffee before taking a sip. "Plumbing issues, budget adjustments, and not enough hours in the day."

"You're handling it like a champ," Jack said, leaning against the railing beside her. "Most people would've lost their minds by now."

Clara gave a small laugh. "Who says I haven't? I'm just good at hiding it."

Jack studied her for a moment, his expression softening. "You're not in this alone, you know. If there's anything you need—anything at all—you just have to say the word."

She met his gaze, the sincerity in his voice grounding her. "Thanks, Jack. That means a lot."

The afternoon brought a surprise visit from Mrs. Hargrove, who arrived with a box of freshly baked cookies for the workers.

"I figured you could all use a little pick-me-up," she said, setting the box down on a makeshift table in the corner.

Clara beamed. "You're a lifesaver, Mrs. Hargrove. The crew is going to love these."

Mrs. Hargrove patted Clara's arm affectionately. "I just wanted to see how things are coming along. It's already looking so much better in here."

"It is," Clara agreed, her voice tinged with pride. "There's still a long way to go, but we're making progress."

Mrs. Hargrove nodded, her gaze sweeping over the busy room. "You're doing something incredible here, Clara. This place will be a blessing for so many people."

Her words lingered in Clara's mind as she returned to work, giving her a renewed sense of purpose.

As the day wound down, the workers packed up their tools, and the noise of construction faded into silence. Clara sat at one of the tables, reviewing the day's notes and making adjustments to the budget.

Jack joined her, pulling up a chair and setting a takeout container in front of her. "Dinner," he announced.

Clara raised an eyebrow. "I didn't even realize I was hungry."

"That's why I'm here," Jack said with a grin. "To remind you to eat and occasionally force you to take breaks."

She opened the container, the smell of pasta wafting up. "You're the best, you know that?"

"So I've been told," Jack said, leaning back in his chair.

They ate in comfortable silence, the weight of the day slowly lifting. As Clara finished the last bite, she set the container aside and leaned back with a satisfied sigh.

"Thanks for this," she said. "I really needed it."

Jack shrugged. "Like I said, you're not in this alone."

Clara looked at him, her heart swelling with gratitude. For the first time in a long while, she felt like she could handle whatever came next.

And as the stars began to twinkle in the evening sky, she allowed herself to believe that the future they were building was within reach.

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725 words