Someone's in the River

Chapter Two

2 months later....

     "Rachel, when are you going to let us come see your house, huh?" Said Callie Granger, another nurse at Umber Bay Medical. Two other nurses, Margot and Sarah, nodded their heads eagerly. Rachel knew these nurses considered her a friend but she struggled to let them in. Living in isolation for so long had not been kind to her.

     "It's not...." Rachel hesitated, running her fingers through her hair nervously, "It's not really done yet. I haven't figured out how to stain the floors and, really, all the furniture that's in there is my bed. It's not spectacular or anything yet."

     "Sounds like you need a contractor. I know a good one, can I give you his card?" Callie reached into her purse and rooted around her belongings. Callie was a disorganized person, Rachel could always tell when she had been in a room because it looked like a hurricane had blown through. Equipment thrown around, wires crossed this way and that way. The other nurses and even Callie's husband lovingly referred to her as Hurricane Callie.

     "He's pretty easy on the eyes too, huh Cal?" The unit supervisor, Viola Winthrop, breezed through the doorway, "Sorry I couldn't help but overhear. Creed's the only contractor in town I trust. He's fixed me up a few times." Viola giggles like a school girl. 44 years old and still as flirty as ever. Viola kept her curly hair cropped close to her scalp and bright brown eyes that could probably get a preacher to confess his sins to her. She was kind, compassionate, and a great boss. Although the hospital was smaller than the one Rachel had been at in New York City, the camaraderie was 1000 times more pertinent.

     "Here it is," Callie shoved the card eagerly into Rachel's hand, "he's my cousin so if he gives you any mess, holler, okay?" Rachel didn't remember saying she would use the contractor but she nodded her head anyway. She read the card. Creed Callaway. Contractor. Local Business. Short and sweet. Rachel could appreciate that.

     "I'll give him a call, Callie, thank you," Rachel squeezed her friends arm, "as soon as I get everything settled at home, I'll holler at you guys." What was this place doing to her? She had never uttered the words, 'holler' in her whole life.

     Rachel had called the number on the card Callie had given her and a man had answered, notifying her he could make it to her house at 10 AM and, true to his word, here he was, 9:55 AM. 5 minutes early. Rachel watched him move to the back of his run down pickup truck and grab a tool box. He looked to be about 30 years old, had dark untamed, curly hair hidden under a baseball cap, and, Rachel noticed immediately, he was incredibly tall. About 6'4 Rachel wagered herself. He was sturdy looking, he had a belly but was still muscular.

     "You must be Creed," Rachel opened the door before he even had a chance to knock.

     "Creed Callaway, at your service," he tipped his baseball cap to Rachel, flashing a quick smile, "show me what part of the house needs attention?" Viola was right, Rachel thought, he is easy on the eyes.

     "The whole house needs attention if you ask me...." Skyler made an appearance and immediately jumped on the contractor, "Oh, ignore her please, she's just being nosy. She only jumps on people who smell good." Oh God, why did I say that, Rachel mentally placed her palm to her forehead. Creed's green eyes lit up with a smile.

     "That's okay, I've got 3 of my own at home." He rubbed his scruffy beard, taking in the interior of the house, "Who let you live here? Parts of the floor are just completely rotten. Haven't you noticed a smell?"

     "No, I haven't, why would I know what rotted wood floor smells like?" Truthfully, Rachel had noticed a smell but she didn't want to admit she had done something wrong. She didn't like how blunt he was being with her. His words sent her back to her youth in New York. It's your fault. Your fault. Always your fault. It made her visibly wince but if the man noticed, he didn't say anything.

     "We're going to have to rip these floors up and start again. You ever watch HGTV?" She nodded. "Well, it's going to be like that, but it will just be me doing the floors and it will take me twice as long."

     "You don't have a crew or anything to help?" Rachel folded her arms across her chest uncomfortably.

     "I've got 2 guys who work under me and unfortunately, you are not the only person in Umber Bay in need of a contractor." He seemed smug about it.

     "How long are we talking here?"

     "Don't worry, princess it won't take me too long. Probably about a week or so. Depending on how long it takes me to get materials, labor...." Rachel stopped listening and noticed he has a beauty mark, or a mole, on his left cheek. Everything about this man was uniform, except for his mole. His shoes matched his hat, his shirt and pants were color coordinated. Even the way he shaved was touched up perfectly. She would bet her life savings he was former military. "It'll be about $2,000, is that okay?"

     "If that's how much it costs me, it's going to have to be okay," Rachel pursed her lips. $2,000? She knew it would be expensive but not that expensive.... Rachel sighed. If this guy didn't have a good reputation Viola and Callie wouldn't have recommended him to her.

     "I'll be back Monday? Should have all the materials I need by then. Same time?" He scratches Skyler behind the ears.

     Rachel curtly nods her head, "Same time, Monday."