Maybe it was being back in town that did it for him, but then he came back often enough – to visit his parents or to meet up with friends. In the months since Christmas he must have been in Angel Sands at least four times.
But those were only visits. Now he was home for two months, and he had absolutely no idea what to do with himself.
He glanced to the left again, at the empty space where the Camry had been. His thoughts turned to its driver, the woman who seemed determined to lift that propane tank into the trunk. He’d watched her wheel the metal tank out of Megassey’s, her nose screwed up with concentration when she managed to get the tank back onto its end. For a moment he’d hesitated, not wanting to interfere, reminding himself he wasn’t at work now.
But that’s not how he ticked; if somebody needed assistance, he gave it to them.
“Lucas Russell, is that you?”
Pulling his gaze away from the empty parking lot, Lucas turned to see Frank Megassey himself climbing out of a van and onto the blacktop. “Yes, sir, it’s me.”
“Your mom told me you were coming back.” Frank came to a stop in front of him, pulling his tattered blue Padres cap from his head, and folding it in his hands. “Told me you should be sending some business my way, too. I hear you’re fixing up the old cottage.”
Lucas had only been back in town less than two hours. He couldn’t help but be impressed by how
fast the grapevine was working. “I’m gonna try,” he said. “I’ve got two months to refit it completely. I’m not sure if that’s enough time.”
“It’s a small place, it shouldn’t take that long.” Frank nodded at him, his eyes narrowing. “You’ll need a new kitchen, a new bathroom, and maybe some rewiring. I know a few good electricians if you need a referral.”
“That would be great.”
“And what are you going to do with it once it’s all refurbished?” Frank asked. “Sell it or keep it as a rental?”
“I’ve no idea, I haven’t thought that far ahead. I guess I’d have to talk to Caitie about it.” The thought of selling the place made his neck itch. Yet what good was it to them when he was living in White City and Caitie was all the way across the country in New York? Lucas wasn’t usually this sentimental over things.
“Well, no worries about that right now. Why don’t we go to my office and I can write down what we need to order in for you. I can arrange for it to be delivered straight to your place.” Frank inclined his head toward the hardware store, and the two of them made their way to his office, a tiny cubbyhole stuffed at the back. For the next twenty minutes, they discussed the pros and cons of plumbing systems and wiring, as Frank made notes on his order pad with his blue pen. When they finished, he laid it back down on the desk and smiled up at Lucas.
“Okay, you should have this all by the end of the week.”
“Thanks, Frank. I appreciate it.” Lucas smiled at him. Maybe there were some advantages of living in a small town. He was pretty sure he wouldn’t have gotten this kind of service in White City.
“Well that’s good, because I have a favor to ask of you.”
“You do? What’s that?”
Frank hesitated for a moment, drumming his fingers on the table in a fast rhythm. “It’s the Angel Day Fair in a few weeks. I could sure use your help on the committee.”
Lucas opened his mouth, but no words came out. Quickly closing it, he swallowed, and tried to think of a fast excuse.
Helping out with the Angel Day Fair was the last thing he wanted to do. It was Angel Sands’ annual day of celebration, a time to look back to the day the town was founded over a hundred and fifty years earlier. Even as a kid he’d found the fair a little too sickly sweet for his taste; he’d preferred to grab his surfboard and take advantage of the fact that none of the tourists were on the beach, riding the waves with his friends until night fell.
He hadn’t been to one of the fairs for years, hadn’t even thought about it. Maybe his mom had mentioned it from time to time, but even that was hazy.
“I…ah…” Lucas swallowed again. “What kind of help?”
Frank’s smile broadened. From the way the older man was looking at him, he must have thought it was a done deal. “You don’t have to do much. Just attend a couple of committee meetings and then help on the day of. I’ll probably put you on security. There aren’t a lot of young men like you on the committee.”
Lucas could bet his bottom dollar on it. “I’m not sure. I’m gonna be busy with the renovation, plus I’m volunteering for the Fire Department. Mitch Lakin might need me on call.”
“You are? That’s great. I’ll call Mitch and let him know you’re on the committee. We always have a firefighter on hand to help us with health and safety.” Frank clapped his hands together. “This is pure serendipity.”
“Yeah. It sure is.” Or bad luck. Tomayto-tomahto.
“Our first meeting is next week. I’ll give you a call with the details.”
The two of them stood, and Frank shook Lucas’ hand vehemently. “It’s really good to have you back in town, Lucas.”
It was? Right now Lucas wasn’t quite so sure about that.