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A neasher and dryer had been delivered and installed and a trip to the local department store had yielded small appliances like a new toaster and coffeemaker It made no sense for her to remain in the motel indefinitely, so she’d made her fi

rst priority getting the house in a se, but with each clean wall and polished piece of furniture the place was starting to feel less like a derelict

If only she could shake the uneasy feeling that washed over her now and again It was cold and unpleasant and settled heavily on her shoulders She told herself it was just foolishness and an overactive ie place A couple of ti out of the corner of her eye, only to turn to the

She had to get this place cleaned and on theshe was afraid she’d go all the way crazy

The afternoon was spent vacuu the ith oil soap As each glea surface ca the call er The house looked better as she cleaned, but it also highlighted flaws she’dher first inspection There ork to be done, work that she couldn’t do herself And for that she needed Tom

She stripped off her gloves, took Torabbed her cell phone, dialing his nuet it over with

“Arseneault Contracting”

The deep voice was clearly his It shivered along her nerve endings like silk She sed “Tom,” she said “It’s Abby Foster”

“Well, well”

He sounded so s up and say to hell with hiive him the satisfaction She sniffed and rolled her shoulders, trying to relax “I ondering if you were still interested in putting together a quote”

“Of course I am Just a sec”

Abby heard what sounded like his hand going over the phone, and then aback “We’re just finishing a job and I came inside to hear you better over the noise”

She put her fingers over the bridge of her nose She hadn’t considered how convenient it was that his schedule was open when everyone else’s for miles around was booked solid “How is it you have all this time to fit me in?” she asked “Every other contractor I talked to is booked right through the su I should know?”

“Every other contractor? So you shopped around and chose me I’m flattered”

“Don’t be Didn’t you hear me? Everyone else was booked Let’s call it a choice of necessity”