He exhales, pressing his forehead to mine, his lips barely a breath away, and says in a low voice, “Now. Let’s do that all again, and for fuck’s sake, try to look a little less terrified this time, Springfield. Our viewers await.”

9

CAMERON

THERE’S NOTHING HOLDIN’ ME BACK

We end up with the third house. Of course. There was no way, after seeing the radiant glow literally pouring out of Shelby on that landing, that her dad could deny her.

Or that I could deny her.

I’m so fucked. This is why I’m here, at zero dark thirty in the morning, waiting in my truck with two black coffees and a dozen donuts from Tim Hortons in front of Daniel Springfield’s house. He’s ready for me, shrugging on his coat in the yellow shadow of the porch light and limping down the steps, before pulling open the passenger-side door and climbing in. I pass him the coffee.

He sips once appreciatively. “Thanks.”

As I’m pulling away, I grin. The curtains framing Daniel’s large picture window sway back into place. “If I’d known Jazz was here, I would’ve gotten her one, too.”

He scowls, but there’s no bite.

“Where to first?”

“St. John’s Street.” After seeing the state of the kitchen at the Caroline Street house, Daniel grimly pulled me aside, no doubt sensing the sheer panic coursing through my amateur veins.

“Shelby has a helluva instinct for this, Riggs. She’s a visionary. If she says this is it, then this is it.”

I nod.

“But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. This kitchen is gonna to have to be stripped to the subfloors and that upstairs has to have a bathroom. She won’t like it, because she wants that nook untouched, but no one has only one bathroom these days. We’ll have to make her see logic. Even if it means putting an addition over the kitchen in the back.”

The blood rushes from my face and I feel like throwing up. This sounds like a whole lot more than I am capable of with my few weeks of experience.

He slaps my shoulder, undoubtedly intending the action to feel reassuring. “Monday morning, let’s get started. I have some properties in progress. I can show you what I’m talking about.”