Page 116 of Banter & Blushes #1

E lva smiled at the stack of contractor bids on her desk.

Rays of sunshine beamed through the front window onto the neat piles of papers; illuminating the top sheet.

Picking up her readers, she unfolded them carefully, placing them on her face.

“That’s better,” she grinned. It was hard to believe that she needed those now.

In some ways, she still saw her twenty-five-year-old self staring back from the mirror.

Where all the years went, she wasn’t sure. But they flew by.

“John Mitchell,” she read out loud to her empty office.

Lifting the paper up she scanned the total price.

“Huh,” her nose scrunched, “promising,” her head nodded up and down before sorting the bid into a smaller pile of contractors scheduled to meet that afternoon.

Heading the project to build a Fire Station equipped with EMTs on the north end of the Landings was proving to be a much larger task than she ever imagined.

Walking down the hallway, she admired the lifetime of memories on the wall.

Photos of her family and those she met over the years that became family.

When she opened this restaurant so long ago, she was just a girl with a dream.

Now she’s a mature woman with roots and community, all thanks to this charming little town.

The Landings felt like a cozy town written in a novel.

The kind of place everyone wanted to live in.

A place where everyone knew your name, your gossip and what you're making for dinner tonight.

And Elva loved every minute of living here.

“Hello!” She heard her best friend’s cheerful voice announce her arrival. Josephine Donahue was Elva’s first friend in the Landings and her constant companion ever since. The two volunteered to help at every community event in town together.

“Hey,” Elva used her left hand to fluff up the back of her short salt and pepper hair before pulling off her red trimmed readers and setting them on the counter.

“Are those the bids for North Shores?” Joe asked as she settled herself onto a metal stool at the restaurant counter.

Friends for nearly forty years now, she knew she could always count on Joe. “They are. Some are really close but a few others,” she shook her head back and forth, “phew.”

“I know you’ll pick the best candidate.” Joe’s white hair glistened underneath the large tortoise shell sun glasses fixed atop her head.

Pulling out two white coffee mugs, she set them on the counter. “I sure hope so. One is set to be here anytime and then a few more tomorrow to speak in person about what they think they can do for us. I’m hoping they can work with us on the price, some.”

Joe poured sugar in her cup before stirring it with a spoon, clanging it back and forth. “If anyone can negotiate a good price, it’s you. The committee made the perfect choice in picking you to head things.”

“Aww, thanks.” She looked from her mug to her friend.

“I feel very privileged to have this honor. I know not everyone wants the Landings to grow and honestly, I’m not sure that I do either.

But I know that we need some growth to better serve those who live here.

This is really something that should have been done a long time ago. ”

“You are probably right. What time is the contractor coming in? I don’t want to get in your way,” she sipped her coffee.

“Anytime now and you are never in the way, my dear friend. You should stay and listen to his proposal. You are on the committee, after all. When I called him yesterday, he seemed pretty eager to chat. ”

Right on cue, the front door of the restaurant opened, bringing with it rays of sunshine pouring into the front lobby of Gandolf’s.

The familiar chin- a-ling of the door chime announced his arrival as a tall man stepped inside, dressed in a brown canvas work shirt and brown work boots.

His salt and pepper hair was trimmed neatly, barely visible under a ball cap.

The matching stubble on his face outlined an enormous smile that made the skin around his eyelids crease.

“Hi!” He smiled at the ladies, enjoying their coffee. “I’m looking for Elva?”

“You’ve found her,” she walked around the bar toward the entrance to greet her guest properly. Her naturally enormous smile brightened her face as she got near him, her blue eyes sparkled with flecks of gold meeting his gaze.

Elva looked at the vision that just stepped into her life and giggled like a schoolgirl before she ran her fingers through her short, tussled hair, fluffing up the back just a little more.

He was probably around her same age, mid-sixties, muscular and strong, every bit the rugged outdoorsy looking man, she was sure. “Hello,” she held her hand out for him to take, “I’m Elva. You must be John Mitchell?” She waited for him to agree to his identity.

His sun kis sed face softened as his eyes locked with hers. “Mitch, please. That’s what all my friends call me.” A mischievous smile crept across his face, making his eyes crease around the edges under his hat.

“Friends, huh?” She teased with a wink, “we are practically strangers.”

“Well,” his hand still holding hers in a long handshake, “I’d like to remedy that.”

Josephine giggled from the counter, unable to control herself. She hadn’t heard a line like that in quite a few years.

“We will just have to see about that,” Elva flirted back, not sure how far she wanted to take it yet.

“I hope we do,” his green eyes sparkled at her.

“Can I pour you a cup of coffee?” She offered, still caught in his stare.

“Our first date? Perfect,” he winked at her as she pulled her hand back to return to the coffeepot.

Joe giggled again. “I like you,” she offered without being asked. “Josephine Donahue,” she waved, not willing to give her hand to shake. “I was going to leave, but I think this is a show I’d like to tune into.”

“Oh, Joe,” Elva shushed her friend and put a cup down two seats over for Mitch. “Cream? Sugar?”

“Neither, thank you. I’m happy with it, just as it is.” Looking around the dated but well-maintained restaurant, he nodded his head, “great place you have here. Have you owned it long?”

“Thirty years this spring. Oh, gosh… actually, thirty-five?” She looked at her friend for agreement. “Time certainly flies.” She took a long drink from her coffee. “Have you been in construction long?”

“Uh,” he thought, “forty-plus years now. Had my company for about thirty.”

Joe’s eyes lit up, “So, Mitch. Tell us about yourself. Married, single, looking?” She rattled off the list.

“Right to the point, aren’t you?”

Elva felt her face flush. “Don’t mind her. This is a business meeting, after all.”

“I don’t mind. Not one bit.” He took a sip of his hot coffee, soaking in the mellow flavor. “Divorced for forty years, married to my work, one could say. I have one grown daughter and a dog.” He answered like he was in the hot seat.

Taking mental notes, Josephine nodded. “Elva isn’t married either. Or seeing anyone. Completely single.”

Completely? Elva raised her eyebrows in response.

“Not even a dog,” Joe added.

“Okay, thanks Joe,” she tried not to laugh. “We should probably get to the purpose of the meeting, don’t you think?” She was hoping her friend would back her up.

“This seems like a worthwhile purpose,” she grinned back at Elva from behind her coffee mug.

Clearing her throat, she pulled out a pen and paper. “So, Mr. Mitchell,” she began .

“Mitch, please.” His eyes insisted.

“Mitch,” she corrected, “your bid was considerably less than the others. I’m just going to cut to the chase about it, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. Efficient. I like it.”

“Are you planning to use sub-par supplies or are you not going to pay your crew? I don’t understand how your bid is so much less.” She waited for him to explain.

“You are good.” He smiled before continuing.

“I can assure that everyone will be paid and we use only the best supplies we can find. When Cal called me and explained what your group was trying to do for your town, I was intrigued. A few years back, I got certified as an EMT myself and then as a firefighter. It was never a career I saw myself in, but I volunteer my time when I’m able at the station near my house up north.

I can say it’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve done, aside from raising my Penny.

I see this project as a way to give back even more, so I discounted my personal labor time to free and I’m confident I can work out a deal with Cal to get supply prices decently low depending on the market when this project finally gets the green light.

I also know that you’re looking for funding and that takes time.

Fortunately for you, I have a lot of time. ”

“Really?” Elva was nearly speechless, which rarely happened. “You’re a contractor, EMT, and fireman? It sounds like time is the last thing you have.”

“I work out a lot too, I think it’s important to take care of oneself especially at our age,” he winked at Joe who’s head was turned to the side trying to figure out what his faded tattoo was across his muscular bicep that peeked out below his rolled shirt sleeve.

Nodding her head up and down, Elva tried to get back to their apparent business meeting. “I don’t want you to end up at a loss over this project.”

“The idea of building a station for you and to help so many by cutting down on response time for any major health concern is a wonderful opportunity to give back. And I have a feeling that I’m going to gain way more than I’d ever lose.”

“That’s very admirable of you, Mitch.” Joe’s face was resting on her hand while she stared at him, hanging on every word. “You are just a breath of fresh air, aren’t you?”

“Yes, well,” Elva cut off her friend trying to reroute the conversation, “do you have questions for us about the project?” She offered.

“I know you’re waiting on funding, so the timeline isn’t exact. But I assume you’d like this built as soon as possible?”

Nodding her head she agreed, “does that work with your current project schedule?”

“I’ll make it work.” He took out his notebook and jotted down a few notes. “Do you have a location picked out?”

Ruffling through her folders, she pulled her readers down onto her face to find the property sheet. “Yes, here it is.” She pul led the sheet out, “it’s owned by the town already, so it’s just a matter of getting it approved for the site.” She looked up to find him smiling at her.

“I’m sorry,” he tried to lower his gaze, but he was locked on her, “I’m not sure quite what’s wrong with me,” he cleared his throat and took the paper from her to look over the property information to compare to the building plans.

“Yes. I think this is a very efficient use of space, which will be very important for a well-run station.” Mitch nodded his head in agreement with his own assessment.

When it came to work talk, he was all business.

All measurements and plans, lumber costs and labor.

But something felt different about this project right out of the gate.

Something felt different about today. He felt different.

More at ease. Softer even. His eyes blinked more, his heart rate normally beating fast and ready to go felt quieter.

Looking into Elva’s eyes made him feel at ease.

Which was something he didn't remember feeling in a very long time.

“Everything in its place,” Joe chimed in, watching the two look at one another. Never one to be involved in any matchmaking herself, she watched Elva set up couple after couple over the years. She was giddy with excitement. Elva looked from her friend to their guest.

“Thank you for making the trip down here, Mitch. I have to meet with a few others and I’ll be in touch, if that’s okay?”

“Of course. It’s my pleasure, really. Haven't been down this way in a long time.”

“Not much has changed I'm sure,” she laughed, leaning her face on her hand as she watched him. Very little ever changed in their small town.

“No, not much. But the views here sure are beautiful.” He watched her smile broaden.

“You should see the view from our patio.”

“The view right here is perfect.”

Was he flirting? Did she care if he was?

One thing was clear from this meeting: not only was Mitch the man for the job, this project may take on more than anyone ever expected.