AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The deliberate nature of the sabotage weighs heavily on my mind—if there have already been two acts of vandalism in such a short time, there's bound to be another. Hopefully increasing security will prevent any more incidents. But I still can't manage to shake that nagging feeling that there's something more to this than we're aware of.
As the day draws to a close, the skeleton of the scaffolding once again begins to take shape, a testament to the team's hard work and determination, but the victory is tinged with the unease of knowing we're being targeted.
Gathering the crew, I lay out the next steps. "We've done good work today, but we can't ignore the fact that this was intentional. Starting tonight, we're getting security to watch the place. I'll also look into setting up some outdoor cameras. We need to catch whoever's behind this."
As my crew hums in agreement and disperses, I spot Natalie and Jack preparing to leave. Natalie's hair is tied all the way up now, short blonde strands escaping in a way that frame her face, lending her an air of casual, unguarded charm. There's something about this more relaxed, informal version of her that I find unexpectedly endearing.
Approaching them, I clear my throat, drawing their attention. "Hey, just wanted to let you know we're ramping up security around here. Getting someone to watch the place at night and looking into setting up some cameras outside."
Jack nods, his expression serious. "Sounds like a good plan. Can't be too careful, especially after what happened."
I catch a flicker of something in his gaze, a hint of protectiveness, maybe, as he seems to notice my attention lingering on Natalie a moment too long. The air between us tightens.
"Let me walk you out to the parking lot," I offer, eager to dispel the building tension and perhaps steal a few more moments of Natalie's company.
The walk is filled with Jack's attempts at small talk, conversations about the project and the town, but the ease that should accompany such discussions is absent. Every word feels strained, every pause laden with things unsaid.
Natalie finally breaks an uncomfortably long silence, her voice cutting through the tension with practiced ease. "I hope we catch this guy soon. It makes me sick to see the Langford like this; all covered in scaffolding and security cameras. I just want the town to see it the way we do."
Her words, grounded in the shared purpose of our work, offer a momentary respite from the undercurrents of personal history swirling between us.
Yet, as she speaks, bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun, my attention is drawn not just to her words but to the subtle details of her: the way the light plays in her hair, the soft pout of her lips, the undone buttons on her shirt offering a glimpse of something more intimate. It's a moment of unguarded appreciation, one I shouldn't have let slip, and it's swiftly curtailed by Jack's sharp glance.
His glare is a stark reminder that Natalie and I aren’t alone, and so many old feelings rush over me again. Jack never approved of the crush I harbored for Natalie during our teenage years, my being an older, punk kid, and her being his baby sister. And when she left town, it only served to widen the gap between Jack and me.
In the years since, our friendship has been marked by an unspoken strain, the remnants of old disagreements and unsaid truths lingering like shadows. I always meant to sort things out with him, but so many other things happened that drew my attention to more pressing matters.
As I meet Jack's gaze, the silent message is clear. Some lines aren't meant to be crossed; some pasts are better left unexplored. The warning stings, a pinch of regret for what might have been and the paths we've chosen since. Jack seems to hold the same distrust for me that I’ve already felt from Natalie in the past few days.
I mutter a quiet goodbye as Natalie and Jack climb into their car, the engine coming to life with a soft purr. The vehicle pulls away, its taillights glowing faintly in the dusk, and I'm left standing in the emptying parking lot, feeling as if something precious has been torn away from me all over again.
CHAPTER 6
JULIAN
The following day is marked as a rare day off for me, a brief respite from the demands of the renovation project. I spend the morning playing tea party with Aria before making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches together for lunch.
These days together come few and far between, and I'm unspeakably grateful for them, yet, by mid-afternoon, a restless energy propels me to check on the Langford. I need to ensure that everything is as it should be, that our efforts to secure the site are holding firm. That there's been no more vandalism and that everything is safe.
With a torn conscience, I text the babysitter and ask if she can come over last minute. She assures me it's no problem, and Aria takes the news well, too. The afternoon clouds that rolled in have darkened the house and made her sleepy, so she wants to lay down and watch a movie. That lessens my guilt a little, to know she is content without me for a little while.
As I approach the Langford Building, the sight of the undisturbed scaffolding brings a wave of relief. The new security measures, including the freshly installed cameras, appear to be serving their purpose, warding off any further attempts at sabotage. It's a small victory, but in the face of the challenges we've encountered, every safeguard counts.
The building is quiet, the usual bustle of activity absent on this day of rest. But as I draw closer, faint strains of music drift out from it, a melodic undercurrent that piques my curiosity. Pushing the front door open, I follow the sound, drawn towards the Statuary.
Inside, I find Natalie, totally lost in her own world. She's listening to music, the soft lilt of a song filling the space around her. In her hands, she holds the tools of her trade, carefully addressing the cracks that mar the walls of the room. She's singing along softly, her voice a gentle accompaniment to the melody, a private performance amid her meticulous work.
I pause, lingering in the doorway, captivated. There's a grace to her movements, a focus that transforms the act of repair into something akin to art. The remaining afternoon light filters through the windows, casting her in an ethereal glow that highlights the dedication etched into every line of her face.
She's more than just a fellow renovator or a tangled thread in the complex tapestry of my past. She's beautiful, her passion for her work making her shine with an inner light that's impossible to ignore. I'm struck by the purity of her focus, the way she becomes one with the task at hand, her soul seemingly intertwined with the very fabric of the building she's working to preserve.
The sight of her, so absorbed and so vibrant, stirs something deep within me—a blend of admiration and a more tender emotion that I'm reluctant to name. It's a feeling I thought I'd long since buried, a remnant of a youthful infatuation that's somehow found new life in our shared project.
I remain there, unnoticed, for a timeless stretch, simply watching. It's a rare glimpse into the essence of Natalie, unguarded and authentic, a reminder of the depth of character and the wellspring of passion that lies beneath her professional exterior.
I step forward and the floorboards creak. It’s so loud that Natalie whirls around, her movements abrupt as she catches sight of me lingering by the door. A blush spreads across her cheeks, a rosy hue that speaks volumes of her surprise and unnecessary embarrassment. In a swift motion, she reaches for the speaker, the music cutting off mid-note, plunging the room into a sudden silence.
"I... I didn't expect anyone to be here today," she stammers, her emotional nature peeking through the professional composure she fights so hard to maintain around me.
