Page 82 of Finding Forever

Beth sighed. “I know we made a plan. I just can’t remember any of it.”

“You don’t need to. I have it.” He lifted one of his clipboards and gave her three sheets of paper.

Beth could have kissed him. Instead, she stepped out of the way as two deliverymen carried a stack of chairs through the doors.

Natalie appeared beside her. “I have good news.”

Beth immediately narrowed her eyes. “How good?”

“Very.”

“Because your definition of good and mine might be different today.”

Natalie slipped her phone into her jacket pocket. “I spoke to the council administrator this morning. The sewer repair won’t come out of the arts center budget or from Dave’s savings account.”

For a second, Beth thought she’d misunderstood. “How did that happen?”

“The council has a property maintenance fund for unexpected repairs to council-owned buildings,” Natalie told her. “Because the damaged line existed before the renovation, and the sewer services more than the center, they’ve agreed to cover the work from that fund.”

Relief rushed through Beth so quickly that her knees almost weakened. “All of it?”

“All of it.”

Beth grabbed Natalie’s hands. “You are my favorite person.”

“I thought I already was.”

“Today you definitely are.”

Natalie laughed. “There is one condition.”

Beth’s happiness vanished. “Of course there is.”

“The plumbers have to document the repair and provide the council with a full report.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

Beth hugged her.

Natalie laughed again and hugged her back. “I take it you’re pleased.”

“I was imagining us spending the next year holding bake sales to pay for a sewer pipe.”

Natalie grinned. “You’d probably raise the money.”

“That isn’t the point.”

Someone called Beth’s name. She released Natalie and turned around.

Julie stood beside a woman holding an enormous abstract painting in shades of red and gold. “Where does this go?”

Before Beth could answer, another voice came from behind her.

“Excuse me. We need someone to sign for the furniture.”

“I’ll do it,” Dave said.