Page 83 of Finding Forever

“Beth,” Rachel called. “We’ve run out of picture hooks.”

“I have more in my car,” Laurel shouted.

The drilling outside started again.

Beth looked at Natalie. “Is it too late to cancel the opening?”

“Yes.”

A deep sigh worked its way through Beth’s chest. “I thought so.”

For the next hour, the building seemed to fill faster than they could organize it. But slowly, beneath the confusion, something extraordinary began to happen. The arts center started looking finished.

Beth stood opposite the gallery and stared. The wall she and Dave had spent so much time working on was disappearing beneath paintings, photographs, watercolors, and children’s drawings. Owen’s glass bowls would arrive tomorrow, but even without them, the room had changed.

It wasn’t an empty building anymore. It was becoming the place they’d imagined.

“Quite a mess.”

Beth’s moment of happiness vanished. She knew that voice. Councilmember Walt Harvey stood inside the entrance, taking in the stacked boxes, deliverymen, artwork, and the noise coming from outside. Of all the mornings he could have chosen to visit, it was this one.

Beth walked toward him. “Good morning, Councilmember Harvey.”

“Morning.” Walt glanced through the glass doors toward the excavator. “What happened out there?”

“We found a damaged sewer line.”

His eyebrows rose. “Four days before you open?”

“We first noticed the problem eight days ago,” Beth told him. “But it’s taken this long to get it fixed.”

Walt frowned. “And you’re digging up the parking lot?”

Beth didn’t want to go into the finer details of the disastrous sewer line. She didn’t have the time. “The plumbers are repairing it.”

Walt looked around the building again. “Seems to me you’ve got a lot left to do.”

Beth felt the first spark of irritation. “We do.”

“You’re still expecting to open on Saturday?”

“Yes.”

He gave her a doubtful look. “I’d be reconsidering that.”

“We’re not postponing,” Beth said firmly as Natalie joined them.

Walt nodded toward the gallery. “Half the artwork isn’t hung. You’ve got furniture arriving, construction outside, and four days to sort it out.”

Beth folded her arms. “Which is why everyone is working.”

“I’m only being realistic,” Walt told her with a tight smile.

Beth wouldn’t be intimidated. “So am I.”

“You really think you’ll have this place ready?” Walt asked.

She looked around the room. It was noisy, crowded, and chaotic, but it wasn’t a failure. She turned back to Walt. “Come back Saturday morning and see the arts center for yourself.”