“I’m not sure we want to hear your idea. The last time you and Sam went on vacation, it was a disaster.”
“That was only because the hotel forgot to mention the noisy nightclub below us. But it all worked out. This idea is so much better and guaranteed to be perfect.”
“Working on our house is perfect, too,” Steven added. “Especially when the money we’ll save will pay for a bathroom.”
Caleb sighed. “Where’s all the romance gone? Someone I know in Florida owns a large, four-bedroom apartment. He’s going overseas for three months and wanted to know if Sam and I need a vacation. With the baby coming, we aren’t going anywhere. But I mentioned your double wedding and my friend said you can stay in the apartment for a couple weeks. It’s only a twenty-minute drive to Disney World.”
Steven’s eyes widened. “How much will it cost?”
“Not much. But don’t worry about that. If you want to stay there, it can be Sam’s and my wedding gift to you both.”
John looked at Steven. “What do you think?”
“I think we should talk to Bailey and Shelley.”
“It’s supposed to be a surprise,” Caleb said.
John grinned. “It’s the destination that’s supposed to be a surprise, not going on your honeymoon with your sister and brother-in-law.”
“You could be right,” Steven agreed. “And you know what Bailey and Shelley are like. If they’ve already decided they aren’t going anywhere, it will take more than an apartment in Florida to make them change their minds.”
Caleb stood and grabbed another roll of cable. “Don’t leave it too long to ask them. I need to get back to my friend by the end of the week.”
John didn’t think it would take long for Bailey and Shelley to decide what they’d like to do—especially when Mickey and Minnie Mouse were involved.
Chapter 2
Shelley drove across town after seeing her last appointment of the day. She’d opened her accounting business only a week ago, but she already had a lot of clients.
Being able to use a room at The Welcome Center as an office had made an enormous difference. And Mabel’s Facebook posts had helped spread the word about her business and when people could see her.
But, right now, she was worried about what Patrick had found in one of the houses he was renovating. Before Christmas, she’d found two properties that were for sale. Sitting side-by-side in a pretty street close to the lake, they were everything she was looking for.
Unfortunately, two properties meant double the mortgage. And, as she was finding out, more than double the renovation budget.
When she arrived at the house, her heart sank. She hoped the three trucks parked in the driveway didn’t mean three times the trouble.
Patrick stepped onto the veranda and waved at her. “It’s not that bad.”
Shelley relaxed, but only slightly. So far, they’d found rotten timber, a leaky roof, electric cables and water pipes that were as old as the Ark, and three rats’ nests. All they needed was an infestation of creepy crawlies and her remodel budget would sink to the bottom of Flathead Lake.
Stepping onto the veranda was a mission in itself. With its wonky foundation and missing boards, it was another disaster waiting to happen.
“Don’t worry about the veranda. We’ll have it patched up in no time.” Patrick opened the front door.
At least John had sanded back the warped wood so they didn’t have to shove it open each time they came inside.
“Come through to the bathroom,” Patrick said. “The boys were removing the fixtures and fittings when we found something interesting.”
Dollar signs exploded inside her head. Last weekend, she’d pulled off the bathroom drywall with John. It wasn’t a pretty sight. Years of water-damaged floors and walls from leaking taps had added another blow to her budget. At this rate, remodeling both houses would cost her as much as their purchase price.
“How much is it going to cost to fix?”
Patrick’s expression was grave. “I wouldn’t like to say without asking a specialist to have a look.”
Shelley groaned. “I’ll still have a mortgage when I’m seventy years old.” She stepped into the bathroom and looked around. Everything looked the same as it had at the weekend.
Patrick walked around her and wiggled the large board in front of the bathtub. “We found something interesting behind this piece of wood.”
Shelley stepped out of his way in case she ended up sandwiched between the board and the wall. “If the floorboards are rotten…” Her eyes widened. “Is that what I think it is?”
Patrick