True to Me - Kay Bratt Page 0,23

its former glory. To be honest, I’ve always wanted to use maple butcher block to match the cupboards. But soapstone is also nice.”

“Both sound lovely, but I think I’ll go with soapstone.” Quinn turned her attention back to Liam. “I’m not sure about the cabinets. Do you think they can be cleaned up?”

He paused, studying the cabinet doors. The interiors were glass, but the paint around the panes was peeling. Even yellowed.

He opened one and peered inside.

“They’re original,” Maria said. “Most kitchens back then had these glass doors.”

“I think I can clean them up and paint them white. Shine up that glass and they’ll look great and can continue to be a part of this home’s history,” Liam said. “Where possible, I always try to refresh and preserve.”

He looked at Quinn hopefully.

“That sounds perfect,” she said. She was all for keeping the integrity of the house, if at all possible.

The girls burst into the back door and ran through, headed to Alani’s room in a rush of flying hair and giggles. The interruption lightened the mood, and Liam seemed to relax.

“We could do wood paneling in here and paint it white too. That will give you more of a beach-cottage feel, which I’m sure you’re looking for.”

“As long as it’s that shiplap stuff.” She didn’t mention she only knew about it from Chip and Joanna’s makeover show.

“We can do that,” Liam said. “Shiplap would look good too. And I hope you aren’t planning on putting in new floors. These are original tongue-and-groove fir. They used to have a ruddy glow, and with some tender loving care, we can get them back to it.”

“My thoughts exactly,” Quinn said, feeling triumphant that they were all on the same page.

“I plan on helping with the floors,” Kupuna said. “Pali and I will sand them, and you can finish them, Liam.”

Right on cue, Pali arrived, slamming through the door. He took a chair next to Kupuna.

“I heard my name, Kupuna. What are you volunteering me for?” he asked.

Quinn noticed a huge difference in his tone with his grandfather in the room. Absent was the sarcasm—in its place, a welcome inflection of respect.

“We’re going to help improve this kitchen,” Kupuna said. He reached over until his hand was on Pali’s arm; then he patted it affectionately.

Pali’s eyes glittered at her, a simmering of resentment he was too dutiful to verbalize in his grandfather’s presence. “Whatever you say, Kupuna,” he said, slowly speaking the words.

“I’ll make a note of that on the estimate,” Liam said. “I won’t have to hire a big crew, and that’ll bring the cost down.”

Quinn couldn’t imagine the old man working on his knees, but she wouldn’t insult him by saying so. After all, maybe he only meant to supervise Pali. She hoped the kid would do a good job.

“And we can help with the wood paneling,” Maria said. “Quinn, can you paint?”

Pali laughed as though he found the idea ridiculous.

Quinn didn’t appreciate it either. She could paint. But she wasn’t going to be there indefinitely.

“Liam, how long do you think this will all take?” she asked, dodging Maria’s question.

He scribbled on his pad for a moment, then looked up.

“It depends. I’m working another project, but I can squeeze in a few hours a day. The cabinets will take a week; the countertops can be done in a day or two. We can’t start on the floors until those are done, but we can put up the shiplap and paint.”

Quinn sighed. There was no way he’d finish before she had to leave.

“Can you give me an estimate on the cost?” she asked.

“Let me check some costs on the materials, and I’ll get it to you tomorrow afternoon.”

“Don’t forget the family discount,” Maria said.

Liam laughed, and Pali joined him.

“I thought you were only friends?” Quinn said, thinking she’d been had. She looked from Maria to Kupuna.

“We are friends. And family,” Kupuna said. “In Hawaii, family comes first. We all help feed each other. He will be honest, and he will do the best job for the lowest price he can give and still make a profit.”

Quinn didn’t have an answer for that. As for family coming first, she could’ve pointed out that they were all sitting there together because Maria’s husband, Jaime, had abandoned ship. But she couldn’t bring herself to cause Maria any more pain. And it wasn’t as though Quinn had much experience with family, other than her mother. She only hoped that she really was getting a good deal on