Chapter XV
"C'mon, Es. All I'm asking you to do is take a look around the place. You're gonna love it – I promise."
Esther looked around at the neighborhood in the waning afternoon sunlight. She knew what Cameron was talking about; there really were a lot of possibilities here and this was probably the best property on the market. But it still gave her the creeps to be down in this depressed, deserted part of town. She bit her lip apprehensively. "I dunno, Cam."
"Trust me, Es. If you really don't like it, we won't buy it. But I think you're gonna be pleasantly surprised. The area is due for a revival and we're gonna get in on the ground floor of things."
She sighed. She knew he was enthusiastic about this, but she really didn't see any signs of rejuvenation down in this area. Ever since the riots here in the sixties, the area and this building in particular had been left to ruin. It had become known for drugs and crime. In truth, the police and the community had made some serious effort to clean up the area, but that simply left it feeling empty and neglected. But he looked so hopeful; Es took a deep breath and sighed again.
"All right, Cam. I'll look... but no promises."
Cam’s smile was huge. “Thanks, Es. You won’t be sorry.”
Esther took his rough face in her hands and brushed the corner of his mouth with her lips. "I already am, Cameron. 'Sup to you to change my mind." Cam chuckled wryly and pulled the realtor's key from his pocket.
************
The first time he had come in, Cam had stumbled into what little sanctuary I could offer him. He had been doing survey work in this part of town when the bottom literally dropped out of the sky. I was the closest cover and since I was part of the survey work, he had a key to get in. It didn't take much effort to slip inside.
I wasn't sure how I felt about that honestly. It had been a long time since I had served a legitimate purpose... almost forty years... and I was tired and lonely. I was torn between wanting to be left alone to rot in peace and anxious for him to find a reason to breathe new life into this old frame.
I watched him walk around slowly, taking in the still strong marble floor and leaded glass windows. He cursed, wishing for a flashlight to investigate my bowels and if I could have chuckled at the frustration in his voice, I most certainly would have.
I shouldn't have been too surprised when he returned a couple days later, dressed for scouting and carrying the largest flashlight I had ever seen. He spent more than three hours going through the place top to bottom, examining every little nook and cranny. I wasn't sure if the noises he was making were of approval or dismay, but it didn't take long for me to understand when he brought his sister out to investigate with him. I figured she had to like it before anything new could happen to me. And I realized for the first time in a very long time I wanted something new to happen. The trick was how to make sure she wanted that as well.
************
The room was damp and musty smelling and Esther's nose crinkled up in distaste. She stood still, grasping his arm and waiting for Cameron to turn on the big flashlight he'd brought. When he did she gasped in surprise.
The floor was covered in filth and debris, but she could see the marble peeking out in spots around the room. Most of the structure was still sound and in place. Only here and there did pieces seem to be missing, but Esther could see the possibilities in the room. Cam remained silent, letting Esther make her own observations. His grin couldn't be seen when she released his arm and took the flashlight from his hand, but it was big and broad.
Esther walked slowly around the entire length and breadth of the bottom floor, not touching anything but looking at everything. When she got to the bottom of the stairs, she turned back toward Cam. "Can we go upstairs; are they safe?" For answer he took her arm, and together they headed up to the second floor.
The damage was more minimalized up here, though there was a large scattering of moldy furniture and bedding throughout the rooms. The outdated bathroom stank to high heaven, mold and old sewage the most prevalent scents. But now Esther looked beyond the smell and the destruction and saw the potential instead. She wasn't ready to concede his victory yet, but Cam could see the tide turning in his direction.
"Is there more?"
Cam nodded. "One more floor. It was mostly been used for storage from what I can tell."
"Lots of stuff still up there?"
"Well, lots of boxes at any rate. I didn't go through them. You wanna go take a look?"
Esther thought about it for a long moment, then nodded. "Yeah... may as well see the whole place." Cam smiled and gestured towards the staircase. Esther took his arm and they mounted the steps as one, the flashlight guiding their way up still strong stairs.
Esther sneezed violently several times when they reached the top and Cam followed suit. When they were able to stand upright without sneezing any longer, they stepped into the hallway crammed with various sundry boxes. Together they investigated the rooms, some of them empty and the rest haphazardly filled with bits and pieces of the past.
Cam accompanied Esther as she wandered from room to room and then back down the stairs without another word. She stepped back out into the waning sunlight and Cam turned and locked the door behind them before taking Esther's elbow and escorting her back to his car.
The ride back to town was made in silence; Cam was anxious to ask for Esther's impressions but wisely holding back and letting her process. He pulled up under the portico of her apartment building and put the car in park. Then he scrambled around to open her door.
"Meet you for dinner tonight?"
"Yes," Esther agreed. "Pick me up at seven-thirty and we'll talk then."
Cam waited until she was inside and on the elevator before he pumped his fist in victory. Then he ran around to the driver's side of the car and headed back to the building at Franklyn & Rhodes.
************
“You made the right decision, Es. This is gonna be so awesome!” Esther smiled sadly at Cam. She still wasn’t completely convinced this was a good idea, but she couldn’t come up with a real plausible reason not to try it in the face of his obvious enthusiasm. It wasn’t like she had anything left to lose at this point, and as her grandmother had pointed out the project would be good for Cam. It might even be good for you, Dear... if you let it.
So they had gone to the realtor – paid their money and signed the papers – and now found themselves the proud co-owners of the three-storied building on the corner of Franklyn and Rhodes. It didn’t look any better in the light of early morning; the difference was that now the building was theirs, and for Esther that made all the difference.
Cam’s construction company had already set up shop around the perimeter, taking up space in the road while they waited for Cam to show up to give them their orders. In very little time he was out directing vehicles and supplies and had the crews setting up; then a hand on his arm drew him up short.
“Es?”
“Cam, are we in a rush?”
He shook his head and pushed his hardhat back off his forehead. “Not really. The faster we get done, the sooner we can move in, but the timetable is ours to set. Why?”
“I know there is a lot of work to do, but I’d like to go through those boxes and things before they start carting stuff out and just tossing it. I know it is probably just a lot of junk, but....”
“No, no! I think that’s wonderful, Es. You can take whatever time you want. You want to do it alone or would you like some company?” There would have been a time when he wouldn’t have needed to ask, but that had been before. Everything had changed when Esther’s family had been killed unexpectedly. This had been the first interest she had shown in anything in almost a year and he was thrilled to see some enthusiasm again. With a little luck maybe she wouldn’t beat him up too badly when she found out what he planned to convert the building into.
“I... um... if you wanna. I don’t think it would take long – maybe a day or two... at least on the bottom two floors.”
“Tell ya what,” Cam said, tucking his hands into his jeans pockets. “I’ll have the guys get the dumpster into place and pull the casings off the windows and doors. Then you and I will start going through things on the bottom floor while I send them off to work on the mill.”
“The mill?”
Cam chuckled and nodded. “Yeah, I bought that one too. I’m gonna turn it into Amelia’s restaurant.”
Esther though about it a moment and nodded her agreement. “That’s a great idea. So what are you planning to do with this one?”
“I would like to plead the fifth.”
Esther stepped into Cameron’s personal space, and it was all he could do to stand his ground. It had been a long time since he had been the focus of her rather formidable will; it was a little disconcerting. “Cameron,” she said with disturbing calm, “what are you planning to do?”
He blew out a frustrated breath. He had hoped to be much further along in the remodeling and rejuvenation of this building before he had to share all the details. His head dropped. “I’m gonna put in a bookstore with a little coffee bar on the ground floor. The third floor is for a penthouse.”
“Uh huh... and the second?”
“The second?”
“Cameron!”
“I’m going to convert it into an art gallery... for you.”
“An art gallery?” Esther’s voice was soft and controlled and Cameron just nodded. “For me?” a little shakier and quieter than before and his nod this time was hesitant. “Even though you know I haven’t picked up a pencil or a brush or a chisel in over a year?” Her voice was a bare whisper and he didn’t move. “Cameron, how could you?” She turned away from him.
Cameron stepped up behind her, close enough that she knew he was there but not touching. “I could because I care about you, Esther. I know in a lot of ways your world ended when Mark and Rebecca died....” He held onto her arm firmly when she would have walked off to escape his words. “No,” he said with determination. “You may not like it, but you need to hear this. You didn’t die, Esther. You can’t keep living like you did.”
He saw it coming, but he did nothing to stop it, knowing she needed the release of emotion and realizing he had presented himself to her as the perfect target. The sound echoed loud enough that all motion stopped and the crew waited for Cameron to react. Instead he stood still and watched as Esther walked back to her car, climbed in and left without a backwards glance at him.
Cameron watched her leave. Then he sighed and turned back to the crew. “All right... what’re you all standing around looking at?? Get the dumpster set up and the door and windows unboarded. I want the trailer moved into the back and the lines run. Trey, you and your crew take care of the set-up here. The rest of you move down to the mill location and get started there. Let’s move – we’ve got work to do.”
His words were enough to spur everyone into action. Cameron watched for another moment, satisfied that his directives were being followed. Then he walked back to his truck and picked up his heavy mobile phone, dialing the number from memory. “Keep an eye out for Esther. Things didn’t quite go as planned.” He paused. “You don’t have to... all right – I’ll be here.”
Cameron turned to find his foreman Sam at the front bumper waiting to talk. “What’s up?”
“Everything all right, Boss?”
“Yeah, Sam... thanks. I’m gonna need you to go down to the mill site though and supervise things down there for now. I’ll let you know when to move everyone back up here.”
“Will do, Boss. We’ve got the plans for that place already, but I’ll call you if there’s any problems.”
“Thanks, Sam.”
Most of the men and equipment were loaded up and headed the short distance down the road to the mill that had been standing guard at the whitewater bend of the river for more than two hundred years. There was enough work for them to do there until Esther was ready for them to start here. He just hoped she would still be willing when she calmed down.
Trey had already sorted his crew out – two moving the trailer and dumpster into place while another couple started running the lines for the phones and the power. The rest – Trey and two other men – began the grueling process of removing the steel bolts and covers that protected the doors and windows of the building. Cameron walked over to join them and soon they found a rhythm. But it was still slow, heavy work and they hadn’t made much progress when a car pulled into the construction area and an older woman opened the door and got out. Cam put his tools down and went over to greet her.
“Hi, Grams,” taking her hand. “I’m sorry you had to come all the way out here.”
She put her free hand on his cheek. “What happened?”
“I pushed,” he replied simply. “I pushed and she didn’t want to hear what I had to say. And when she found out what I am planning to do with this building....” He let the thought trail off.
“Sweetie, I know you think she should be over what happened because you’ve been able to work through what happened, but she lost a lot more than you did. I know Mark meant a lot to you; he was your brother, your best friend and business partner, but he was Esther’s husband and Rebecca was their child. Those two were her whole world. And she feels guilty that she didn’t die with them.”
“That doesn’t mean she gets to... I dunno... live like she was already dead. She has so much left to give; so much left to share with the world. She doesn’t get to give up; she got a second chance.” He huffed and dropped her hand, stepping back a pace and turning away from her. “I hate seeing her like this, Grams. Mark wouldn’t like it either.”
“No, he wouldn’t, but it doesn’t mean you should go charging in like a bull in a china shop either. You can’t force her, Cameron. You can’t make her love art again or demand she go back to creating. It may not be in her to do that anymore; that part of her really may have died.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t, Grams. All I did was tell her the second floor was gonna be her gallery. We never actually got around to logistics.” He shook his head. “Dammit!! It took me months to convince her just to come down and look at this place! Given her reaction to the idea, she may not even come back to help with the remodeling.”
“You don’t really need her help....”
“No, of course not, but this was something.... She could have gotten involved with this. It would have given her... I dunno – a sense of renewed purpose or something maybe.”
Grams padded silently up behind him and turned him around to face her. “Cameron, why is this so important to you?”
Cam blew out a breath. “Because I promised Mark.”
“You promised Mark?? But when? Why?
Hearing the confusion plainly in her voice, he decided to elaborate. “On their wedding day, he asked me to take care of her if anything happened to him.” A beat. “After he died I wondered if he knew something was going to happen.”
Grams blinked. “Wow - that’s... amazing.”
“And a little freaky.”
She chuckled. “Yes,” she agreed. “Just a little bit.” Then she sobered and bit her lip in thought. “All right... while I applaud your motives, I’m not sure about your method. However,” she continued before he could defend himself, “there is nothing to be done about it now except to go forward. Go ahead and start cleaning things out or whatever your original plan was. Eventually Esther will come to me and I’ll talk to her.”
“Thanks, Grams.”
She patted Cam on the back. “I know your heart was in the right place, Cameron. I just wonder about your head sometimes.” She shook her head and said it so seriously he had to chuckle. He looked at her with a twinkle in his eye.
“Like that hasn’t always been the case.”
Grams rolled her eyes. “That is very true. Come on... show an old woman around this new investment.”
Cameron grinned at her and extended his elbow. “Grams, you’re the only one who could get away with calling you an old woman. No one I know would have the balls to try.”
She laughed and patted his arm; then headed towards the building with Cameron in tow.
************
The first thing the crew had removed was the steel over the doors, making them much easier for Cameron to open for Grams. He left them open to allow some daylight to spill into the room. As they removed the remaining covers it would be much easier to see, but for now it was good just to allow some fresh air and a bit of light into the building with them.
Cam switched on his powerful flashlight and showed her around slowly, explaining in great detail what he planned to do with each part of the building. He had told her briefly before, but it was much easier to show and explain. Grams smiled at him when they exited the building, a few windows now missing their covers and providing even more light and air.
“So what do you think now that you’ve actually seen inside, Grams?”
They crossed to her car and he opened the door for her. Grams stepped behind it but didn’t sit; instead she turned to look at him. “Well, I think your very first priority should be that bathroom. My God, that was atrocious... just disgusting, really. Otherwise I think you made a good decision. This area has a great potential for revitalization. This could turn out very well... not just as a business investment but for the neighborhood.”
“I just hope it turns out to be a good thing for Esther.”
************
Of course, I heard this next bit much later. I never knew for sure what the emotion was between them when they relived it. I do know that it made all the difference in what happened to me then.
************
Three days passed with no sign of or word from Esther. Even Grams had moved past concerned to genuinely worried. Finally early the morning of the fourth day, Cameron picked Grams up from her house and together they went to Esther’s apartment. They didn’t bother to knock, knowing Esther would simply ignore them if she didn’t feel like company; she’d done it on several occasions since Mark’s death. Instead Grams used her key and slowly they walked in together.
Esther was standing in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee, and she simply looked at them with disdain before brushing past them and heading into the living room. They followed her a little more slowly, trying to figure out how to proceed.
“Well,” she asked as she took a seat. “Since I don’t even rate a knock these days, would one of you like to tell me to what I owe the pleasure of your company?”
“You’re kidding, right?” Cameron started, the anger clear in his tone. Grams put a hand on his arm and he hesitated, then stepped back. The glint in Grams’ eyes told him she was going to handle Esther and he would be best served by staying out of her firing line. He bowed his head and actually took a physical step back.
“Esther Marie, you put that coffee down and march your butt into that bedroom and put some clothes on. There is work to do at the site and it’s time you live up to your responsibilities.”
“What?!? How dare you...?”
“How dare I?!? How dare you?? I told Cameron he probably shouldn’t have pushed you, but I think a push is just what you need. Don’t!” holding up a hand when Esther would have interrupted her; Grams was on a roll. “I know what happened to you was appalling, Honey, but you cannot let that be all you are. And you damn sure don’t get to take advantage of it anymore like you have been. Three days, Esther... three days without a word from you. You didn’t answer your phone or the door and we were worried sick. That stops now, do you understand me?”
“But....”
“Do you understand me??”
“Yes ma’am,” said contritely.
“All right then. Now go get dressed and be quick or I’ll come help you, and trust me when I tell you that you won’t like that. You remember what you wound up wearing the last time I dressed you.” The look of horror that crossed Esther’s face showed that she remembered all too well exactly what outfit Grams was talking about and she almost ran out if the living room in her haste to avoid a repeat.
Cameron turned to Grams who just looked at him with an evil twinkle and shrugged at him with her palms turned up. He just shook his head and sat down, knowing even with the threat of Grams’ help it was going to take Esther a few minutes to get dressed. And he had no desire to invade her privacy any more than they already had. If things worked out the way he hoped, she would be willing to share again sooner rather than later.
In short order Esther was walking out of her room dressed in a comfortable pair of jeans and sneakers. Without a word she shut everything down and went to the door, waiting for them to follow her. Then she ushered them out and together they went down the elevator and out to Cameron’s truck. From there it was a short ride out to the building at Franklyn & Rhodes.
The ride over was silent and Cam pulled around into the back where the work trailer had been set up. Beside it was a second trailer and as they watched, the men brought out more of the old boxes that had been in the building and stacked them neatly inside. Esther looked at him and then back to them. He shrugged.
“We started pulling the plumbing out of the second floor, and the smell was....” He made a face. “Incredible.” He put the truck in park, but no one moved to get out.
“Worse than before?” Esther asked, wrinkling her nose in response.
“Yeah. It wasn’t pretty. So we decided to move the boxes out before the smell could permeate everything in the building. Oh... and we opened all the windows to help get rid of the smell. I’m gonna send most of the guys down to the other site until we can figure out the best way to get rid of the old plumbing without ripping the place apart or spilling raw sewage everywhere.”
“So what do you want me to do?”
“I thought you wanted to go through those boxes. Esther, you don’t have to have anything else to do with this project if you don’t want to. The plans are in place and there’s really no need for you to be involved. I’m still gonna put an art gallery in on the second floor. If you don’t want it, I imagine I can find another artist who will rent the space out. Or I will make it into reading rooms for the bookstore.” He shrugged. “Whatever. So don’t worry about it, all right?”
Despite her unwillingness to be involved in life anymore, she felt a little stung about his lackadaisical attitude towards her participation in this project. “Then if you really don’t need me, why exactly am I here?”
“You’re here,” Grams cut in, “because you are a part owner of this building and you need to take some responsibility for that decision.”
“I need to take responsibility for being a part owner, but I don’t get to have any input about what it gets direction the rejuvenation takes??”
“Esther, you’ve made it pretty plain you didn’t want to be involved at all, but since you did want to go through those boxes and Cameron did make a special effort to ensure you’d be able to, the least you can do is be here and take whatever time and effort is necessary to go through this stuff.”
Esther didn’t answer verbally; she simply got out of the truck and closed the door firmly behind her, striding purposefully towards the second trailer without a backwards glance. Cameron and Grams exchanged looks and he shook his head.
“I dunno, Grams. I think she needed a push, but I don’t want her to hate us.”
Grams patted his leg. “She won’t... at least not forever. When she thinks about it, she will get over her mad. She may not be any more involved in life than she is now, but at least we’ll have tried everything to keep your promise to Mark. Now go on and get back to work. I’ve got a bridge game and a lunch date with the girls, but if you need me for anything, you know how to reach me.”
Cameron leaned over and kissed her cheek, then opened the door and hopped out. He turned and helped her down and escorted her to her car. “Thanks, Grams; I will.” He watched her leave the yard, then stood debating about his next course of action. After a moment’s hesitation he shook his head again and went into the building that still needed so much work. If he was lucky, Esther would come to him when she cooled off. Otherwise he would go to her at lunch and see if they could talk.
Even with the smell, work was progressing satisfactorily when Sam knocked on the doorjamb of the room Cam was working in. He looked up, surprise clear in his expression. “Hey, Sam... what’s up?”
“Hey, Boss. I just wanted to let you know that we found some more stuff stored up in the attic of the old mill. I know you were keeping the stuff here for Miss Esther to go through, so I brought this down for her as well. It’s not much – some papers and books mostly. I opened them up to make sure there weren’t any critters or varmints, but otherwise I didn’t really pay much attention. You want I should put it out in the trailer with the other stuff?”
“Actually... you say there’s not much?”
“Nah. Couple tin boxes – not really that big but heavy considering their size.”
“I’ll take them. Esther’s here going through the boxes we moved outta here. It might be best if I be the one to disturb her all things considered.”
Sam nodded and fingered the cap he held in his hands. Then he led the way back to his truck, removing the boxes and handing them to Cameron with little difficulty. Cam took them; the only indication of his surprise at their weight was the widening of his eyes. Sam moved to get into his truck before he turned back to Cam.
“Boss?” A raised eyebrow answered him. “Is Miss Esther gonna be all right? All the guys are kinda worried about her... ‘specially after the other day.”
Cameron looked towards the trailer where Esther had been for the better part of the morning. “I hope so, Sam. I really do hope so.”
Sam looked like he wanted to say more, but instead nodded his acceptance of Cameron’s words and crawled into his truck, leaving without another word. Then Cameron turned and headed towards the second trailer, hoping Esther would let him in.
Before he could raise his hand to knock, Esther opened the door. She appeared startled to see Cam standing right outside the door, but she recovered nicely. “Do you think we could talk?”
Cameron nodded. “Yeah, you wanna...?” motioning inside the trailer.
Esther shook her head. “No. I’d like to go in there,” gesturing towards the building.
“Oh sure, sure,” he replied with sudden enthusiasm. “Um, can I put these down first though? They’re kinda heavy.”
“Of course,” stepping back to hold the door open and allowing him to pass into the trailer. She watched him look around with interest as he set the tin boxes on the floor. Then he held the door so they could walk out together.
“What’s in the boxes?”
He shrugged. “Dunno. Sam brought them up from the mill; thought you might want to investigate them too. Anything interesting so far?” asked as they crossed the threshold into the building.
“A few things. Some of that stuff has been up there for a while. Some of it made me start thinking.” They walked over to the solid wood counter that had been in place for almost a hundred years. Esther hopped up to sit on it while Cameron was content to lean against it. He was content to wait until she was ready to talk. He didn’t think it would take very long and he was right. But what she said took him completely by surprise.
Chapter XVI
"Cameron, do you trust me?"
"What? Of course, Esther. You know I do. Why would you ask me a question like that?"
"Well it's not like I have been the epitome of stability recently, Cam. I'm not sure I would be as quick to trust me as you seem to be."
Cameron chuckled at her wry tone and Esther had to give him a depreciating smile. "Es, given your unwavering faith in me when I was being a stupid college kid, I don't think it is too much to ask for me to return the favor when you're going through a rough patch."
"A rough patch...." Esther blew out a breath. There really wasn't a better way to describe it she supposed, but it really didn't begin to cover it either. However.... "Yeah, I guess you could call it that."
"Besides," he added with a grin, "if it wasn't for you, Amelia never would have given me a chance; she told me so. And she is the best thing that ever happened to me aside from you becoming part of the family, I mean. So don't think I don't know how much I owe you."
Esther shrugged and gave him a shy grin. "Amelia really did like you on her own, Cam. I just gave her a push in the right direction."
"I know what you did, Es. And even if you weren't already part of the family, I'd still have faith in you. Now," he rushed on, "before we get too sentimental, what can I do for you?"
Now that the moment was here, Esther was hesitant. But she blew out a nervous breath and took the plunge. "Will you let me handle this building? Will you let me do the interior design?"
Cameron blinked. He wasn't sure what he had expected her to say, but this wasn't anywhere close. He was silent for so long Esther sighed and slid down from the counter, headed back toward the solid front doors that stood propped open to help with the light and airflow. Cam scrambled to catch her before Esther could make it out the door. He grabbed her by the elbow.
"Esther, hold on a minute."
"It's all right, Cameron," she said with defeat. "I really didn't expect you to say yes. No one has that much faith in anyone besides themselves."
"Esther, wait - please," unwilling to hurt her by holding her any tighter but not wanting her to leave before he had a chance to speak. "Es, I do have faith in you – you just took me by surprise with your request. You were so adamant about staying out of this project I had already decided to let it go – to stop pushing you to participate."
"Why did you?"
Cam raised an eyebrow at her and chuckled. "Why did I what? Why did I push or why did I stop?"
"Yes," making a face at him though her eyes remained sad and serious.
"I pushed...." He sighed and looked at the floor. "I pushed because I promised Mark. I promised Mark that if anything happened to him I would do my best to look after you."
"What? When?" her voice a bare whisper, harsh and aching. "Why?"
Cam shrugged. "I don’t know why; I certainly didn't understand it then. But on your wedding day before we went out to stand and wait for you to walk down the aisle, Mark took me aside and made me promise that if anything ever happened to him, I'd be there for you. I laughed about it because he knew that I would; you've been part of the family since you moved into Grams' neighborhood when we were kids. But I promised anyway because he was so solemn and serious about it." He paused. "I always wondered after the accident, if he knew something."
Silence reigned while Esther thought about what Cam had said. Finally she nodded and looked at him again. "So why did you stop?"
"Because Grams was right. No matter how much I wanted to change it, a part of you died when Mark and Rebecca did. There was nothing I could do to make you want to live again. All I could do for you was do my best to watch over you; anything else had to come from you."
"That is very profound," Esther said with a little smile.
"It is also very true," Cameron replied seriously. "Esther, I would love for you to take over the renovation of this building. Although I honestly didn't buy with the intention of making it your project, I would be thrilled to let you have it to do whatever."
"You wouldn't mind if I didn't turn the second floor into a gallery?"
He shrugged and shoved his hands in his pockets, glancing down at the floor. "I can't say I wouldn't be a little disappointed...." He shrugged again and met her eyes. "But no, if you would like to take over the work on this building, I'll be glad to step aside as the project manager. Just remember that any changes you make have to be approved by the downtown rejuvenation committee."
"What if I just want to handle the interior design... leave the structural part to you and the crew?"
Cameron nodded. "I'll tell you what – how about after work tonight, you and I take the plans and I'll show you how I was planning on redoing the space. That will give us a chance to finish pulling the pipes upstairs. You can tell me if there are any changes you want to make, then we can go from there."
Esther nodded. "All right. That will give me a chance to look through a few more of those boxes. I think there are some interesting things we could work with as part of the design of this place. And Amelia’s too - depending on what she wants to do for a theme in her restaurant."
"Well, I'll bet if you offered, she'd be glad to hear some ideas. She's been so busy working on the cuisine end, I'm not sure she's given much thought to the decorating part yet."
Esther shook her head. "No, Cam. I'm not going to butt into her project. This has been her dream since we were in college together. If she wants help, I will. But only if she asks for it, Cam. And you don't get to mention it to her. Promise me."
"Scout's honor, Es. I have to live with her you know, and I know how independent she is."
Esther chuckled – a sad, wry sound, but her first laughter in months. "Spent a few nights on the couch learning that lesson, huh?"
Cameron nodded furiously. "And it isn't an experience I'd like to repeat again in my lifetime."
"All right. Come get me when you're done in here. I'll be working on some more of those boxes."
"Hey," Cameron said suddenly. "Can I come see what you've found? You've made me curious."
"Would you mind terribly if I said no? I'd like to have a little more time to go through it alone first." She didn't say more because she didn't feel comfortable trying to articulate it, but Cameron agreed with a smile.
"Whenever you're ready, Es. I'd like to know what brought on the change because it's good to see the sparkle in your eyes again."
She smiled and nodded at him, then left to go back to the trailer. Cameron watched her go before taking the stairs two at a time to go back to working on the pipes. He made a note to call Grams when he got home. She deserved to hear something good from him about Esther for a change.
************
"I can work with this," Esther said quietly much later after she and Cameron had gone through the building room by room with the plans in hand. "I would like to make some minor changes."
"All right," Cam said slowly. "Tell me what you want to do and we'll see about making it work. There are some things I would like to leave in place just because of the architectural or historical value they possess. But if we can reach a compromise, I am certainly amenable to that as well."
"I'll make a list. I want to go through again in the morning and let the building speak to me." At Cameron's skeptical look, Esther continued. "I know it sounds weird, but this place has been here a long time. I think if we let it, it might have plenty to say about the way it should develop towards the future."
"If that's what you want, Esther, I'll trust your instincts. You just give us the directions and we'll follow your orders."
"Can you call and ask the guys not to come in tomorrow then please?"
He nodded. "Sure. You let me know when you're ready for us and what you want us to do."
"Thanks, Cam. I appreciate it.
************
She was right, of course. I did have plenty to say about the direction I wanted the life I had here to go. The problem was I had never before been given the opportunity to express that to anyone and I wasn't really sure how to start now. Fortunately she knew how to listen very well. I decided I liked her a lot and would try to put as much effort into helping her recover from her loss as she was putting into my rebirth.
I realized as she walked slowly through my interior that her soul was still tattered and filled with grief and I allowed some of the happiness and heartache I had felt throughout these corridors over two centuries of life to filter back to her.
She ran her hands along the walls and the stairwells looking for answers and I did my best to let them speak for me. She bit her lip and shed some tears, but she walked through every room and crevice before she headed outside to the trailer Cameron had set up for her to sort through the boxes. I didn't see her or anyone else the rest of the day.
My goodness the difference a day makes.
************
"Esther, is everything all right? I was worried when you didn't call us in yesterday," Cameron said softly as they entered the building at Franklyn & Rhodes. "I expected...."
"I know you did, Cam, but I had some things to think over."
"Did you get anything decided?"
She nodded. "Yes." He waited for her to continue, knowing she would reveal things in her own good time. "I would like for you to go ahead with the basic plan you have already submitted to the committee. I have no desire to play politics to make the minor changes I was thinking about. Once the structural work is completed, I would like for you to give me the opportunity to finish it myself - painting, decorating.... The flooring I may need some help with, but I would like to give it a try."
"Are you planning on keeping the use of the building the same as what I had planned?" He held up a hand before she could speak. "I'm asking because I'll need to go to the board and lay out the changes if there are any."
"I don't know, Cam. We'll have to see how it turns out, but I don't think so."
"Fair enough," he nodded. "Let me get the guys to work and we'll get out of your hair ASAP. Will you be...?"
"In the trailer, yes."
"All right. We've got a couple weeks worth of work to do at a minimum, but we'll push to get it finished as quickly as possible. Fortunately this place was solidly built – fabulous construction. Our biggest structural nightmare is going to be to bring it up to code because we want to maintain the original materials as much as possible."
"I agree with that," Esther said. "Take the time you need to keep this place intact. The building is more important than the renovations. It is a living part of history and that is part of its appeal. We don't want to take away from it by rushing through this project."
Cameron nodded and donned his hardhat. "You're the boss. I'll be on the second floor if you need me."
************
Esther was sitting among an odd assortment of historical artifacts and trash when a knock on the trailer door startled from her reverie. Grams stuck her head inside and smiled at the picture Esther made. Esther looked up in surprise, then waved Grams inside.
"Hi, Grams," she greeted cordially. "What can I do for you?"
"I brought Cameron some lunch and thought you might want to stop for a bite as well."
Esther blinked. "Is it that late already?" She looked at her watch and her eyebrows rose into her hairline. "Wow! I guess it is. Doesn't seem like I've been out here that long."
Grams chuckled. "You've said that to me every day for the past three weeks when I've brought you lunch. What is so fascinating in all this junk that you completely lose track of time like that?"
"Oh, it's not junk, Grams," Esther said with a long missing twinkle sparkling out of her eyes. "At least not all of it," added with a tiny grin. "This is history – the history of this building and the lives that have been woven through it. I haven't had a chance to get to the archives yet to get all the particulars, but I can tell just by the bits I've found that a lot of life has passed through here since this place was erected."
Grams smiled softly, thrilled to see the unexpected enthusiasm regardless of the reason – though she was curious about what the reason actually was. She wondered exactly what Esther could have found to make her willing to live again. "What sort of bits?"
Surprisingly Esther stood and took Grams by the hand and led her back towards the building. "Some of it has been in the boxes and things that were left, but some of it...." The difference in the bricks was fairly obvious, but hidden near the door was a faded symbol. It had been burned into the corner of a windowsill showing the building as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Grams' eyes widened at the implications of the mark. They crossed the threshold into the building and Esther led Grams to the counter. On the long wooden bar was carving that read Christian loves Faith. She took her over to the safe where bullet holes still riddled the wall. Then they moved over to the staircase. On the underside were carved two boys' names – Malcolm and Abe. The look Grams exchanged with Esther was filled with amazement. Esther nodded her agreement.
"It's astounding," she breathed, "and that isn't everything I've found in here either."
"There's more?"
Esther nodded and motioned up the stairs. "Oh yes. There are marks on the walls showing the growth of children. There were assorted phone numbers scribbled on the bathroom door. There are service stars with names and dates carved into the railing leading to the third floor."
Grams shook her head. "What are you going to do with it all?"
Esther shrugged. "Most of it we'll just leave alone – keep it as a part of this place. I'm going to use some of the stuff I've found packed away as part of the design of this place. I think people will find it interesting."
"You obviously did."
Esther nodded but didn't elaborate. She was still going through things both in her mind and in the boxes she'd been emptying slowly over the past three weeks. A clomping sound on the stairs made her look up and smile. Cameron was coming downstairs with a matching grin.
"All right, Es. We're about done with the structural stuff until and unless you decide to change something. So after lunch we'll clear out and the place will be all yours. You just let me know when and if you need help; otherwise we'll leave you alone to do whatever it is you have planned for this place."
"Thanks, Cameron. You'll never know what this means to me."
Cam smiled. "I already do." He looked at Grams. "Can I offer you a ride somewhere, Grams?"
"Thank you, Cameron, but I have my car here."
"Great... can I catch a ride with you then?" asked with a charmingly rakish grin. "Esther and I rode in together this morning, and I don't want to leave her here with no way to get home."
Grams dangled the keys in front of him, then passed them over to Esther. "She can take my car. I don't want her trying to maneuver that monstrosity you call a truck." She turned to Esther. "Are you sure you're going to be all right here by yourself? It worries me."
"I'll be fine, Grams. Cam is leaving the security guys in place and I'm sure I'll be calling for help most days. I've never done anything like this before."
"Well, you know where to find us if you need help. I'll be down at the old mill. We're ready to start adding the kitchen equipment and Amelia wants me to oversee that specifically. You know how particular she is about her kitchen set-up."
Esther chuckled briefly. "Yes. I learned very quickly to stay out of the kitchen once she laid claim to it."
Grams moved over to the bar and motioned to a covered plate. "Your lunch. Make sure you eat before you get back to work."
"Yes, Grams." Then Esther was left alone in the building on Franklyn & Rhodes.
************
Esther started working on the bottom floor - painting and scraping and staining – watching the bookstore slowly take shape under her careful hands. She found the hardest thing to deal with was the floor covering protecting the marble; it was slick and difficult to walk on without sliding. But she managed and gradually the entire floor was being transformed into a warm, comfortable environment.
She had designed the bookshelves to compliment the existing architecture and had spent a number of hours staining them to match the room exactly, then they were put in one corner of the room to await their final placement.
Then Esther moved to the third floor; she wanted to ponder the second floor a while longer and she had some definite ideas of what to do with the penthouse space. Cameron had given her full reign on what do with the interior. She actually enjoyed working on it and passed a bit of time doing so exclusively. She called Cameron to come visit before the project was completed.
"Hello? Esther?"
"Up here, Cam."
He hadn't been inside the building since Esther had taken it over as her own project. Cam took his time looking around the bottom floor, nodding in approval at what Esther had done. She had taken his idea and made it better, highlighting the best qualities of the room and creating an atmosphere that was welcoming. The long counter had become the coffee bar though right now it seemed to be serving as a catch-all for stuff and the shelving stood ready to be placed. He made a note to ask if she wanted that done.
Cameron climbed the stairs to the second floor, shaking his head at the lack of progress but moving on to the third floor. Here the rooms were sparklingly clean and smelled of fresh paint. Esther had used bright, vibrant colors making the room come alive even though it was totally empty. When Cameron crossed the threshold, he stopped in the middle of the room and turned in a full circle.
"Wow," he said softly. "Esther, this is amazing... beyond what I had ever imagined it could be."
She blushed. "Thanks, Cam. I'm happy with it. It's turning out better than I expected. There's a lot more light up here and the lead windows are wonderful."
He smiled at her enthusiasm, thrilled to see it for a change as he looked around again. It was really much lighter than he'd expected it to be. "They really are," he agreed. "I'm surprised we were able to keep them though given how old they are."
"Cam, this is a historical building... we can't actually have them removed without permission. But I like them – lots of privacy without losing any of the light."
Cameron nodded his agreement. "So what can I do for you, Es? Did you want me to have the shelves put in place or...?"
"No... I mean, yes, you can do that as well, but that's not why I asked you to come down here. I need to know where you want to put the bathrooms – how much space you want to set aside for it. I am going to build partial walls for them," answering his question before he could formulate it.
So together they measured and planned. Esther showed him the improvements she had already made; she was especially proud of the new kitchen with its shiny new appliances and cabinets. Then together they walked back down to the first floor with only a brief hesitation at the second floor landing. Cameron was good and didn't ask and Esther appreciated his restraint.
When they arrived on the first floor, Cameron looked around again in admiration. "I'll get the guys in here first thing tomorrow morning to put the shelves in place. Then you can finish the decorating while I start putting the stock out. Once that's done, all we'll need to do is decide on an opening day."
"And the rest?"
Cameron shrugged. "We'll take it as it comes whenever you're ready. Did you see that the church has been earmarked for a museum and the old general store is becoming a boutique? I told you things were gonna change down here. I think two or three of the warehouses nearby are also in the works for redevelopment."
"I'm so glad, Cam. You deserve to have this be a success if just for the fact that you took me on faith. When is Amelia's place going to open?"
"Next week... didn't you get your invitation?"
"I've only been home long enough to sleep a little and shower. I haven't seen much mail lately."
"Esther, you can't work yourself to death on this project. I wanted you to get involved but not to the exclusion of everything else."
"Oh Cam... it's not like that, really. I have found a new sense of purpose here... a sense of renewal." She took his hand and led him over to the bar which he now realized was covered with all sorts of old sundry things – historical things. "I want you to see what I found. I think I might use it as part of the interior design for this place."
She motioned to the items that were carefully laid out across the bar from one end to another. "This is all stuff I found in those boxes. They tell at least some of the stories of the people who have passed through this place over the years. And I've done some of my own research to fill in the gaps. I have quite a bit more of that to do, but...." She dropped his hand and picked up a small book.
"I know this is going to sound corny, but going through those boxes finally showed me that everyone suffers pain and loss and disappointment. But eventually things get better and pain fades and life goes on again. I know you and Grams and even Amelia have tried to tell me that over and over again and in my head I knew it, but in my heart it felt like no one understood what I was going through."
"What changed your mind, Es? What changed your heart?"
"I started discovering the people that had been here before and the lives they lived. Some of the detail I've found has been amazing, and the stories have been remarkable. Some sad, some tragic, some wonderfully fulfilling, but all of them real." She carefully opened the book she held. "This was written during and after the Civil War by a woman who was part of the Underground Railroad. It was actually tucked away in the back of the safe. It tells about what she went through growing up here as a slave and how hard she worked to come back a free woman." She set the book down gently and picked up one of the tin boxes Sam had brought over from the mill.
"This had records indicating the presence of a half-breed doctor... one of the first in the country from what I can discover. He was found and adopted by a local family who saw past his heritage and found a human being to love and care for. It couldn't have been easy though... not for any of them. Prejudice is a hard thing to shake in any timeframe."
She reached for yet another object – this time a wooden sign painted red, white and blue and proudly bearing the letters 'USO' on it. "I don't know a singular story to go with this yet, but I would imagine there are any number of them. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. Aside from the bullet holes, I found parts of what I think was once a still and odd bits of drug paraphernalia. Not all happy stories to be sure, but all of them true with living human beings behind every single one."
"This is fantastic, Esther. I’m... well, I'm a little overwhelmed to tell you the truth and more than a little curious. I want to know more about this place now and the people who passed through it before us."
Esther smiled. "I felt the same way. Maybe instead of decorating with this stuff, I'll create a permanent historical exhibit." She shrugged. "I don't know yet. I am still discovering new things in the building and those boxes and the new bits always make me jot down more notes for research. I'm a lot further behind on that part. But I would like to do right by the folks who were here first."
"Maybe you could create new art with the pieces of their lives you have," Cameron shrugged, "or not. I like what you've done with the place so far, Es. It looks really good in here... a place to be proud of. I'll get the guys in here first thing tomorrow to put in the shelves and run the plumbing upstairs like we talked about. And Amelia will be in at some point to look around. She said it was so she could get a feel for what kind of coffee to order, but I think she just wants a sneak peek."
"She's welcome anytime, Cam, and so are you. You can even bring Grams with you if you're up to it."
Cameron laughed and covered his chest dramatically with his hand. "I dare do all that becomes a man; who dares do more is none," he quoted with flair then dropped his pose. "Grams will jump at the chance to come down here again. She's been chomping at the bit to see how things are going."
"As long as they know there is still plenty of work to be done."
He raised his eyebrow at her. "You want a little help for the bathrooms?"
"Sure. That is the last bit I have to do to make the penthouse livable. Then we can...."
"... move in," Cam cut in. "I mean you can if you feel comfortable enough to. I know you can sublet the apartment fairly easily, and I thought you might prefer to be here near Amelia and me. We're moving into the upstairs of the old mill."
"You don't think we would do better to rent it out?"
"I would rather not... not at first anyway. I'd like to get the businesses off the ground. But if you're not comfortable being here alone, we can leave it empty for a little while. I'm going to put the new alarm system in next week. Then we can decide who and if we want anyone else to be in this space." He paused a moment. "I didn't think this part out very well when I started planning. I was so anxious to convert this place into a bookstore and gallery that I didn't consider the problems that could cause us for finding a tenant for the third floor." He would have kept talking except for Esther's hand over his mouth.
"I don't mind moving in here, Cam. It's just a little unexpected. But that would probably be best. It would save me tons on gas and travel time."
His shoulders sagged in relief. "Good. Now let's go get some lunch and then we can get started on laying that wall for the bathrooms. I have to admit I am glad we got the place converted over to gas."
"Me too. Makes lighting the fireplaces a lot easier."
"Makes Amelia a much happier chef." Their laughter trailed behind them as they walked out together into the late morning sunshine.
Esther stopped walking just as they reached the threshold and laid a hand on Cam's arm, causing him to stop walking as well. He looked at her questioningly. "Thank you, Cam. What you've done for me by getting me involved in this project...." She shook her head. "Just thank you."
"Anytime, Esther. Glad to have you back."
************
Esther did move in as soon as the bathrooms were complete. Cameron called her decadent for what she chose to install, but Grams and Amelia agreed that Esther was a very smart woman. Me, I never saw the big deal about the whole affair, but I did notice an appreciable jump in the amount of warmth that flowed through these old walls and I was glad for it. There is a lot to be said for warmth on the inside when it is cold on the out.
The bookstore was quite successful for the better part of twenty years until the big chains moved in and people found it more convenient to buy from the comfort of their own homes. By then the ground floor was devoted exclusively to the early morning coffee drinkers who stopped in faithfully everyday to purchase the special blends Amelia had created just for this place.
The second floor did become a gallery though it wasn't at all what Cameron had envisioned. Esther had done her research and though a small part was set aside exclusively for her original art – which sold very well, by the way – a larger portion was dedicated to replicas of the historical montages she had created out of the things she had collected about me and the people who has passed through my doors.
I will admit to being a little disappointed at not being included as part of them until I noticed her putting one together one day early in the spring. She took great care to prepare each piece of the montage to make it as close to the original as possible. But until this day I had never really noticed the background she placed all the pieces on.
I'm not sure what attracted my attention this particular day, but I suddenly realized that *I* was the background, drawn in exquisite, loving detail down to the different colored bricks and the holes in the doors. My awareness of this made me feel more alive than I had in years. It was a great feeling.
Esther's soul did heal, and she eventually found happiness again with Cameron's blessing. It was an interesting phenomenon to have children within these old walls again but what a renewing experience. There is nothing quite like a child's laughter to make one feel young again and it was wonderful to see Esther happy. She had made such a difference here, breathing new life into this old building.
Esther was quite old for a human when she passed away here surrounded by her family and friends. Cameron was the last person she said goodbye to before she closed her eyes in eternal sleep and he followed her not too many months afterwards.
Her family lived here for decades though I do not know what has become of them. That is yet another story to tell of the lives and people who have been part of my life – here at Franklyn & Rhodes.
Part 9
"C'mon, Es. All I'm asking you to do is take a look around the place. You're gonna love it – I promise."
Esther looked around at the neighborhood in the waning afternoon sunlight. She knew what Cameron was talking about; there really were a lot of possibilities here and this was probably the best property on the market. But it still gave her the creeps to be down in this depressed, deserted part of town. She bit her lip apprehensively. "I dunno, Cam."
"Trust me, Es. If you really don't like it, we won't buy it. But I think you're gonna be pleasantly surprised. The area is due for a revival and we're gonna get in on the ground floor of things."
She sighed. She knew he was enthusiastic about this, but she really didn't see any signs of rejuvenation down in this area. Ever since the riots here in the sixties, the area and this building in particular had been left to ruin. It had become known for drugs and crime. In truth, the police and the community had made some serious effort to clean up the area, but that simply left it feeling empty and neglected. But he looked so hopeful; Es took a deep breath and sighed again.
"All right, Cam. I'll look... but no promises."
Cam’s smile was huge. “Thanks, Es. You won’t be sorry.”
Esther took his rough face in her hands and brushed the corner of his mouth with her lips. "I already am, Cameron. 'Sup to you to change my mind." Cam chuckled wryly and pulled the realtor's key from his pocket.
************
The first time he had come in, Cam had stumbled into what little sanctuary I could offer him. He had been doing survey work in this part of town when the bottom literally dropped out of the sky. I was the closest cover and since I was part of the survey work, he had a key to get in. It didn't take much effort to slip inside.
I wasn't sure how I felt about that honestly. It had been a long time since I had served a legitimate purpose... almost forty years... and I was tired and lonely. I was torn between wanting to be left alone to rot in peace and anxious for him to find a reason to breathe new life into this old frame.
I watched him walk around slowly, taking in the still strong marble floor and leaded glass windows. He cursed, wishing for a flashlight to investigate my bowels and if I could have chuckled at the frustration in his voice, I most certainly would have.
I shouldn't have been too surprised when he returned a couple days later, dressed for scouting and carrying the largest flashlight I had ever seen. He spent more than three hours going through the place top to bottom, examining every little nook and cranny. I wasn't sure if the noises he was making were of approval or dismay, but it didn't take long for me to understand when he brought his sister out to investigate with him. I figured she had to like it before anything new could happen to me. And I realized for the first time in a very long time I wanted something new to happen. The trick was how to make sure she wanted that as well.
************
The room was damp and musty smelling and Esther's nose crinkled up in distaste. She stood still, grasping his arm and waiting for Cameron to turn on the big flashlight he'd brought. When he did she gasped in surprise.
The floor was covered in filth and debris, but she could see the marble peeking out in spots around the room. Most of the structure was still sound and in place. Only here and there did pieces seem to be missing, but Esther could see the possibilities in the room. Cam remained silent, letting Esther make her own observations. His grin couldn't be seen when she released his arm and took the flashlight from his hand, but it was big and broad.
Esther walked slowly around the entire length and breadth of the bottom floor, not touching anything but looking at everything. When she got to the bottom of the stairs, she turned back toward Cam. "Can we go upstairs; are they safe?" For answer he took her arm, and together they headed up to the second floor.
The damage was more minimalized up here, though there was a large scattering of moldy furniture and bedding throughout the rooms. The outdated bathroom stank to high heaven, mold and old sewage the most prevalent scents. But now Esther looked beyond the smell and the destruction and saw the potential instead. She wasn't ready to concede his victory yet, but Cam could see the tide turning in his direction.
"Is there more?"
Cam nodded. "One more floor. It was mostly been used for storage from what I can tell."
"Lots of stuff still up there?"
"Well, lots of boxes at any rate. I didn't go through them. You wanna go take a look?"
Esther thought about it for a long moment, then nodded. "Yeah... may as well see the whole place." Cam smiled and gestured towards the staircase. Esther took his arm and they mounted the steps as one, the flashlight guiding their way up still strong stairs.
Esther sneezed violently several times when they reached the top and Cam followed suit. When they were able to stand upright without sneezing any longer, they stepped into the hallway crammed with various sundry boxes. Together they investigated the rooms, some of them empty and the rest haphazardly filled with bits and pieces of the past.
Cam accompanied Esther as she wandered from room to room and then back down the stairs without another word. She stepped back out into the waning sunlight and Cam turned and locked the door behind them before taking Esther's elbow and escorting her back to his car.
The ride back to town was made in silence; Cam was anxious to ask for Esther's impressions but wisely holding back and letting her process. He pulled up under the portico of her apartment building and put the car in park. Then he scrambled around to open her door.
"Meet you for dinner tonight?"
"Yes," Esther agreed. "Pick me up at seven-thirty and we'll talk then."
Cam waited until she was inside and on the elevator before he pumped his fist in victory. Then he ran around to the driver's side of the car and headed back to the building at Franklyn & Rhodes.
************
“You made the right decision, Es. This is gonna be so awesome!” Esther smiled sadly at Cam. She still wasn’t completely convinced this was a good idea, but she couldn’t come up with a real plausible reason not to try it in the face of his obvious enthusiasm. It wasn’t like she had anything left to lose at this point, and as her grandmother had pointed out the project would be good for Cam. It might even be good for you, Dear... if you let it.
So they had gone to the realtor – paid their money and signed the papers – and now found themselves the proud co-owners of the three-storied building on the corner of Franklyn and Rhodes. It didn’t look any better in the light of early morning; the difference was that now the building was theirs, and for Esther that made all the difference.
Cam’s construction company had already set up shop around the perimeter, taking up space in the road while they waited for Cam to show up to give them their orders. In very little time he was out directing vehicles and supplies and had the crews setting up; then a hand on his arm drew him up short.
“Es?”
“Cam, are we in a rush?”
He shook his head and pushed his hardhat back off his forehead. “Not really. The faster we get done, the sooner we can move in, but the timetable is ours to set. Why?”
“I know there is a lot of work to do, but I’d like to go through those boxes and things before they start carting stuff out and just tossing it. I know it is probably just a lot of junk, but....”
“No, no! I think that’s wonderful, Es. You can take whatever time you want. You want to do it alone or would you like some company?” There would have been a time when he wouldn’t have needed to ask, but that had been before. Everything had changed when Esther’s family had been killed unexpectedly. This had been the first interest she had shown in anything in almost a year and he was thrilled to see some enthusiasm again. With a little luck maybe she wouldn’t beat him up too badly when she found out what he planned to convert the building into.
“I... um... if you wanna. I don’t think it would take long – maybe a day or two... at least on the bottom two floors.”
“Tell ya what,” Cam said, tucking his hands into his jeans pockets. “I’ll have the guys get the dumpster into place and pull the casings off the windows and doors. Then you and I will start going through things on the bottom floor while I send them off to work on the mill.”
“The mill?”
Cam chuckled and nodded. “Yeah, I bought that one too. I’m gonna turn it into Amelia’s restaurant.”
Esther though about it a moment and nodded her agreement. “That’s a great idea. So what are you planning to do with this one?”
“I would like to plead the fifth.”
Esther stepped into Cameron’s personal space, and it was all he could do to stand his ground. It had been a long time since he had been the focus of her rather formidable will; it was a little disconcerting. “Cameron,” she said with disturbing calm, “what are you planning to do?”
He blew out a frustrated breath. He had hoped to be much further along in the remodeling and rejuvenation of this building before he had to share all the details. His head dropped. “I’m gonna put in a bookstore with a little coffee bar on the ground floor. The third floor is for a penthouse.”
“Uh huh... and the second?”
“The second?”
“Cameron!”
“I’m going to convert it into an art gallery... for you.”
“An art gallery?” Esther’s voice was soft and controlled and Cameron just nodded. “For me?” a little shakier and quieter than before and his nod this time was hesitant. “Even though you know I haven’t picked up a pencil or a brush or a chisel in over a year?” Her voice was a bare whisper and he didn’t move. “Cameron, how could you?” She turned away from him.
Cameron stepped up behind her, close enough that she knew he was there but not touching. “I could because I care about you, Esther. I know in a lot of ways your world ended when Mark and Rebecca died....” He held onto her arm firmly when she would have walked off to escape his words. “No,” he said with determination. “You may not like it, but you need to hear this. You didn’t die, Esther. You can’t keep living like you did.”
He saw it coming, but he did nothing to stop it, knowing she needed the release of emotion and realizing he had presented himself to her as the perfect target. The sound echoed loud enough that all motion stopped and the crew waited for Cameron to react. Instead he stood still and watched as Esther walked back to her car, climbed in and left without a backwards glance at him.
Cameron watched her leave. Then he sighed and turned back to the crew. “All right... what’re you all standing around looking at?? Get the dumpster set up and the door and windows unboarded. I want the trailer moved into the back and the lines run. Trey, you and your crew take care of the set-up here. The rest of you move down to the mill location and get started there. Let’s move – we’ve got work to do.”
His words were enough to spur everyone into action. Cameron watched for another moment, satisfied that his directives were being followed. Then he walked back to his truck and picked up his heavy mobile phone, dialing the number from memory. “Keep an eye out for Esther. Things didn’t quite go as planned.” He paused. “You don’t have to... all right – I’ll be here.”
Cameron turned to find his foreman Sam at the front bumper waiting to talk. “What’s up?”
“Everything all right, Boss?”
“Yeah, Sam... thanks. I’m gonna need you to go down to the mill site though and supervise things down there for now. I’ll let you know when to move everyone back up here.”
“Will do, Boss. We’ve got the plans for that place already, but I’ll call you if there’s any problems.”
“Thanks, Sam.”
Most of the men and equipment were loaded up and headed the short distance down the road to the mill that had been standing guard at the whitewater bend of the river for more than two hundred years. There was enough work for them to do there until Esther was ready for them to start here. He just hoped she would still be willing when she calmed down.
Trey had already sorted his crew out – two moving the trailer and dumpster into place while another couple started running the lines for the phones and the power. The rest – Trey and two other men – began the grueling process of removing the steel bolts and covers that protected the doors and windows of the building. Cameron walked over to join them and soon they found a rhythm. But it was still slow, heavy work and they hadn’t made much progress when a car pulled into the construction area and an older woman opened the door and got out. Cam put his tools down and went over to greet her.
“Hi, Grams,” taking her hand. “I’m sorry you had to come all the way out here.”
She put her free hand on his cheek. “What happened?”
“I pushed,” he replied simply. “I pushed and she didn’t want to hear what I had to say. And when she found out what I am planning to do with this building....” He let the thought trail off.
“Sweetie, I know you think she should be over what happened because you’ve been able to work through what happened, but she lost a lot more than you did. I know Mark meant a lot to you; he was your brother, your best friend and business partner, but he was Esther’s husband and Rebecca was their child. Those two were her whole world. And she feels guilty that she didn’t die with them.”
“That doesn’t mean she gets to... I dunno... live like she was already dead. She has so much left to give; so much left to share with the world. She doesn’t get to give up; she got a second chance.” He huffed and dropped her hand, stepping back a pace and turning away from her. “I hate seeing her like this, Grams. Mark wouldn’t like it either.”
“No, he wouldn’t, but it doesn’t mean you should go charging in like a bull in a china shop either. You can’t force her, Cameron. You can’t make her love art again or demand she go back to creating. It may not be in her to do that anymore; that part of her really may have died.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t, Grams. All I did was tell her the second floor was gonna be her gallery. We never actually got around to logistics.” He shook his head. “Dammit!! It took me months to convince her just to come down and look at this place! Given her reaction to the idea, she may not even come back to help with the remodeling.”
“You don’t really need her help....”
“No, of course not, but this was something.... She could have gotten involved with this. It would have given her... I dunno – a sense of renewed purpose or something maybe.”
Grams padded silently up behind him and turned him around to face her. “Cameron, why is this so important to you?”
Cam blew out a breath. “Because I promised Mark.”
“You promised Mark?? But when? Why?
Hearing the confusion plainly in her voice, he decided to elaborate. “On their wedding day, he asked me to take care of her if anything happened to him.” A beat. “After he died I wondered if he knew something was going to happen.”
Grams blinked. “Wow - that’s... amazing.”
“And a little freaky.”
She chuckled. “Yes,” she agreed. “Just a little bit.” Then she sobered and bit her lip in thought. “All right... while I applaud your motives, I’m not sure about your method. However,” she continued before he could defend himself, “there is nothing to be done about it now except to go forward. Go ahead and start cleaning things out or whatever your original plan was. Eventually Esther will come to me and I’ll talk to her.”
“Thanks, Grams.”
She patted Cam on the back. “I know your heart was in the right place, Cameron. I just wonder about your head sometimes.” She shook her head and said it so seriously he had to chuckle. He looked at her with a twinkle in his eye.
“Like that hasn’t always been the case.”
Grams rolled her eyes. “That is very true. Come on... show an old woman around this new investment.”
Cameron grinned at her and extended his elbow. “Grams, you’re the only one who could get away with calling you an old woman. No one I know would have the balls to try.”
She laughed and patted his arm; then headed towards the building with Cameron in tow.
************
The first thing the crew had removed was the steel over the doors, making them much easier for Cameron to open for Grams. He left them open to allow some daylight to spill into the room. As they removed the remaining covers it would be much easier to see, but for now it was good just to allow some fresh air and a bit of light into the building with them.
Cam switched on his powerful flashlight and showed her around slowly, explaining in great detail what he planned to do with each part of the building. He had told her briefly before, but it was much easier to show and explain. Grams smiled at him when they exited the building, a few windows now missing their covers and providing even more light and air.
“So what do you think now that you’ve actually seen inside, Grams?”
They crossed to her car and he opened the door for her. Grams stepped behind it but didn’t sit; instead she turned to look at him. “Well, I think your very first priority should be that bathroom. My God, that was atrocious... just disgusting, really. Otherwise I think you made a good decision. This area has a great potential for revitalization. This could turn out very well... not just as a business investment but for the neighborhood.”
“I just hope it turns out to be a good thing for Esther.”
************
Of course, I heard this next bit much later. I never knew for sure what the emotion was between them when they relived it. I do know that it made all the difference in what happened to me then.
************
Three days passed with no sign of or word from Esther. Even Grams had moved past concerned to genuinely worried. Finally early the morning of the fourth day, Cameron picked Grams up from her house and together they went to Esther’s apartment. They didn’t bother to knock, knowing Esther would simply ignore them if she didn’t feel like company; she’d done it on several occasions since Mark’s death. Instead Grams used her key and slowly they walked in together.
Esther was standing in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee, and she simply looked at them with disdain before brushing past them and heading into the living room. They followed her a little more slowly, trying to figure out how to proceed.
“Well,” she asked as she took a seat. “Since I don’t even rate a knock these days, would one of you like to tell me to what I owe the pleasure of your company?”
“You’re kidding, right?” Cameron started, the anger clear in his tone. Grams put a hand on his arm and he hesitated, then stepped back. The glint in Grams’ eyes told him she was going to handle Esther and he would be best served by staying out of her firing line. He bowed his head and actually took a physical step back.
“Esther Marie, you put that coffee down and march your butt into that bedroom and put some clothes on. There is work to do at the site and it’s time you live up to your responsibilities.”
“What?!? How dare you...?”
“How dare I?!? How dare you?? I told Cameron he probably shouldn’t have pushed you, but I think a push is just what you need. Don’t!” holding up a hand when Esther would have interrupted her; Grams was on a roll. “I know what happened to you was appalling, Honey, but you cannot let that be all you are. And you damn sure don’t get to take advantage of it anymore like you have been. Three days, Esther... three days without a word from you. You didn’t answer your phone or the door and we were worried sick. That stops now, do you understand me?”
“But....”
“Do you understand me??”
“Yes ma’am,” said contritely.
“All right then. Now go get dressed and be quick or I’ll come help you, and trust me when I tell you that you won’t like that. You remember what you wound up wearing the last time I dressed you.” The look of horror that crossed Esther’s face showed that she remembered all too well exactly what outfit Grams was talking about and she almost ran out if the living room in her haste to avoid a repeat.
Cameron turned to Grams who just looked at him with an evil twinkle and shrugged at him with her palms turned up. He just shook his head and sat down, knowing even with the threat of Grams’ help it was going to take Esther a few minutes to get dressed. And he had no desire to invade her privacy any more than they already had. If things worked out the way he hoped, she would be willing to share again sooner rather than later.
In short order Esther was walking out of her room dressed in a comfortable pair of jeans and sneakers. Without a word she shut everything down and went to the door, waiting for them to follow her. Then she ushered them out and together they went down the elevator and out to Cameron’s truck. From there it was a short ride out to the building at Franklyn & Rhodes.
The ride over was silent and Cam pulled around into the back where the work trailer had been set up. Beside it was a second trailer and as they watched, the men brought out more of the old boxes that had been in the building and stacked them neatly inside. Esther looked at him and then back to them. He shrugged.
“We started pulling the plumbing out of the second floor, and the smell was....” He made a face. “Incredible.” He put the truck in park, but no one moved to get out.
“Worse than before?” Esther asked, wrinkling her nose in response.
“Yeah. It wasn’t pretty. So we decided to move the boxes out before the smell could permeate everything in the building. Oh... and we opened all the windows to help get rid of the smell. I’m gonna send most of the guys down to the other site until we can figure out the best way to get rid of the old plumbing without ripping the place apart or spilling raw sewage everywhere.”
“So what do you want me to do?”
“I thought you wanted to go through those boxes. Esther, you don’t have to have anything else to do with this project if you don’t want to. The plans are in place and there’s really no need for you to be involved. I’m still gonna put an art gallery in on the second floor. If you don’t want it, I imagine I can find another artist who will rent the space out. Or I will make it into reading rooms for the bookstore.” He shrugged. “Whatever. So don’t worry about it, all right?”
Despite her unwillingness to be involved in life anymore, she felt a little stung about his lackadaisical attitude towards her participation in this project. “Then if you really don’t need me, why exactly am I here?”
“You’re here,” Grams cut in, “because you are a part owner of this building and you need to take some responsibility for that decision.”
“I need to take responsibility for being a part owner, but I don’t get to have any input about what it gets direction the rejuvenation takes??”
“Esther, you’ve made it pretty plain you didn’t want to be involved at all, but since you did want to go through those boxes and Cameron did make a special effort to ensure you’d be able to, the least you can do is be here and take whatever time and effort is necessary to go through this stuff.”
Esther didn’t answer verbally; she simply got out of the truck and closed the door firmly behind her, striding purposefully towards the second trailer without a backwards glance. Cameron and Grams exchanged looks and he shook his head.
“I dunno, Grams. I think she needed a push, but I don’t want her to hate us.”
Grams patted his leg. “She won’t... at least not forever. When she thinks about it, she will get over her mad. She may not be any more involved in life than she is now, but at least we’ll have tried everything to keep your promise to Mark. Now go on and get back to work. I’ve got a bridge game and a lunch date with the girls, but if you need me for anything, you know how to reach me.”
Cameron leaned over and kissed her cheek, then opened the door and hopped out. He turned and helped her down and escorted her to her car. “Thanks, Grams; I will.” He watched her leave the yard, then stood debating about his next course of action. After a moment’s hesitation he shook his head again and went into the building that still needed so much work. If he was lucky, Esther would come to him when she cooled off. Otherwise he would go to her at lunch and see if they could talk.
Even with the smell, work was progressing satisfactorily when Sam knocked on the doorjamb of the room Cam was working in. He looked up, surprise clear in his expression. “Hey, Sam... what’s up?”
“Hey, Boss. I just wanted to let you know that we found some more stuff stored up in the attic of the old mill. I know you were keeping the stuff here for Miss Esther to go through, so I brought this down for her as well. It’s not much – some papers and books mostly. I opened them up to make sure there weren’t any critters or varmints, but otherwise I didn’t really pay much attention. You want I should put it out in the trailer with the other stuff?”
“Actually... you say there’s not much?”
“Nah. Couple tin boxes – not really that big but heavy considering their size.”
“I’ll take them. Esther’s here going through the boxes we moved outta here. It might be best if I be the one to disturb her all things considered.”
Sam nodded and fingered the cap he held in his hands. Then he led the way back to his truck, removing the boxes and handing them to Cameron with little difficulty. Cam took them; the only indication of his surprise at their weight was the widening of his eyes. Sam moved to get into his truck before he turned back to Cam.
“Boss?” A raised eyebrow answered him. “Is Miss Esther gonna be all right? All the guys are kinda worried about her... ‘specially after the other day.”
Cameron looked towards the trailer where Esther had been for the better part of the morning. “I hope so, Sam. I really do hope so.”
Sam looked like he wanted to say more, but instead nodded his acceptance of Cameron’s words and crawled into his truck, leaving without another word. Then Cameron turned and headed towards the second trailer, hoping Esther would let him in.
Before he could raise his hand to knock, Esther opened the door. She appeared startled to see Cam standing right outside the door, but she recovered nicely. “Do you think we could talk?”
Cameron nodded. “Yeah, you wanna...?” motioning inside the trailer.
Esther shook her head. “No. I’d like to go in there,” gesturing towards the building.
“Oh sure, sure,” he replied with sudden enthusiasm. “Um, can I put these down first though? They’re kinda heavy.”
“Of course,” stepping back to hold the door open and allowing him to pass into the trailer. She watched him look around with interest as he set the tin boxes on the floor. Then he held the door so they could walk out together.
“What’s in the boxes?”
He shrugged. “Dunno. Sam brought them up from the mill; thought you might want to investigate them too. Anything interesting so far?” asked as they crossed the threshold into the building.
“A few things. Some of that stuff has been up there for a while. Some of it made me start thinking.” They walked over to the solid wood counter that had been in place for almost a hundred years. Esther hopped up to sit on it while Cameron was content to lean against it. He was content to wait until she was ready to talk. He didn’t think it would take very long and he was right. But what she said took him completely by surprise.
Chapter XVI
"Cameron, do you trust me?"
"What? Of course, Esther. You know I do. Why would you ask me a question like that?"
"Well it's not like I have been the epitome of stability recently, Cam. I'm not sure I would be as quick to trust me as you seem to be."
Cameron chuckled at her wry tone and Esther had to give him a depreciating smile. "Es, given your unwavering faith in me when I was being a stupid college kid, I don't think it is too much to ask for me to return the favor when you're going through a rough patch."
"A rough patch...." Esther blew out a breath. There really wasn't a better way to describe it she supposed, but it really didn't begin to cover it either. However.... "Yeah, I guess you could call it that."
"Besides," he added with a grin, "if it wasn't for you, Amelia never would have given me a chance; she told me so. And she is the best thing that ever happened to me aside from you becoming part of the family, I mean. So don't think I don't know how much I owe you."
Esther shrugged and gave him a shy grin. "Amelia really did like you on her own, Cam. I just gave her a push in the right direction."
"I know what you did, Es. And even if you weren't already part of the family, I'd still have faith in you. Now," he rushed on, "before we get too sentimental, what can I do for you?"
Now that the moment was here, Esther was hesitant. But she blew out a nervous breath and took the plunge. "Will you let me handle this building? Will you let me do the interior design?"
Cameron blinked. He wasn't sure what he had expected her to say, but this wasn't anywhere close. He was silent for so long Esther sighed and slid down from the counter, headed back toward the solid front doors that stood propped open to help with the light and airflow. Cam scrambled to catch her before Esther could make it out the door. He grabbed her by the elbow.
"Esther, hold on a minute."
"It's all right, Cameron," she said with defeat. "I really didn't expect you to say yes. No one has that much faith in anyone besides themselves."
"Esther, wait - please," unwilling to hurt her by holding her any tighter but not wanting her to leave before he had a chance to speak. "Es, I do have faith in you – you just took me by surprise with your request. You were so adamant about staying out of this project I had already decided to let it go – to stop pushing you to participate."
"Why did you?"
Cam raised an eyebrow at her and chuckled. "Why did I what? Why did I push or why did I stop?"
"Yes," making a face at him though her eyes remained sad and serious.
"I pushed...." He sighed and looked at the floor. "I pushed because I promised Mark. I promised Mark that if anything happened to him I would do my best to look after you."
"What? When?" her voice a bare whisper, harsh and aching. "Why?"
Cam shrugged. "I don’t know why; I certainly didn't understand it then. But on your wedding day before we went out to stand and wait for you to walk down the aisle, Mark took me aside and made me promise that if anything ever happened to him, I'd be there for you. I laughed about it because he knew that I would; you've been part of the family since you moved into Grams' neighborhood when we were kids. But I promised anyway because he was so solemn and serious about it." He paused. "I always wondered after the accident, if he knew something."
Silence reigned while Esther thought about what Cam had said. Finally she nodded and looked at him again. "So why did you stop?"
"Because Grams was right. No matter how much I wanted to change it, a part of you died when Mark and Rebecca did. There was nothing I could do to make you want to live again. All I could do for you was do my best to watch over you; anything else had to come from you."
"That is very profound," Esther said with a little smile.
"It is also very true," Cameron replied seriously. "Esther, I would love for you to take over the renovation of this building. Although I honestly didn't buy with the intention of making it your project, I would be thrilled to let you have it to do whatever."
"You wouldn't mind if I didn't turn the second floor into a gallery?"
He shrugged and shoved his hands in his pockets, glancing down at the floor. "I can't say I wouldn't be a little disappointed...." He shrugged again and met her eyes. "But no, if you would like to take over the work on this building, I'll be glad to step aside as the project manager. Just remember that any changes you make have to be approved by the downtown rejuvenation committee."
"What if I just want to handle the interior design... leave the structural part to you and the crew?"
Cameron nodded. "I'll tell you what – how about after work tonight, you and I take the plans and I'll show you how I was planning on redoing the space. That will give us a chance to finish pulling the pipes upstairs. You can tell me if there are any changes you want to make, then we can go from there."
Esther nodded. "All right. That will give me a chance to look through a few more of those boxes. I think there are some interesting things we could work with as part of the design of this place. And Amelia’s too - depending on what she wants to do for a theme in her restaurant."
"Well, I'll bet if you offered, she'd be glad to hear some ideas. She's been so busy working on the cuisine end, I'm not sure she's given much thought to the decorating part yet."
Esther shook her head. "No, Cam. I'm not going to butt into her project. This has been her dream since we were in college together. If she wants help, I will. But only if she asks for it, Cam. And you don't get to mention it to her. Promise me."
"Scout's honor, Es. I have to live with her you know, and I know how independent she is."
Esther chuckled – a sad, wry sound, but her first laughter in months. "Spent a few nights on the couch learning that lesson, huh?"
Cameron nodded furiously. "And it isn't an experience I'd like to repeat again in my lifetime."
"All right. Come get me when you're done in here. I'll be working on some more of those boxes."
"Hey," Cameron said suddenly. "Can I come see what you've found? You've made me curious."
"Would you mind terribly if I said no? I'd like to have a little more time to go through it alone first." She didn't say more because she didn't feel comfortable trying to articulate it, but Cameron agreed with a smile.
"Whenever you're ready, Es. I'd like to know what brought on the change because it's good to see the sparkle in your eyes again."
She smiled and nodded at him, then left to go back to the trailer. Cameron watched her go before taking the stairs two at a time to go back to working on the pipes. He made a note to call Grams when he got home. She deserved to hear something good from him about Esther for a change.
************
"I can work with this," Esther said quietly much later after she and Cameron had gone through the building room by room with the plans in hand. "I would like to make some minor changes."
"All right," Cam said slowly. "Tell me what you want to do and we'll see about making it work. There are some things I would like to leave in place just because of the architectural or historical value they possess. But if we can reach a compromise, I am certainly amenable to that as well."
"I'll make a list. I want to go through again in the morning and let the building speak to me." At Cameron's skeptical look, Esther continued. "I know it sounds weird, but this place has been here a long time. I think if we let it, it might have plenty to say about the way it should develop towards the future."
"If that's what you want, Esther, I'll trust your instincts. You just give us the directions and we'll follow your orders."
"Can you call and ask the guys not to come in tomorrow then please?"
He nodded. "Sure. You let me know when you're ready for us and what you want us to do."
"Thanks, Cam. I appreciate it.
************
She was right, of course. I did have plenty to say about the direction I wanted the life I had here to go. The problem was I had never before been given the opportunity to express that to anyone and I wasn't really sure how to start now. Fortunately she knew how to listen very well. I decided I liked her a lot and would try to put as much effort into helping her recover from her loss as she was putting into my rebirth.
I realized as she walked slowly through my interior that her soul was still tattered and filled with grief and I allowed some of the happiness and heartache I had felt throughout these corridors over two centuries of life to filter back to her.
She ran her hands along the walls and the stairwells looking for answers and I did my best to let them speak for me. She bit her lip and shed some tears, but she walked through every room and crevice before she headed outside to the trailer Cameron had set up for her to sort through the boxes. I didn't see her or anyone else the rest of the day.
My goodness the difference a day makes.
************
"Esther, is everything all right? I was worried when you didn't call us in yesterday," Cameron said softly as they entered the building at Franklyn & Rhodes. "I expected...."
"I know you did, Cam, but I had some things to think over."
"Did you get anything decided?"
She nodded. "Yes." He waited for her to continue, knowing she would reveal things in her own good time. "I would like for you to go ahead with the basic plan you have already submitted to the committee. I have no desire to play politics to make the minor changes I was thinking about. Once the structural work is completed, I would like for you to give me the opportunity to finish it myself - painting, decorating.... The flooring I may need some help with, but I would like to give it a try."
"Are you planning on keeping the use of the building the same as what I had planned?" He held up a hand before she could speak. "I'm asking because I'll need to go to the board and lay out the changes if there are any."
"I don't know, Cam. We'll have to see how it turns out, but I don't think so."
"Fair enough," he nodded. "Let me get the guys to work and we'll get out of your hair ASAP. Will you be...?"
"In the trailer, yes."
"All right. We've got a couple weeks worth of work to do at a minimum, but we'll push to get it finished as quickly as possible. Fortunately this place was solidly built – fabulous construction. Our biggest structural nightmare is going to be to bring it up to code because we want to maintain the original materials as much as possible."
"I agree with that," Esther said. "Take the time you need to keep this place intact. The building is more important than the renovations. It is a living part of history and that is part of its appeal. We don't want to take away from it by rushing through this project."
Cameron nodded and donned his hardhat. "You're the boss. I'll be on the second floor if you need me."
************
Esther was sitting among an odd assortment of historical artifacts and trash when a knock on the trailer door startled from her reverie. Grams stuck her head inside and smiled at the picture Esther made. Esther looked up in surprise, then waved Grams inside.
"Hi, Grams," she greeted cordially. "What can I do for you?"
"I brought Cameron some lunch and thought you might want to stop for a bite as well."
Esther blinked. "Is it that late already?" She looked at her watch and her eyebrows rose into her hairline. "Wow! I guess it is. Doesn't seem like I've been out here that long."
Grams chuckled. "You've said that to me every day for the past three weeks when I've brought you lunch. What is so fascinating in all this junk that you completely lose track of time like that?"
"Oh, it's not junk, Grams," Esther said with a long missing twinkle sparkling out of her eyes. "At least not all of it," added with a tiny grin. "This is history – the history of this building and the lives that have been woven through it. I haven't had a chance to get to the archives yet to get all the particulars, but I can tell just by the bits I've found that a lot of life has passed through here since this place was erected."
Grams smiled softly, thrilled to see the unexpected enthusiasm regardless of the reason – though she was curious about what the reason actually was. She wondered exactly what Esther could have found to make her willing to live again. "What sort of bits?"
Surprisingly Esther stood and took Grams by the hand and led her back towards the building. "Some of it has been in the boxes and things that were left, but some of it...." The difference in the bricks was fairly obvious, but hidden near the door was a faded symbol. It had been burned into the corner of a windowsill showing the building as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Grams' eyes widened at the implications of the mark. They crossed the threshold into the building and Esther led Grams to the counter. On the long wooden bar was carving that read Christian loves Faith. She took her over to the safe where bullet holes still riddled the wall. Then they moved over to the staircase. On the underside were carved two boys' names – Malcolm and Abe. The look Grams exchanged with Esther was filled with amazement. Esther nodded her agreement.
"It's astounding," she breathed, "and that isn't everything I've found in here either."
"There's more?"
Esther nodded and motioned up the stairs. "Oh yes. There are marks on the walls showing the growth of children. There were assorted phone numbers scribbled on the bathroom door. There are service stars with names and dates carved into the railing leading to the third floor."
Grams shook her head. "What are you going to do with it all?"
Esther shrugged. "Most of it we'll just leave alone – keep it as a part of this place. I'm going to use some of the stuff I've found packed away as part of the design of this place. I think people will find it interesting."
"You obviously did."
Esther nodded but didn't elaborate. She was still going through things both in her mind and in the boxes she'd been emptying slowly over the past three weeks. A clomping sound on the stairs made her look up and smile. Cameron was coming downstairs with a matching grin.
"All right, Es. We're about done with the structural stuff until and unless you decide to change something. So after lunch we'll clear out and the place will be all yours. You just let me know when and if you need help; otherwise we'll leave you alone to do whatever it is you have planned for this place."
"Thanks, Cameron. You'll never know what this means to me."
Cam smiled. "I already do." He looked at Grams. "Can I offer you a ride somewhere, Grams?"
"Thank you, Cameron, but I have my car here."
"Great... can I catch a ride with you then?" asked with a charmingly rakish grin. "Esther and I rode in together this morning, and I don't want to leave her here with no way to get home."
Grams dangled the keys in front of him, then passed them over to Esther. "She can take my car. I don't want her trying to maneuver that monstrosity you call a truck." She turned to Esther. "Are you sure you're going to be all right here by yourself? It worries me."
"I'll be fine, Grams. Cam is leaving the security guys in place and I'm sure I'll be calling for help most days. I've never done anything like this before."
"Well, you know where to find us if you need help. I'll be down at the old mill. We're ready to start adding the kitchen equipment and Amelia wants me to oversee that specifically. You know how particular she is about her kitchen set-up."
Esther chuckled briefly. "Yes. I learned very quickly to stay out of the kitchen once she laid claim to it."
Grams moved over to the bar and motioned to a covered plate. "Your lunch. Make sure you eat before you get back to work."
"Yes, Grams." Then Esther was left alone in the building on Franklyn & Rhodes.
************
Esther started working on the bottom floor - painting and scraping and staining – watching the bookstore slowly take shape under her careful hands. She found the hardest thing to deal with was the floor covering protecting the marble; it was slick and difficult to walk on without sliding. But she managed and gradually the entire floor was being transformed into a warm, comfortable environment.
She had designed the bookshelves to compliment the existing architecture and had spent a number of hours staining them to match the room exactly, then they were put in one corner of the room to await their final placement.
Then Esther moved to the third floor; she wanted to ponder the second floor a while longer and she had some definite ideas of what to do with the penthouse space. Cameron had given her full reign on what do with the interior. She actually enjoyed working on it and passed a bit of time doing so exclusively. She called Cameron to come visit before the project was completed.
"Hello? Esther?"
"Up here, Cam."
He hadn't been inside the building since Esther had taken it over as her own project. Cam took his time looking around the bottom floor, nodding in approval at what Esther had done. She had taken his idea and made it better, highlighting the best qualities of the room and creating an atmosphere that was welcoming. The long counter had become the coffee bar though right now it seemed to be serving as a catch-all for stuff and the shelving stood ready to be placed. He made a note to ask if she wanted that done.
Cameron climbed the stairs to the second floor, shaking his head at the lack of progress but moving on to the third floor. Here the rooms were sparklingly clean and smelled of fresh paint. Esther had used bright, vibrant colors making the room come alive even though it was totally empty. When Cameron crossed the threshold, he stopped in the middle of the room and turned in a full circle.
"Wow," he said softly. "Esther, this is amazing... beyond what I had ever imagined it could be."
She blushed. "Thanks, Cam. I'm happy with it. It's turning out better than I expected. There's a lot more light up here and the lead windows are wonderful."
He smiled at her enthusiasm, thrilled to see it for a change as he looked around again. It was really much lighter than he'd expected it to be. "They really are," he agreed. "I'm surprised we were able to keep them though given how old they are."
"Cam, this is a historical building... we can't actually have them removed without permission. But I like them – lots of privacy without losing any of the light."
Cameron nodded his agreement. "So what can I do for you, Es? Did you want me to have the shelves put in place or...?"
"No... I mean, yes, you can do that as well, but that's not why I asked you to come down here. I need to know where you want to put the bathrooms – how much space you want to set aside for it. I am going to build partial walls for them," answering his question before he could formulate it.
So together they measured and planned. Esther showed him the improvements she had already made; she was especially proud of the new kitchen with its shiny new appliances and cabinets. Then together they walked back down to the first floor with only a brief hesitation at the second floor landing. Cameron was good and didn't ask and Esther appreciated his restraint.
When they arrived on the first floor, Cameron looked around again in admiration. "I'll get the guys in here first thing tomorrow morning to put the shelves in place. Then you can finish the decorating while I start putting the stock out. Once that's done, all we'll need to do is decide on an opening day."
"And the rest?"
Cameron shrugged. "We'll take it as it comes whenever you're ready. Did you see that the church has been earmarked for a museum and the old general store is becoming a boutique? I told you things were gonna change down here. I think two or three of the warehouses nearby are also in the works for redevelopment."
"I'm so glad, Cam. You deserve to have this be a success if just for the fact that you took me on faith. When is Amelia's place going to open?"
"Next week... didn't you get your invitation?"
"I've only been home long enough to sleep a little and shower. I haven't seen much mail lately."
"Esther, you can't work yourself to death on this project. I wanted you to get involved but not to the exclusion of everything else."
"Oh Cam... it's not like that, really. I have found a new sense of purpose here... a sense of renewal." She took his hand and led him over to the bar which he now realized was covered with all sorts of old sundry things – historical things. "I want you to see what I found. I think I might use it as part of the interior design for this place."
She motioned to the items that were carefully laid out across the bar from one end to another. "This is all stuff I found in those boxes. They tell at least some of the stories of the people who have passed through this place over the years. And I've done some of my own research to fill in the gaps. I have quite a bit more of that to do, but...." She dropped his hand and picked up a small book.
"I know this is going to sound corny, but going through those boxes finally showed me that everyone suffers pain and loss and disappointment. But eventually things get better and pain fades and life goes on again. I know you and Grams and even Amelia have tried to tell me that over and over again and in my head I knew it, but in my heart it felt like no one understood what I was going through."
"What changed your mind, Es? What changed your heart?"
"I started discovering the people that had been here before and the lives they lived. Some of the detail I've found has been amazing, and the stories have been remarkable. Some sad, some tragic, some wonderfully fulfilling, but all of them real." She carefully opened the book she held. "This was written during and after the Civil War by a woman who was part of the Underground Railroad. It was actually tucked away in the back of the safe. It tells about what she went through growing up here as a slave and how hard she worked to come back a free woman." She set the book down gently and picked up one of the tin boxes Sam had brought over from the mill.
"This had records indicating the presence of a half-breed doctor... one of the first in the country from what I can discover. He was found and adopted by a local family who saw past his heritage and found a human being to love and care for. It couldn't have been easy though... not for any of them. Prejudice is a hard thing to shake in any timeframe."
She reached for yet another object – this time a wooden sign painted red, white and blue and proudly bearing the letters 'USO' on it. "I don't know a singular story to go with this yet, but I would imagine there are any number of them. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. Aside from the bullet holes, I found parts of what I think was once a still and odd bits of drug paraphernalia. Not all happy stories to be sure, but all of them true with living human beings behind every single one."
"This is fantastic, Esther. I’m... well, I'm a little overwhelmed to tell you the truth and more than a little curious. I want to know more about this place now and the people who passed through it before us."
Esther smiled. "I felt the same way. Maybe instead of decorating with this stuff, I'll create a permanent historical exhibit." She shrugged. "I don't know yet. I am still discovering new things in the building and those boxes and the new bits always make me jot down more notes for research. I'm a lot further behind on that part. But I would like to do right by the folks who were here first."
"Maybe you could create new art with the pieces of their lives you have," Cameron shrugged, "or not. I like what you've done with the place so far, Es. It looks really good in here... a place to be proud of. I'll get the guys in here first thing tomorrow to put in the shelves and run the plumbing upstairs like we talked about. And Amelia will be in at some point to look around. She said it was so she could get a feel for what kind of coffee to order, but I think she just wants a sneak peek."
"She's welcome anytime, Cam, and so are you. You can even bring Grams with you if you're up to it."
Cameron laughed and covered his chest dramatically with his hand. "I dare do all that becomes a man; who dares do more is none," he quoted with flair then dropped his pose. "Grams will jump at the chance to come down here again. She's been chomping at the bit to see how things are going."
"As long as they know there is still plenty of work to be done."
He raised his eyebrow at her. "You want a little help for the bathrooms?"
"Sure. That is the last bit I have to do to make the penthouse livable. Then we can...."
"... move in," Cam cut in. "I mean you can if you feel comfortable enough to. I know you can sublet the apartment fairly easily, and I thought you might prefer to be here near Amelia and me. We're moving into the upstairs of the old mill."
"You don't think we would do better to rent it out?"
"I would rather not... not at first anyway. I'd like to get the businesses off the ground. But if you're not comfortable being here alone, we can leave it empty for a little while. I'm going to put the new alarm system in next week. Then we can decide who and if we want anyone else to be in this space." He paused a moment. "I didn't think this part out very well when I started planning. I was so anxious to convert this place into a bookstore and gallery that I didn't consider the problems that could cause us for finding a tenant for the third floor." He would have kept talking except for Esther's hand over his mouth.
"I don't mind moving in here, Cam. It's just a little unexpected. But that would probably be best. It would save me tons on gas and travel time."
His shoulders sagged in relief. "Good. Now let's go get some lunch and then we can get started on laying that wall for the bathrooms. I have to admit I am glad we got the place converted over to gas."
"Me too. Makes lighting the fireplaces a lot easier."
"Makes Amelia a much happier chef." Their laughter trailed behind them as they walked out together into the late morning sunshine.
Esther stopped walking just as they reached the threshold and laid a hand on Cam's arm, causing him to stop walking as well. He looked at her questioningly. "Thank you, Cam. What you've done for me by getting me involved in this project...." She shook her head. "Just thank you."
"Anytime, Esther. Glad to have you back."
************
Esther did move in as soon as the bathrooms were complete. Cameron called her decadent for what she chose to install, but Grams and Amelia agreed that Esther was a very smart woman. Me, I never saw the big deal about the whole affair, but I did notice an appreciable jump in the amount of warmth that flowed through these old walls and I was glad for it. There is a lot to be said for warmth on the inside when it is cold on the out.
The bookstore was quite successful for the better part of twenty years until the big chains moved in and people found it more convenient to buy from the comfort of their own homes. By then the ground floor was devoted exclusively to the early morning coffee drinkers who stopped in faithfully everyday to purchase the special blends Amelia had created just for this place.
The second floor did become a gallery though it wasn't at all what Cameron had envisioned. Esther had done her research and though a small part was set aside exclusively for her original art – which sold very well, by the way – a larger portion was dedicated to replicas of the historical montages she had created out of the things she had collected about me and the people who has passed through my doors.
I will admit to being a little disappointed at not being included as part of them until I noticed her putting one together one day early in the spring. She took great care to prepare each piece of the montage to make it as close to the original as possible. But until this day I had never really noticed the background she placed all the pieces on.
I'm not sure what attracted my attention this particular day, but I suddenly realized that *I* was the background, drawn in exquisite, loving detail down to the different colored bricks and the holes in the doors. My awareness of this made me feel more alive than I had in years. It was a great feeling.
Esther's soul did heal, and she eventually found happiness again with Cameron's blessing. It was an interesting phenomenon to have children within these old walls again but what a renewing experience. There is nothing quite like a child's laughter to make one feel young again and it was wonderful to see Esther happy. She had made such a difference here, breathing new life into this old building.
Esther was quite old for a human when she passed away here surrounded by her family and friends. Cameron was the last person she said goodbye to before she closed her eyes in eternal sleep and he followed her not too many months afterwards.
Her family lived here for decades though I do not know what has become of them. That is yet another story to tell of the lives and people who have been part of my life – here at Franklyn & Rhodes.
Part 9
