California Homecoming Read Online Free PDF

fix the damn plumbing herself.
    As she finished the coffee, she glanced through a plumbing catalog she’d picked up. An etched glass vessel sink was alluring. Would it fit with a Victorian bed and breakfast? The sleek fixtures were even more tantalizing. Not a speck of rust.
    Unfortunately, her first guests were going to have to live with an authentic, less-than-perfect bathroom. Ah, well. It went along with the less-than-perfect innkeeper.
    She dragged herself from the chair and trudged back up the stairs.
    She’d changed the washer and finished cleaning up when the phone rang. “Sarah’s Inn,” she answered, trying out her business name for the first time.
    “That’s a great name!” Mandy exclaimed.
    “Thanks!” The woman
was
persistent.
But at least she’s female.
    “Hey, I’ve been doing the research on what you need to get your kitchen up to code. I have some great ideas to make the additional fixtures easy to install and maintain, as well as being reasonably priced. I can’t — ”
    “Wait! What additional fixtures?”
    “You need a few different drains.”
    Drains. Drains meant plumbing. Sarah groaned and sat down on the upstairs landing.
    “Oh, it’s not that bad.” Mandy laughed. “I think we can get a handyman to help us do it.”
    “That’d be great, except
I’m
the handyman … woman.”
    Mandy laughed again. “We may need to find you an assistant for this job. One that knows what he, or
she
, is doing.”
    “Are you saying I don’t?”
    “Well, do you?”
    Sarah sighed. “You’re probably right.”
    “Can I come over on Monday to show you the plans?” Mandy asked.
    Sarah took a deep breath. “Sure,” she said, trying to put some enthusiasm in her voice.
    “Great! Got to run! I know you’ll be happy with my ideas! You try to find an assistant, okay? Bye!” Mandy hung up.
    The upstairs light was fading fast, bringing a chill into the hallway. Rain drops began to splatter on the roof. Daisy barked, whined, and lay down next to her.
    Mandy was right. She was going to need help. Maybe she should take Hunter up on his offer. He seemed capable.
    She thought of his strong hands and shivered. What would it be like if he touched her?
    No. Having Hunter around would be an exceedingly bad idea.
    She needed to find a handy
woman
. This was going to be a female operation — no men allowed.
    • • •
    “Mom, I’m home,” Sarah called out as she walked through the kitchen doorway that evening. The kitchen was a disaster.
    Ravioli again.
    “Where are you?” She stuck a spoon in the sauce, blew on it, and tasted. A silky mixture of oregano, garlic, tomatoes, and mushrooms teased her tongue. She really should hire her mother as the chef.
    Right.
Sarah needed to see less of her mother, not more.
    Sarah slumped in a chair and Daisy laid her head on her lap. Absently, she petted the dog.
It would be so easy to lie down and sleep. Just a moment.
    “Sarah! Are you okay?”
    Her mother’s voice roused her from a delicious dream of lying on a Hawaiian beach. “Sure, Mom. Just tired.”
    “You’re working too hard. You should be resting, not trying to open an inn.”
    “Where were you, mom?”
Time to change the subject.
    Her mother blushed. “Talking with Marcos. He’s coming to California a week from today. I’m picking him up and we’re going into San Francisco for a long weekend. You okay by yourself?” She put her hand on Sarah’s head and stroked her hair.
    “Fine, Mom. It will be good for you to get away.”
And have someone else to pay attention to.
    Elizabeth put a pot of water on the stove. “What did you do today?”
    Sarah grinned. “Changed a washer in the upstairs bathroom. Of course, it took four hours, but I did it!”
    “You can’t keep doing this all by yourself, especially after the baby comes. You’re going to need a handyman. It’s too bad … ” Her mother’s voice trailed off, but Sarah knew Elizabeth was going to bring up Rick again.
    “Rick