Husband Under Construction Read Online Free PDF Page B

r-ready?”
    â€œOh, Charley…” On a soft moan, she wrapped her arms around him, her tenderness in the face of his cantankerousness making Noah’s breath hitch. Then she let go and said, “I know this is hard. And you know I know how hard.” She ducked slightly to peer up into his averted face, thin lips set in a creased pout. “But sticking your head in the sand isn’t going to solve the problem. And we can’t put it off much longer, since I have no idea when a job offer’s going to come through. I’m trying to help, Charley. We all are.”
    Several beats passed before her uncle finally swung his gaze back to Noah. “It’s really that bad?”
    Catching Roxie’s exhausted sigh, Noah said, “Yes, sir. It is.”
    Charley held Noah’s gaze for another moment or two before shuffling over to a small bench on the landing, dropping onto it like his spirit had been plumb sucked right out of him—a phenomenon he’d seen before in older clients, his own grandparents. As somebody who wasn’t crazy about people telling him what to do, either, he empathized with the old man a lot more than he might’ve expected.
    â€œSo what’s this all gonna cost me?”
    Noah walked over to crouch in front of him. “Until I run the figures, I can’t give you an exact estimate. But to be honest, it’s not gonna be cheap.” When Charley’s mouthpulled down at the corners, Noah laid a hand on his forearm. “Tell you what—how about I prioritize what should be done first, and what can maybe wait for a bit? Your niece is right, a lot of this really shouldn’t be put off much longer. But nobody’s trying to push you into doing anything you’re not ready to do. Right, Roxie?”
    When he looked at her, though, she had the oddest expression on her face. Not scared, exactly, but…shook up. Like she’d seen a ghost. At her uncle’s, “What do you think, Rox?” she forced her gaze from Noah’s to give Charley a shaky smile.
    â€œSounds more than fair to me.”
    Nodding, Charley hoisted himself to his feet again and crossed the few steps to the bathroom, while Noah tried to snag Roxie’s attention again, hoping she’d give him a clue as to what was going on. No such luck.
    â€œMae picked out that tile when we moved in,” Charley said, then gave a little laugh. “Said the pink was kind to her complexion…” He grasped the door frame, clearly trying to pull himself together. “She would’ve been beside herself, though, that I’d let the place slide so much, and that’s the truth of it. Should’ve seen to at least some of it long ago. But…”
    Noah came up behind him to clamp a hand on Charley’s shoulder. “But change is scary, I know. Sometimes even when you want it—”
    â€œCharley?”
    Both men turned to look at Roxie, whose smile seemed a little too bright. “What’s Mae saying about this?”
    Charley sighed. “That I’m being a damn fool.”
    â€œAnd…?” Roxie prompted.
    Flummoxed, Noah watched Charley tilt his head, his eyes closed for several seconds before he opened them again. “She says to tell Noah to get going on that estimate.So I guess, since I never refused my wife anything while she was alive, no sense in starting now.”
    Dear Lord.
    Roxie walked Noah downstairs and to the front door, her arms crossed like she was deep in thought.
    â€œHey. You okay?”
    â€œWhat? Oh. Yes.” Finally her eyes lifted to his, but almost as if she was afraid of what she’d see there. “Thank you.”
    â€œFor what?”
    She smiled slightly. “For blowing my preconceived notions all to hell.”
    Noah mulled that over for a second or two, then said, “I guess I’ll get back to you in a few days, then.”
    â€œSounds good,” she said, opening the