Читать книгу Their Unexpected Love - Kathleen Y'Barbo - Страница 12

Chapter Four

On Friday, Logan’s usual construction update arrived along with a spreadsheet that detailed expenses, workers’ time sheets, and other items pertinent to the project. Though Pippa was at the skate park, she opened the email and read the information it contained.

Finding everything in order, Pippa jotted off a note of thanks along with a reminder about tomorrow’s skating event. With a smile, she hit Send. To her surprise, Logan called her almost immediately.

“You’re not canceling on me,” she said in lieu of a proper greeting.

“I just wanted to ask if I needed anything besides my life insurance policy. Oh, and I’ll be sure to bring my medical insurance card, too.”

Pippa laughed. “I’ve got all the things you’ll need. Just—”

“Hey, I’m really sorry but I’m getting a call and I need to answer it. It’s the subcontractor I told you about who’s been ditching me lately, and I’d hate to miss him. I’ll call you when we’re done.”

Pippa said goodbye and set the phone down. She glanced up to see Rico Galvan, the artist who had painted her boots, standing at the door.

“Busy?”

“Come in,” she said. “I’m just going over the checklist for tomorrow.”

The teenager grinned and stepped inside, his paint-splattered coveralls telling where he’d been. For the past week, Logan had employed Rico to do demolition work, the dirty kind that removed the old in preparation for the new.

Rico had asked that Pippa not mention their association or his background at the skate ministry, and she had complied. He wanted to get the job on his own merits, something she understood completely.

“How’s the job coming along?” Pippa asked.

“It’s hard work, but I stay busy, and I like that.” He paused. “So, I wondered if maybe...”

“I might have the Bibles here?” She nodded to the oversize box next to Rico’s feet. “The delivery driver dropped them off a half hour ago.”

His face shone. “Do you think I could take a look?”

“Actually,” she said as she retrieved the scissors and walked toward him, “I hadn’t planned to open the box until we could see them together.” She handed him the scissors. “Here, Rico. You do the honors.”

Made specially for the skating outreach and competition, these copies of the New Testament bore a cover created to look like the graffiti designs that Rico had painted on the outside of the skate park. A skater’s Bible, one Pippa hoped she could someday afford to reprint and continue to give out as part of the ministry. Thanks to Leah and Ryan’s donation, they would have enough for tomorrow, and that’s what counted for now.

Rico made quick work of opening the box and then moved the brown paper aside to reveal a stack of copies. A low whistle was his only response. And then he reached in and took one out, cradling it first in his palm and then against his chest.

When he looked up, his eyes glistened with tears. “I can’t believe it.”

Pippa reached to hug him and then stepped back. “I’m very proud of them. And of you.”

The quiet young man could only nod.

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning, then. Nine o’clock?”

Struggling to keep his emotions in check, Rico choked out a quick reply and turned to leave. Pippa watched him go. She was still watching him when her cell phone rang, drawing her back to her desk.

“I’m sorry I had to hang up so quickly.” Logan gave her a brief description of his call with the subcontractor and then paused. “Pippa, about tomorrow...I’m going to have to take a rain check.”

Pippa let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “Oh?”

“This subcontractor’s the best in the business when it comes to restoring old brick, and your building needs a lot of work. He’s agreed to do it, but only if I meet him tomorrow to go over the specifics and supervise his guys.”

“I understand,” she said as she felt a small measure of relief. “And yes, you can definitely have a rain check.”

“You could always drop by and say hello. If the job entails what I think it does, it’s going to take most of the day.”

She paused only a second. “I can’t promise but I will see what I can do.”

“Oh?” Logan laughed. “That was fast. I only just canceled and you’ve already got plans.”

“Actually, we had plans. I was going to get you on a skateboard, remember?”

“Well,” he said slowly, “you were going to try.”

“Oh no, mister,” Pippa said with mock seriousness. “If I can get out there with the kids, then I expect you to do the same. I thought you understood that I was inviting you to an outreach and not just for the two of us to skate. Remember, I told you I would show you that you were wrong. I can’t do that without showing you what we do, now, can I?”

“I guess not. So our plans were to skate with kids?” Logan paused as the sound of hammering began. “Sorry, just stepped inside and it’s loud in here. Hold on a sec.” A door opened and then closed, and the hammering instantly ceased. “All right. Now, start over. I’m confused.”

“The outreach ministry where I volunteer is having an event tomorrow. The kids are calling it a skating competition, but I prefer to think of it as an opportunity to hand out specially designed Bibles that match our graffiti logo. And to skate, of course.”

“Of course.”

She couldn’t miss the less than enthusiastic tone in his voice. “Something wrong, Logan?”

Silence.

“Logan?”

“Yeah, I’m here,” he said. “Look, I know this ministry means something to you. I mean, it must for you to volunteer your time. But I drove by there yesterday. It’s the warehouse over on State Street, right? The one covered in gang graffiti?”

She didn’t like his tone or his insinuation. “That’s street art, and it’s our logo. Taken from Romans 10:14.” And painted by your employee, Rico, she longed to add. “Why?”

“I’m sorry to hear that, Pippa. The warehouse is hurting the value of the neighborhood. Do you have plans to cover that ‘street art’ any time soon?”

Well, that did it. Still, she kept her cool. After all, this was the man she had hired to turn Granny’s dreams into reality. For all she wished to tell him about his opinions of Rico’s art, her need to do so was tempered by the fact that Granny had the greatest respect for Logan.

“The art stays,” she said. “And I hardly see how anything could bring down the value of that neighborhood. Other than the abandoned machine shop next door, the rest of the block is filled with empty lots and buildings that are in dire need of being torn down.”

“Exactly,” Logan answered, “and that’s just what the guys from Starting Over are doing in a few weeks. Tearing down the dangerous buildings that the city owns but can’t afford to pay to have demolished and painting over the ones that need work.”

“That’s great,” she said. “I’m sure some of the kids would like to help with the cleanup. If I can get permission from their parents, that is. But the logo stays.”

Silence.

“Logan?”

“I’m here.”

She leaned back against the chair and let out a long breath. “Look, I thought we agreed to disagree.”

“We did,” he said evenly. “But this is different. That machine shop next door?”

“Yes.”

“I’m the one trying to sell it, Pippa. And that’s not going to happen as long as any potential buyers think the shop sits next to a gang hideout.”

“That’s ridiculous,” she snapped.

“Well, maybe so, but I guess that’s just one more thing we will have to agree to disagree about. And should you change your mind...”

“Go on,” she said instead of snapping back at him.

“Well,” he said in a surprisingly kind tone. “I understand that to the kids this is art. Or rather street art. I really do. But please understand what I’m saying, too. The For Sale sign has been up over a month and I’ve only had one person inquire. Nobody wants to buy property in the wrong neighborhood. And—”

“And you think we give that impression.” When he said nothing, Pippa felt compelled to continue. “I disagree, Logan. However, I would love to help any way I can with the cleanup. Who is in charge?”

“That would be me.”

“Oh.” Pippa forced a hopeful tone into her voice. “Well, good. Then count me in. I’ll bring friends. The more the merrier, right?”

She couldn’t help thinking as she hung up that Logan’s enthusiasm was sorely missing. Well, no matter. She and the R10:14 kids would do their part to clean up their neighborhood. Then Logan would see the value in what happened behind the brightly painted exterior walls.