Free More to Give by Terri Osburn Page B

going to find that? Surely there were other weathered buildings on the island that required maintenance. In a fishing village, there must be someone with the skills she needed. But who? Callie considered asking Sam, but if she couldn’t take the first step without him, what tone would that set for the rest of the project?
    Then she spotted Will’s business card on the pegboard she’d installed the day before. Offering to show Callie around the island might not have been the same as offering insight for the project, but then, the renovation of the Sunset was as important to Will as it was to Callie. Maybe more so. Callie dialed the number before she could chicken out.
    Will picked up on the second ring. “Destination Anchor. Willow Parsons speaking.”
    “Good morning, Will. This is Callie Henderson over at the Sunset Harbor Inn. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
    “Not at all. What can I do for you? And please don’t tell me this is bad news.”
    “No bad news here,” Callie was happy to relay. “But we’re starting the renovation on Monday, and that means I need a workforce on short notice. I need someone who knows how to handle the exterior first. Do you know who could do that?”
    If they’d kept to the original schedule and stuck with a completion date in the late spring, Callie could have taken as much as a month to bring in the right team. She no longer had that luxury.
    “I know the exact person you need,” Will said.
    “Really?” Callie had expected her to have to think about it. Maybe toss out a couple of names for consideration. Then again, on an island this size there might not be multiple candidates for this sort of thing.
    “Yep.”
    When Will failed to elaborate, Callie asked, “Where can I find him?”
    “Probably on the front porch,” Will said.
    “The front porch of what?”
    “Your hotel. His name is Bernie Matheson. He and Olaf play checkers over there.”
    Callie sat back in her chair. That curmudgeon outside her door could not be her only option. “I’m not sure he’s the person I need. The exterior of this building is going to need a complete revamping—”
    “He’s your guy,” Will said with finality in her voice. “Bernie is a native and knows everything and anything that has to do with construction, carpentry, and repairing what the elements do to buildings around here. If you want the best, you want Bernie.”
    Scrubbing a hand over her face, Callie wallowed in frustration and dread for five seconds. Then she wrote Bernie’s full name on a Post-it. “Sounds like you’re right. I guess I need to head out and have a talk with him, then.” Remembering his toothless checkers adversary, she asked, “What about Olaf?”
    “He’s a bit slow,” Will said, “but I’ve seen what he can do with a piece of furniture. Whether he’s building it himself or fixing up an older piece, his work is amazing. Floyd sells it up at the Trading Post if you want to check it out for yourself.”
    No wonder they’d offered to help out with the renovation. But Callie never would have thought her grumpy welcoming committee would turn out to be her go-to guys for this job.
    “Then at least I don’t have to go far,” she said. Now she had to hope the men were willing to do more than offer casual help. “Thanks for the tip.”
    “Call anytime. And that invitation is still open,” Will said. “My friends and I are meeting at Opal’s bakery tomorrow around noon. Stop in, and I’ll introduce you.”
    Since Henri and her mother were heading off the island before nine in the morning, Callie would be free the rest of the day. Though she’d need to start placing orders for the reno, a quick break for lunch wouldn’t hurt anything.
    “That would be nice. So long as I’m not intruding.”
    “Of course not. Opal’s is on Silver Lake Drive, near the harbor. A few blocks before the Anchor Inn on the right, coming from your direction.”
    Callie pulled out the tourist map she’d been