Chapter 2: The Wrong Contractor
1025 Words
I stood in the middle of my grandmother's living room, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.
Ethan stepped inside behind the workers. He wore faded jeans, work boots, and a gray T-shirt with Brooks Construction printed across the chest. A clipboard rested under his arm.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
He looked at the torn wallpaper, then at me.
"I didn't know you'd get here this early."
I let out a short, bitter laugh.
"You sound surprised."
"I am."
"You should be. I just walked into my grandmother's house and found strangers tearing it apart."
His face softened.
"Ivy"
"No." I raised my hand before he could continue. "Don't start saying my name like we're friends."
The workers exchanged uneasy looks before quietly stepping outside, leaving us alone.
Ethan stayed where he was.
"I understand why you're upset."
"You understand?"
I looked around the room.
"My grandmother has only been gone for a week."
My voice shook despite my best effort to keep it steady.
"I haven't even had the chance to go through her things."
"I know."
"You know?"
"Yes."
"Then why is your crew inside my house?"
He took a slow breath.
"Because your grandmother hired us."
I stared at him.
"What?"
"She signed the renovation agreement three months ago."
I shook my head.
"No."
"It's true."
"No, she didn't."
"She did."
"You're lying."
Pain flashed across his face.
"I wouldn't lie about her."
I laughed again, but this time there was no humor in it.
"So that's what we're doing now?"
"I'm telling you the truth."
"My grandmother never said a word about renovations."
"She wanted it to be a surprise."
"A surprise?"
"She hoped you'd come home."
The words hit harder than I expected.
I looked away before he could see the tears building in my eyes.
Grandma had always believed I would return one day.
Even when I insisted Ashbrook was part of my past.
Even when I stopped visiting as often because every street reminded me of Ethan.
She had never given up on me.
Still, none of that explained this.
"If she really hired you," I said quietly, "why didn't anyone call me after she passed away?"
"We tried."
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"The lawyer had your old number."
I reached into my handbag and pulled out my phone.
I had changed numbers almost two years ago after switching companies.
No one in Ashbrook knew.
I closed my eyes for a second.
It explained why nobody had reached me.
But it didn't change how I felt.
"I'm still canceling the contract."
Ethan looked at me calmly.
"That's your choice."
"I'll hire someone else."
"If that's what you decide."
His answer caught me off guard.
"You aren't going to argue?"
"It isn't my decision."
I folded my arms.
"I don't want you working on this house."
He looked at the old wooden staircase.
"I understand."
"I mean it."
"I know."
His calm voice only made me more frustrated.
"Were you expecting me to be happy to see you?"
"No."
"You broke my heart."
"I know."
"You walked away without even fighting for us."
"I know."
"You don't get to walk back into my life like nothing happened."
"I never expected that."
The room fell silent.
He wasn't defending himself.
He wasn't making excuses.
He simply stood there and accepted every angry word I threw at him.
That somehow made it worse.
The front door opened.
"Ivy?"
I turned.
"Aunt Maggie."
She hurried toward me and wrapped her arms around me.
"Oh, sweetheart."
I hugged her tightly.
For the first time since the funeral, I let myself breathe.
She pulled back and smiled sadly.
"You've lost weight."
"I've been busy."
"You always say that."
Then her eyes moved to Ethan.
She sighed.
"I had a feeling this would happen."
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"I knew you'd meet before I got here."
"You knew about this?"
She looked around the room.
"Yes."
I stared at her.
"You knew Ethan's company was working on Grandma's house?"
"I did."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"I wanted to."
"So why didn't you?"
"Your grandmother asked me not to."
I blinked.
"What?"
"She wanted everything ready before you arrived."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"She chose Ethan?"
Maggie nodded.
"She trusted him."
"Out of every contractor in Ashbrook?"
"Yes."
I laughed bitterly.
"That's unbelievable."
"It isn't."
"How can you say that?"
"Because I watched your grandmother make that decision."
I looked at Ethan.
He hadn't said a word.
Maggie continued softly.
"She told me there was only one person she'd trust in this house."
"Why?"
"Because Ethan loved this home almost as much as she did."
I looked away.
I didn't want to hear that.
Not from anyone.
Not today.
"I'll still find another company."
Maggie touched my arm.
"Before you decide, at least hear him out."
"I don't owe him anything."
"No."
She nodded gently.
"You don't."
"But you owe your grandmother the chance to understand why she made this choice."
I swallowed hard.
Grandma had never forced me into anything.
If she had trusted Ethan...
There had to be a reason.
I hated that thought.
I hated that it made sense.
Slowly, I looked back at him.
"You have five minutes."
He nodded once.
"That's all I need."
He stepped toward the old fireplace where a folder rested on the table.
He opened it carefully.
Inside were drawings.
Paint samples.
Wood finishes.
Notes written in my grandmother's neat handwriting.
My chest tightened.
She had planned every little detail.
Every room.
Every corner.
Every dream she wanted this house to become.
Ethan gently picked up one of the pages.
"This was her favorite design."
His voice was almost a whisper.
"She talked about it every week."
I couldn't speak.
The neat handwriting on the page blurred as tears filled my eyes.
He carefully placed the paper back into the folder.
Then he looked at me.
"I made her a promise."
The room became completely still.
His green eyes never left mine.
"I promised your grandmother I'd finish this house.”
- Writer
