One Wrong Turn: A Novel by Deanna Lynn Sletten

Author:Deanna Lynn Sletten [Sletten, Deanna Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781477823170
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Published: 2017-06-19T16:00:00+00:00

Early Saturday morning, Maddie went right to work laying down tarps to cover the carpet in the first bedroom—the blue bedroom—and then taping off the crown molding, window, and door frames, which were to be painted pearl white. By the time Clay had dressed and drunk his coffee, Maddie was already trimming the room with blue paint before rolling the walls. He had to admit: the girl was determined.

“Do you want me to help you in here or start on the yellow room?” he asked.

He’d thought about the situation overnight and had decided that he’d humor the girls and help them ready the house. Even if they had to cancel the guests later on, at least the house would be finished. Maybe it would prove to Maddie that he did still believe Jess would wake up and that he was serious about being a family again.

“I want to do the rooms myself,” Maddie said. “But the outside needs touch-ups, and the shed needs painting too. Mom wanted the shed painted the same gray color as the house, with white trim. There’s extra paint in the basement.”

“Okay,” Clay said, resigned to the fact that his daughter was in charge. “Should we plan to leave around one to go visit your mom?”

Maddie nodded as she concentrated on her work.

“What can I do?” Jilly asked excitedly, coming up behind them.

He turned around and lifted her up off her feet, swinging her in circles until she erupted into giggles.

“Why don’t you help me outside,” he said, setting her down.

“Okay. Let’s go!” She took off running down the hallway.

Clay glanced back at Maddie and saw that she’d been watching them. She quickly turned back to her painting when she realized he was looking at her. Clay thought he’d seen something in her eyes, like a yearning to be as carefree as Jilly. He wished he could gain her trust and get through to her that he was here for good. But it was going to take so much longer than he’d first anticipated to convince her.

Clay and Jilly walked around the house, inspecting it for spots to touch up. Maddie had been right. Even though the house had been freshly painted in the last two years, there were places that needed touching up. He noticed that some of the gingerbread trim looked faded and could use a new coat of paint too. He found the paint in the basement along with brushes, then got an old T-shirt from his room for Jilly to wear to protect her clothes.

After brushing the shed down with a broom, he set Jilly to work painting it gray, and then he started working on the house trim. He watched as she made sweeping strokes with her wide brush, first one way and then the other. It made him smile, seeing her having so much fun. He figured he could paint a coat over Jilly’s work later.

That afternoon when they visited Jess, Maddie sat beside her mother and told her all about their painting projects and how Jess didn’t have to worry about the house being ready.

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