Chapter 2

Two weeks later . . .

Caitlin had just arrived in Key West, Florida. She rented a red Mustang convertible and drove to Emery Realtors. It wasn’t often she got to drive. Most of the time she would take one of the limos in the family fleet when she just wanted to go around New York. Parking was hell in the city and that’s why she mostly had someone drive for her.

Caitlin had bought her new property over the internet. Meaning she had never been there in person. She just needed a change – a project. Something that would work her mind and give her some perspective on what she wanted for her life; to try something new and on her own. She had never lived or stayed anywhere alone before. Buying the property sight unseen was something her sister, Chelsea, would do – an impulsive move. Caitlin couldn’t wait to see how it worked out for her.

When the realtor who sold her the property took her there and began showing her around, her spontaneous purchase didn’t seem like a very good idea.

Note for the future: do not impulsively purchase anything again that’s over a hundred thousand dollars.

Caitlin had seen the pictures online of the house and the stats but it seemed worse in person. She knew it was a fixer-upper but . . .

“Well, that’s it,” Joan, the realtor, said. Then she noticed Caitlin’s demeanor. “Is something wrong?”

“I have to say this place looks smaller and quite frankly worse in person than it did online. Getting this place up to par can take all summer, if not longer,” Caitlin said as she looked around.

Every room needed a fresh coat of paint and drywall repair. The floors were dismal and peeling in some places. The kitchen didn’t have a stove and the counter tops and cabinets were stained with God knows what. The backyard was filled with weeds, dirt, and dead plants and flowers.

“Not unless you get some help,” Joan said.

“Can you recommend someone?”

“I can but they probably won’t be able to get to you for at least three to four months. Major and small business contractors in Florida Keys get busy fast in the spring and summer. But there’s a local restaurant and bar that has a pin up board.”

“A pin up board?”

“Yes. The whole place is pretty old fashion, but it’s a favorite watering hole for the locals here in Key West. Anyway, a lot of locals have found good handymen and small time contractors just from pinning up a posting on the board there.”

Caitlin shrugged. “I can give it a try.”

Maybe I can fix it up enough to sell it quickly. Boy, was this a mistake. What was I thinking? Am I going through a mid-life crisis for women or something? This place is so run down I can’t even stay the night here.

“How did this house get so . . . well, like this?”

Owning the property was embarrassing. It was an eye sore in the middle of a neighborhood where front and backyards were immaculate and the paint on the houses were chip free.

“It used to be a pretty cute home at one time,” Joan began. “A category three hurricane came through the other year and damaged it. The previous owners were in the middle of fixing it when another hurricane came through. Then something happened with their finances, causing them to file for bankruptcy. Their little vacation spot became last on their list to maintain.”

Caitlin blew out but she wasn’t one to back down. She was a Van Dyke. “All right, first I need to find a hotel to check into until I can get this place in somewhat livable condition. Second, I need to get to that watering hole you talked about and pin up an advertisement ASAP. What’s the name of the place?”

“Hokies.”

Caitlin’s head snapped forward at the realtor. Hokies? Oh, good lord. It sounds like a real charming place, she thought sarcastically.

After Caitlin got settled at the DoubleTree Hotel, she put in the address for Hokies Bar in her GPS. When Joan had called the place a watering hole, she was spot on. It was a small place that stood alone yet close to the shore. An old dock wasn’t far away from it. Two sail boats bobbed in the water at the dock.

Caitlin went inside and looked around. The dark wood panel that made up the walls and the floor looked waterlogged and out of date. There wasn’t one booth in the dining area just tables and chairs. The tables were scratched up to hell and back. Three customers sat at the bar. They were older men who appeared to be in their early seventies.

Caitlin desperately looked around for the pin up board. She just wanted to pin up the ad and get out of there. The place smelled like stale beer.

“Hey, can I help you?” the man behind the bar asked. He wore a blue cap that looked like it had been washed once too often.

“Um, yes. I’m looking for your board. I need to pin something up.”

“Over there on the other side of the room,” he said as he pointed in that direction.

“Thank you.” Caitlin quickly walked to the board. She grabbed a free push pin that was in the cork and pinned the index card to the board. Then she quickly left.

                                                                HELP WANTED

                        Independent contractor/handyman needed for work on a fixer-upper.

                       Experience laying floors, carpets, painting, and restoring kitchens a must.

                                                       At least two references required.

                                                               Call 888-555-2325