The next morning Maxi showed up at Andie’s place with the painting she’d shown her the day before.
“This will be perfect right on the long wall in the dining room.” Maxi held the painting on the wall to illustrate.
Andie stood back to get the full effect. It was a gorgeous seascape, and the blueish green of the ocean drew out the blue in the muted slate-gray tone of the walls. In the painting a wave was crashing on a rock, the image lending a certain energy to the room. “It’s perfect.”
Maxi set the painting on the floor and leaned it against the wall. “It’s already got a wire across the back, so it’s ready for hanging.”
“Thanks so much.” Andie grabbed the table she’d set aside for Maxi. “This is for you. I think it’s perfect for that empty corner next to the slider in your cottage.”
Maxi looked delighted. “It’s perfect! And it matches with cottage chic decor.” She leaned down to look underneath the top of the table. “But where is the price tag?”
“I’ll tell you what the price is when you tell me the price of the painting.”
Maxi straightened and frowned at Andie. “Don’t be silly. I’m not charging you for the painting.”
“Then I’m not charging you for the table.”
Maxi opened her mouth to argue then closed it and laughed. “Okay, fine. A trade then.”
“Deal.” Andie went into the kitchen area, which was only separated from the rest of the living space by a breakfast bar. “You want coffee?”
“Love some,” Maxi said.
Andie popped a K-Cup into the brewer while Maxi rummaged around in her oversized blue-and-white striped tote. She pulled out a manila envelope and plopped it on the breakfast bar. “I also have this for you.”
Andie slid a mug of coffee in front of Maxi and blew on hers. “The loan application?”
“Yep.” Maxi opened the folder and spun it around so Andie could read the papers. “James approved it last night. Emily got the loan, and he managed to defer the payments for six months.”
“Really?” Andie put down her mug and flipped through the papers. There were lots of official-looking paragraphs with stipulations. “That’s fantastic. I hope she can still do the renovations for the Airbnb units.”
“She can, and see here.” Maxi pointed a paint-splattered nail to Part C, Subsection 5 on the second page. “She can use the money at her discretion. James has also stipulated part of it be used to bring the loan current so the property won’t be foreclosed.”
“That’s great. I was worried she wouldn’t even get a loan with that hanging over the property.”
Maxi nodded. “It was a problem, but you know how James feels about the town’s older properties. He wants the town to retain its charm, not be filled with strip malls and condos, so he figured out how to make it happen. It’s a little unconventional, but it’s all legal.”
“Emily is going to be thrilled. Please tell James how much I appreciate this.”
“He’s happy to do it.” Maxi sipped her coffee while Andie leafed through the paperwork.
“So, looks like the bank only plans to inspect the exterior?” Andie asked.
“The whole purpose is to keep the outside historically appropriate. That’s what people see from the street. She can change the structure a little, but it has to be in keeping with the era of construction. Inside they don’t care as much. No one wants to have a kitchen that’s the same as it was in 1856.”
“Good point.”
“The bank needs to approve any structural changes as well as the paint colors, and I told James about her idea to rent it out. He said that’s perfectly fine, but of course, you’d have to get the town to inspect that, and she might need a permit or something.”
“Yeah, we need to look into all of that, but without any money, it didn’t make sense to start. I guess I can put that on my to-do list now.”
“Guess so. You seem happy to have a project.” Maxi regarded her over the rim of her mug.
“You know, I guess I am. I always thought I just liked sorting through antiques, but maybe what I really liked was helping the people that owned them.”
“That’s good. Doing what makes you happy is the best way to live.” Maxi had recently discovered this herself, and Andie agreed.
“Looks like maybe things might work out for Emily. Thanks for letting me know about the loan and for your help.”
“You’re welcome. She’ll have to meet with James at the bank to sign the loan documents in person, of course.”
“No problem. I’m sure she’ll be happy to do that.” Andie closed the folder and tapped it on the top of the breakfast bar to align the papers inside. She couldn’t wait to tell Emily the good news.