Feature Writer Ann Chiappetta – Renovations of the Heart: Part 1 (Fiction)
“Mommy, it’s the guy who made our kitchen!” exclaimed Cara, running over to greet Walt. I smiled. Cara wasn’t good at remembering names but she never forgot a face.
After a quick hug and kiss, he released himself from Cara’s seven-year old enthusiasm and introduced Donna, his fiancée.
“Hey, Amy, “he said, clasping my hands and kissing my cheek, “How’s it going?”
“Good.” I said, reminded that he was a grown-up now–a man, not the insecure, seventeen year-old I dated all those years ago. Heck, I was thirty-eight and he was thirty-two; the years left us both with a bit more flesh and experience.
I was thrilled to see him but equally as uncomfortable. My pulse raced and I did my best to hide the fact that I was still attracted to him and I prayed he or his fiancée didn’t notice. We were even sitting together at the reception, a situation I was both excited and nervous about.
I’ve been in love twice in my life, the first time at age twenty-two and the second time at age twenty-six. I married the second man and still have dreams about the first.
Who am I kidding? I can’t get Walt to fade into a memory because we have the same circle of friends. Every time I think that we’ve parted ways, some circumstance throws us back together. This wedding was a perfect example.
After I ushered Cara back into the church pew, we played cat’s cradles with the string I’d brought along to pass the time until the ceremony began.
The last time we’d seen Walt, he had remodeled our kitchen. That was two years ago, when Cara was five. I still have the pictures of the two of them on hands and knees, spreading tile grout on the floor. She talked about it for days, saying, “Mommy let me get dirty!”
In fact, not only did Walt keep Cara occupied but he also rescued us from a potential contracting nightmare. I interviewed five contractors, all of whom were either too expensive or overbooked and I was at my wits end. As a last resort, I asked all my friends for other references and asked them to pass on the word that we were looking for a contractor. A few weeks later Walt called me.
“I heard you want your kitchen remodeled. If you’re willing to wait another month or so, I can do it.” I agreed. He even adjusted his fees after hearing I wasn’t working.