natural features here and there, use them as accents to tie them into the rest of the buildings around town.” Those nerves he’d been repressing earlier came back with a vengeance. “You did say you wanted to keep costs to a minimum. We have a reliable company we work with out here on the west coast. Once we lock everything in place, I should be able to get you a good deal.” Because that’s where his talent really shone.
He heard a dismissive tsk-tsking from beside him and locked his jaw.
“Not everything has to come down to finances.” Calliope turned her focus up and out the window.
“In this case, it very well could,” Gil said. “I have to admit, it wasn’t exactly what I was thinking, but I don’t know. It could grow on me. Calliope?”
“Yes?”
“What do you think?”
Xander bit the inside of his cheek. What did it matter what Calliope Jones thought of his designs? It wasn’t her building, after all, and it wasn’t her family’s business on the line.
“It doesn’t matter what I think,” she said and bolstered Xander’s flagging confidence. Until he realized the mayor didn’t agree.
“You don’t like it.” Gil’s left eye twitched as he signaled Paige for some coffee.
“It’s difficult to take what’s on paper and imagine it in reality,” Calliope said. “But, no, it doesn’t feel right. I would be interested to see what Mr. Costas would come up with once he saw the land in question. For instance, you mentioned a lot of glass, but the original idea was to have part of the building facing the ocean to take advantage of the view. Will that work with this design?”
“It can.” Xander made mental adjustments to the type of glass needed to reinforce the structure against the increase in wind resistance.
“I like the idea of glass,” Calliope said. “I like the idea of using as many natural elements as possible, as a reminder to everyone who visits that a natural habitat and migration path is why we have the opportunity to build the sanctuary in the first place. What about the eucalyptus trees? How many of them would have to come down for this to work?”
“Ah, quite a few, I’d imagine,” Xander said. “I was told clearing the area wouldn’t be an issue.”
“As those trees are a natural habitat for the butterflies in question, that might be a bit shortsighted. Not to mention a waste of money.” Calliope smoothed her hand over the image of the two-story structure. “All this steel and concrete feels so...”
“Cold,” Gil said, finishing for her. “Impersonal. I agree. What are our other options?”
“Well, that would take a bit of reworking.” Xander’s stomach tightened. So much for a quick in and out of town. “We went by the guidelines we were given and honestly, at the time, I didn’t realize there was a lot of room for interpretation.” His design skills were beyond rusty and he’d been worried he’d strike out on that. But he wouldn’t do so again. Too much was at stake for him to just walk away.
“Then that was my mistake,” Gil said. “This seems like a great start, a launch point so to speak. I’d just prefer something more out of the box.”
“Agreed.” Calliope nodded and Xander caught a glimmer of appreciation in her eyes.
“As I stated, these are only the preliminary sketches.”
Perhaps he had been presumptuous thinking this was a one-off project he could whip up in a matter of days. The pressure that was already at suffocating levels pressed in on him. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d put pen to paper or come up with anything other than cost projections and suggestions for materials. “Why don’t you give me a few days and I’ll have some alternate ideas. Is there a time you’re available before I head home next week?”
“I’ll check with my assistant,” Gil said. “That will give you time to get a good look at the property and see what adjustments can be made.”
“I appreciate the feedback.” Xander started to roll the papers back up, only to stop when Calliope placed her hand over the small water feature he’d sketched in the corner.
“This is lovely,” she said. “What type of stones did you plan to use on the bottom?”
“Oh, that was just a throwaway idea I was playing with.” In fact he’d meant to erase it. “I was thinking imported Italian stained glass.”
Calliope inclined her head. “Butterflies are attracted to shiny objects, especially glass. If you were to construct one of these, or a larger version of this, for outside the structure, it might draw butterflies to it, like a watering hole. That could offset some of the coldness of the structure.”
“Charlie did say you were the butterfly expert in town.” Xander continued to roll up the papers, then he stuffed them back in the tube.
“I was just looking for ways to bring more natural elements into the design. I didn’t intend to overstep or challenge your ideas. I apologize. This isn’t my project.”
“Maybe it should be.” Gil glanced between the two of them. “Maybe that’s what’s needed and what’s missing—another pair of eyes. Eyes that see it from our perspective.”
“Oh?” Calliope shifted closer to Xander as Paige appeared with another cup of coffee for the mayor.
Gil dumped three packets of sugar into his coffee. “I met with the town council earlier this week and we’d tossed around the idea of assigning a community liaison to Mr. Costas for the extent of the project. We originally thought it should be one of us, but now I’m not so sure. We need someone who can help him get a feel for the town and make certain all our needs are addressed, including those of the butterflies, as you said, Calliope. Given your expertise and connection to Butterfly Harbor, I don’t think we’d find someone better suited.”
Xander set down his coffee before he choked on it. “I’m not entirely sure that’s nec—”
“Gil, I don’t think—”
Xander and Calliope broke off at the same time, looked at each other, then both laser-eyed Gil.
“It’s one thing to put all this down on paper, what we expect, what we want,” Gil went on, as if neither of them had spoken. “It’s another to make certain we’re all on the same page without wasting time. And given how close the sanctuary and education center are going to be to your property, Calliope, this solution makes the most sense.”
Wow. Xander hid a smirk. That couldn’t have sounded more rehearsed if the mayor had been standing on a Broadway stage. Which meant Gil had been saving this tidbit of information for a time when Xander had no means of escape. Literally and figuratively. Clearly small-town mayors were as adept in political speak as big-city ones. Still, it didn’t escape Xander’s notice that Calliope was expecting Xander to put the kibosh on the idea.
“I’m not normally fond of babysitters.” Xander turned his thousand-watt smile on the local eccentric. “But in this case I’m happy to make an exception.”
“Given the impact this project can have on our natural surroundings,” Calliope spoke in a slow, deliberate tone. “And because I want what’s best for the town and the creatures we’re trying to help, I’ll accept responsibility.” Calliope’s hands clenched into fists before she pulled them into her lap.
Fascinating, Xander thought as an odd zing shot through his system. Positively fascinating.
“Excellent,” Gil said. “How about we get the formalities out of the way right now?”
“I need to get home and prepare for market tomorrow,” Calliope said. “You know where I am when you want to fill me in on the details, Gil. Xander.” She gave him a quick nod before heading over to the kids at the counter. Seconds later, the smile was back on her face as she hugged her sister close.