Chapter 56 - 55: Plans Beyond the Shelf
Inside the House
Back indoors, Eli described the renovations in detail.
"We started with pest control—fumigated the basement, patched up the worst leaks. Junk removal took two days, and we had to reframe a few sections where the floorboards were buckling. The good news is, there’s no major rot in the structure. Some cosmetic issues, yes. Foundation’s holding steady. Plumbing’s still ancient, but at least the main line works. That means we can move to Phase One early. You’ll have a working bathroom and kitchen soon."
Kael exhaled in relief. That was more than he expected.
"Electrical’s next. We already ran preliminary cable routing through the living room and kitchen. Should have functioning outlets and lighting by the end of the week. I also had Yuna redesign the entryway—cutting off that second stair landing you don’t need. It’s gonna open up the space."
Kael let out a long breath. "You really got a lot done."
Eli gave a satisfied nod. "We don’t waste time. We treat it like any other job site—we’ll keep working through the week."
Kael hesitated, then said, "Uncle Eli... I might have to head back to the capital for a bit."
"I know," Kael admitted with a sheepish shrug. "But something urgent came up. I won’t be gone long. Just a couple of days."
Eli grunted, clearly skeptical. "You sure you’re not just trying to escape the dust and raccoons?"
Kael grinned. "Tempting, but no. I’ve got other responsibilities I can’t ignore."