Struggling Dad Repaired A Roof For A Woman, He Didn’t Know Was A Billionaire, Then They Fell In Love
The Unexpected Repair
Harvey Grant didn’t expect to be on a stranger’s roof at 7 in the morning. He was soaked halfway through his flannel with a wrench between his teeth.
His six-year-old daughter, Clara, was coloring in a sketch pad on the front porch. “Careful Daddy,” Clara called up with wide eyes.
“That ladder looks super wobbly.” “Thanks baby i hadn’t noticed,” Harvey muttered.
He adjusted the shingles and tried not to panic every time a gust of wind hit him. He hated heights, but roofs didn’t fix themselves.
The woman who answered the door had looked desperate. “I’m not sure what happened,” she’d said.
“I heard a crack during the storm last night and this morning water was pouring through the ceiling of the guest room.”
She had messy hair, a wide robe, and a voice like she just woken up after crying. Harvey had seen that look before.
He’d worn it himself last year when his wife walked out and never looked back. He wasn’t exactly in the business anymore.
He’d left construction for odd jobs when work dried up. But she was clearly alone and it wasn’t like he could say no with Clara watching.
Now here he was patching a stranger’s roof. He had no clue that the woman inside the modern farmhouse was worth more than a hundred houses combined.
“Daddy can I have a snack?” Clara’s voice broke his focus.
“Check the bag honey there’s a granola bar in there,” he called down without turning. “Got it.”
He gave the last nail a solid hit inside. “All done,” he muttered to himself before climbing carefully back down.
When his boots hit the ground the front door opened again. The woman stepped out now dressed in jeans and a soft looking sweater.
Her hair was tied back with sunglasses in hand. “Is it safe?”
“It’ll hold for now,” Harvey said wiping sweat from his brow. “You’ll need a full replacement before the next storm season though.”
“I can give you the name of a guy who’d do it cheap.” She blinked at him then at Clara.
“You did all that for nothing? You don’t even know me.”
“Yeah well I don’t like seeing people struggle with things I know how to fix.” “It’s not a big deal.”
“Yes it is,” she said softly stepping down onto the porch. “I’m Bianca Zeller.”
“Harvey Grant,” he nodded offering a hand. “And that’s Clara. She’s my boss.”
Bianca laughed, really laughed. It was the first smile he’d seen on her all day.
She knelt beside the little girl. “Hi Clara what are you drawing?”
“It’s a unicorn with a rocket launcher,” Clara said proudly holding it up. Bianca blinked.
“That’s badass Bianca,” Clara gasped. “That’s a bad word.”
Harvey rubbed the back of his neck chuckling. “We’re working on language boundaries.”
Bianca’s eyes softened. “You’re a single dad.”
“Yeah her mom decided motherhood wasn’t her thing.” She glanced down then back at him.
“Well you’re doing a great job.” Harvey didn’t know what to say to that.
Compliments weren’t something he got often. “Thanks.”
“I’d like to pay you,” she added quickly. “Let me know,” he interrupted.
“I didn’t do it for money.” “But your look—”
“I’m not trying to be a hero. Just seemed like you needed help.”
He turned to pack up his tools but she followed. “Then let me buy you lunch. Both of you.”
Harvey hesitated. Clara looked up at him with hopeful eyes.
“Can we daddy please?” Bianca smiled, her eyes flicking between the two of them.
“I know a place that has the best burgers in town and milkshakes.” Harvey sighed.
“All right but we’re not letting you pay.” “Too bad,” she said cheerfully.
“I’m very sneaky with the check.” He didn’t realize how sneaky until she told the waiter up front.
They were halfway through milkshakes before he could argue. The place was nice, way too nice for a guy like him.
Brick walls, leather booths, and jazz played in the background. Clara was too distracted by her chocolate shake to notice.
Harvey felt out of place. “You don’t live in that house do you?” he asked suddenly.
Bianca blinked. “Why?”
“You just don’t seem like you belong there.” Her lips parted like she wanted to say something then changed her mind.
“I bought it as a getaway. I needed space.”
He nodded. “Well it’s a good house just needs a better roof.”
She laughed again. “You really don’t care who I am do you?”
“Should I?” Bianca stared at him for a beat that felt heavier than it should have.
“No. That’s honestly kind of refreshing.”
