With a laugh, Monroe draped an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “Dream house.”

“I knew it.” Adrian did a quick hip-shaking boogie. “I bet it’s the pretty blue two-story with the covered porch, open concept, and sweet backyard—fenced—on Mountain Laurel Lane.”

“I’d call you a nasty name for that, but there are children present. In my life I’d never imagined myself living on a place called Mountain Laurel Lane.”

“We put an offer in,” Monroe said, grinning from ear to ear.

“Holy—you know what! Wow and freaking A, and …”

When words failed, Adrian did a trio of handsprings.

“Show-off. It’s crazy.” Teesha put her hands to the sides of her head, shook it back and forth. “I know it’s crazy, but I want that house. We only looked at two. We only looked for a few hours, one day, and … it was ours.” She reached back over her shoulder, and Monroe took her hand.

“Because it’s perfect for us. We can walk into town to a restaurant, to have a drink, shop, but we’ve got a yard. We’ve got neighbors in a nice neighborhood, and it’s not Stepfordland.”

“He’s right.” Teesha sighed. “He’s right, and still it’s crazy. But I want that house.”

“Two—no, three, counting Monroe—of my best pals going after what they want. And hey, me, too! Come back for dinner tonight, Maya. You and Joe and Collin. We’ll celebrate.”

“I haven’t even talked to Teesha about it yet—and Joe and I need to talk some more.”

“About what?” Teesha asked.

“Maya’s going to buy the best shop in town, but she needs you to look at the numbers. Bring them tonight. You’ll take a look, won’t you, Teesh?”

“Sure.”

“Great. Come at five. We’ll have wine. Teesha can take a look, and Sadie and I will run herd on the kids.”

“Bossy,” Teesha said to Maya.

“Tell me.”

“Organized, efficient, and goal-oriented. It’s been a hard few weeks.” Adrian slid an arm around Teesha’s waist, around Maya’s. “So fresh starts, new ventures, and going after what you want. That all works for me.”

“We’ll see if the numbers work for me and Joe—and what Teesha has to say. But I know I can speak for him when I say we’d love to come to dinner. Nobody turns down a meal at Casa Rizzo.

“Meanwhile.” She bent down to lift Collin. “I’ve got to get this one home. We’ll see you tonight. And thanks in advance, Teesha.”

“Numbers, business, projections. It’s who I am.” After they waved Maya off, Teesha turned to Adrian. “Which shop, how long has it been in business, why are the owners selling, where’s it located?”

“I’ll have those answers and more when we sit on the porch with some lemonade.”

Ten weeks later, Teesha lived on Mountain Laurel Lane, Maya owned a business, and Adrian stood in her new studio with Kayla.

“It’s perfect. It’s just exactly right. I was nervous when you talked about doing a light whitewash on the fireplace, but you were right there, too. It softens the brick.”

“Do you love it? I love it. I want you to love it.”

“I love it. You took what I wanted—or thought I did—and made it better. Refinishing the hardwood, completely worth it. Setting the bar up as a smoothie station, adding that pottery tray of wheatgrass speaks to the nutrition angle of fitness. And it still feels homey, accessible.”

The good, natural light had the refinished floors glowing, a big seagrass basket held colorful yoga mats, while an old coatrack served as visible storage for exercise bands.

She’d used floating shelves for stability balls so they looked like wall art. Instead of a standard free weight rack, Kayla had repurposed an old wine rack.

“I love the way you used some of what was here—my grandparents’ things, my great-grandparents’—like that cabinet. Using it for holding towels, sweatbands, yoga blocks. And putting plants and candles on that old bench. It puts the ‘home’ in home gym.”

“So the little sitting area over by the fireplace isn’t too much?”

“Nope, and I’ll use it. The colors work, too. You were right about the soft, sagey green. I thought it would be too gray and dull, but it’s just soft and it makes the equipment colors pop. The green of the plants go vibrant against it. Any angle I stream from is going to work.”

Absently Adrian lowered her hand to rub Sadie’s head as the dog sat by her side. “It was thoughtful of you to find those family pictures, have them framed for the mantel.”

“You kept saying home, and what’s home without family?”

“Well, Kayla, you just nailed your first professional design job. It won’t be your last.”

“I’m so happy!” She bounced in her lavender running shoes. “You said it was okay if I took pictures and used them in my portfolio.”

“Absolutely. And I’ll write your first client review.”

“Oh God!”

“And I know you head back to college soon, but if you can squeeze in another consult, my friends Teesha and Monroe could use a little help on their new house.”

Eyes widened; mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding.”

“Not kidding. I told Teesha if you had time you’d stop by after you left here. I’ll give you her address. She’s right on Mountain Laurel Lane.”

“I know the house. I know it. Everybody knows about them moving here. It’s such a great house. I’ll go right now! Oh my God!”

“Thank you, Kayla, for giving me exactly what I needed.”

Adrian offered a hand, but Kayla just went in for a hug. “You’re not just my first client. You’re going to be my favorite client forever. Bye, Sadie!” She raced for the glass doors, then stopped, posed. “I’m an interior designer.”

Laughing, she jogged away.

Adrian knew how it felt to see a dream realized. Thinking of just that, she took out her phone to text Hector, Loren, and Teesha.

Hi, gang, time to coordinate for our first production in my new home studio. Which looks freaking fantastic. I’ve got the theme, have the routines nearly nailed down. My schedule’s open, so work out when you can fit me in, and we’ll go. Teesha, Kayla’s on her way to you now. And, guys? Wait until you see Teesha’s new house. Not to mention my new studio. Talk soon.

 

She jogged up two flights of stairs, delighted the house was empty because her grandfather had gone in to work. Every day now, she thought as she went into her bedroom to change. Sometimes just for an hour, but often for most of the day.

The work, she thought, his love of it, brought him both joy and solace.

She felt the same about her own.

After donning workout gear, she went back down to her new space. She opened the glass doors so Sadie could wander out as she pleased or needed. She put on her basic keep-the-beat music, set a timer. And, facing her mirrored wall, got to work.

As she rehearsed and refined the warm-up, she had a flash of herself as a child, watching her mother rehearse. The house in Georgetown, the sleek room with mirrored walls and her mother’s reflection.