Chapter 5
Riva discovered Laurel sitting on the bare mattress of the ensuite room with a thoughtful expression on her face. “So, what do you think?” Riva asked her, setting the measuring tape on the bed.
“I like it.” Laurel stood, went over to the window, and pushed back the filmy curtains. “I like how the light comes through the trees up here. And there’s a nice view of your yard too.”
Riva looked from this vantage point. “My yard does look better from a distance. I’m afraid I let it go.”
“Windy likes yard work,” Laurel said.
“Feel free to replace those curtains.” Riva felt the thin fabric. “They’ve been here for ages. They’re probably about to fall apart.”
“I think I’ll try to gently wash them first. I like how the light filters through. My horrid little apartment has tiny windows that look across a grungy alley and directly at a solid brick wall. Very uninspiring.” She turned around.
“Sounds pretty dismal.” Riva sat on the edge of the bed, waiting.
“You can’t imagine. So anyway, I’m making a plan now. I’d like to paint the room a very pale blue if that’s okay with you. It sounds cool and peaceful to me.”
“I think this room would look lovely in pale blue. This peachy color was Kenzie’s idea. I’ve never been a fan. I think it clashes with the wood floors.”
Laurel nodded. “Would you mind if I switched out your king bed for my full? It’d give me a lot more room for my favorite chair and ottoman right here.”
“That’s fine. Although I don’t know where to put this huge bed. Unless Windy would like it in the attic. The other rooms on this floor already have queen beds.”
“Windy might like it. But she’s also offered us the extra space in her storage unit.
I don’t want to cram all my stuff into this room, so I’ll probably take her up on it, or else I’ll just donate it.
It’s mostly a lot of junk that I won’t even miss.
I’m sure we can find a place for this bed to go too. ”
“I really don’t care what you do with it. Or with anything else in here. That dresser and bedside table can go. I just hope you and Windy do whatever works best for you. Make these spaces your own.”
Laurel peered curiously at her. “You’re absolutely certain you want to do this, Riva? No second thoughts?”
“Well, knowing me, I’ll probably have second thoughts, but I’m okay.
” She stood and looked at the room that hadn’t been used for a long time.
In a way, it was sad. She tried to imagine it with color and life and furnishings.
“My mind is made up, Laurel. I want to do this. And like I was just telling Marcus, I will probably look to rent the other two rooms up here too. But no hurries. I want to get the right women. So if you have any suggestions, I’m open. Windy seems a great fit.”
Laurel came over to hug Riva. “Thank you so much for being open to this, sweetie. You have no idea what a godsend this is to me. That awful apartment was seriously depressing. The manager is lazy and negligent, and the rate increase made me want to pull my hair out. Coming to your house will feel like a new lease on life, a breath of fresh air. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” As Riva backed away from the hug, she noticed Laurel’s misty eyes.
And Laurel was not a crier. Riva extended her arms and hugged her old friend again, with more enthusiasm this time.
Laurel always seemed like the strong one, but underneath it all, this tough talking woman had a big soft heart.
“Welcome to my home, Laurel. I probably should’ve done this a year ago. ”
“No, sweetie, you were still getting over Paul. It was a necessary season. No looking back.”
“You’re right.” Riva firmly nodded. “It was a necessary season.” But just like weather, she knew that seasons eventually changed . . . when the time was right. Apparently the time was right, and this was the beginning of a new season.
“Marcus offered to help us with painting and moving,” Laurel said, grabbing the tape measure as she bent down to measure a wall. “He’s very handy.”
“That’s nice. He seems like a good guy.”
Laurel let the tape snap back into place as she stood. “He is a good guy,” she confirmed. “And a bachelor too.” Her brows arched. “According to Windy he’s not even involved with anyone.”
“Uh-huh.” Riva kicked a dust bunny out of a corner. “These wood floors probably need a good scrubbing.”
“I’ve been hinting around with Marcus.”
Riva felt her brows arch. “Hinting around?” Hopefully Laurel wasn’t about to play matchmaker with her. “About what?”
“Well, I wouldn’t mind getting better acquainted with him. If I had a decent house with a real kitchen, I might’ve invited him for dinner.”
“Oh?”
“Which might be something to consider, Riva. How will you feel about your tenants using your kitchen and inviting dinner guests over?”
Riva just shrugged. “That’d be okay. As long as we coordinate it somehow. In case I had plans, you know, to entertain.” She felt hypocritical now. When had she last intentionally entertained anyone? Not since before Paul got sick. But seasons change.
“Yes, definitely. We might even want to post a social schedule on the fridge. Help keep us on the same page.”
Riva studied Laurel more carefully now. With her short gray hair, university sweatshirt, and “mom” jeans, she wasn’t the most stylish person.
It was hard to imagine her actually on the lookout for an available man.
But it sounded like perhaps she was. “So,” Riva started cautiously, “how long have you been interested in Marcus?”
Laurel waved a hand. “Oh, I don’t know. I’ve only just crossed paths with him casually. But Windy has mentioned that he was lonely. If I’d known I’d see him today, I might’ve spiffed up some.” She tugged at her stained sweatshirt. “Not exactly date bait, am I?”
Riva chuckled. “I think you’re pretty cute. And I admire your confidence to wear what you please.” Riva looked at her own ensemble—the same as yesterday. “And I’m no fashion plate myself. I’ve had these clothes on for two days.”
“But you always look pretty, Riva. Some of us have to work harder at it.”
“Well, I don’t know Marcus well, but he seems the type of guy who might look beyond appearances and see what really matters underneath.”
“I think you’re right.” Laurel returned to measuring and Riva excused herself to go back downstairs. She wanted to check on Marcus but didn’t want Laurel to think she was trying to put the move on a man that her friend already seemed to have set her sights on. Good for Laurel.
Riva was impressed at the progress her new tenants had made on their rooms in less than two weeks.
Thanks to Marcus’s help and the way Laurel and Windy worked together, they had painted the attic a creamy white and removed the old carpet to reveal the original wide pine planks.
Windy instantly fell in love with the wood, especially since Marcus knew how to restore it.
He’d spent one day sanding and the next day sealing the wood with a product that was supposed to be dry by now.
As Riva surveyed the attic from the doorway, she was amazed at the transformation.
Thinking the gleaming golden floorboards might still be tacky, she kneeled down to touch them.
Smooth and dry. And the off-white walls looked clean and bright.
Even the high windows, recently washed, seemed to sparkle with light.
All in all, the space was fresh and roomy and livable.
Such an incredible change from the previous dark, gloomy attic that Riva had never really liked.
But Windy adored it and had been chomping at the bit to move up here. And today was the big day.
Riva went down to take a peek at the ensuite Laurel had been working on.
Painted a powder blue and cleared of all furnishings, it appeared ready for occupancy too.
Windy’s son Max and Marcus had been recruited to help.
Just last night, Laurel had called to encourage Riva to make herself scarce by turning today into an errand day.
At first, Riva had resisted, but the more she considered it, the more it seemed like a good idea.
It wasn’t that Riva wanted to get out of helping her friends, but she didn’t want to get in their way .
. . and perhaps more than that, she didn’t want to feel stressed by all the activity in her previously quiet home.
She could imagine all the coming and going, up and down the stairs, banging into walls .
. . moving bulky pieces into her house. Laurel was right.
Best to get out of here until they were done.
So, already in her car, she spotted Marcus’s familiar pickup pulling up.
She backed up, eager to get her car out of the driveway for him.
He called out a greeting and she waved to him, thinking about what a nice smile he had.
As she drove down her street, she said a quiet prayer that the movers would have a good day—with no hurt backs or smashed fingers.
Riva’s errands list was long enough that if she took her time, she might be able to stay away from her house for most of the day.
She wanted to stock up on groceries, which would be the final chore since she needed perishables and it was too warm to leave things in the car.
She also needed to get some cleaning items. She hoped to get some flowering plants and other yard things at the nursery.
Her plan was to brighten up her yard by freshening up the pots that had survived the past years of neglect and winter freezes.
It might not be much, but it would be a start.
And Paul, if he could see her, would be pleased.
Serious gardeners might think that planting a few pansies and petunias was like putting lipstick on a pig, but it would lift her spirits to see some color abloom around and about her yard.
Not only that, but it might also inspire her new tenants to get their hands dirty too.
It would be amazing to get the outdoor spaces into shape.