Chapter 1
CHAPTER
ONE
Francis
The morning after Foggy Basin’s first Pride, my cousin Derek and I woke up in our rented room above the bar Pints and Pool, and I had an epiphany.
“Cousin! Do you have to get back home at any particular time today?”
Derek frowned at me, his hair sticking up and his neck, indeed, sporting a new love bite, compliments of his firefighter dance partners.
“I don’t, no. Why?”
“Take me out to see that property.”
His eyebrows rose. “Are you serious?”
“I’m totally serious. I want you to start showing me some places. I have an idea, and you’re going to help me make it a reality.”
Yesterday was the first time I’d been outside for any length of time in almost a year.
After being fired from my job, and the resulting pile of calamities which befell me, I hid in Derek’s brother’s place and licked my wounds, trying to decide what to do with my life.
I knew I was ready for a change when I got a load of the folks at Foggy Basin Pride, many of whom had moved here to start over.
Why not me too? I’d received a massive settlement from my previous employer, and I was thankfully in a financial position to reach for the stars.
Derek had told me about the funky place he’d shown a lesbian couple the day before, and they had said it was too much property for them.
My heart, however, filled with so much joy the moment we left the highway.
Derek turned onto a road next to a small lake and followed it past a horse farm and a cabin set back in a copse of trees.
He turned left and drove under an archway, past an adorable stone cottage with rows of grapevines extending beyond and up the side of the hill.
I rolled down the window and stuck my head out like a happy puppy, taking it all in.
A moment later, Derek pulled up in front of the main house, and I sat back in the seat in a daze.
From this vantage point I could see two huge metal outbuildings to the rear of the massive modern looking home with sharp angles and lots of glass.
The lake was about a hundred yards to the left of a three-story structure, and there were balconies that looked out over the water on the top two levels.
“Derek,” I whispered to him in the quiet. “This is—”
“Don’t say anything until we’ve seen the whole place, and even then, don’t decide today.”
“I thought realtors were supposed to be high-pressure salesmen, pushy and smarmy.”
The look he looked my way had me cracking up.
“I’m offended you would even joke like that. I’m not smarmy! And I’m never pushy, but with you, I’m going to be pushy the other way. This is a big step you’re taking.”
“Yeah, but I got big money, dawg.” I wiggled my eyebrows at him. “Just think of your commission.”
He growled at me and put the car back in gear. “If you’re going to be ridiculous, I’m taking you home.”
I put my hand over his. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding. I just… Yesterday was the best day I’ve had in forever. I love the town, the people seem great, and, just think, we could be neighbors, sort of. Woodland isn’t too far.”
“It’s like forty-five minutes… But are you sure? We only just started talking about this yesterday.”
“I’m sure I want to leave the Bay Area. I can’t start over there, and, you said it yourself, you get more bang for your buck out here.”
He frowned. “I didn’t say that.”
Oh right. A hot fire boy had said it, the hot fire boy I’d danced the night away with.
“And I wouldn’t be too far from Sacramento if I’m craving civilization,” I said, as an attempt to cover.
He snorted. “I don’t know about this, but let’s go take a look.”
His hesitation melted the minute we went inside the main house. I loved watching my beloved cousin, my best friend, light up as he shared all of the unique features of the property.
“This place has massive space for entertaining. You could host weddings and stuff out here. That would make you some coin.”
“I told you, I’m not worried about making money, but I do want to be semi-practical about this. You think people would drive out here for events? Weddings, yes, you kind of have to, but what about a retreat for writers? Crafters?”
Derek looked around. “I bet you they would. Our moms used to drive five hours every year to Fort Bragg for meditation and yoga. People love to do the retreat thing.”
We toured the house, and I was practically drooling by the time we got to the primary suite on the top floor.
Radiant heat, slate floors, soaking tub, and giant shower.
So many windows, so much light, but the house had plenty of trees around to shade the property.
From the outside it looked rustic, but inside there were clean, modern lines, stainless-steel appliances, gorgeous bathrooms with colorful porcelain tile…
We went out back to find a massive outdoor kitchen, seating area, and swimming pool. There were pergolas with solid covers and some with slats to give shade around the pool.
“Everything is in working order. The pool is only about seven years old. The house got a new roof then too.” He pointed to a long building that wrapped around the other side of the pool.
“This building over here has six large guest rooms, two bathrooms with multiple stalls with showers, and an open space. The two utility sheds could be used for up to six cars, or a workshop, storage, whatever you need. There’s also the two-bedroom cottage we passed on the way in that is part of the property.
It’s so cute. Stone fireplace, updated appliances… You could rent it out or—”
“Our moms, dude.”
Derek’s face lit up. “Yes! Oh, wow, they might really like it out here. Mom loves Woodland because it’s a quaint small town. I don’t know if Auntie Pretzel would like being so far from shopping, though.”
We stared at each other, and I could tell he was just as excited as I was.
“There’s a half-acre between this property and the one next door.
This property is a total of seven acres, most of them currently leased to a winery, and they have a building on the far side of the vineyard for their equipment.
Whoever buys this property would have the right to renegotiate the lease with the winery, however the income from the leased land would likely cover expenses on the rest of the property.
I’ve talked to the guy who grows his grapes here.
He’s really cool. Has great wine, if you’re into that. ”
“When do I ever drink wine?” I asked him.
“That’s right, you love your cider.”
It was a lot of information to take in, but the place already felt like home. The walls whispered to me like a lover. “Think of what we could do with this place. You’ll be happy here. This place could be your dream come true.”
I could see myself having morning coffee on the deck upstairs, overlooking the lake.
I’d have peace and quiet when I wasn’t hosting retreats or classes.
I’d need to find an assistant, preferably someone local who would help me navigate Foggy Basin’s social scene.
Hosting events for the locals would be a nice way to fill in the spots between bigger groups from out of town.
Derek’s phone rang, and I encouraged him to take the call so I could wander by myself. He handed me the keys and waved me off.
I went from room to room in the big house, then I walked around the pool and into the building with the guest rooms. They were basic, dusty, but in good shape, with very little work to get them ready to be rented out.
There was a gorgeous view of the lake from the wall of windows in the great room.
The kitchen was decent-sized but would need some upgrading.
This place would be perfect for the thoughts percolating in my head.
A place for me to start over, where I could bring happiness to other people.
Maybe folks who worked hard and could take time for themselves every so often to pursue their passions.
Or perhaps some like me, who’d done everything they’d been told they were supposed to do and had been left feeling empty.
Whatever the case, this place could be a house where dreams come true.
All I had to do was take the plunge.
Two months later…
The morning you wake up as a first-time homebuyer should be marked with some sort of celebration. Instead, I was up early eating leftovers for breakfast and listening to Doja Cat’s “Love to Dream” on repeat.
Max and Mei had said goodbye last night after I treated them to dinner—I also gave them an all-expenses paid trip to Hawaii to be taken at their leisure, perhaps even as a honeymoon—and stayed at her place, so I had the townhouse to myself.
The plan was not to panic, but my excitement was matched with an equal amount of trepidation.
I was about to leave the Bay Area.
I was about to live by myself for the first time in a giant house fifteen minutes from the nearest town.
I was about to embark on a new adventure, chasing my dreams while helping others achieve theirs.
Today, I’d be moving into Maison de Reve—the Dream House—and I was as terrified as I was relieved that it was finally happening.
I’d kept Mei and Max entertained over the past couple of weeks, talking about my plans for various retreats.
Mei was excited to come up and visit. Max was glad I was moving on, but he said he’d miss me.
He might miss the Francis of the Before Times, but he wouldn’t miss the lump who’d lived with him for over a year now, the mess who’d haunted his townhouse, drinking too much, not eating enough, and crying buckets as his world crumbled.
That Francis had finally cried himself out and found a new calling.
What if the next stage of my life could be not just finding myself while doing the things I’d always loved but was never able to do, but also creating a safe space for others to do the same?