Chapter 7
Pumpkin hopped off the settee and trotted to the rear door of K + L Interiors, her tail wagging so furiously it nearly threw her off balance.
“You hear Kathy’s car, don’t you?” Lauren asked. She glanced at Pumpkin but continued arranging drawings and samples on the large oak table she and Kathy used for client presentations.
Pumpkin remained at the door, her tail beating the air in wide, enthusiastic arcs.
“Thank goodness,” Lauren said. “I was worried Kathy wouldn’t make it.
” She unrolled a set of architectural plans, turned to the page detailing the bedroom wing, and secured the corners with heavy paperweights.
Her phone pinged and she glanced at yet another text from Darren.
She had ignored his messages, which were arriving with increasing frequency.
She swiped up on the screen to close the message.
She’d respond to him later, when her feelings weren’t still so raw.
Right now, she had to focus on the Hunters’ project.
The back door burst open. Kathy rushed inside, clutching a leather folio bulging with papers.
One side of her shirt collar was caught under her blazer, her hair hung in limp plaits, and her lipstick looked as though it had been applied in the dark.
Kathy hurried to her desk, dumped the folio on top of it, and shoved her purse into a drawer.
“Thank God I got here before the client,” she said, facing Lauren. “I look like hell, don’t I?”
Lauren bit her lip. “Rough night?”
“That’s an understatement,” Kathy said. “Two-year-old twins with ear infections? And Jake’s out of town. I don’t think I slept a wink.”
“You should’ve stayed home today,” Lauren said. “I can handle the meeting with Susan Hunter.”
“I know that,” Kathy replied. “But except for half a day on Monday when we reviewed your plans together, I’ve been out the entire week. You’ve already carried everything.” She pulled a comb, hairspray, and lipstick from her desk drawer and headed for the tiny bathroom at the back of the shop.
“Why don’t you leave after the meeting and take the rest of the day off?” Lauren asked.
“Not a chance,” Kathy said. “Jake took a red-eye flight and got home thirty minutes ago. After being cooped up with two sick toddlers, there’s nothing I’d rather do than get out of that house.” She flipped on the bathroom light and left the door open as she worked on her hair and makeup.
Lauren leaned against the doorframe.
Kathy met her friend’s eyes in the mirror while reapplying lipstick. “I’m counting on you to handle the full presentation,” she said. “I’ll contribute when possible or respond to questions Susan sends my way. Is that okay?”
“Of course,” Lauren said. “I wasn’t sure you’d make it in this morning, so I finished assembling the presentation last night.” She paused, then added, “I also have some changes I’d like to suggest to the architectural design of the bedroom wing.”
Kathy capped her lipstick and raised an eyebrow. “Really? As interior designers, we usually work with whatever the architects give us.”
“I know,” Lauren said, stepping closer and straightening the collar of Kathy’s crisp white button-down.
“But repurposing the office across from the master suite into a nursery raises some structural issues. If plumbing changes are going to happen, they need to happen now, before construction starts.”
“You know how much architects love it when designers suggest changes to their drawings,” Kathy said dryly.
“I’m well aware,” Lauren said. “But this will make the space far more functional.”
Pumpkin, who had been pacing at Kathy’s feet waiting for her customary greeting, abandoned her post and raced toward the front of the shop.
“We’ll let the client decide,” Lauren said. “I’ll start with the design options and bring up the structural changes at the end.”
Kathy nodded. “Perfect.”
They moved toward the front as Susan entered.
Pumpkin hopped onto the settee and stood at attention in her usual greeting spot.
“Hey, ladies,” Susan said brightly. “I’m so glad Pumpkin is working today. I brought something for her.” She crossed the room, stroked Pumpkin from ears to tail, and pulled a small plush duck from her purse. “May I?” she asked, turning to Lauren.
“Of course,” Lauren said. “That’s so thoughtful.”
Pumpkin accepted the toy with a gentle mouth, then dropped onto her belly on the settee. Her ears twitched as she bit down, producing a sharp squeak.
“I knew she’d like it,” Susan said.
The duck squeaked again. And again.
“And again,” Susan added, laughing. “I hope she doesn’t drive you crazy with that thing.”
“She’ll settle in a minute,” Lauren said. “Would you like to see what we’ve come up with for the nursery?”
“I can’t wait,” Susan said. “I’m more excited about this room than any other in the house.”
“Congratulations. Lauren and I are thrilled for you,” Kathy said warmly.
“Thank you,” Susan replied. “It’s a dream we thought would never come true.”
They gathered around the table, bending over drawings, paint chips, fabric swatches, and furniture images.
“It’s all beautiful,” Susan said. “I love everything you’ve picked.”
Kathy and Lauren glanced at each other. When Susan liked everything, narrowing choices could be a challenge.
“They’re consistent with your home’s palette,” Lauren said. “Which ones make you smile?”
Susan’s hand flew to the wallpaper featuring woodland animals. “This one,” she said. “I love the squirrels and foxes. And the duck with her ducklings is so sweet. The bunny and her baby are adorable.”
“That’s my favorite wallpaper too,” Lauren said. “If I were designing my nursery, that’s what I’d choose. It works beautifully now and will grow with the child.”
“Show me which paint chips and swatches go with it,” Susan said.
Kathy pulled the coordinating samples.
“These,” Susan said decisively. “I love the warm toast color for the walls, and the aquas, greens, corals, and soft pinks of this rug pull in the colors from the wallpaper. It works for a boy or a girl.” She looked up.
“I know I’m putting pressure on you to move quickly.
Thank you for pulling this together so fast.”
“It’s our pleasure,” Kathy said. “Though all the credit goes to Lauren. I’ve been out this week with sick kids.”
They turned their attention back to the samples and selected furniture, bedding, and light fixtures.
“I have one more thing to discuss,” Lauren said. “I know the architect completed the drawings, but I think we should make a few changes.”
“Oh?” Susan said.
“You’ll want the nursery directly across from the primary bedroom,” Lauren said.
Susan nodded. “We plan to convert the office.”
“If construction were complete, you’d have to go with that,” Lauren said. “But if this room were designed as a nursery from the start, I’d make it larger and give it an en-suite bathroom. I’d relocate the guest room and flip the hallway bath so the plumbing aligns.”
Susan’s eyes lit up. “I love that.”
“It means revised drawings,” Lauren said, “but construction hasn’t started yet.”
“We leave tonight,” Susan said. “We’re taking a babymoon in Hawaii before we join the family for Christmas.” She hesitated. “Would you mind talking to the architect? You understand the changes better than I do.”
“We’d be happy to,” Kathy replied. “If you’d email him to introduce us, that would help.”
“I’ll do it right now,” Susan said, already tapping at the screen of her phone.
“Do you think the architect will mind?” Lauren asked.
Susan smiled. “Not at all. Mike is an absolute dream to work with. He’ll welcome your suggestions.”
Lauren and Kathy exchanged doubtful smiles.
Behind them, Pumpkin gnawed on the plush duck, punctuating the moment with a triumphant squeak.