36. Lucie
Giddiness spread through her whole body as she twirled around her new living room in her new blue polka-dot pajamas.
Hers.
The concept was still foreign to her.
The house was more than she had ever hoped for herself. Sabrina insisted she’d have this one—she said it had been waiting for her the whole time.
It was something ripped out of a fantasy novel. Two stories high with yellow wood siding, white gingerbread trim, and a beautiful wraparound porch tying it all together with a big bow.
Two empty rocking chairs were on the porch, along with ceiling fans. Empty flower boxes at all the windows—waiting to have life breathed into them.
She had pinched herself dozens of times, and she never woke up.
The basic furniture was there. Couch, bed, tables, and chairs, but Sabrina promised that whatever she needed, they would provide—and to ask.
It was too good to be real. She was still waiting for the catch.
She and Finn had done well to avoid Sabrina’s father the past forty-eight hours she had been there.
Lucie didn’t know why, but she imagined him as an old, grumpy man hunched over, a total recluse, the way Sabrina talked about him.
The Way Station made her feel alive. It felt like it was made for her. Being with Finn was the biggest cherry on top. She wasn’t sure what she had done in her life to deserve it, but she wasn’t going to question it. Not anymore.
Her heart gave a soft flutter at the thought of Finn and all the “I love yous” he had whispered into her skin. They hadn’t done anything more than kiss, but to her, those stolen moments meant more than she could ever say.
Lucie traced her hand over the edge of the white granite in her new kitchen, thinking back to the lake.
Yesterday could have quite possibly been the best day of her life.
She and Finn had spent hours at the lake—talking, laughing, and eating. Finn had even taught her how to skip rocks (which she promptly put on her bucket list when she told Finn she hadn’t done it before, so that she could cross it off fifteen minutes later).
The lake on the Way Station property had been quieter and softer than the beach, but the feeling had been the same. Safe and happy. A few people had milled by and waved, said hi, but didn’t look twice at her. Finn had been right.
It was the first time in her life she didn’t feel the need to walk on eggshells, and it lifted a tremendous pressure off her shoulders and her head. Like a shaken-up soda finally being cracked open.
A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts.
Finn. Eeee!
He had promised to swing by her new house after he had finished his morning training.
He was done much earlier than he expected, as she looked at the time on her newly gifted Way Station bracelet and communicator.
There were no new messages. The small, simple gift made her feel like she was officially a part of the group.
She’d even received her own chore schedule and training schedule.
Whistler had officially put her in the system.
There was a bright new world out there, and she was ready to explore.
Lucie skipped over to her front door. The wooden floors were cool under her bare feet.
Fluffing her hair out and pinching her cheeks, she deemed herself presentable.
Swinging open the door, she found Sabrina instead.
Disappointment came and left shortly—no Finn. But Sabrina was quickly becoming her second-favorite person she’d ever met.
That morning, Sabrina had practically knocked Finn’s door down at the crack of dawn to give her the keys to the place.
Sabrina then brought her around the Way Station to get her set up at the general store.
Lucie had met Ms. Makayla, another of her favorites.
Grandma Makayla had promptly pinched her cheeks, told her how much Finn had blushed when he came to her for advice, and then gave her a snickerdoodle.
By the afternoon, she had more food than she knew what to do with, a carpet for the living room, a pink toothbrush, and a little frog stuffed animal Finn found for her.
Lil’ Toadsworth was now living a cushy life on her king-sized fuchsia bedspread.
“Good morning!” Sabrina sang, waving an arm up into the sky.
The leader of the Way Station was grinning widely, cradling an overflowing basket filled to the brim with goodies.
Lucie tucked her hair behind her ears.
“What are you doing here?” Lucie was wondering, looking around.
There was no way that overflowing basket was all for her? It could feed like three other people.
“I thought I’d welcome you to the neighborhood.
” Sabrina waved a hand and shrugged, her green eyes twinkling with mirth.
“It’s part of the new home ritual. Besides—” She leaned in conspiratorially, and Lucie found herself leaning in, wanting nothing more than to be in on the joke.
“Charlie made the muffins, and you can’t say no to them.
They are his best—cranberry and orange.”
Lucie smiled at her, delighted by the thought that someone had taken time out of their day to make her something. Charlie must have woken up extra early for them to be still warm. Steam came off the dozen sparkling pastries. Sugar crystals coated the muffin tops.
“They smell amazing,” she said, breathing in the citrusy-sweet aroma.
“They’re even better warm,” Sabrina added, with a sheepish laugh. “I, uh, might’ve stolen one on the way over here. But I promise the rest are all yours.”
Lucie burst out laughing, shaking her head. “Share another one with me. I don’t like to eat alone.”
Sabrina came in and put the crammed basket on her clean kitchen table. Could she say enough times how exciting it was that it was hers? It would probably never get old.
Reaching into the goodies, Lucie passed Sabrina a muffin, took the steaming one on top for herself, and clicked their muffins together in mock cheers before taking a bite. Her eyes rolled back into her head.
“Right?” Sabrina asked, sugar granules covering her lips. She took another bite. “Oh, and before I forget! I brought these.” She pulled a stack of paint swatches from the welcome basket.
Lucie’s eyes lit up at the sight of the swatches, reverently holding them like you would a baby duckling.
“Can I paint this place?” Lucie asked, practically choking on a bite.
“Of course! It’s your home after all. Pick any color you like. I, myself, am partial to reds,” Sabrina said, fanning the swatches out, a rainbow of possibilities.
Lucie bit her bottom lip. If she was dreaming, she didn’t want to wake up.
Sabrina placed a hand in her pocket and spun on her heel, taking in the space. “I knew this place would be perfect for you.”
Lucie smiled, looking around the cozy room. It was bare, but she could imagine new murals and paintings on the wall. Bookshelves with romance books spilling off the shelves—a Christmas tree by the fireplace in the winter.
She had never had a Christmas tree before. There had always been miniature half-lit trees on her counter at the shop for her father to claim to be festive for the customers, but nothing for them. Maybe this year she and Finn could cut down a real one.
Closing her eyes, she pictured how her house would feel when she first walked in, how she wanted others to feel when they came over to visit her.
It would be a place where anyone who visited would feel instantly at home. The colors would be vibrant, laughter would be heard, and textures would invite touch—plush rugs, smooth wood, and enough throw blankets to make a fort.
Her eyes lingered on the soft glow of the sunlight filtering through the windows, and she smiled. “I think I want to paint a mural to start. I see lots of yellows.”
“Yellow?” Sabrina raised an eyebrow, happily surprised.
Lucie nodded—already seeing it in her mind’s eye. “It’s a happy color. It reminds me of sunshine.”
Sabrina blinked, then burst out laughing. Lucie blushed, laughing along with her. Sabrina wiped a tear comedically from her eye, still giggling. “Wow, you really are perfect for each other. Speaking of Sunshine . . .” she leaned in again, waggling her eyebrows mischievously. “How’s Finn?”
Lucie’s cheeks warmed even more, the thought of him sending a wave of happiness through her. She ducked her head, trying to hide her grin. “He’s good. Very romantic.” She thought of the picnic at the lake they’d had yesterday. All of his kisses tasted like chocolate-covered strawberries.
“Huh, never thought he would be the romantic type.” Sabrina clicked her tongue.
“But it’s a good side to see of him.” She paused and pursed her lips.
“Is he a good kisser?” Lucie’s mouth dropped at her forwardness.
“I just feel like he’d be a good kisser, like he just holds you and knows how to make you feel like a woman. You know?”
Lucie couldn’t stop laughing now. “He’s . . . yes.” Lucie blushed and hid her face in Finn’s hoodie, which she was still wearing.
Sabrina clapped her hands together, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “I knew it!”
Lucie covered her face with her hands, still laughing. “I can’t believe we’re talking about this.”
Lucie had always wanted a sister. She was jealous of people who had one, and laughing with Sabrina, she wondered if this was how it felt.
“What about you and Charlie?” Lucie asked, picking up a promising romance book Sabrina had gifted in the basket, desperately wanting to talk about anything other than her.
A dreamy look crossed Sabrina’s face, and Lucie wondered if that’s how she looked when she looked at Finn.
“It is.” Sabrina smiled.
Lucie hadn’t realized she had said the last part out loud.
Sabrina’s fingers gently traced the outline of a golden charm necklace around her neck.