Page 152 of Return To You

“I love those colors,” she says, picking a bright pink and a turquoise.

“Aren’t they awesome? I’m trying to convince the maker to design an emerald green just for us. Private label sort of thing.” Or I was, because with the spa’s future so uncertain, all my plans are on hold right now.

She clasps her hands together. “You’re so creative!” she cries.

I’m not, I’m really not. I just like what I do, and I like people to feel special, and I like my little town.

As I get her settled in for her pedicure, Alex materializes in front of me. “Talk to you for a sec?” she asks.

“Alex! Sorry, did you not get my message?”

She waves my concern away. “Yeah-yeah, don’t worry about that. It’s… it’s about your lease. I might have a temporary solution.”

I go to stop the flow of water mid-fill in the pedicure basin.

“You can talk in front of me, I don’t care,” my client says. “The water’s divine.” She closes her eyes to give us a semblance of privacy, but I know she’ll be listening. No harm in that, and I have nothing to hide.

I turn to Alex, who gets the hint to make it quick and to the point. “There’s some space at the old firehouse you could rent. I just visited it, and it’s too small for our offices. But I thought of you. I mean, it’s not half as nice as here, but… it’s something. I was going to show you photos, but I’ll just text them to you.”

“Sure, thanks.” I give Alex a small smile and pinch my lips as she leaves, then force myself to smile at my client. The old firehouse is really not my vibe. It has no outdoor space. And super tall ceilings that will make it hard to heat in the winter. Overall, with its cement floors and rusted metal beams, it has an edgy vibe that’s just not fit for a cozy, plush spa.

“Are you looking to expand?” the woman asks me.

“I wish,” I tell her, and then proceed to explain in as few words as possible my current predicament, without making it sound like it’s the end. In other words, without showing her how I feel.

“My son is in real estate!” she exclaims as if that’s the most brilliant idea. “I’m sure he’d love to buy the house as an investment.”

Oh, her son is going to be psyched about his mom’s meddling, I’m sure. Feeling slightly guilty, I play into her hand. “Well, my understanding is that there’s already an offer on the table, but they might be taking backups. I’ll give you the listing agent’s contact.” There’s nothing wrong with messing with Richardson and Amy, right?

“Oh, there’s no need. He’ll have it. Matter-of-fact, let me text him right now. He’ll look it up.” Her thumbs fly on her phone’s screen with the dexterity of a teenager. “Whoopty-doo!” The phone wooshes with the sound of an outgoing message. Then it dings. “Ha! He says he’s aware.”

There you go. He knows, he’s not interested. What else is new?

The phone whooshes again with her reply, but there’s no sound indicating a response.

She frowns.

Welcome to my world.

When I close up the spa hours later, my heart clenches at the sight of the sign in the window. A Touch Of Grace. My eyes well up, thinking my dream is about to be shattered.

Like so many things. What’s the saying? The only constant is change itself? Something like that. Taking a deep breath to clear my mind, I think about what lies ahead. Dad hopefully getting better. Maybe a steady job at the resort spa for me—less headache and a steady income. And Ethan’s career really taking off. Brussels. NATO Headquarters. Wow. Pride swells inside me, for him and also for me, for being happy for him.

Ethan comes back late, as he has the previous nights. We have a quick dinner, and I get to bed while he’s in the shower.

“Lucas is working you to the bone,” I say as I wrap my arms around him after he’s made me come.

He pulls me tighter into his arms. “I’m working on a little side project after hours.”

What could he possibly be up to? “A side project?!” I try to hide my disappointment. While I’m proud of Ethan for volunteering to make emergency repairs in people’s homes after the storm, I was hoping he’d keep most of his free time for me. Or his family. Not for side projects.

He pulls me back into his fold, spooning around me. God his body feels so good. So protective. How will I ever sleep again once he’s gone? “I’m almost done. I’ll show you soon.”

Now he’s gotten me excited. “What is it?”

“It’s a surprise,” he says sleepily.

“Pretty please?”

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