Page 9 of Bryce

*****

“More tea?”

Shaking her head witha laugh, Zahra passed the cup to her friend. “You have pouredso much into me; I will be peeing for the rest of the day. And I haveto get going.”

“Girl, sit andrelax.” Sandra waved a beringed hand negligently and sank downon the plush ottoman, a brooding expression on her attractive face.“We have yet to come up with a solution to my problems.”She shook her head at her friend’s raised brows. “I ampregnant and hormonal, so sue me.”

“It seems to methat all you have to do is to ask Brian to stay out of the nursery.You want to wallpaper the room in baby blue and daffodil yellow. Hewants brighter colors.” Picking up a stuffed elephant, shecradled the softness and felt the familiar yearning rocking hersenses.

She placed theelephant back with a wistful sigh. “Sandra, sometimes men justneed a little nudge in the right direction. Have you consideredshowing him some examples of what you envision? Maybe if he sees it,he’ll understand the warmth and tranquility you’re aimingfor.”

Sandra’s eyessoftened as she considered this. “You might be right. I couldcreate a mood board with colors and themes. Brian is more visual,after all. But,” she paused, a mischievous glint forming in hereye, “that still doesn’t solve the issue of him wantingto put up that horrid neon sign.”

Zahra laughed,feeling the tension lift from the room. “Ah, the perils ofdecorating! Perhaps you can convince him to compromise - find a signthat’s a bit more subtle, something both of you can live with.It’s all about finding balance, right?”

Sandra nodded, herexpression thoughtful. “Balance, yes. I can work with that.”

She and Zahra had mettwo months after Zahra had arrived in town and started working on theinn. Sandra was originally from New York and had discovered thatZahra was from the Manhattan area as well.

They had startedtalking when Zahra wandered into her fabric store one breezyafternoon. And right then and there, they had struck up a friendshipthat had only grown stronger.

Sandra had come tothe tiny town to visit and recover from a very nasty divorce and hadmet and fell in love with local lawyer Brian Ware and never lookedback.

“Do you evermiss it?” Zahra asked her quietly.

Her friend gave her aquick glance before taking a sip of the now cooling brew. “No.My life there was chaotic, as I told you before. I was married to abigshot Wall Street guy with a staggering need to succeed and heturned out to be an asshole.” A contemplative expressionsettled on her attractive face.

“We would fightabout everything. And we were miserable. I knew he was cheating onme, but I did not want to face the truth of it.” A smiletouched her lips. “Brian treats me like a queen, and it took mea hell of a long time to stop looking for an ulterior motive, for theother shoe to drop, for him to start stepping out on me.

Because I brought mypast into the relationship, I almost lost him.” She pressed ahand to her bulging stomach. “So, no. I am happy. I was donewith the fricking bright lights and frenzied and frenetic paceanyway.” She glanced at Zahra. “You?”

“Not in amillion years.”

*****

The inn was poised ontop of a hill, like a graceful bride wearing her wedding white. Andsurrounded by dazzling colors. Green, red, sunny yellows, purple,pink, orange. It reminded him of the rainbow bursting through the skyat the end of the storm. The winding driveway was cobbled, and hecould hear stones crunching beneath the tires.

Taking a moment, heswitched the engine off to just sit and inhale the fresh air andadmire the place. Trees waved their leaves in the stiff breeze.Sounds of birds chirping added to the atmosphere.

There was an outdoorarea with tables with striped umbrellas and chairs placedstrategically and tidily around them. The grass was lush and moistfrom the recent rain.

The place itself wasthree stories tall, and the windows glistened as if someone had useda loving hand to give them a shine. And it was quiet. That was whatstruck him the most. It reminded him of a cathedral he had visited inthe South of France.

Hushed and dignified.Shaking his head at the fanciful thought, he touched the buttonscontrolling the windows before shoving the door open and steppingout. Going around to the back, he retrieved his suitcase.

Inside, theatmosphere was just as inviting. The foyer was expansive withpolished wooden floors and high ceilings adorned with elegantchandeliers.

The light streamingthrough the large windows created a warm and welcoming ambiance.Portraits and artworks, some depicting the inn’s history, linedthe walls, adding a touch of heritage and charm.

The woman who greetedhim with a beaming smile had an ample girth and bright blue eyes.

“Mr. Whitney,welcome to Serenity Hill. Just leave your bags right there by thefireplace and I will take them up for you. Ms. Zahra is out for themoment and will be back later. You were not expected until tonight.”

The first thing thatstruck him was the unusual name. He had known someone by that name,surely - he shook his head. It couldn’t be.

“I hope I havenot inconvenienced anyone with my early arrival.” Placing hiscases in front of the hearth where a cheerful fire was simmering, heapproached the quaint little front desk. And was relieved to see thathe had not been recognized.

“Not at all.Let’s get you checked in and there is a tray of refreshment inthe dining room with your name on it.”

---