Page 3 of Until Now

“Of course, I do.”

A smile spreads across Lydia’s face before an uncomfortable silence falls between us. She pushes food around her plate, tapping the fork along the rim trying to find the right words to say. We haven’t talked about this, not really. I haven’t talked to much of anyone. I don’t want to. I don’t—

“Nin, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” A suspicious look. “I am!”

“I just worry about you. You never gave yourself time to get over everything that happened with Lee. You didn’t give yourself time to process.”

“Listen, Dr. Phil—”

“I’m just saying. I don’t think it’s a bad idea to take a break.”

“I’m too busy, Lyds. I have so much going on, I don’t have time.” How am I supposed to take a break when I have projects lined up for the next year? I’ve become one of the most sought-after interior designers. Before I started my own company, I worked at the best firm in Charlotte, North Carolina. I’ve worked with celebrities, companies, investors, flippers, and everyone in between. And sure, some people only recognize my last name, that’s bound to happen, but I have worked hard to build my business from the ground up. I can’t just walk away…

But, Lydia is right. I have thrown myself to the wolves, more than usual.

“Why don’t you go talk to someone? Get things off your chest.”

“I don’t need a shrink, Lydia.”

“I’m just saying, you need to do something. You never let yourself go through the motions. It was a serious break-up, Nin. A big life change and you’re staying busy to avoid what happened. Four years is a long time to be with someone and then have it end so suddenly.” Lydia covers my hand. “Just promise, you’ll think about it.” She stops me before I can object, “Promise.”

“Well,” I sigh. “I was thinking about going to the Haven house this year, but I don’t know if I want to deal with my family.”

“You love Haven!”

I do love Haven, it has always been that…a haven. A small ski town in central Colorado where my family had purchased a vacation home years ago. We used to go to Haven for most summer vacations and the occasional Christmas break when we weren’t in Greece or Italy.

“I’m just saying, it’s not a bad idea,” Lydia pushes further, but I’ve already let the conversation go. Right now, we should be celebrating the ring on her finger, not my lack of one.

“Okay, tell me more about your trip. I want all the gossip.” As Lydia begins to relay the details, I think back to the last time I was in the city. It seems like a lifetime ago, but it had only been a year and one hundred sixty-four days, not that I’m counting.

Chapter Three

I can’t helpbut think of the stranger who spilled coffee on me just two weeks ago every time I’m at Java Fountain. That poor romper, it didn’t stand a chance. Taking my coffee from Lucy, I almost ask her if she knows anything about him, if he frequents the cafe, what his name is… But, I simply take my iced coffee and make sure to look both ways before stepping off the patio. I don't want to risk losing this dress, another one of my favorites.

My office is located in a two-story brick building on Pearl Avenue in the middle of town square. I picked the location based on the fact it is within a two-minute walk to the cafe. Winchester, South Carolina, is a small town in the northern part of the state, near the Carolina borders. It’s considered a bigger suburb of Charlotte, but with the small town charm — somewhere you wanted to raise a family. Most people come from wealthy families, native to the area, but my family moved here in 1992. Daddy didn’t want us to grow up in the city, but Mother refused to live somewhere with a population of less than five thousand, so they compromised on Winchester — population 6,020 in 1992, but has grown significantly to closer to thirty-thousand in recent years.

The office is still locked which means Michaela is running late, shocker. I could lock the door behind me, let her think I’m running late, and give her a good scare when she gets in — maybe next time. I have a lot to do before I leave for Haven next week and not enough time to do it: pull samples for a meeting later today, print off sketches for another, make suggestions on a design Michaela submitted, and review the schematics we’ve needed for two weeks. And that’s just before noon.

I finally sit down at my desk to finish another design now that the morning necessities are finished. Sunlight streams through the two large windows that separate a black accent wall behind my desk. Between the windows, a Monika Luniak painting and a cabinet with intricate hand-carved floral designs holds two bouquets of hydrangeas. Design books, certifications, and photos scatter the shelves of a bookcase along the left wall.

Before I can get started, my phone vibrates across my desk.

Mother.

I ignore her call. Whatever she has to say can wait until I get to Haven. Almost immediately, it rings again. I send it to voicemail and turn the ringer off. This time, my office phone rings. Without looking, “Yes, Mother?”

“I was starting to think you were ignoring me.”

“Kind of the point of a voicemail. I send you there, you leave a message, and I can decide whether to call you back or not.”

“Davina Bay.”

“Busy.”

“Well, I just wanted to make sure you were still coming this year. You never gave me a definite answer. And after your little hiatus, I just—”

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