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Enzo laughed. “Oh, that is quite reassuring.”
“Hush. It’s . . . different out here. Safer. People trust each other.”
“No one should trust that much.”
“Maybe so. I don’t think that’s something I could get used to.”
I approached the porch, each step creaking a welcome—or perhaps a warning, but I was going to ignore that possibility. Running my hand along the railing, I felt the grooves and notches in the wood. This place had stories etched into its very bones.
The farmhouse door groaned on its hinges as I pushed it open, stepping into what could only be described as a time capsule. Dust motes danced in the shafts of light that pierced through the dirty windows, each particle seeming to hold a piece of the farm's soul.
“Wow.” My voice was barely above a whisper, reverence holding me captive. Each room sang with potential—walls that could be draped in vibrant tapestries, floors that would resonate with the soothing sounds of meditative music. “Enzo, picture this with hardwood floors and natural light pouring in.”
“Hardwood floors would be divine,” Enzo agreed, following my gaze. “And these high ceilings? Bellissimo.”
I wandered from room to room, my mind painting the space with the colors of tranquility and rejuvenation. An old, claw-foot bathtub sat lonely in the washroom. “Can't you just see it?” I murmured, tracing the cold, metallic rim. “A spa-like bathroom with Himalayan salt lamps and eucalyptus hanging in the shower.”
“Only if there’s enough room for all the beauty products you'd want to stock,” he teased, but his eyes held the same dreamy quality as mine.
I crinkled my nose at him. “All local or small batch products, of course.”
We ventured toward the barn, its massive doors protesting as we slid them open. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of hay and history. The rafters were high, and the space felt sacred, untouched for what seemed like years.
“Yoga mats here, meditation cushions there,” I said, pointing around the open area. “Maybe some hammocks for aerial yoga?”
“Let's not swing into fantasy just yet,” Enzo chuckled, though he sketched the scene in his notebook.
“Fantasy is where the magic happens,” I countered with a smile.
We walked around the entire property, and back through the house with Zaya who was taking measurements and examining the listing information.
It was a lot. A lot of property, a lot of renovations, a lot to maintain once it was in good shape. Every part of it scared me. But that’s what pushed me the most. I wanted to be scared. I wanted to embark on an adventure, a new path for myself that pushed me out of my comfort zone.
I thought of my life, and how blessed it was. But the idea of living the same existence as it was for the rest of my life? It felt like the most depressing future I could possibly imagine. I wanted a challenge. A passion. I needed those things. And I’d never been so sure about anything than I was about this. I felt it in my bones. Whittier Falls was calling me.
“Darling, your wheels are turning. Spill,” he said, adjusting his designer sunglasses as we walked back through the fields leading to the trailhead at the base of the mountain. I didn’t want to say exactly what I’d just been thinking. It seemed too new, too raw to share that yet. But I’d made a decision and I needed my friends on board. I sighed, a happy sound that was full of promise.
“It’s perfect. The farmland, the trees, the creek for swimming, the mountain for hiking. The house needs a ton of work, but it’s an amazing size. And can you imagine what it’d be like when it's all finished?”
“It is the perfect size for what you want to do. Plenty of guest rooms. And we can make the east wing a private unit for you if you plan to be hands-on.”
“Oh, I do.”
“And good thing you happen to know the most talented designer in all of Los Angeles. Perhaps he could squeeze you in if you ask nicely.”
I laughed at Enzo’s pout. “My love, will you please please take on this project with me and help me build the retreat of my dreams?”
He rested his finger against his chin and cocked his head as if considering. I punched him in the shoulder.
“Okay, okay, yes bella, you have me at your disposal. I agree, this is what you need, and I think it’s the perfect home for your new venture.”
I squealed and wrapped my arms around him. “Thank you! Your support means the world. And I just know you’re going to bring it to life.”
He hugged me back tightly. “Oh I’ll do more than that. I will make it shine.”
* * *
After a stressful but productive call with my financial manager, I made a cash offer on the wheat farm. He wasn’t exactly amused, but it’s my money so he could fuck off. That’s what Zaya said. I was still learning to care less about what other people thought.
