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While I was supposed to be working on this project, thinking about another that didn’t have official paperwork yet wasn’t smart. Still, it was where my creative mind wanted to flow, and I could barely control that part of me on a good day.
Immediately, I remembered all the times my ex had told me I would be great if I could just focus. How it was my inability to focus on one project and one project alone that kept me frombeing successful and that I’d never get anywhere until I learned to control it.
Over the years, I had done my best, but I still wrestled with it. I never felt as if I was good enough at putting my all into one job and making sure it was perfect. And here I was, facing exactly that situation again.
If I could stop my mind from wandering, I might be able to figure out what wasn’t right about the room I was in. Instead, I was thinking about themed vacation homes and Lukas. I knew he lived near the location Sarai wanted me to work on, but I didn’t have any contact details for him and had no hope of bumping into him. It was a stupid thing to think about.
Okay, Kit, focus and get this job done. Get paid and go out for the night with friends. That always makes you feel better. The pep talk helped, although I began thinking about where we could go for food and how many of my friends might be free. It hadn’t been the same since Juno was in the US more often than not.
I tilted my head to the side, and it finally dawned on me what was wrong. The cushions on the sofa clashed too much. I needed more neutral colors. They shouldn’t draw attention to themselves in and of themselves. Stand out a little without being the central focus.
Considering the options, I went back to my portfolio and the ones I had easy access to and placed an order for a more toned-down color.
“Okay,” I said aloud, even though I was alone. The cushions could be easily replaced in the morning, then this project was done. Until then, I simply removed the offending items so the client wouldn’t see the wrong ones, and I could just tell them the cushions were delayed. I made the call to let the client come back.
It took another hour for them to show up, the couple an older one who never rushed anywhere. I had been nervous about taking on their redesign because the two made more money than a year’s worth of my usual clients put together, but they’d been a lot more accommodating than I’d expected, and I’d had a big project to do for them. More money certainly made the budget more fun.
“Oh, this is wonderful,” the woman declared as she walked in, a small Yorkshire terrier hurrying after her, its little legs moving so fast it looked like it was sprinting to keep up. I hadn’t forgotten the dog, and there was a matching dog bed in one corner. Elevated, with a ramp that circled the post to get up to it.
One of the strange but more creatively fun elements of this design involved making sure the dog could be near the owner when they were watching TV but not be on the sofa.
The woman exclaimed in delight when she saw the solution, her cry so ear-piercing that I had to fight not to visibly wince.
I finally relaxed a little. They loved the design, and that was all that mattered. I never noticed how stressed out I got in creating a new design until this moment was over and I had happy clients. Of course, I didn’t always, but it was growing more common as I figured out how to read people along the way better and when they knew what they wanted or only thought they did.
This couple was superbly happy, and I had done a good job.
“We should have a small party when we’re back from Italy,” the woman said to her husband before looking at me. “How soon could you do the dining room, and can you do kitchens and bathrooms as well?”
I frowned, knowing I had an issue with that statement. They were going to pay good money, and I would normally have bitten their arm off for more work. Most people didn’t wantmore than one room at a time, and the most I got were a few recommendations to friends.
To be asked to do the majority of the house confirmed one thing for sure. These two had money, and they didn’t have a problem spending it on my skills.
“I’ve got to check my schedule and make sure I have time for the other jobs I’ve already committed to, but I could get back to you with a time frame and quote,” I replied, falling back on the answer I gave if I didn’t want to do a job but didn’t want to actually say that out loud.
This seemed to irk them, but eventually, they nodded and insisted on showing me the rooms and having me write them down.
I tried to be professional and make the few notes I would definitely need if I was going to quote for it, and then let them know I had to run and would invoice them for the final amount.
Thankfully, I had been running my business long enough to know to invoice for all costs before they were actually paid for, so I had more than enough money from this project already. It boded well for getting paid quickly that they wanted more work from me if nothing else.
By the time I was back in my car, I was exhausted and had a headache. They were nice enough people, but they required a lot of attention and thought, and I was done for the day. I drove to the other side of town, finding the couple had paid the final bill before I’d even gotten there.
As I pulled into the parking lot by the parade of restaurants, I spotted the familiar car of a good friend and relaxed even more. It was payday, and I had some good friends to share the celebratory feeling with. Even if they didn’t entirely understand what I did, my friends were always pleased for me when I got paid and everything went well.
“Kit!” I heard my name as soon as I came in the door. Two of my favorite friends were already there—Emily and Helen. Both of them were beaming and happy about their own news as well, a bottle of wine to share already on the table and several bowls of snacks.
“Are the others coming?” I asked, hoping to get the full house and really have some fun.
“Yup. Stacy and Matt, too.”
I smiled. Although they were the newest couple and happy together, they were a strange pair and argued a lot over little things. Yet, as quickly as the fights began, they subsided, and no one else seemed to mind. I knew I could tolerate them now, and I was more than happy to relax and drink and eat dinner with them.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
By the time we’d all eaten and a third bottle of wine was running low between the seven of us, we were all laughing and talking happily. Stacy had received a promotion and a raise, and we were all happily celebrating her, something that was easy enough to do.
Everyone was always genuinely happy for everyone else, and it made a difference to know good news could be shared without hesitation. I hadn’t always had that, and I appreciated it now.
