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“They took the rugs,” Sage said. “So I’m going to go rug shopping tomorrow after work.”
“Hot Friday night date,” Bea said with a smile.
“You want to come?” Sage asked. “I think Ty is showing Katherine-the-Great several new houses tomorrow night, and he can’t come.” She spoke in a teasing yet kind tone, and Bea loved her so much.
“I’ll come,” Cass said. “I’m dying to pick out something besides industrial Berber carpet.”
“I thought you were doing Lauren’s nursery,” Bea said.
“I am,” Cass said. “But I need some new jobs.” She sighed as if getting paid a lot of money to redesign the Country Club’s conference and wedding spaces was just so taxing. Bea worked in Grant’s office, answering phones and managing all the sub-contractors they needed to keep the vacation and other rental properties operating smoothly.
He updated the listings, dealt with the customers, and spent a lot of time on-site doing some of the repairs and updates himself. His management company was successful too, and they didn’t hurt for money, but they didn’t live in a million-dollar beach house like Cass and Harry.
“Anyone can come,” Sage said. “I like the neutral color palette here, but I’m looking to add some color in some of the accessories.”
“This couch is amazing,” Cass said as she sank onto it. “But some colorful pillows would be amazing.”
“Yes, like that.” Sage turned back to the kitchen and took a plate of beef and broccoli from Ty with a smile. Bea liked watching the two of them, as they exuded some sort of…magic that she wanted to feast on.
She wanted to introduce some of that newly-dating magic back into her relationship with Grant, and she thought about how she could do that while she got her own plate of Chinese food and joined her friends at the table.
“All right,” Sage said several minutes later. “Who wants a tour?”
The only person not there was Joy, as she couldn’t take a Thursday off of school in May, when all the tests were being administered. But everyone else immediately got to their feet, voices already chitting and chatting as Sage started to lead them through the house.
“What a great fresh start,” Lauren said after Sage had shown them the master suite and the office. “I’m super jealous of that office.”
“I’m thinking about having someone come give me a bid on adding an outside entrance into it,” Sage said. “I have the driveway space for clients, and I could have my own salon, right here at home.”
“That’s a great idea,” Bessie said. “I thought you liked Mionic.”
“I do,” Sage said. “Just musings.” She grinned and led them upstairs. “I’ve already videoed my sons, and Dallen said he wants to come visit. I guess he’s amassed a bunch of PTO at his farm, and I told him to come for the Fourth of July.”
“That’s great,” Cass said. “Sariah and Robbie are coming then too.”
Bea’s fear-of-missing-out reared up, and she had to stuff it back down. She, Grant, and Shelby would be taking a month-long road trip with his daughter before she moved to college, and it was their goal to visit and explore at least five National Parks this summer. Grant had hired someone to take over the rentals while they were gone, and Dave would actually start coming into the office next week to get a sense of things for the next six weeks before they left.
They’d be here for the fireworks, but they were literally leaving the next day. Bea told herself not to be jealous about seeing her friends’ children. She had before and would again.
“And that’s it,” Sage said as she led them back down the staircase that gave a spectacular view of the water beyond.
“Smart to put your couches up in the loft,” Bessie said. “I would never leave that spot. It’sperfect.”
“This whole house agrees with you,” Bea said as she reached the bottom step. She drew Sage into a hug. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you, Bea.”
“I didn’t mean to make you move here,” she whispered, not sure where the words had come from. “I’m sorry.”
Sage pulled back and studied her face, her eyes flitting back and forth between Bea’s. “Don’t apologize. I’m embarking on my grand adventure too—just a few years behind you.” Her smile wobbled a little bit before Sage strengthened it, and Bea decided she’d said what she needed to.
No need to make Sage’s moving day any harder or longer than it already would be.
“Love you, Sage,” she said. “I better get back to work.”
“Yeah,” Lauren sighed. “Me too.”
“I’ll stay and help with the kitchen,” Cass said, meeting Bea’s eyes. “I’ll call Harry to come get me later.”
