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“I am. I’ve got a bunch of Saturday stuff. Starting with a workout. No, scratch that. Corrine’s coming.” She checked the time. “Shortly. And I don’t know what time Trey’s coming back.”
“I’m facing the front so I’ll see him. Maybe. Or hear him. Probably. If not, send someone up to get me. I really want that chest, and to go through things again.”
Sonya tossed some laundry in the washer, made herself presentable.
Not just a photographer she hoped to hire for a project, she thought, but Trey’s mother.
At ten-thirty sharp, Corrine rang the bell.
Like mother, like daughter, Sonya thought, as Corrine looked Saturday-morning stylish in black pants with a hip-length, pin-striped vest over a flowy white shirt.
“Thanks so much for coming out.”
“You’ve got me intrigued.”
“Let me take your coat. I’d like to explain everything to you upstairs so you can see some of what I have in mind.”
“Collin would love the way you’re living, making good use of the manor. Trey said your friend moved in.”
“Yes. Cleo’s up in the studio. It’s the perfect space for her, and I hope he’d appreciate she’s not only making good use of it but loves it.”
“Now you have this good boy and your good friend. And… Trey.”
“Ah.”
“He’s a grown man.” After giving Yoda a final pat, Corrine straightened. And looked Sonya dead in the eye.
“I believe I raised him to make good choices. As his mother, I certainly think you’ve made a good one, let’s say, spending time with him. We’ll leave it there.”
“He’s very kind.”
Now Corrine’s eyebrows shot up. “So’s this puppy.”
With appreciation, Sonya laughed. “Trey has other attributes, but like you said, we’ll leave it there. Come on up.”
“Aren’t you clever?” Corrine said the minute she stepped into the library. “Collin—and I’ll apologize for bringing him up again, but he was a very cherished friend. He would so appreciate this. The creativity, and the practicality.”
She turned, looked at the mood board. “Ryder Sports. Yes, yes, yes, I see what you’re after.”
“I found action shots. Of course, some of these are models, posed, but I got some from articles. The high school track meet, the yoga class, and so on. That’s actually Cleo doing the warrior pose. The studio where she practiced in Boston took that for their site.”
“She’s gorgeous, isn’t she? And limber.”
“She’s both. I want movement, I want the effort or the satisfaction or the sweat, depending, to show. Let me share with you the basic design I’ve started.”
They sat together at the desk as Sonya ran it through.
“As I said, you’re clever.”
“I hope clever enough. I have a list of names, and the sports or equipment I think works best for each. I’ve got Cleo and Trey on board so far.”
Turning, Corrine gave one slow blink. “You got Trey to agree to do this?”
“He likes baseball, so I’ve squeezed him into fielding a ball. And he said Owen uses a gym, so I thought I could get him lifting weights.”
Rather than her son’s slow smile, Corrine had a lightning grin. “I can’t wait. Who else?”
As Sonya told her the rest, Corrine added in suggestions. People she knew, locations.
