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Flowers bloomed in the sun. Lights twinkled in the dark.

Cleo painted, sometimes at home, sometimes in the village. Sonya filled her days with work—with breaks for walks with Yoda in the garden or by the seawall.

If she kept an eye on the Gold Room windows, it wasn’t a fearful one, but one of defiance.

In the evenings when Cleo cooked, she sat at the counter going over the checklist for the open house.

“We’re really set. I’m obsessing,” Sonya admitted. “But we’re really set. With a big cheer for Bree.”

“Cheer! We’d better be set at this point. Family’s going to start pouring in, so we’d better be. And I’m thinking we have a kind of buffet for the ones who come in on Friday. I think I can do a ham.”

Slowly, Sonya repeated, “You think you can do a ham?”

“I talked to Corrine about it, and I think I can do it. A ham, those roasted potatoes I’ve got down now, a veg, maybe some crudités, a cheese platter.”

“I call the crudités and cheese platter. And I can do some beerbread, since I’ve got that down. You’re right. We have to feed them. It’s going on the list. You know, at this very moment, all this seems like such a good idea.”

“And we’re hoping it still feels that way after.”

“Yeah, we are.”

“Positive thoughts bring positive vibes,” Cleo declared. “How’s work going?”

“Really well. Gigi’s is officially up and running, along with the Ogunquit law firm, and Ryder’s really happy with me. And the painting?”

“I was going to wait until I had some wine to talk about that.”

“I’m getting it now. Spill.”

“I took three framed canvases down to Kevin. He took all three.”

“All! Yay—but… not the watercolor of the tree.”

“That stays here. He also asked if I’d do a showing in the fall.”

“Cleo!”

“I think I will. Sabbatical will be over, but I’ll have enough. Even with doing the mural for Anna.”

She handed Cleo a glass of wine. “I love our life.”

Cleo clinked glasses, then smiled when Yoda scrambled up to run to the door. “Looks like a part of that life’s coming around for dinner.”

Sonya did love their life and the sharp turn it had taken months before. She loved her work, the result of another sharp turn into freelancing. Though it came with stunning challenges, ones she was determined to meet, she loved her home.

She loved Trey. Maybe they hadn’t said those words to each other yet, but she knew love. Hard to say it, she could admit, as a year before she’d designed her wedding invitations to another man.

And she loved their life, so why rush it?

After ending a virtual meeting with Burt and some of Ryder’s marketing team, she sat back, satisfied.

Her work, she thought, her art, her vision would soon come to life on a big-ass billboard in Portland.

“It’s a hell of a thing, Yoda.” She rubbed his back idly with her foot. “Consider this a quick victory lap before I start the mood board for a new client.”

As she worked, Clover’s music played, and the breeze wafted in the open windows.

A pretty perfect way, she decided, to end one month and start another. She hoped Cleo enjoyed the same, painting down in the village at the marina.