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Chapter forty-six

Gianni

Thursday, May 1, 2025

L ark has to work late tonight, so it’s the perfect day to finish my surprise for her.

Luckily, my mom has been seeing Lark’s best friend, Kira, for her hair ever since they first combined their book clubs. I was able to contact her about helping me with this plan for Lark.

Kira

She’s going to love it! I’ll text you when she’s on her way home from work.

You’re the best. Thanks.

Kira

Anything for Lark.

I enter the door code, heading in per Kira’s instructions.

Rex pops his head up to glare at me but quickly curls back up on his bed sleepily. Kira said she was already over during her lunch break to take him on a walk, so he should be okay for a while.

I toss out her old flowers, replacing them with the new ones I got today before heading into the guest room.

The room is bare, with nothing but an easel, a single box of paints and brushes, and an air mattress in the center of the room, half deflated.

I make several trips to my car and back, bringing up all the supplies I got this morning. I may have gone a bit overboard, but there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make this woman smile. She deserves a space to relax and enjoy the things that bring her peace.

Kira said she prefers oil paints and watercolors but dabbles in a little of everything, so that’s what I got. Everything.

I have all the boxes stacked in the living room, bringing them in one by one as I unbox the furniture and build each piece. When I’m finished, two of the four walls are lined with interconnected shelving and tables to give her space for her projects to dry, a place to draw, and lots of room for her brushes and other supplies.

I insert the little organizers, separating everything by type and color, and then move on to the brushes. I place the canvases in their holders, with the largest ones in the back.

This is a rental, and while I’ll gladly replace the carpet before she leaves, I don’t want her to feel she needs to hold back in here.

After unrolling the massive paint splatter rug, I set up her easel, placing a small stool I painted with little red songbirds and pink and yellow flowers up the legs in front of the easel. I put the finishing touches on the room, setting up the hooks along the sides of the furniture for her paint smocks to hang and plugging in the essential oil diffuser and Bluetooth speaker.

I step out of the room to view it all put together. It’s perfect, just like her.

It’ll look even better once she hangs some of her artwork on the walls, but it should have everything she needs, and the huge window should provide the perfect amount of lighting.

My phone vibrates in my pocket.

Kira

She’s on her way home. Should be about 25 mins.

Just finished, thanks.

I snap a picture and send it to Kira before gathering all the boxes and trash, hauling that down to the dumpster. I grab Pickles from my apartment and take her on a walk, waiting for Lark’s arrival.

Ma Petite Rouge

I’ll be home in ten. Wanna come over for dinner? I’m thinking tacos.

I’d love to. See you soon.