“Well.” I look over at Bane, who has his head hanging outside the car. “Are you ready to go in?” In response, he pulls his head inside, and I roll up the window and shut down the engine. I get out and pat my thigh so he’ll get out with me, and he sticks to my side as I grab my overnight bag from the trunk and head through the gate and up to the front door. After I let us both inside, I drop my stuff in the bedroom, then go to the kitchen and start a pot of coffee. Calvin told me that he won’t be home until late, and I know he’s going to want to relax when he gets in, and hopefully I can help him do that by making him a nice meal. I pull up my shopping app and start a list, figuring I’ll go to the grocery store when the designer leaves. I glance at the clock and see I have about thirty minutes before the appointment with the kitchen designer, so I fix myself a piece of toast and then take it, along with a cup of coffee, out the back door, letting Bane out as I go. I sit on the step and look around the yard. I’m excited about the idea of putting my touch on it and the house. With a table, some chairs, and a few lights, this will be the perfect space for us to entertain outdoors in the summer when we have our friends and his family over, and when we have kids, there will still be plenty of space left over for a small swing set and slide—maybe even a cool tree house.
Just then the doorbell rings, and I force Bane to stay outside so he doesn’t trample the designer with love. I put my coffee cup on the counter, then head down the hall and look out the glass pane on the side of the door at a woman standing on the porch. Even though her image is somewhat distorted by the etched glass, I can still make out her large mass of hair and her full face of makeup.
“Hi.” I smile as I open the door, then hold out my hand, trying to place the familiar-looking woman as she steps into the house. “I’m Anna. Calvin said to tell you he’s sorry he couldn’t be here. He had something come up with work, but I can show you around the kitchen and walk you through our plans for the space.”
“Oh.” She looks slightly surprised. “That would be great.”
“Great,” I say with a smile. “The kitchen’s just down the hall.” I turn, listening to her heels clicking on the hardwood as she follows me.
“So you and Calvin are together?”
I smile at her over my shoulder. “Yeah.”
“It must be serious if he’s trusting you with the task of helping design his kitchen.”
“Do you know Calvin?” I ask, trying not to get annoyed by her nosy comment, especially since she’s here to do a job.
“We went to school together,” she says as I stop near the sink. “I’ve known him for years.” Calvin never mentioned that the designer was a friend when he told me about the appointment this morning. “Do you live here?” she asks, looking around.
“I’m moving in.” I rinse out my coffee cup and feel her move behind me.
“Why you?”
“Sorry?” I turn to face her and notice she’s much closer than before.
“I just don’t get it.” The anger in her tone and the odd glint in her eyes put me on alert. “He was so closed off after his ex left him; then you two cross paths, and all of a sudden he’s throwing himself at your feet?”
“I don’t know why he chose me,” I tell her softly, hoping to calm her as Bane starts to bark at the back door, pawing it to get inside.
She shakes her head, taking her eyes off me to look around. “I don’t get it either. I tried to get his attention, but he barely even spared me a glance whenever we were in the same place.” She turns back to me. “It’s not supposed to be like that, you know. Everyone knows that when you see the person meant for you . . .” She pauses, looking at me expectantly. I’m not sure what she expects from me, so I simply nod. “You know it; you just know it. I knew he was supposed to be mine the first time we met. I just needed to wait until he noticed me.” She runs her fingers along the edge of the counter. “He didn’t; he never did.”
“I’m sorry . . .” God, why didn’t I ask her name when I let her into the house?
“Sandy,” she says, and I take a step back from her when she moves closer. That is not the name of the designer Calvin told me.