Eliza and I had been texting since the Fourth of July about ideas she had for her studio, what she wanted to achieve, and her short-term and long-term priorities for the space. The building her studio was in—the same as Lily’s café—was older, so some of the designs and fixtures aged the space. But it helped that the business there before hers had been a dance studio.
Eliza had a lot of inspiration for the space, especially after the yoga conference she went to in June, but was having a hard time visualizing how it would all look together. This was one of my favorite parts. I loved bringing people’s vision to life—even before the work started. My favorite interior design rendering software allowed me to digitally recreate whatever space I was working on. I had added in measurements for Eliza’s studio and various details about the space, including the lights, whereoutlets were, the storage area, and more. I created two versions: what the space looked like now and what I was proposing.
“And then here is what it would look like when it’s all done.” I double-clicked to pull up the rendering of what I had designed, pointing to the various details as I explained them. “I was thinking new floors, new paint color, and decorations as a priority. Down the line, you can upgrade the mirrors and light fixtures. For the decorations, I want to really make the space feel like you. You mentioned you love plants, right? Let’s lean into that. Fill the space with various plants, flameless candles, and artwork. Really make it cozy. The candles would be on a timer, so you wouldn’t have to turn them on each time. You can program them for when you have classes.”
“Oh, Jules.” Eliza’s whole face lit up, her eyes wide in awe and smile bright. “This is absolutely stunning.” She leaned in closer to the laptop. “It’s…it’s beautiful. It’s better than I could have dreamed of. We can really make this happen?”
I nodded. “We sure can. And we can do it on your timeline and budget. The floors will likely take some time to get in, but in the meantime, we can focus on picking the paint color and adding the decor. Does that sound like a good place to start?”
“That sounds absolutely perfect. Since the floors will take a while, can we get those ordered soon? Maybe even take a look today at our options?”
“Definitely,” I agreed, pulling up the site so we could browse. “I’m so excited to be working on this with you. I should’ve asked earlier, but what got you interested in yoga and opening a studio?”
Eliza leaned to grab her coffee, taking a sip before speaking. “Well,” she said on a sigh. “I’ve always found exercise as the best way to take care of my mental health. I’m not sure how much you know, but Cooper and I lost our parents in a car accident. Wewere raised by our grandma Marnie, who is the absolute best, but it was tough.”
I had heard Marnie mentioned before, but I hadn’t realized Eliza and Cooper’s parents had passed away. I couldn’t imagine how challenging that was for them, and I was appreciative of Eliza opening up to me. I nodded as I listened, wanting to give her the space to continue without interruption.
Eliza wrapped her hands around her mug, looking down. “I don’t remember much about my parents—I was six when they died—but I’ve always loved looking at photos of us as a family and hearing stories from Gram, like how my mom always dreamed of opening a yoga studio. It was going to be her plan after she retired, but…” Eliza’s voice broke, tears welling in her eyes. “I started practicing yoga in high school as another form of exercise, and I fell in love. Not only was it an escape and a way to prioritize my mental health, but it was also a way to connect with my mom.” She set her mug down, using the back of her hand to wipe under her eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t anticipate getting so emotional,” she said with a quiet laugh.
“You have nothing to apologize for,” I assured her with a gentle smile. “That’s beautiful, Eliza. Thank you so much for sharing that with me. Your mom would be so proud of the work you’ve put in.”
“I think so, too. It’s been a while since I’ve shared that story. Most people in town know our history and what happened. My dad was a park ranger, like Cooper, so we’re both honoring our parents in what we do but also discovering our own love for it.”
“I’m so glad you’re trusting me with this project, even more so now that I know how much it means to you.”
Eliza turned to me with an abundance of emotion in her eyes. “Me, too. I can’t wait to work together to make this a reality.” She let out a breath and turned her attention back to the screen. “She would’ve loved it—I know it.” Eliza paused for a moment beforeturning the conversation back to the project. “For the floors, someone would have to install those, right?”
I nodded. “I’m starting to get to know some of the contractors in the area through Hal. He’s been super helpful in making those connections since that is definitely something I wouldn’t be able to do on my own.”
“Isn’t he the best?” Eliza asked with a warm smile. “Did Lily mention he owns this building? He has been such a huge part in both of us being able to move forward with our businesses and making them a reality. I really hope he ends up selling the building to Lily—both so he can get some free time and so she can get that experience.”
“If he ends up selling, do you think it’ll be soon?”
She twisted her lips to the side. “Ithinkso. He’s talked about it, a little cryptically at times.” She laughed. “I’m sure you’ve noticed, but he always seems to be one step ahead of everyone. Always knows something. I’m starting to think he might be more in tune with the town gossip than Louise.”
“I think you might be right,” I said with a laugh right as one of the cats—a brown tabby named Maple—came up to us and rubbed against our legs with a meow. I reached down, letting her sniff my hand before I went to pet her. She immediately started purring from the attention. “Gosh, she’s adorable. Every time I’m in here she says hi.”
“Isn’t she?” Eliza scooted over, patting the space between us for Maple to jump up, which she happily did with a chirp. “Her kittens got adopted quickly at the start of the summer, and now it’s just her. I bet she’ll find a home soon.” With a sly smile Eliza added, “You know,youcould also take her home with you.”
I shook my head. “I wish, but I think I have enough going on right now. I technically still don’t have a place to go back to in Chicago. My brother is helping me solve my whole living situation.”
“Another reason you should stay in Golden Falls for longer than the summer.”
“If only,” I sighed. With Maple lying on Eliza’s lap, I grabbed the laptop to look up when floor panels would get here once ordered. “So, it looks like the floors would take some time to get here. Late October or early November.” A sudden pit of dread formed in my stomach. I wouldn’t be in Golden Falls in the fall—I wouldn’t be able to see this project through to the end. Pushing through, I said, “But that would be fine. I can place the order for you, line up the contractor, and you can text me if anything comes up or if you have any questions.”
Eliza watched me, and while I thought I was keeping my expression neutral, she reached over to give my forearm a squeeze. “You’ll only be a call, text, or FaceTime away. Plus, the drive isn’t too bad. You can always come to visit, or Lily and I can make the trip to Chicago. This is just the start of our friendship—it’s not going to end when the summer does. You can’t get rid of us that easily. We just got you.”
I didn’t realize, until that moment, how much I needed to hear those words and how much my new friendships meant to me. I had friends in Chicago—but not like this.
It didn’t take long for Eliza and me to finalize our next steps for the yoga studio. I placed the order for new floors and had my list of decorations to be on the lookout for, as well as paint shades Eliza was interested in.
Eliza had another hour to kill before her shift at Lake Ridge, so we decided to stay at Purrfect Blend. It was easy to get wrapped up in conversation with her. She was funny, sarcastic, and a great listener. Purrfect Blend was such a cozy place to hang out, and the time flew by. The only thing that changed was Maple moving from Eliza’s lap to mine, now curled up with her nose tucked under her paws. There was a constant flow of customers, too, both in the café and in the cat room.
Lily pushed open the door to the cat room, a smile on her face when she saw us. “I thought you two left and I missed it! Gosh, this day has been a blur.”
“I honestly don’t know where the time went,” Eliza agreed. “We were productive for most of our time here, but now we’re rotting on the couch. I have to go into Lake Ridge soon for my shift. But, holy shit, Lil, Jules has to show you the design she came up with for the studio. It’s absolutely perfect.”
“Oh my gosh, yes! I need to see.” Lily peeked through the glass pane that separated the two rooms to see if any new customers had walked into the café. “I should have some time to see now.” She pulled over a nearby chair and sat down, reaching over to pet Maple. “And actually, I almost forgot to ask—” Lily looked at me with a raised brow. She wasn’t angry or upset; she looked amused. “What exactly happened Saturday night when my brother drove you home? And why is he now texting me asking what your favorite pastry from here is?”
