Relief came first.
Then resolve.
The house itself caught his attention—small, but full of character. Bluestone and wood siding gave it warmth, the steeply pitched roof adding to its charm. A wraparound porch framed the front, flower boxes spilling over with color, and a rambling vine of roses climbing lazily along one side.
It was exactly what he would have expected.
Quiet.
Intentional.
Beautiful in a way that didn’t try too hard.
He knocked. Waited. Nothing.
He knocked again.
Still nothing. He rang the doorbell. Damn it.
His gaze shifted toward the garage.
Light filtered through a narrow glass panel in the side door.
He moved closer and glanced inside.
And stopped.
The space had been transformed into a studio.
She was working on a new canvas. The sight of it filled him with ease and expectation … happiness for her. Paints and brushes rested on a wide worktable, the air itself carrying the quiet energy of creation.
And at the center of it—
Randi.
She stood before a canvas, dressed in chinos, an oversized tee, black converse sneakers, and her long golden locks pulled up into a high ponytail. She was a sight to behold. Her movements were slow, more deliberate, but no less expressive. Each stroke was intentional, guided by something deeper than muscle memory.
Music filled the space. He remembered she told him at dinner she had a playlist she listened to while painting. It was over one hundred of the most romantic love song standards of all time sung by the greatest crooners like Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole.
Randi swayed slightly as she worked, lost in the rhythm and motion of the one she was listening to, in something that seemed to ease the strain she still carried.
Brew watched her for a moment longer.
This was who she was when she wasn’t afraid.
When she forgot to hold herself back.
He opened the door quietly and stepped inside.
She didn’t notice at first as she continued getting lost in the music. Her body moved gently with it.
Then something shifted.
Her brush slowed then stopped, and she turned slowly about … and she froze.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice tightening instantly.
“You weren’t answering,” he replied.
