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Their mom, Vicky Wilson, came out to greet us then, waving from the front porch with a smile that matched Lena’s. The smile went all the way up to her eyes, which Ellis had clearly inherited, right down to the way they crinkled in the corners. “Hey, everyone,” she called. “Come in, come in.” Once we were on the porch, their mom pulled Lena into a tight hug. “I’ve missed you,” she said before turning to Ellis. “And it looks like you’ve gotten more tattoos since I saw you last.” The last part sounded neutral, but Ellis’s eyes tightened at the corners anyway.

He shrugged. “Always something new.”

Ms. Wilson tsked but didn’t comment any further.

From inside the house, a man’s voice called out. “Leave him alone, Vic. He’s a grown adult. He can make his own decisions.”

“Craig, I wasn’t criticizing, just observing.”

In what was probably an effort to break the tension, Lena cleared her throat. “Mom, you remember Kieran.” I’d never come home with Lena to Pine Bluff, but I’d definitely met her parents when they came—separately—to visit Lena for parents’ weekends and other events.

Ms. Wilson turned to me. “Kieran, it’s so good to see you again. How have you been? I just love your show.”

My chest tightened at the mention of the show. “Thanks, Ms. Wilson.”

“I’m sure I’ve told you before, you can call me Vicky.”

I nodded. “Vicky, then.”

“Now, let’s get inside. My turkey is due out any minute.”

“I can take care of the turkey,” Craig called back.

We stepped inside to find Lena and Ellis’s dad standing in the kitchen, sipping a beer as he stood next to the oven. I took a minute to look around and take it all in. The house, which Lena and Ellis had grown up in, was an aging brick rancher, one story with just enough room for a couple and their two kids. Inside, the place was warm but dated, and as I looked around, I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about what I’d change if she were my client. Paint, carpet, fixtures. It could all use an update.

“We’re lucky to have a celebrity with us today,” Vicky said as she shooed Craig away from the oven to check her turkey. “I wish I had your eye for design. I bet you work yourself to death on that show.”

I laughed a little, still uneasy at the mention of Hometown Overhaul, mostly because I didn’t even know if I was going back and I really didn’t want to dig into that today. “It’s not so bad,” I said lightly. “I love what I do.” That statement was the truest thing I could’ve said. I did love my job. I just didn’t love the thought of working with people like Andy Donahue, who wanted nothing to do with me. I wanted to work with people who wanted help, rather than forcing someone to adhere to my vision.

“A celebrity, huh?” Craig asked. “What do you do?”

I was surprised Lena had never mentioned it to him, but I also knew she wasn’t terribly close with her dad, so maybe it made sense. “I’m an interior designer for a reality TV show. Hardly a real celebrity.”

“Sounds like it could be interesting,” he said.

Instead of deflecting, I answered honestly. “It can be. It can also be pretty stressful though.”

He nodded seriously. “I’m sure it can be. I bet you have all sorts of competing priorities and everyone has an opinion about your work. Sound about right?”

“That’s exactly right,” I said.

“Do you like it?” When he asked, I noticed Lena, who’d come into the kitchen after setting the table, eyeing me.

I nodded slowly. “I do, actually. I’m taking a hiatus from the show though. I honestly don’t even know if I’ll have a job there if I decide to go back, but for now I’m just figuring things out again.”

“Makes sense,” he said. “I bet you could find plenty of work around here without needing to be on TV, though. Not just in Pine Bluff, but in the towns nearby, too.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Really?”

“Of course. I’m in construction. Renovations, mostly. Lots of people could use a designer to help them figure out what colors they want us to paint or what tile will look best. I bet you could get in with a company like mine and do just fine. Or you could freelance. I’m sure your services would be popular, especially if people have seen your stuff on TV.”

I’d been giving freelancing a little thought, but hearing Craig lay it out that way made so much sense. It sounded possible. “I’ll give it some thought,” I said eventually. The truth was, I didn’t want to stop designing. I just wanted to get away from the pressures of TV.

“I wish I had someone like you around here. This old place…” Vicky said wistfully.

“What’s wrong with it?” Lena called from the other room as she set the table.

“Nothing. It’s just old. You know, wood paneling in the basement only gets you so far these days.”