“The demographics are there. We’ve got dozens of rental properties out the wazoo in a fifteen-mile radius. Over half of them are on the luxury end. Log cabins. Lakefront bungalows. An entire village of town houses and chalets near the ski resort. If we can get our names out there, in a year, we’re going to be able to say a big fat ‘I told you so’ to every single person who told us we were nuts for setting up shop here,” Kayla said.
Maggie recognized the fire, the desire to prove. She also recognized an eye for beauty. Both Kayla and Nirina had them.
“It’s a big job,” Maggie warned. “I’m touching almost every single room in this place because I can’t seem to stop myself.”
“We’re up to the task,” Kayla promised. “We’ve got furniture artisans, drapery specialists, artists. Niri has a patio furniture hookup. I’m a hell of a threat with a paintbrush. Walls, not canvas.”
“Then I’d say you’ve got yourselves a deal,” Maggie said.
Kayla stood stock still, eyes blinking rapidly.
“Uh-oh,” Niri whispered to her drink. “Brace yourself.”
There was a high-pitched whine coming from somewhere.
Maggie nearly bobbled her drink when Kayla launched herself at her. The redhead wrapped her arms around Maggie and squeezed. That’s when she realized where the noise was coming from. The whine was a squeal, and it was coming from Kayla.
“You won’t regret this. I swear to you on Niri’s unborn baby, you won’t regret putting your faith in us. We’re going to deliver. And when we’re done, it’s going to be so perfect you aren’t going to want to leave,” Kayla vowed fervently.
Maggie patted her awkwardly on the back.
Business tabled temporarily, they talked over appetizers and another round of drinks on the sunporch as crickets and tree frogs did their things in the night air. Nirina told Maggie about Silas as a big brother.
“He’s this chill, tree-hugging, earth-loving guy eighty-five percent of the time,” she said.
“Ninety-nine percent,” Kayla argued. “I’ve known him since our first playdate in elementary school.”
“Girl, please,” Nirina scoffed with affection. “Silas has this stubborn, overprotective streak. It’s buried deep. But when he gets riled, look out.”
“He won’t tolerate someone being taken advantage of or someone being put at risk. When he found out that my high school boyfriend with his brand-new driver’s license decided it would be a great idea to see if his fourth-hand Dodge Daytona could hit a hundred on the highway with me in the passenger seat, Sy walked right into his house, dragged that boy out of bed on a Saturday, and told him if he ever went one mile over the speed limit with me in the car again, he’d toss him in the river with a boat anchor wrapped around his neck.”
Kayla laughed. “I forgot about that. I’ll adjust my estimated percentage to ninety.”
Maggie winced, recalling her own experience with “the streak.” “I may have caught a glimpse of said streak,” she admitted. Nirina and Kayla looked at each other and then back at Maggie. “What?” she asked.
“Oh, nothing. Just Sy never got worked up about Michelle is all,” Nirina said, smugly admiring her fingernails.
“In all their years of dating, I can’t remember them ever really fighting,” Kayla agreed.
“It’s a sign,” Nirina decided.
“You really are your brother’s sister.” Maggie laughed. “Fighting isn’t usually the sign of a solid relationship.”
“No, but caring enough to resolve conflict is,” Nirina pointed out, tugging on one of her bracelets. “Sy’s mama is a therapist, and Mama B is a romantic. Between the two of them, all of us kids were preprogrammed for healthy relationships.”
“How did you meet your husband?” Maggie asked, changing the subject.
Nirina filled her in on her secret college romance that blossomed into the early engagement that shocked her family. “People can doubt my ability to succeed because I’m adorable and happy. But that doesn’t mean that I’m not going to work my cute butt off, making my dreams come true.”
“Cheers to being underestimated,” Kayla said, raising her glass.
“Cheers,” Maggie echoed.
They stayed for another hour until Kayla started yawning. Maggie walked them to the front door.
“Girl, how are you going to walk away from this house?” Nirina asked her. “I’m already planning where to put the Christmas tree.”