The hum of morning traffic outside their bedroom window rattled Lesley awake. As her eyes snapped open, an unbridled excitement surged within her chest. Today was the day they would find out if the lake house was truly theirs. Lesley could feel it in her bones, a certainty thrumming through her veins like an unshakable premonition. She was sure the call from Jackie would bring good newsâthat they'd soon hold the keys to the home by the water. She could already picture the view, the quiet, the possibilities. A new chapter was about to begin.
Nick had already awakened for day and he was up enjoying a cup of morning coffee. Clad in a pair of jeans and a gray t-shirt, he sat in their minimalist-decorated kitchen reading a chapter out of his favorite murder mystery novel when suddenly his phone pinged, alerting him to an incoming call.
"Good morning, Nick!" Jackie's voice beamed through the phone.
"Morning, Jackie."
"I'm gonna need your tax documents from 2019. I also need your most recent paystub." Jackie informed him.
"Sure." Nick replied, "I can email it to you."
"Actually, you'll want to email it to your loan officer, Rick." Jackie informed him, "He just texted me, letting me know he needs those two items."
"Ok, sure thing." Nick began, "Also, if you're not busy around 11:00 this morning, would you like to join Lesley and me for a late breakfast at Griller's Cafe?"
Jackie wasn't expecting to attend a breakfast date, but she loved Griller's Cafe and hadn't been there in a few years, "Nick, do you mean a brunch date?" She corrected with a playful laugh.
Nick forced a laugh, "I guess so."
"I'd love to."
Jackie said her farewell, and they ended the call.
***
The morning's sun shone brightly over the towering buildings of New York City as Lesley and Nick walked a few blocks to the cafe.
"It's such a lovely day, Nick!" Lesley gushed lovingly, holding a tight grip on Nick's hand as they wandered past the offices and restaurants that lined the boulevard.
Nick and Lesley soon arrived at Griller's Cafe. Stepping inside, Nick held the door open for Lesley, allowing her to enter first.
It was airy inside, with a modernistic feel and a quaint ambiance. Although many diners were sipping iced teas and coffees, stuffing their mouths with pancakes, and nibbling on sandwiches, the atmosphere seemed relaxed.
In the middle of the cafe, they spotted Jackie sitting at a wooden table and scrolling through her phone.
"Hi, Jackie!" Lesley greeted as she walked up to the table. Jackie raised her head and a smile wove across her face as her eyes landed on Lesley.
"Hey, Jackie!" Nick waved.
"Hi, you two!" she smiled. Standing up, she wrapped her arms around Lesley and then Nick, embracing each of them in a warm hug.
Nick and Lesley pulled out their respective chairs and sat down, making themselves comfortable.
Nick wiggled his nose, sniffing the aroma that drifted through the air, as his eyes landed on the table full of food, "The food smells delicious!"
"Dig in! I ordered a bunch of food for all of us to share." Jackie smiled.
"Thank you, Jackie!" Nick and Lesley said in unison.
"That's so kind of you, Jackie!" Lesley added with a smile.
Nick reached for the tongs on the table, grabbed a waffle, and set it on his plate. He then scooped up a spoonful of the scrambled eggs and dumped them beside his waffle.
Lesley reached for a veggie panini. Grabbing it, she brought it up to her lips and took a bit.
"Wow! This is a really good panini!" Lesley commented.
They each poured themselves a glass of the cranberry mimosa while Jackie sipped on a cup of black coffee. Suddenly, the quaintness was interrupted by the sound of a phone pinging. This prompted Nick and Lesly to stare down at their respective phones.
"It's my phone." Jackie informed with a smile, "Excuse me while I take this call."
Nick and Lesley both nodded.
Jackie's eyes widened, and she gazed at Nick and Lesley from across the table, "It's Rick, the loan officer working on your loan!" Jackie exclaimed. "He says he'll be finishing up the file today!" Jackie announced excitedly with her sleek black phone pressed to her ear.
"What does that mean?" Lesley asked, her face a mask of confusion as she looked to Nick for answers.
"It means we can close on the house today!" Nick replied joyfully.
Jackie wrapped up the call with the loan officer and swiftly ended the call.
Lesley's eyes widened, "No way!"
"Yes, way!" Nick wrapped his arm around her shoulder, lovingly squeezing it, "We're gonna be Arcaden residents in time." He smiled infectiously.
"You're already Arcaden residents!" Jackie smiled widely, "It's a done deal; the loan is closed!"
Jackie raised her champagne flute filled with bright orange mimosa, "Congratulations to the Livingstons!" She cheered. Nick and Lesley clinked their flutes with hers and downed their mimosas as if they were shots.
Lesley and Nick laughed and smiled with Jackie.
To Lesley's amazement, the closing happened just before the end of July, allowing them to enjoy the lingering summer months in beautiful Arcaden. Lesley couldn't wait to move in and make the home their own.
It was happening, and today marked their final day in their lower-level condo nestled in the heart of a high-rise in the middle of New York City.
Lesley sat up in bed, sweeping her long, frizzy hair out of her face and over her shoulder; the curls tumbled down her back. Leaning over, her elbow sank into the soft mattress as she glanced at Nick while he slept. His mouth was wide open while he snored louder than a freight train blowing its horn. Gently placing her hands on his shoulders, she shook him awake.
The sun's rays streamed in through the open slits of the wooden blinds, spilling light into the apartment as Nick struggled to peel his eyes open, squinting as the sun's glare dived into his warm brown eyes.
"What time is it?" Nick groaned, his voice groggy. Covering his mouth with his hand, he yawned. Lying in bed, a dull numbness tingled at the base of his neck. He came to the realization that he must have once again slept in an awkward position.
Had I slept crooked all night?
He placed his hand behind his neck, hoping to massage out the kink.
"It's eight, Nick!" Lesley exclaimed with much enthusiasm, "Today's the day!" She threw the blankets off of her body and jumped on the bed like a kid on Christmas morning.
Nick pulled the blankets over his head, hoping Lesley would stop jumping on the bed like a juvenile. He knew it was only a matter of time before she would drag him out of the house and down to the coffee shop a few blocks away.
"Let's go to the coffee shop after I take my shower," Lesley announced, a smile decorating her face as she reveled in her early morning excitement.
Coffee is just what I need. Nick thought.
Lesley wandered out of their master bathroom and into the bathroom across the hall. Bending down, she leaned over the ceramic tub. The coldness of the knob seeped into her palm as she twisted the crystal knobs labeled "H" and "C." The water burst forth from the showerhead with an invigorating force. Lesley undressed and stepped into the subway-tiled shower. The refreshing water cascaded down her back. The square window positioned above the shower was open. The enticing aroma of sizzling bacon and eggs frying on the nearby cafe's grill drifted into their apartment, permeating the air and causing Lesley's mouth to water and her stomach to rumble.
Nick begrudgingly got up and sat at the edge of the bed. He could hear the water through the bathroom door. Yawning once more, he decided to step out of bed. Standing up, he went to peek inside of his closet. Scanning it, he opted for a pair of gray sweatpants and a black T-shirt. He reached inside, pulled them from their respective hangers, and threw them on.
The movers were expected to arrive at 10:00 AM to assist the Livingstons in moving out of their condo and into their new house. Lesley had packed up all their fragile items the night before, including dishes, picture frames, and heirloom jewelry inherited from her mother. She was determined to prevent any breakage of their precious items, nor did she want them to accidentally "lose" her jewelry.
Lesley stepped out of the shower and placed her feet on the gray bathroom mat. Water dripped from her body and seeped into the mat. She grabbed her large pink towel off the hook, dried herself off, and then wrapped the towel around her body. The bathroom was muggy, with fog enveloping the air from the shower's heat. As she approached the foggy mirror, she used her hand to wipe away the condensation.
"Les?" Nick called out, "Are you almost ready to head out?"
"Yes!" Lesley replied in between brushing her teeth, "I'll be out soon."
Lesley swiftly slipped on a pair of comfy blue jean shorts and a crisp white t-shirt. The anticipation of the day ahead filled her with a delightful nervousness, sending a flutter of butterflies swirling in her stomach. Moving into their new home was a moment she had been eagerly awaiting.
As the day began, Nick and Lesley experienced varying emotions, conflicting with one another. Nick was having second thoughts, while Lesley was more excited than she had ever been.
"Are we doing the right thing, Les?" Nick inquired, his voice tinged with anxiety. Uprooting and moving to a new area was a concern for Nick, but not as dire as the financial aspect of the new home. The thought of paying double the mortgage than what they were currently paying sat in the back of his head, alerting him like a fire alarm warning of danger.
"Yes, Nick!" Lesley reassured with a wide-tooth smile, "We'll be fine."
Lesley was confident about the purchase; after all, Nick was a software engineer for one of the top tech companies in the world. Lesley, a former tech recruiter, had matched Nick to the job, which is how they met. He applied to one of her postings on an online job board, and she prepared him for the unbelievable career opportunity. During that time, Nick grew fond of her. Now, eight years later, neither Lesley nor Nick would have it any other way.
Their New York condo was purchased five years ago- a few months after their wedding. However, now, at thirty-three years old, they were buying their first house together. Jackie was due to meet them at the lake house that afternoon. There, she would hand the keys to Lesley and Nick, making the home theirs.
They rushed back home just in time to be greeted by the movers. The waitress at the nearby cafe had been a bit sluggish, forcing them to scarf down their food as the thoughts of their hectically planned day sat in their minds.
As soon as they made their way up to their apartment, a heavyset man with a curly mop of hair and suspenders over his shoulders stood at their door with a clipboard in hand.
"Hi, are you from Safety Movers?" Lesley asked while she pulled her key out of her purse. She then noticed the nametag on his uniform:
Safety Movers: Daniel
"Yes, I am. My name is Daniel. You must be Lesley." He offered a handshake. Lesley was skeptical, given his hands didn't appear to be clean due to the dirt marks on his palm and the tinge of yellow that decorated his nails, an indication of being a smoker. However, she sucked up her pride and shook it. Nick then stepped in front of her.
"And you must be Nick!" Daniel said with a smile, showing off a missing side tooth.
Nick nodded. "Nice to meet you, Daniel." he said as he gave Daniel a handshake, "I hope you're not a one-man crew?" Nick gave off a slight laugh as he glanced around curiously for the rest of the movers.
Daniel laughed, "No, sir, I'm not. The rest of the crew is on their way up." Just as Daniel said that the sound of footsteps echoed in the distance.
Three men appeared in the same suspenders and company t-shirt as Daniel's.
"Hey, guys!" Daniel called out to his team of movers.
A tall guy who led the other two waved to Daniel.
"Are you all ready to come inside?" Lesley asked Daniel.
"Yes, ma'am." Daniel gestured for the three men to follow him into the Livingston's apartment, "C'mon guys, we're starting in the living room."
Daniel kept the door open so the men could follow him into the apartment.
"My wife packed up most of our stuff and put it into boxes." Nick pointed at the cardboard boxes lined up on the gray carpet of their home.
Once he was done giving instructions to the movers, he made his way toward Lesley as she stood at the door. Excitement was beaming through her radiant smile as she grasped the doorknob, anxiously waiting for Nick. As soon as he came face-to-face with her, he reached out and grabbed her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. They ventured out into the hallway of their apartment building. A graceful smile adorned Nick's face, mirroring Lesley's excitement as they stepped foot out of their apartment for the very last time.
As they drove to Arcaden to meet Jackie, Lesley sat in the passenger seat and pictured herself baking brownies in the oven and swimming in the lake in the back of their new home. The excitement she had within was growing more effervescent with every passing second.
As Lesley listened to her meditation music, a thought struck her mind. She recalled hearing about a yoga studio in Arcaden, and she yearned to explore it. After all, she left behind her old yoga studio in New York, so she needed to find a new one in Arcaden- a peaceful sanctuary where she could continue practicing yoga.
"Nick, can we stop by the yoga studio in downtown Arcaden?"
Nick nodded. "Yeah, just tell me where to go."
Lesley wasn't familiar with the studio either, so she slipped her phone out of her pocket and searched for the studio by typing into her browser, "Yoga studio in Arcaden"
There was only one result, meaning Arcaden only had one. Extending her index finger out, she typed the address into Nick's navigation on the dashboard of his car.
Nick's eyes focused solely on the road ahead as he drove through the windy hills and over the slopy mountains until they finally arrived in Arcaden. Downtown Arcaden had such a unique and charming ambiance that Lesley couldn't help but fall more in love with it. There were cute little shops and strings of lights wrapped around the trees, decorating the front of the sidewalks.
Once Lesley's gaze landed on the 'Yoga Zen' sign, she informed Nick to stop. He cautiously applied pressure to the brake pedal, and their car came to a halt. Lesley stepped outside, and the fresh summer's air breezed by her face.
Glancing up at the yoga studio, her gaze fixed on its chic 'Yoga Zen' sign. Its light blue lettering with a gray background revealed a modern yet holistic feel.
As Lesley pushed through the double doors, swinging them open, she stepped inside. The view was breathtaking and refreshing, just as Lesley had imagined. The large open space with light wood floors and pale green walls was inviting and invigorating.
A woman with long braids and a well-toned physique greeted Lesley as she stepped into the building, "Welcome to Yoga Zen!" the woman greeted warmly.
Lesley's jaw dropped, and her eyes widened as the familiarity of the woman's face struck a chord within her.
"Denise?!" Lesley exclaimed in disbelief. Instinctively, she covered her mouth with her hand at the startling realization.
"Whoa! Ar-.. Are you Lesley?!" the woman replied, equally astonished.
Lesley nodded fervently, "Denise! I've been searching for you for the past few years!" A tear escaped her eye as she rushed toward Denise, enveloping her in a heartfelt embrace.
It had been years since Lesley last saw Denise. Their paths diverged after their graduation from Stony Brook University.
Denise and Lesley were so absorbed in catching up on each other's lives that Lesley completely forgot she was inside a yoga studio.
Outside, Nick's patience was wearing thin as he sat inside his BMW, so he decided to go inside the yoga studio himself.
"Hello?" Nick called out as he stepped inside the studio, his voice echoing in the space. He could hear the voices of two women, one of them sounding like his wife, but they were indistinct. He called out again, his sneakers scuffing against the light hardwood floor as he anxiously scanned the room.
Suddenly, the beige curtain parted, and Lesley emerged, gazing into Nick's eyes.
"I'm sorry, Nick. I got carried away catching up with an old friend," Lesley apologized, her brow furrowed with remorse.
"No problem, but we need to get going," Nick replied. "We don't want to keep Jackie waiting."
Lesley placed her hand on her forehead. "Oh my God, Nick! I completely forgot."
Denise appeared from behind the curtains. A smile graced her lips. "This must be your husband, Nick," she remarked.
"Nick, this was my best friend during my time at Stony Brook. We were inseparable. And guess what?" Lesley beamed with excitement.
"What?" Nick asked unenthusiastically.
"She lives in Arcaden too!" Lesley said, excitement laced her voice.
"Yes, my husband and I just moved here as well. You two are more than welcome to come to our yoga studio anytime." Denise offered as she clasped her hands in front of her.
"I'll keep that in mind," Nick replied. "But we really need to get going now. Our realtor is waiting for us."
Nick reached for Lesley's hand. He held it tightly in his.
"Goodbye!" Lesley said. "I'll make sure to call you once we're all settled in."
"Nice meeting you!" Nick added as he and Lesley walked hand in hand toward the exit sign.
Denise waved goodbye to them until they disappeared through the clear glass doors.
Lesley's heart swelled with joy. Her intuition was right when it summoned her to move to Arcaden. Day by day, her life was blossoming with newfound happiness. Not only was she fulfilling her dream of living in a house by the lake, but she also had the chance to reconnect with her long-lost best friend from Stony Brook.
Every moment in Arcaden reaffirmed that she had made the right decision, and she knew in her heart this would be a beautiful new chapter in her life. She would never regret it.
Ever.