Page 20 - Interior_SPRING SUMMER FALLING_2021

20 | FRANCESCA PE NN

Is it wrong to hope she looked homely? They are a very attractive couple. I can
only imagine how the family holiday cards are going to look. I feel underdressed in
my yoga pants and t-shirt. I recover quickly. “You must be Cassie. It’s so nice to
meet you.” I extend my hand. She fingerwaves instead.

There is something different about Henry’s behavior. He seems irritated. I
choose not to dwell on the observation. Couples irritate each other all the time.
“Sorry about the lack of warning. She was bored and wanted to come along.”
he announces unceremoniously. I decide to ask him later about his mood.
“No problem. Cassie is welcome to join all our adventures while she can. Come
in, you two. I sure she wants to get off her feet.”

I step back, and they stroll in, hands entwined as they survey my home. Henry
is impressed as he takes in my completely renovated home. Cassie is not. She looks
around like Henry invited her into a hovel. My home is spotless and smells
wonderful. Although, it’s easy to keep things fresh when you don’t cook often and
have a biweekly maid service to deep clean-but that’s neither here nor there.
“I love it, Sanya.” His amber eyes shine with pride. “Now, I want to see the
other house. Did you do it all yourself?”
I shake my head. “Nope. I have a team. We’re just waiting for the next project.”

Henry excitedly rubs his hands together. “You have to let me help on the next
one. Especially demo day. What do you think, Cassie?”
Cassie looks up from her phone. “About what?” “Everything.”
She shrugs and settles into the nearest seat and continues to text.

“It’s not my style, and you will be too busy to flip houses.” Henry stares at the
top of her head; his jaw clenches and a little of the foul mood I detected earlier
returns. Awkward. “Aren’t you supposed to be doing some sort of weight loss guru
work? Hurry up before the baby gets hungry again.”
She doesn’t look up from her phone the entire time she’s speaking. Cassie is
beautiful and rude. She excuses herself when her phone starts to ring. Baby shower
stuff. Or, at least that’s what she said. I am becoming skeptical, but it is none of my
business. Maybe they got into a lover’s spat, and she wants to bitch to her mom,
sister, or friend. Been there.
“Hormones.” His voice brings my eyes back to his face. He is trying to joke
with me, but the tension is still tight around his eyes like it was in the café when