Best Friends Forever

After a while, I hear a car horn and both our opponents freeze in mid-play, twisting toward the sound.

“That’s our mom,” one of them explains, offering his hand to Ethan in a show of sportsmanship. “Good game, Ethan.”

Ethan takes his hand, smiling. “Good game,” he repeats.

I shake their hands too, trying not to tease them about how tiny they are. I don’t even know these kids, I remind myself. But just to be clear, they are much, much smaller than me.

“That was fun,” Ethan grins as he collects the basketballs and puts them back on the rolling PE rack.

“Yeah,” I agree. “Let’s get on home so I can make dinner.”

“Oh, right. I’ve got homework, too,” he scowls.

I don’t know why it feels so good, just this rather mundane interaction. But it does. Solid. Wholesome or something. It feels great.

Chapter 20

Penny

As soon as Clay leaves the subdivision, my stomach twinges. Should I feel bad about this? Just letting him pick Ethan up and taking his sales meeting?

Well, it might not be entirely fair, but it feels awesome. It feels right. Somebody holding up the other end of the teeter-totter? It’s great.

Just to be safe, I strategically wander around the entrance to our subdivision, because I didn’t ask who I was meeting. But since it is later in the afternoon, I presume anybody who comes by this way is probably my contact person.

Looking back from the top of the hill, with the development stretching out below me, I feel a swell of pride. No, I don’t own it, but I did shape its outcome. Yes, it had great bones. But the renewables and the reclaimed materials were my influence. Even the storm gardens, meant to catch rain overflow during the wet periods instead of sending it into the sewers was my influence. It makes for a nice walking experience too, very parklike.

When a bright red Jeep approaches the entrance, I assume this is my contact person and raise my hand in greeting. The Jeep slows and pulls up alongside of me with the window rolling slowly down. To my surprise, Elise greets me with a chipper salute and a wink.

“Oh, hey!” I smile back. “Are you looking for Wanda? I was just waiting for a client. I think she’s in the last bank of row houses, at the bottom of the hill. If you just go—”

“No, I’m here to meet my salesperson? Is that you?”

She grins widely, revealing that adorable gap between her teeth.

“Wow, yes! This is a surprise! Just pull into the driveway here and we will go on a tour, okay?”

“Sounds great!” she answers, rolling the Jeep ahead and pulling into the first driveway. I hear the grind of an emergency brake and realize she is driving a stick-shift Jeep. I wonder if she could teach me. I have always wanted to learn.

As she climbs down from the driver’s seat, I admire her sensible Mary Janes and the vintage poplin dress in cornflower blue. It really brings out the candy hue of her hair.

“I thought we could just take a walk, check out some of the models? March through some of the construction if you are interested?”

She slides on a pair of spiffy sunglasses. “Sounds terrific. My boss had a late appointment but I have her power of attorney and everything. I’m excited to see what you guys have been working on! Are you really already half sold?”

Gesturing forward, I guide her toward the sidewalk so we can start our nice, picturesque walk as I explain. I’ve done this walk a hundred times, marveling at how simple changes improve the livability of the development.

“As you can see, houses are arranged around shared green spaces, and the curved roadways discourage speeding and encourage pedestrian traffic,” I explain, gesturing like a flight attendant.

“And this is retail here? This small group?” she asks, nodding appreciatively.

“Exactly,” I answer. “We are looking for grocery stores, small eateries, general merchandise. The sort of thing that reduce a neighborhood’s need to drive. Is your company interested in the residential units or commercial?”

“Primarily the commercial,” she answers shyly. “We have good prospects to lease the space already. Clay already sent the specifications. But I’d also like to see residential. My boss was interested in the Zephyr model that Clay mentioned, and then I’d like to look at… um…”

“Oh! Well, sure. The Zephyrs are all completed so I can show you this one right here. And then you wanted something… else?”

Her pace slows, and she turns to me with a modest shrug. “Well, I’d like to see the two-bedroom, single-family home. Maybe not right next door to the one my boss wants, if you know what I mean?”