She had spent a few months couch surfing, moving from friend to friend, hopefully before wearing out her welcome. Then one morning she had woke up and realized she had been going through the motions and was essentially homeless. She had signed the papers on the condo a few days later, taking immediate possession at closing. Toby and Bernard had showed up on the curb to welcome her, offering to help her when the moving truck arrived. They seemed honestly disappointed when she explained there wouldn't be one. The next day there had been a basket on the landing outside her door full of homemade muffins and a thermos of coffee. She was sleeping on an air matress, but Lea knew she was home.

The main space was divided into an eat-in kitchen, a full bath and four large rooms, each with a fireplace. Over the next few months she slowly assembled an ecclectic mix of furniture and art pieces from upscale stores, boutiques, local artisans and even thrift stores. The furniture was sparse, but comfortable. Lea's taste was simple. The colors, however, were rich, bold, jewel tones. Toby had nodded his approval as the living room came together. He smiled, and dubbed it modern gypsy. Lea smiled at the thought. She had designed a living room and bedroom, and had stocked the kitchen with all the modern appliances. The fourth room had sat empty for a while, but recently had started taking on the look of an art studio. Her art supplies had been one of those few items she'd stuffed in her car, but had not unpacked. The second floor condo also had access to the finished attic. It had sharply sloping ceilings, but it allowed enough space for her to practice her Tai Chi without disturbing Toby and Bernard.