Sophie was in the kitchen when she walked in to make coffee.
"Good morning dear," Sophie smiled reaching for a mug to pour her niece some coffee, "How did you sleep?" she asked casually.
Gypsy sipped the hot coffee only glancing at Sophie, "I slept fine," she said softly, "I've got some errands I need to run, as soon as I grab a shower," she walked toward the hall, "If you or Vince need anything make a list I'll pick it up while I'm out."
Finishing her shower she slipped into a pair of low rise jeans and a thick cable knit sweater, pulling her hair back in a pony tail. Keys and list in hand she went downstairs glad Sophie was in with Vince when she grabbed the list Sophie had left on the counter, heading out to her SUV driving off.
Sophie stood at the window watching as Gypsy left, "How long do you think it's going to take her before she wants to sit down and talk some more or do you think it might not happen?" she asked glancing at Vince who was sitting up in bed.
Shaking his head he chuckled, "With as stubborn as that girl is there really isn't any telling," he said meeting his wife's eyes, "I think as soon as she gets back today if she says she's found some place else to live we'll know then how well she's taking all this," he said sadly.
Sophie answered the gate buzzer, pressing the button to open the gate, "You better take a deep breath my dear because your new therapist's here, so prepare yourself," she chuckled; glad she had something else to focus on.
After making a few stops, picking up the supplies she needed for the designs she'd already spoken to various women about, she found herself pulling into a small local park, finding a quiet place to park over looking a small river. Taking her sketch pad and charcoal from the bag she walked over to a leaf covered picnic table, sitting down looking at the bright array of fall colors already touching the edges of all the leaves.
Closing her eyes she began drawing, closing her mind off to everything except the clothing she'd created in her mind putting them on paper, page after page became covered with her visions.
She laughed when she opened her eyes hearing a small shuffle in the leaves beside her. The small grey squirrel was sitting up holding a large acorn in its paws while it watched her.
"It must be nice to have a simple life, where you know what you need to do to survive, there aren't huge surprises to make you wonder if you'd been walking through life with your eyes closed," she said softly, smiling when the squirrel turned its head as if listening to her.
"I know having to spend all summer and fall trying to find enough food for the long winter doesn't sound like a walk in the park," she giggled, "but if you'd like to trade places I'd take you up on it. Where I live it's starting to look like I'm going to have to second guess 'what' everyone is," she sighed.
Looking at her watch she realized it was almost five, she'd been sitting there drawing for hours. Glancing at the stack of drawings beside her she smiled hoping this would give her an advantage when she began meeting with potential clients the following week.
Gathering her things she laughed when the squirrel ran up the large tree chattering at her in alarm. "Didn't mean to disturb you but I have a few more things I need to do before going back home," she said walking back toward the parking lot, driving toward the small market Sophie had given her the address for.
The sun was below the trees when she pulled back in the driveway, stopping under the archway she unloaded the bags of groceries she'd picked up for Sophie and the things she picked up for herself.
Carrying an armload into the kitchen she saw Vince sitting at the table with Sophie.
"I was hoping you hadn't got lost dear, it's after six I was getting worried," Sophie said getting up to help her with the bags.
Gypsy smiled, "No didn't get lost," she chuckled, "I did find this perfect little place, I've spent the past hour or so talking to the land lady and doing the paper work so I can start getting it set up this week," she said over her shoulder going out for another arm load of things.
Sophie stopped, turning to meet Vince's eye who was frowning, shaking his head sadly.
"Gypsy you didn't have to rush into anything," he said when she stepped back into the kitchen setting the bags next to the refrigerator, "I'm sure we could've talked this over and found some way for it to work for everyone."
Gypsy opened the bag taking the milk and eggs out setting them on the counter glancing over her shoulder at him. "But this is something I've been wanting to do Vince, I thought it'd be better this way so people wouldn't be coming to the house and invading anyone's privacy," she said with a smile.
Sophie paused for a minute, "Gypsy what type of place did you rent or purchase?" she asked taking a deep breath, waiting for her to answer.
"Sophie you know that market you asked me to go to, well about three blocks from it is that old white building with the large windows across the front of it?" Gypsy asked, setting the last of the bags on the counter.
"I know the building you're talking about, but hasn't that been remodeled for businesses?" she asked quickly.
Laughing Gypsy looked at Sophie, then turning toward Vince, "You thought I'd found a place to live didn't you?" she shook her head, smiling. "I rented the space with the option to buy the building should I need to so I've office space. This way I can have women come in to discuss designs and have their measurements taken along with fittings once I have the pieces almost finished," she explained.
Leaning against the counter she looked at Vince, "I'm not going to say I didn't think about finding some place but once I'd a chance to do some thinking I realized, little in my life's ever been what other people would call 'normal' so I thought I'd give this a try for awhile, see if maybe this is my 'normal' so to speak," she told them reaching for one of the apples she brought in taking a large bite, chuckling when she heard the audible sighs from each of them.
