Wide Open Spaces

Stevie has just picked up probably more canvases than she needs but she wants to make sure she has enough. She has been so inspired lately and she is constantly in need of supplies. A kind man helps her load them into her deep purple Jeep SUV and she heads down the road. The closer she gets to home, the better she feels. A mixture of joy and relief washes over her as she leaves the tall buildings and concrete of the city behind in favor of big open blue skies, a long dirt road and cacti. She passes the crystalline waters of her manmade lake, smiling and waving at the horses playing in the dust as she makes her way through the gates.

Her desert haven lay before her and it stuns her every time. She is blessed to call the horseshoe shaped (for luck) pink stucco house with a terra-cotta roof and exposed beams home. There is a huge deck at the back of the house, a large pool and grotto sanctuary, a court yard and a fully-glass structure she uses as a studio for painting. Her house is her dream and she shares it with those she loves the most.

She giggles a little as she bumps down the road, not quite used to it after all these years. Her hidden-fractal crystal creates rainbows as it swings wildly, suspended from the rear view mirror by suede cord. The miniature dream catcher that hangs there as well, chimes a clumsy tune that clashes with the music on the radio. She comes to an abrupt stop before getting to the garage, nearly forgetting to press the button to make it open.

"That could have been messy" she says to herself, knowing she'd hear all about it when she gets inside had she run through it...again. She turns off the car and slams the door, skipping her way up the few steps into the house.

"You're back!" Her curly-haired housemate says, giving her a little peck on the lips.

"Hey you!" She says. "Where are the kids?"

"Doing god knows what" He replies.

"Lindsey..."

"Okay, okay. They're at a friend's house but they should be back in a couple minutes."

"Cool"

"So how'd it go? Get everything you needed?"

"Yes! And then some" she laughs, shaking her hair down from the bun piled on top of her head. She adjusts her black tube top, and kicks off her boots, making it so her skirt nearly touches the floor.

"Do you need some help bringing it in?"

"That would be great, thank you"

"No problem" he says. "Dinner is in the oven, I followed all of your instructions to a tee"

"Awesome job"

"Thanks! I'm a little hungry, want a sandwich before you go back to work?"

"That would be perfect"

She takes a seat at the counter and watches him make them each a quick sandwich. He plates them and sets hers in front of her.

"Water, juice, tea?"

"Tea"

"Camomile?"

"Hmm...maybe the lemon mint"

"Ooh, branching out!"

"Shush, I'm just already tired. I don't need to be falling asleep at 4 in the afternoon"

"Why? You used to sleep almost that long"

"That was before we had the twins." Stevie said. "Many, many, many moons ago"

"That's true." He says, preparing her drink. He pours hot water into her cup and loads her steeper with loose leaf tea. "There you go, honey"