She hired a crew, chose cabinets and appliances.
The process was slow, with mishaps and delays, but she didn’t get stressed.
She had endless patience now.
In late December, Shauna called and invited her to an office holiday party.
“Kiki, how long are you going to stay home? Come on, let’s have some fun. My co‑workers will be there. Some great people. Meet some folks. Take your mind off things.”
Kiana initially refused, but Shauna was persistent.
Eventually, she agreed.
The party was loud and fun, held in a rented banquet room at a downtown hotel strung with fairy lights.
Kiana sat at a table drinking champagne and listening to Shauna’s colleagues swap office anecdotes.
One of them, Michael—a tall man in his forties with a kind face and pleasant eyes—sat next to her and started a conversation.
“Shauna tells me you’re an accountant,” he said, smiling. “I respect that. I’m terrible with numbers.”
Kiana chuckled.
“It’s just a matter of practice.”
They talked all evening.
Michael turned out to be an engineer who worked at a design firm, and he enjoyed hiking and photography.
He told interesting stories with a sense of humor, and Kiana found herself relaxing and even laughing several times.
At the end of the evening, he asked cautiously,
“Can I call you, if you don’t mind?”
“Of course.”
Kiana paused.
She wasn’t looking for a relationship.
She hadn’t even thought about it.
But why not?
“You can,” she replied. “I don’t mind.”
