She heard a splash in the pool next door and felt a stab of envy. Oh, how refreshing it would be to dive into a pool of cool water. Although, despite the afternoon heat, she imagined the water was still a little on the cold side. But they’d been using the pool for a while now. Maybe it was heated, like her mother suggested.

She took another swallow of her beer, listening. There were no voices, only the occasional splash of water. Laura had half a mind to run upstairs to see who was in the pool, but she’d told herself she needed to stop spying on the neighbor. For one thing, it was extremely rude and, well…a little creepy. Besides, she didn’t really care what was going on next door. She was simply thankful the yard guys hadn’t come at seven yesterday morning. She frowned. In fact, they hadn’t come all week.

She looked across the expanse of their own yard…lush green and trimmed to perfection. Thursday was mowing day for her. Friday was when she used the weed trimmer around the trees and fence, the sidewalk, and flowerbeds. The yard looked nice. Very nice, in fact. Her mother was thrilled by the transformation she’d made already. Everything looked nice. Except the house. Next week’s chore was to get quotes from painters. She’d already picked up paint samples and she and her mother had been arguing over colors ever since.

She smiled. Playfully arguing. She knew in the end, her mother would be the one to decide on the color. It was her house, after all. Laura was just…what? Maid? Cook? Caretaker?

Daughter.

She was content, though. Surprisingly so. She’d been keeping up with her friends sporadically through Facebook and the occasional phone call and text. Several had invited her to dinner, but so far she had no desire to head back to the Metroplex. She thought she’d miss the city more than she did. She only had two grocery stores to choose from here, but they were both as large and well-stocked as those in Dallas. Since she’d been cooking their meals, she hadn’t really missed going out. And since she had her bedroom—and her writing room—set up the way she wanted it, she certainly didn’t miss her overly expensive apartment.

All in all, this move had turned out so much better than she’d imagined. Now, that’s not to say that in a few months, during the heat of summer, she wouldn’t miss being in Dallas and at her fancy apartment that had not two, but three swimming pools.

She flicked her gaze to the fence. Shame she didn’t get along better with Cassidy Anderson. If she did, she might be inclined to ask if she could use the pool during the week.