It was exciting, as first projects often are, and they’d been meticulous in every stage of planning. Claudine had it sold before it was finished to a couple who, she realized, were probably the same age as she and Henry were now. The Lions, a perfect last name for who they were—she a supermarket heiress, he a movie producer. They were glamorous, the ideal buyers for her first sale. They’d kept in touch over the years, had sent clients their way, which was so important when just launching a business. But now the Lions found the winters too hard; they were too old and forced to seek asylum in Scottsdale. Claudine had been their first call. They remembered how smart she was, that she’d been a ferocious negotiator when they bought the house from her. The Lions insisted she take the listing. She’d found the perfect owners once; she could do it again.

The Lions’ taste in furniture was classic Colorado. Rustic but not shabby. Cozy but not casual. An abundance of leather. Claudine chose just enough pieces that tonight’s guests would have a place to sit, that the gifts would have a grand table to be displayed, then had the rest of the first-floor furniture put away in upstairs bedrooms.

It was almost time. She was ready. She’d chosen a black silk Alexander McQueen blouse, leather pants, and leopard-print calf hair Manolos that added a few inches to her already tall, slim frame. The jagged lace cuffs and high collar were a tiny bit of punk she knew would appeal to Zara, show they were two of a kind. Topping it off was an art deco locket necklace. She relished the bit of mystery a locket promises, although she kept the inside empty, a reminder to never fall for nostalgia. She and Henry would look good, him in the green velvet jacket she’d laid out, the picture of elegance as they stood in the entrance hall and welcomed their guests, the grand staircase sweeping behind them. The staircase was a point of pride for Henry. He’d modeled it after the stunning one in the capitol in Denver. The marble stairs were low and deep, the curved oak of the handrails regal with a polished brass finish on the top.