Secrets of the Tulip Sisters

They made arrangements for Olivia to come to the city offices to fill out the required paperwork.

“There’ll have to be a board vote,” Hannah said. “I’m sending out an email later today to all the members telling them we need a meeting. I’m sure everyone will agree.”

“I’ll wait to hear from you.”

On her way back to her car, Olivia did a little mental happy dance, only to stop when she realized she’d just made the decision to move back to Tulpen Crossing permanently. Who would have thought?

She could do it, she told herself. All she had to do was find another part-time job and then she was set. Oh, and give notice to her mother—not that she had the slightest idea of what to say. “Hey, Mom, you’ve been a real bitch, so I’m leaving,” didn’t seem like the best opening line.

“Not something I have to deal with today,” she told herself as she got in her car. She started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. Eventually she would head back to her dad’s place, but first she had a stop to make. She was already on a roll—this was the time to take advantage of her momentum.





24

Griffith had an orgasm problem. Technically, the problem was Kelly’s but he was involved. The thing was, he didn’t know what to do first. Okay, yes, he had to get her back into bed, but then what? He could write a paper on a clitoral orgasm versus a vaginal one, including quoting scientists who said they were one and the same. He understood about stimulation (speed and pressure) along with the advantage of using a rest cycle. He could talk G-spot, anal stimulation, different angles of penetration and the advantages and disadvantages of using a vibrator. What he didn’t know was which technique was going to work on Kelly, especially considering there was also an emotional component. He was both enthused and apprehensive. He felt like the kid who had overstudied for his final.

His mental hopscotch was interrupted when Olivia walked into his office.

“Hi, Griffith, do you have a few minutes?”

All thoughts of Kelly retreated, leaving him feeling vaguely guilty about thinking about Olivia’s sister in that way, which made him smile.

“Sure,” he told her. “What’s up?”

A second too late, he braced himself to hear something about Ryan. His brother had been showing up more regularly, albeit grudgingly. He was also getting more work done, although today he’d called in sick.

She settled across from his desk. “I’ve been doing some research on tiny homes. The industry is growing quickly. The combination of the costs of construction, the rising price of land and a cultural shift toward owning less causes many economists to believe that micro housing has an excellent long-term future.”

Griffith mentally shifted gears. So, not Ryan. “That’s my understanding, as well.”

“Good.” She pulled out her tablet. “I stopped by a few weeks ago and Leo took me on a tour of the facility. I like what you’re doing here. The quality work is impressive. You have six houses in various stages of completion for customers to see, and the cross section, but you don’t have an actual display area.”

“I’ve thought about it, but I’m not sure it’s worth the money. Most people have a clear idea of what they want.”

“What percentage?” she asked as she pulled out a pad of paper and a pen.

“About half.”

“Do they change their minds as they go through the process?”

“Yeah. A lot. And when we get into picking out the materials to finish the house, there can be issues. A few know exactly how things should be but a lot of them are overwhelmed by the choices. I can give them direction on some things. There are some materials you want to stay away from.”

“That’s what I learned from my reading.” She tapped on her tablet, then turned it so he could see the screen. “This is the basic floor plan of a twelve-by-twenty-four tiny home. It’s something you’d have for a mother-in-law house or on undeveloped land.”

“I’m familiar with the design,” he said drily. “It’s one of mine.”

She flashed him a grin. “I’m so pleased you recognized it.” She swiped to the next picture, an interior shot. Not a photograph, but a to-scale color rendering that was nearly as good.

The finishes were rustic, the furniture mostly fabric and wood. The floor was covered with wide planks. She showed him shots of the two lofts—one with a queen bed and one with two twins. There was another shot of the kitchen. Olivia had put in appliances, along with a few small touches, such as a built-in wine rack and two computer stations. She showed him where she’d found extra storage and finished with a big deck off the back.

“It’s nice,” he said, not sure where they were going.

She flipped to the next rendering. “A twelve-by-twenty-four tiny house with a loft,” she said, then waited.

He stared at the interior. He knew the design front to back, knew he’d just seen it. Yet nothing he was looking at was the same. Oh, sure, there were the obvious placements. The kitchen, the bathroom. But this home was sleek and modern. The finishes were all chrome and glass. The windows were different, as was the furniture. Where the previous house would have fit in next to a lake or in the mountains, this one belonged in San Francisco, or Paris.

She flipped through to the kitchen. Again, the differences stunned him. These cabinets had a frosted glass finish with doors lifted up instead of to the side. The deck was on the roof, with gleaming stainless steel railings and a built-in fire pit.

“Holy shit,” he murmured.

She smiled. “Thank you. Leo mentioned that there are customers who know what they want, but a lot of their ideas aren’t practical for the space. There are other clients who want a tiny home but have no idea how to finish it. My suggestion is you expand your display area considerably.”

She flipped to another rendering, this one of a showroom. There was a completed tiny house, his existing cross section, along with a wall of cabinets, appliances, fixtures and fabric swatches.

“I like it, but I don’t have room for it.”

“The storefront next to your warehouse is going to be available to lease at the end of the month. There’s a huge parking lot out front for customers and in back for employees. You could rent that and have a permanent showroom. With the employee parking no longer taking up space, you could expand the second warehouse.”

She slipped her tablet back in her bag. “Your company is privately held, so it’s difficult to get hard numbers. From what I’ve been able to find out, you’re doubling your sales every three years. I’m guessing you’re turning business away. Why not expand, instead?”

He was doubling his business every 2.7 years, but her guess was a good one. As were her ideas.