“BABE, CAN YOU DROP BY the realtor’s office on your way to Alex’s karate class?”
Alyssa and I got married right after graduating college, went on an amazing honeymoon through Europe, and had Alex shortly thereafter.
“Sure, baby,” Alyssa says, getting ready to leave. “I can’t believe you’re finally doing this.”
“We’re finally doing this,” I correct her while closing the space between us to kiss her.
I’ve worked as an architect for a large firm since college, but opening my own shop and finally getting my furniture out into the world has been a dream of mine ever since I was a kid. My dad and I converted our garage into a workshop when I was in middle school and we’ve spent countless hours over the years building the furniture we’ve designed. I love creating outdoor furniture; it’s a passion of mine and has always brought my dad and me together, no matter how busy we are.
I hope to one day partner with a local environmental design firm. I love designing unique pieces for exterior spaces in the beach communities in Southern California and know, with the right partners, I can really bring out their full potential, especially in this new market.
The complexion of the South Bay has changed in recent years. Many families who have done exceptionally well in technology or finance have moved in to these neighborhoods, changing it, like the entertainment industry changed Malibu, from a sleepy beach town into something I don’t recognize. Something I don’t want to recognize. The small beach cottages that give this city its character are systematically being torn down to create multimillion-dollar McMansions. These people are making the city what they want it to be. However, on the plus side, the wealth that’s been flooding in has made business owners such as myself, my parents, and many of our friends successful where we otherwise may not have been.
Even though I design for the rich and the new, sleek, ostentatious homes they build, it’s not what I want for myself or for my family. We own one of the original small cottages near the ocean in an area that doesn’t permit cars. The streets are called “Walk Streets” because the pavement has been replaced by sidewalk with barriers at each end. Since cars can’t drive down these streets and since property is so limited, families have set up play equipment in front of their homes for their kids. There are always bikes and other things lying around during the day, making our neighborhood feel like one big backyard. The area is very safe, everybody knows everybody, and we all have each other’s backs.
I love having the ocean literally at my back door and take advantage of it as often as I can. Our home reflects that lifestyle. The front of our house is marked by two very large, rectangular shiplap planters that Alyssa keeps filled, year-round, with all types of flowers. My outdoor furniture fills the space between the planters and the split-front barn door. We always keep the top part open to let in the wonderful beach air, to keep an eye on our six-year-old son, Alex, or to greet our friends as they walk by.
The interior of our home is light and airy. Our living room, which is painted a soft sand color, has a very “shabby chic” feel. An oversized sectional covered in light denim sits amongst great accent pieces reminiscent of what you’d see in a Pottery Barn catalogue. Our kitchen is off to the right of the living room and is open and bright, with white cabinets, sand-colored granite counter tops, and stainless steel appliances. Behind that is a hallway which leads to the bedrooms, bathrooms, and a small office. Our garage is detached, common amongst some of the older homes that still exist in this area, and opens to an alley. A courtyard is tucked in the space between the house and the garage and we put in a small spa which Alex uses as a pool.
We also live within walking distance to Alex’s elementary school, a charming little place tucked securely in the embrace of our neighborhood. We’re always there helping out and love being able to walk him to and from school.
The best news of all? Alyssa is pregnant with our second child, a daughter, so I’ve been drawing up plans to add a second story to our home, while still keeping the same feel.
“It’s been your dream your entire life, babe,” she tells me with a smile.
“Sweetheart, you’ve been my dream my entire life.” She giggles. I love her giggle as much today as I did the first time I heard it. “You, Alex, and our baby girl.” I kiss her five-months-swollen belly.
“Our dream,” she whispers, her face lighting up with that smile of hers that has me falling in love with her all over again.
“DADDY!” Alex shouts with excitement as he comes barreling into the living room in full karate gear. He’s always moving and so full of life. A brilliant, beautiful kid who looks just like his mother.
“I’m getting my yellow belt today!” he announces with pride.
“Way to go, big man!” I tell him with a giant smile, as I hold out my hand for a fist bump.
“Are you coming to watch?” he asks, his little hand bumping my much larger one.
“Ahh, sorry, buddy,” I answer, disappointment erasing my smile. “I have that appointment today with Mr. and Mrs. Endicott, Sam’s parents.”
Jonathan and Tracey Endicott’s son, Sam, goes to school with Alex and the two of them are close friends. The couple made their money in technology, gaming to be exact. They bought and will be tearing down a home in one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Manhattan Beach and have hired me to not only create their outdoor space but to design their entire home. It’s my biggest project to date and my mind has been working full time ever since they hired me. Even though they have money, they work hard, are not pretentious, and want their home to reflect that. I respect a strong work ethic and know I can do right by them.
“Sam’s sick, Daddy. He can’t get his yellow belt today and he’s sad he can’t go,” Alex says with a frown on his face. “We were supposed to take him with us.” He stops, his little face scrunching up in thought. “Do you think I should wait too?”
I squat down to his eye level. “You know something, Alex?”
“What, Daddy?” he asks, his eyes wide with curiosity.
“You are one super-cool dude.” I tap him on the nose and continue. “But I think Sam will be very happy when Mommy takes you over to his house after karate so you can show him your new belt.”
“YAY!” he cheers and turns to his dog. “You hear that, Po? Daddy thinks I’m one super-cool dude!”
“Woof!” Po responds.
Our 110-pound goldendoodle, who ran in the room with Alex, always likes to join in on the action. We adopted him a little over three years ago and Alex named him after the main character in his favorite movie, Kung Fu Panda. I trained him to bark when he hears his name, knowing Alex would think he’s talking to him.
“We have to get going, Alex. We have just enough time to run Daddy’s errand before your four o’clock class,” Alyssa interrupts, grabbing her purse and his backpack containing things to keep him busy. We learned early on to never leave home without it. “Give Daddy a big hug goodbye.”
He throws his little arms around me and squeezes tight. Alex, the new baby, and Alyssa are my life; I don’t know how I’d ever survive without them.
“Bye, Daddy!” Alex says waving his little hand as he heads for the door.
“Bye, buddy!” I say back to him with a full heart.
I stand up and give my wife a passionate kiss. Even after all these years of being together, it still feels like the first time. She was my first, is my only and will be my last.
“See you after karate,” she says as she hoists the bags over her shoulder and leaves.
“Drive safe!” I holler as Alyssa gets in the car. I say that to her every time she leaves but today something doesn’t feel right; I can’t explain it but there’s a pit in my stomach and a lump in my throat that’s making it hard to breathe.
I shake off my negative thoughts. Just because things are going great doesn’t mean something bad is going to happen, right?
If I only knew…