“Meet you downstairs in five?” Karen asked.

“You’re on.”

After a five-minute stretch, they both took off in a slow jog, one where they could carry on a conversation without too much effort. The morning was still cool, but Karen could tell the day was going to be one where the heat snuck up on you in no time.

“Do you jog a lot at home?” Judy asked.

“I try. The road to Michael’s home isn’t the safest one for foot travel. I have a friend in Malibu and we get together a couple times a week. Sometimes I get the kids from the club to run with me after school. What about you?”

Judy had placed a trendy hat on her head and had her hair sticking out the back of it. She glanced under the brim and gave Karen a strange look, making her realize that she once again referred to Michael’s house as his house and not theirs. Luckily, Judy didn’t say anything about it.

“Last year, in the dorms, we had a runner’s club. Seems like it only really stuck for a few weeks then everyone found an excuse to sleep late.”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, it doesn’t look like you need to lose fifteen pounds.” It didn’t. She seemed to have a little fullness around her face, weight that might be considered baby weight, but Karen couldn’t know for sure if it was new or not since she’d just met Michael’s middle sister.

“I’ve always had a few more pounds than I’d like. Wish I’d gotten more of Hannah’s height.”

Hannah took after their father. She was at least five nine and might even gain another inch or two. Karen could understand Judy’s admiration for her baby sister. Hannah could easily walk the runway and model just about anything. Her long legs and slender frame would fit right in with Michael’s world.

“There are advantages to being shorter than your sister,” Karen told her.

“Oh, yeah…what?”

They rounded the corner of the neighborhood and met with houses on one side of the street and grazing fields on the other. A scattering of cows was off in the distance, but not enough to fill the air with the scent of manure, which was a blessing for the homeowners.

“Your dates are almost always taller than you. You can wear heels and not look like you’re from a world of Amazonian women, and you can buy jeans off the rack and never worry they’ll be long enough.”

Judy spat out a breath of air. “You’ve given this some thought.”

Karen waved a hand between the two of them. “I’m not much taller than you, sister. And I’ve had a few more years to get used to the advantages of my height.”

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-seven.” Her muscles were finally starting to warm up. “Wanna pick up the pace or are you good?”

“I can kick it a little more.”

They did.

“What are you studying?”

“I started as a business major.” Something wistful in Judy’s tone had Karen turning to look at her.

“What’s your major now?”

“Business.” Now Judy sounded depressed and Karen was confused.

“But it’s not what you want.”

Judy passed her a quick look and even quicker smile. “No, no…I can work with a business major.”

Karen could tell this wasn’t something Judy was going to come right out and talk about, not without a little nudge.

“What are your electives?”

“My electives?” Judy appeared lost in thought.

“Yeah, you know…the classes that have nothing to do with business but you have to obtain in order to leave college well rounded?”

“Oh, those. Design,” she said without hesitation.

“Home design, fashion…graphic?”

“Architectural design, actually.”

Karen hadn’t seen that coming, but the gates were open now, and Judy was excited to talk about her passion.

“I’m fascinated with the crafting of buildings. How the designers make decisions about design based on the materials used. Homes that are built into the landscape, others that are there to contrast it. Have you been to the Disney concert hall?”

They’d picked up their pace even more as Judy talked. “No.”

“Seriously? You live right there.” She sighed. “It’s amazing.”

“Have you been?”

She shook her head. “No. When we were in LA for Michael’s premiere, I hadn’t been exposed to architecture. I thought my dad built houses, then Zach…I never thought there was much more to building a home or business other than two-by-fours and concrete.” She took a few deep breaths and continued. “Growing up in Hilton where the tallest building is the movie theater, and the only thing close to architectural design concepts is when the football team religiously toilet papers the current quarterback’s home the night before the first game, doesn’t leave much for the imagination.”

Karen giggled. “I didn’t think TPing anyone’s home could be considered design.”

“The sheer enormity of the effort is worthy of a spot in a magazine,” Judy teased.

They pushed past the houses and beyond Main Street.

“Why aren’t you studying architecture?”

Judy glanced at Karen like she was crazy. “What will I do with that degree in Hilton?”

“Who says you have to stay in Hilton?” Yet even as the words left Karen’s lips, she knew the answer. Sawyer.

“W-well…I just…”

She’d obviously frazzled the girl with her questions. “College is supposed to open your mind to the possibilities of life. Not shut you into a pigeonhole of what someone else wants it to be for you.” Sawyer was just going to love Karen for this advice. But she’d be remiss if she didn’t offer it. “It’s your life, Judy. You get one shot at it. Don’t let anyone tell you how to live it.”

They ran in silence for a while, which was just as well since they started up a slight incline and Karen was breathing a lot faster than when they started out.

After a few more blocks she asked, “So, do we have a destination or are we going to run back to California?”

Judy laughed. “No. I run to Beacon’s barn and then turn around. It’s about four miles round trip.”

Karen usually managed three, but four wasn’t undoable. “I don’t think one car has passed us.”

“Traffic here is when two cars pass at the light.”