The row of Genie's brownstones was obscured behind raised scaffolding and tented plastic to protect the façade from the elements. After the settlement in court, Crowley realty had wasted no time in getting to work on the rehab of the brownstones, starting with Genie's row as it was in the worst state of disrepair.

Faded and worn red brick was stripped out and slowly replaced with slate grey that brought a more modern edge to the charming units. Construction workers smiled and whistled as she walked by in her taupe Burberry trench beaded with drops of rain that fell more in a mist than a drizzle.

Shuffling up the front steps, she rang the brass bell on Genie's door and waited for it to whisk open.

Genie stuck out of a head of fuzzy white hair, her pale blue eyes, tucked behind chunky black frames, brightened immediately. "Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise. Come in, come in."

"Sorry, I should've called first," Priya said as Genie tugged open the door so she could step inside and escape the chaos of construction on the sidewalk. The buzz of drills and clang of hammers dulled soon as the door pushed shut.

The first thing she noted was the lack of clutter. In the last few months each visit more and more was gone, and it never ceased to amaze her just how big the unit was without the disarray of things crowding every nook and cranny.

In the three months since the settlement win, Genie had hired a cleaner who came twice a week, a personal assistant and a team of interior decorators to restore the guts of her home to its former glory. Her precious books were all packed away in storage, the rows of built in shelving—warped beyond repair from the radiator heat damage—were all gutted and waiting for the new, custom built ones to be installed.

Tomorrow they were sanding and varnishing the floors and after that, her kitchen and bathroom was next on the docket.

"You've been busy," Priya commented, shucking off her coat and hanging it on a row of hooks in the entryway.

"I blame Gustavo," she said with a girlish smile. "He is a man with a discerning eye for potential."

Priya smiled at the mention of Genie's boyfriend. She'd made a point of coming to visit after the settlement win, at first only to check in and make sure that there was no continued harassment or issue with Crowley, and then—because oddly enough they'd formed a sort of friendship.

With Priya's nudging and coaxing, she'd encouraged Genie out of her home and into socializing again and quickly she became a bit of a social butterfly. She'd met and immediately fell in love with Gustavo Ortega at some elderly late-night trivia event—the theme something salacious and naughty.

Shortly there after Genie insisted Priya come by to meet him. He was an artist and photographer from Bolivia, and a bit of a nut, if she was honest. He always wore sunglasses, even inside. Shaggy haired and wiry. Totally eccentric—even a bit egotistical, but charming in his own way.

And it was clear he adored Genie.

"Shall I make some tea?" Genie steered her inside. Dressed in navy slacks, a chunky ivory cable knit sweater and turquoise drops at her ears, she was a far cry from the bedraggled cat lady Priya had first met.

"Please."

"Excellent. Get comfortable, dear girl. I'll be but a moment." Genie patted her hand and waved her towards the seating area near the bay window.

Priya slumped on one of the brightly patterned couches. The same one she'd sat on the first time they'd met and in some small part of herself, Priya was oddly pleased that this had somehow remained the same, despite everything else changing around her.

It felt reassuring.

Even though she was revitalizing her home, she'd brought it to life without stripping away the soul, or the echoes of memories of her late husband and children.

"Dear girl, you look positively worn out." Genie returned to the living room carrying a tray with a china pot decorated in hand painted jasmine flowers all outlined in gold.

"I am worn out," she admitted, accepting a saucer with a dainty little cup. "It's barely three in the afternoon and I've already scoured six apartments with my realtor to no avail." Even with a semi-decent salary, the pickings were slim. Everything was either horrendously overpriced, or horrendously small. "My best options at the moment are a bachelor broom closet in Brooklyn, or sharing a two-bedroom apartment with five other girls she found on Craigslist, desperate for a sixth to meet the crazy Manhattan rent."

But with less than two weeks before her parents' apartment was pulled out from under her feet like a rug in a bad comedy, Priya was out of time and out of options.

"I knew apartment hunting was going to be difficult, but I didn't expect it to be demoralizing. I just want a home with the kind of closet my shoes deserve. Is that too much to ask?" Priya sighed, holding her empty tea cup steady as Genie topped it up with something golden and floral.

Marigold tea was Genie's favorite. Good for getting the creative mind moving, and said to bring luck.

"Apparently so." Genie sat down and crossed a leg, her slacks hiking up to show off skinny ankles and her flamingo pink fuzzy socks. She lit a cigarette and brought it to her coral painted lips. "I might have a temporary solution," she said after a moment, shaking out the match she'd used to light her cigarette.

Priya perked up in her seat, nearly sloshing hot marigold tea into her lap. "Oh?"

"Did I tell you Gustavo has an art exhibit coming up at the end of the month?" Genie's face lit up with the glow of pride. "His agent has put together a series of showings for him so he will be touring throughout Spain, France and Italy. Three whole months. Can you imagine?"

"How wonderful," Priya commented, struggling to see how this was going to be any help to her, but she'd learned a long time ago to hold her tongue and wait because Genie had a way of circling around things in a conversation that ultimately came to the point. Eventually.

"Well," she wiggled her narrow bum in her seat. "He's invited me to go with him."

This time tea did slosh in Priya's cup as she almost dropped it in her lap. "You? Travelling?"

In fifty-three years Genie had rarely left her home much less the state of New York.

"I know." Her cheeks went as pink as her coral lips. "But, well—its time I see a bit of the world, isn't it? But the thing is I'll need someone here." Genie spread out her hands and gestured around her. Cigarette smoke trailing the gesture. "Someone to deal with the contractors coming and going, to feed Kaz and Inej," she lifted one of the sleek cats—Kaz, a black tabby—and nuzzled his black nose with a cooing smile, "and to just keep an eye on the place while I'm gone."

"Are you sure you'd be comfortable with this?" Priya asked, setting down her cup and saucer, swimming with marigold tea.

"The last time I'd made the mistake once of leaving my home unattended I almost didn't have a home to come back to." Genie's eyes glittered darkly and somewhere in the distance Kaz and Inej tumbled and rolled, "I won't make that mistake again."

Three months.

That could buy her more than enough of a cushion to source out her own place, and the brownstone was close to the firm—she could work and actually not have to face a two-hour commute.

"And if things don't work out," Genie continued, "I want you to know that you're welcome to stay here for as long as you need. It's two stories—plenty of space that I hardly ever use. More so now that I'm with Gustavo."

Priya blinked back grateful tears. "I...I honestly don't know what to say."

"Say yes, sweet girl." Smiling, Genie reached across the table and took hold of Priya's hands. "You have done so much for me. The least I can do is loan you my home until you find one of your own." 

**AN**

Hello, Sisters!

I'm back with an update. I know, it's been inexcusably long. I've recently finished a first draft of a new YA Fantasy that I'm crazy excited about and hope to share with you all in the near future. 

I also got some possible good news from my agent so cross your fingers for me guys!!!! I'll be sure to share what it is with you all as soon as I am allowed (if it all comes together). 

In the mean time I'll start edits on my new fantasy book soon (code name: #ProjectSwords). If you're following me on Twitter you've probably seen me tweeting daily as I was pushing through to finish the first draft in February, and while I plan to start editing that one next week - to give my mind a break - I am going to churn out more Sisterhood chapters, so I'll aim to update at least once a week from here on out. 

I am so happy to have had some time to revisit my girls again. No matter what I'm working on or what is happening in my day - I always think about this Sisterhood and can't wait to come back to them. 

It feels like coming home to family. 

What is new with all of you guys?? Tell me in the comments. I want to hear all the amazing, awesome things, and if its not good news - tell me that too, and I'll be here with ice cream and tissues if you need it. 

Love and hugs!!!