CELESTE TRAILED HER fingertips along the honey-colored woodwork inside her new “outdoor” chapel. It was everything she had dreamed it would be. She inhaled, taking a moment to breathe in her deepest gratitude for the gift she’d been given when she discovered this place. The chapel would serve her clients as a safe haven to gather for rituals and prayer meetings. To meditate and search within. She could even host yoga classes and sound healings here. Celeste clapped her hands in excitement. Finally, a place to take root.

Her phone vibrated from her pocket. Celeste held her breath as she checked the caller ID, praying it wasn’t her ex again. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that the incoming Skype was from her parents. She couldn’t wait to show them her new place.

“Hi, Mom! Hey, Dad. You called at a great time.”

“Hey, sweetie. Where are you?”

“In the outdoor chapel on my property. Let me show it to you,” Celeste said, panning her phone around the octagonal space so her parents could see the amazing views of the surrounding forest through the nearly floor-to-ceiling windows.

“It’s beautiful, Celeste. How did you ever find such a perfect space?”

“It’s a funny story actually. Remember my old college friend, Nash Reilly? He’s the one who owns Ascension, that swanky spiritual resort in Bali, now—the one I donate my artwork to each year. He uses the proceeds from my art sales to help partially fund his Feed Hope charity. I think I mentioned that to you, right?”

“You did. And of course we remember Nash. Who could forget the boy who almost got our daughter arrested during her last year of college?” Celeste’s mother teased.

“It was supposed to be a peaceful protest, Mom. You know that!” Celeste giggled at the memory of marching with Nash and his Environmental Protection Club to prevent their college from tearing down several acres of forest for new construction. They’d disrupted a few classes with their impassioned chants while marching through the center of campus. They definitely got everyone’s attention—including campus security.

“Besides, we were hardly in any real danger of being arrested. If you’ll recall, Nash and I just had to clean up trash around campus for the semester—and the joke was on them since we did it anyway as part of our club activities.”

“Always my little activist,” her mother said, though Celeste knew there was pride in her statement. “So did you find your place through Nash then?”

“I did. Nash had heard about the opportunity from Mitch Michaelson, another artist who used to donate his art to Nash’s charity. Mitch was a welder and used the property for local showings, but for some reason, he decided to sell. Guess I was in the right place at the right time with the right connections.”

“Aw, hon. That’s wonderful. We’re so proud of you,” her mom said, touching her heart. “Are you donating a piece of your work again this year? I know it’s been a bit of a bumpy ride for you lately,” she said, her lips cast down into a neat frown.

Celeste sighed. Thanks to her ex, Rhys, it had been a bumpy ride—to say the least. Which is why she appreciated this new property even more. And though her artwork was just one small slice of her Angel Therapy business, she loved donating her angel wing artwork to such a good cause as Feed Hope.

She designed, hand carved, sanded, and painted each set of giant angel wings and infused them with Reiki healing energy as a blessing to whoever bought them. What Celeste hadn’t expected was the additional boon to her main business as a result. Now she was busier than ever with her retreats and individual counseling sessions, the spiritual ceremonies she performed, and angelic readings she channeled for others. She sighed. God certainly was answering her highest prayers when Nash helped her find this place.

“I will always donate my artwork to Nash,” Celeste said. “It hurts my heart to think of all those families in Indonesia who are in such poverty. Nash’s program not only gives them three square meals a day and some temporary housing, but it also provides them with training and job opportunities that will further benefit the poor within their own province. It’s a pretty cool charity he’s established over there,” Celeste said with awe.

“That sounds wonderful,” her dad said. “Maybe you could pass Nash’s number on to us. Your mom and I might like to travel there to volunteer someday.”

Celeste beamed through the phone at her parents. She was so lucky to have them, and she hoped she’d be as lucky in love someday as they were. “Nash would love that!”

“So, speaking of bumpy rides,” her mom hedged, “how are you doing on that front? Still feel like you made the right choice with Rhys?”

“Absolutely. You remember how stressed I was all the time around him. Our energy just wasn’t compatible. I’m grateful that he got my art into some of the best galleries in New York, but I can’t say that I’m sorry our relationship ended. It’ll be a long time before I’m ready to date again. He sure did a number on me.”

“That’s because you have such a big heart, dear. If you didn’t care, it wouldn’t have bothered you so much. Everything happens for a reason. Look for the silver lining and keep moving forward. I’m glad you have the new place to keep you busy,” her mom said, fluffing her dyed auburn hair. “When is the grand opening again?”

Celeste squealed. “Sometime next month. I’ll email you when I nail down the exact date. I can’t wait to show you around the place, and you can stay in one of the guest suites. Nash will be here, too, if he gets back in time. I’ll make sure you can chat with him at some point about volunteering.”

“Where’s Nash now?” her dad asked.

“Mexico, I think. He’s looking into opening another location for Feed Hope and has been traveling all over the world to scout a location where he can have the biggest impact. I’m glad you asked because I actually need to get in touch with Nash to find out when my art installment is due, and to get the name of a new PR contact. Mine quit the business to open a yoga studio,” Celeste said, shrugging.

“Well, we’ll let you get to it then.” Her mom puckered up and made a kissing noise over the phone. “We need to run anyway. We tee off in thirty and still need to drive to the club. You take care of yourself. We worry about you being out there on all that land by yourself.”

“I’ll be fine, Mom. My angels are watching over me.”

“That they are, love,” her dad agreed before they said their goodbyes and disconnected.

Celeste was so grateful to have such supportive parents. While she was in her chapel, she took the opportunity to meditate before tackling the rest of her day. She sat on a mat in the center of the room and said a silent prayer. Her monkey mind was full of to-do’s that she needed to acknowledge before she could get silent enough to hear the wisdom being offered to her. Email Nash about new PR rep and date he needs angel wings by. Plan grand opening for next month. Get a groundskeeper. Celeste knew there was no way she could maintain twenty acres of land and run a successful business.

Thirty minutes later a small chime rang from her phone to signal her meditation was over. She did a few quick stretches on her mat and bowed before leaving her sacred space. She took one last look around and smiled. This. This was her dream come true, and nothing could take away the happiness that hugged her at this moment.

She ambled back to the main house, winding along cultivated gravel walkways lined with the white feldspar rocks common in the rural town of Arden’s Glen, North Carolina, where she now lived. I can’t believe I really left the Big Apple and came so far south. Celeste did a happy little shuffle along the path as she neared her impressive new home, which would double as her new wellness center.

Facing east on the property, the sizeable bungalow-style home was a perfect mix of the masculine and feminine features she loved in architecture. Painted a warm sage green, it boasted a large, open front porch with soft, hanging ferns and hand-laid stone columns. Square black lanterns flanked the impressive wooden door.

An oversized bench swing had been her first addition to the porch and was now her favorite place to lie and read a book. Celeste leaned back against the swing’s fluffy pillows, soaking in the majestic mountain views surrounding the property. She decided to send that email to Nash while it was fresh on her mind.

 

Hey, Nash!

Oh my gosh, you will not believe how beautiful this place is! A small piece of heaven right here on earth. I’ve only been here about a week and still have a ton of work before officially opening it up to my clients, but the potential is off the charts. I can’t wait for you to see the chapel. Maybe by the time you come visit I’ll have the walking labyrinth in place too!

I’m almost done with my next art installment, too. Just have a few finishing touches that are new to this piece. When should I ship it to you? Also, you mentioned having a great PR rep for Feed Hope? I’m gonna need someone who can work magic. Especially with the book launch coming up, and the grand opening of my new retreat space. I’m thinking of naming the home “Tranquility.” What do you think? I know my dreams for my Angel Therapy business are going to manifest even faster from here—I can feel it. I’ve been getting dozens of signs every day that tell me I’m on the right path with what really matters and why I came here to begin with—to focus on and grow my business of helping others. =)

Have I told you that because of Rhys I’ve sworn off men for good?(No offense!) Okay, so maybe not for good . . . but for at least a year. Seriously. I’m officially on a “guy sabbatical!”

I miss you, Nash! You’re in Mexico now, right? Have I told you lately how proud I am of you? I hope you’ll be done with your travels in time for my grand opening. None of this would’ve been possible without your help finding this place. Keep me posted on your trip and let me know whom to call for that PR help, please!

Angel blessings and love,

Celeste

 

Celeste hit Send and cringed when she saw yet another new message in her inbox from her ex-boyfriend, the same guy responsible for the love sabbatical she’d just told Nash about. It was the third one today. They seemed to be increasing in number, now that she thought about it. She knew if she read the message it would just bring her energy down, and she was too happy to deal with that today.

As she stood to go inside, a gentle breeze crossed the porch, sending goose bumps up Celeste’s arms. Something inside her heart told her to look down. Her lips curved into a wide smile as she bent over to pick up a delicate green and blue feather from the distressed wooden floorboard; it hadn’t been there when she sat down. Celeste knew green represented love, healing, and forgiveness, while blue signified peace and speaking your truth. She tucked the pretty feather behind her ear, pulling back her long chestnut-colored hair off her shoulder as she did.

What are you telling me, God? Celeste opened the sturdy front door to her new home, eager to push up her sleeves and start manifesting one spectacular grand opening celebration.