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crosses it, leading right to Mindy's General Store. I see members of the Women's Club tending the bridge of flowers, grooming and planting and chatting happily as the first blossoms grace the footbridge with splashes of wild color. It hasn't changed a bit.
    I smile and turn to the left when I reach the bridge, following a narrow street that runs parallel to the river. There's a huge brick mill just a half block down, one of the old dinosaurs from so long ago, chimney stacks rising into the air, narrow tall windows hinting at a different era, a different time and place. It's my number one target, the old mill. I vaguely remember it being privately owned by somebody, and that it was being divided into workshops and studio spaces for artists. I walk my bike along its front, and marvel at its stark, inspiring beauty. The bricks are the color of sunset, handmade and thus a little irregular. I prop my bike by the massive front door and walk inside.
    High ceilings, so high I could barely hit them with a tennis ball if I chucked one up. I immediately see that half the interior has been remodeled, the large floor partitioned into separate spaces by white walls that don't reach the ceiling, giving the space a communal feel. A sign to my left reads 'Anna Halsan's Hand-Painted Jewelry', while the space opposite reads 'Art Always'. There are large, plain windows set in the white walls, allowing me to peek into the studios, and I see easels and art on the walls. Art classes, maybe?
    I keep walking. There's a photographer, several more jewelers, a pottery studio, a ballet studio, a studio called 'Conway River Rugs' and more. A quick tour of the ground floor shows there to be about eight rented spaces, with another eight on the second floor. Music comes from various directions, and I can hear the buzz of a saw coming from upstairs. Laughter, the smell of coffee, and then a gaggle of kids in karate gis come running down the steps and push their way out through the front door.
    I love it! Biting my lip, I hunt around for an empty space, and try not to lose hope when I fail to find an empty studio either upstairs or down. I do find a management card on a bulletin board close to the front door, and I call the number, fingers crossed.
    The phone rings twice, and then I hear, "Hello?"
    I panic and hang up. That was Drake's voice. I'd know it anywhere. He sounded tired, a little impatient, but it was him. What the heck? I check the number again on the board, then on my phone. They're the same. Impossible. What is Drake doing managing this building?
    A tall, good-looking woman wearing beautiful wooden jewelry emerges from 'Anna Halsan's Hand-Painted Jewelry' and smiles at me as she locks the door.
    "Excuse me," I say, stepping closer. "Do you rent studio space here?"
    She smiles broadly. "I do. I haven't yet found a way to get it for free."
    I can't help but smile back. "I mean, you rent directly? From the manager?"
    She nods. "I'm Anna. This is where I make my jewelry." She studies my face. "Are you looking to rent space?"
    I make a face and move my head from side to side. "Yes? But the manager. Or owner. Is he a good-looking guy? Tall? Goes by the name of Drake?"
    Anna presses her hand to her heart. "Tall, dark and handsome? Yes, that's Drake, all right. I've been trying to figure out how to invite him out for coffee for over a year now. Do you know him?"
    "I used to, I guess. We lost touch. I was just surprised to hear that he was managing this building..." I trail off.
    "With his being a werewolf?" Anna nods. "Drake's a good guy. His family owns the building. Or his pack. I'm not sure. It was abandoned up till a few years ago, and then he decided to renovate and rent it out to artists and craftsmen. For ridiculously low prices too, I might add." Anna hesitates, seems to think, and then her smile turns apologetic. "I don't think there are any spaces right now, unfortunately. Are you an artist?"
    I nod. "Yes, I blow glass."
    "You blow glass?" Anna