“O
ooh, how adorable!” Dini exclaimed, as the girls got their first view of their new accommodations.

Rina smiled, pleased at the girls’ excitement. Yes, there definitely was a quaint attraction to this vacation village. Gabriella had described it as “rustic” and “picturesque,” and Rena had to admit, the adjectives fit the bill, at least on the outside.

Last night, the cast had been too exhausted to do more than stumble into their assigned guesthouses and collapse into bed. Even Rina, curious as she was about the place that would be the location of their film’s climax, had been too tired to do more than have a short conversation with the proprietor before hitting the sack herself.

Now, as the sun peeked over the top of the snow-covered Rhodope Mountains, Rina could admit that the location was perfect. It was a quiet, idyllic foreign countryside that gave the impression of being untouched by the modern world, but was actually, as Gabriella had informed her, a highly developed tourist hotspot that was quite popular with the moviemaking crowd.

Mr. Antenov, the proprietor of the guest complex, had certainly seemed unfazed by Rina’s description of their planned filming schedule over the next week and a half. His wife had even agreed to sit behind the reception desk during filming and appear in the movie. The grounds and outdoor premises, which consisted of 20 stone cabins surrounding a grassy common, were definitely scenic.

The only real problem was the interior of the main building, which contained the dining hall, lobby, and recreation areas. It was far simpler than what Rina had imagined, and definitely drabber than what she would want for her movie. As she moved through the rooms, listening to the girls chatter behind her, she wondered how amenable the Antenovs would be to a touch of redecorating.

She fingered the fading curtains, then glanced at the wall. The paint was fresh enough, but nothing special. Some textured wallpaper could add the character this place was lacking. And then there was the furniture. Right now, it was neat and functional, but if she were given free rein, she could totally remake the place. She eyed the Antenovs, who were chatting amiably with Gabriella. She didn’t suppose they would mind, really. Who would object to a free makeover?

She turned back to the window curtain, as the memory of that PTA Shavuos Tea suddenly surfaced. Okay, sometimes people did object to heavy-handed interior decorating. But didn’t those snotty women end up ruing their decision?

“Don’t even think about it.”

Rina started at the sound of Gabriella’s voice right behind her.

“What?”

Gabriella pulled the curtain out from Rina’s hand. “Redecorating this place. Even if your husband were as generous about springing for some foreign hotel lobby’s d?cor as he is for your own living room, we don’t have the time for it.”

Rina pursed her lips. “Look at this place! Sure, the grounds are nice, but inside?”

Gabriella glanced around. “Looks nice enough to me. Remember, the girls in the movie aren’t getting some five-star, blow-your-eyes-out digs.”

“Yeah, but—” What did she want to say? That this place was beneath her? That it wasn’t the way Rina Levitan did things?

Gabriella leaned against the wall. “It’s okay to let go sometimes. Not everything has to be perfect.”

(Excerpted from Family First, Issue 632)