by Lin Stepp
Carla twisted in her seat uncomfortably. “Admittedly, I never really liked Elliott much. I wasn’t sure why. I talked to Mother about it, and she said my instincts were probably right. She knew the Howells and said it troubled her for you to marry into their family. She called them a synthetic family. I’ve remembered those words as you’ve had these problems with Elliott.”
Jenna sighed. “Your upbringing was a blessing to you, Carla. I hope you appreciate that. Your mother, dad, and your brothers were all such comfortable, normal people. I used to love to go over to your house.”
She smiled at her friend. “That was your lucky difference, Carla. Your parents encouraged you to think for yourself, to develop your own interests and goals, to be yourself, and to follow your own star. That has made you stronger. That made you more discerning, too, as you walked your way. While you were growing and developing, I was held back. My confidence fell off because the important people in my life didn’t have confidence in me. My mother always criticized me and tried to subtly, and not so subtly, control me. Eventually, I kind of lost myself in the struggle. It was often easier to conform than to try to fight. Compromising led to mistakes.”
“I guess I’d better thank my mother the next time I see her,” Carla quipped.
“Yes, you’d better,” Jenna told her, giving her a friendly punch.
“Well, you don’t act confused and unconfident now.” Carla pushed her hair back behind her ear. “You’re plucky and spunky again like you were when we were girls.”
“I am, aren’t I?” said Jenna, smiling. “I’d like to think that.”
“John and I have both noticed that you’ve changed a lot.” Carla gave her an appraising look.
“What specifically have you noticed?” Jenna asked her curiously.
Carla seemed a little uncomfortable for a moment. “Well, you walk differently for one thing – more confidently, without kind of hanging your head like you used to. You look people in the eyes and say what you think more often, instead of apologizing that you have an opinion and a brain.” Carla grinned.
“Also, you’ve become more disciplined in your life, Jen. You seemed to drift around before, kind of wispy, and always busy about nothing. Now you have a work schedule and you’re really accomplishing things. I admire that. Your work with Park Press these last months has been astonishing. John and I are thrilled with every new product you produce, and everything of yours we put in the bookstore sells tremendously. I enjoy telling people my friend created those things.”
She gave Jenna a wide smile. “I’ve always loved you Jenna, but I’ve been really proud of you lately. You’ve been through a hard time, but you’ve gone through it sort of triumphantly where most people would have just fallen apart and wallowed in themselves. You’ve really been great. And, despite being betrayed by Elliott, harangued by your mother on a continual basis, and practically stalked by Elliott, you’ve become a more kind and loving person, too, which is kind of amazing.”
Carla wrinkled her nose. “I sort of expected you to become a little hard and brittle, Jenna, from being hurt so deeply, to cut yourself off from people. But you seem to have reached out more. You talk to people on the street, in the grocery store, in the library. You’ve always been what everyone would call nice, but now there’s a new caring in you. John says maybe part of it is the faith thing - since we find you holed up in your Bible so often. Honestly, that book is marked up like a college textbook now, and you’re doing those inspirational cards.” She shrugged. “Anyway, whatever it is, Jenna, the changes are terrific.”
“Would you say I’m someone better to know?” Jenna asked the question - knowing she was fishing a little.
Carla hesitated. “Well, sure, but I hope that’s not a trick question and that I’m not going to get in trouble now for answering it honestly.”
“No, it’s a wonderful answer.” Jenna leaned over to give her a hug. “You don’t know how hard I’ve been working to become a better and stronger person. And it really has not been easy. I am so glad you noticed. I wanted to come out of this whole mess better and not worse. I wanted to become someone I could like and admire more. Does that sound stupid?”
“No, you big nut,” Carla hugged her back. “It sounds kind of touching. I might have to cry or something if you keep this up much longer.”
“Okay, I’ll stop.” Jenna grinned.
Carla gave her a teasing look. “What are you going to do with this new and wonderful person you’ve been working on next?”
“I haven’t fully decided yet,” she answered primly. “But I’ll let you know when I do. Now, tell me something wonderful and touching about you so I won’t feel so sappy.”
“Okay.” Carla looked at her and smiled mischievously. “Get ready. This is about as sappy and touching as you can get. I’m going to have a baby. What do you think?”
“Oh, Carla! I can’t believe it!” Jenna clapped her hands. “It’s wonderful! When did you find out?”
She flushed. “I think I’ve been suspicious for a couple of weeks, but one of those little tests finally told the tale just yesterday. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to stay up here to talk with you. I wanted you to be the first to know after John and my family.”
Jenna threw her arms around Carla to hug her.
“I’m so excited. I’m going to be an aunt!” she explained. “I’ve always thought of you as a sister, you know. So that sort of makes me an aunt, doesn’t it? When is the baby due, Carla? What did John say?”
Carla put a hand to her midriff thoughtfully. “It’s due in mid January. John is thrilled and he’s already looking through baby name books in the store. He’s been following me around reading out “name the baby” ideas and asking me all the time if I need to sit down and rest.” She blew out a breath. “The baby isn’t due for seven months now and the man is already driving me crazy.”
They laughed together.
Jenna sighed with pleasure. “This is so wonderful, Carla. I’m so happy for you and John.”
Carla leaned over to put a hand on Jenna’s knee. “Listen, Jenna, instead of remembering this as the day you got a divorce, maybe you can always remember this as the day you learned you were going to be an auntie. It would be a good memory to counter any negatives.” She grinned at Jenna. “And I’m going to teach the baby to call you Auntie Jenna, so get ready!”
“I can’t wait,” Jenna said, sighing. “I’m going to paint Mother Goose prints for the nursery. You’ve always loved those.”
The rest of the evening was taken up with talking about the baby and plans for a nursery.
Chapter 22
As promised, Jenna stopped by Sam’s two weeks later before she went to the Park Press awards dinner. Sam wanted to see how she looked “all gussied up”, as he called it. When Jenna arrived, he gave her a long, low wolf whistle.
“Don’t you look fine indeed?” Sam whistled and insisted she turn around for a full examination.
For the occasion, Jenna had chosen a sleek, mid-calf black dress and a sheer, matching black jacket trimmed with iridescent crystal beads. Around her neck hung a diamond solitaire pendant and in her ears sparkled matching stud earrings. Her hair was wound up in a simple chignon.
She stopped pivoting and turned her eyes to Sam’s. “I wanted an elegant, classic look. I thought it would help me feel confident. This is the first awards dinner I’ve ever been able to go to.”
“Well, all the eyes will be on you,” Sam assured her. “You’ll be the belle of the ball, a regular Cinderella.”
“Thanks, Sam.” Jenna leaned over to give him a hug. “I wish you could go with me. It’s supposed to be a nice dinner, with speakers and entertainment. And Jason says I’m going to get some kind of little award.”
She settled down carefully in a chair to visit with Sam for a few minutes before she went to the dinner.
Sam rolled his chair close to her. “Your art has really bloomed, Jenna. I’ve had Mary collecting things for me from your
new lines.” He smiled at her. “Of course, you know my favorite designs are those based on scenes from the Smokies and around Orchard Hollow.”
“Why does that not surprise me?” She teased. “Which do you like best?”
“The one of my cabin, of course.” He grinned.
“Are you looking forward to going down for our trip?” Jenna asked him.
“Yes, I surely am,” Sam assured her. “We’re going to have us a fine time.”
He paused thoughtfully. “However, that makes me think of a little item of news I need to talk to you about. I’ve done something in relation to Elliott’s attack on me that you might not totally approve of.”
“You mean making Elliott leave his apartment in order to have those assault charges dropped?” she asked. “I already know about that. You told me, and Elliott mentioned it, too. His real estate agent is showing the apartment while he’s in Paris. I guess he’ll move when the lease is up - or sooner if he can work out the arrangements.”
“Well, yes, there’s that business.” Sam scratched his chin. “Maury worked that one out as slickly as we both hoped. I’m glad to have Elliott leaving, too. I’m not sorry for doing that. But we did do a little more finagling through some other legal dealings I figure it’s about time I spoke to you about.”
Jenna raised an eyebrow in question and Sam shared what he had done.
“I’m not sure you should have done that.” Jenna told him as she checked her watch and stood up to leave.
“It was my choice to do it.” Sam gave her a stubborn look as he rolled his chair toward the door to see her out. “You run on to the ball now, Cinderella. We’ll talk more the next time we get together. And we’ll make our plans about going to Orchard Hollow. Boy oh boy, I’ll get to make a whole new set of stories to tell while I’m down there.”
Jenna laughed. “Take care, Sam. I’ll see you later.”
“Make some memories tonight!” Sam called after her.
A short time later, Jenna was doing exactly that. Park Press had rented a glamorous ballroom in one of New York’s old hotels, and Jenna felt pleased at how many people she knew from the design and publications company. She enjoyed networking around the room before Jason escorted her to the table they were sharing with six others from their division.
“You look beautiful.” Jason’s eyes moved over her appreciatively. “I hope you’ll remember you promised to let me take you out to dinner to celebrate after your divorce.” A little cloud slipped over Jenna’s festivities. She wished Jason hadn’t brought up her divorce right now. However, others at the table were involved in animated conversations of their own, and no one paid much attention to their words.
“I haven’t forgotten,” she answered quietly. “We’ll plan that sometime soon. It was nice of you to remember.”
He looked at her more intently and slipped a hand across the table to lay it over hers. “It wasn’t just nice of me to remember, Jenna,” he confided. “I’ve been looking forward to it. In fact, I’ve been hoping we might enjoy some other times together. You know you’ve always been one of my favorite people. I’d like to get to know you better.”
Jenna caught her breath for a minute, and then pulled her hand away discreetly. Jason was making a pass at her! She scrambled to think how to handle it. He seemed a wonderful man, and he had always been such an encouragement to her.
She smiled at him at last, deciding to just be honest. “You are one of my best friends,” she told him. “It will always be my pleasure to spend time with you.”
He grinned. “I didn’t really expect more than that right now, Jenna. Besides, like a nightingale, you’ve flown a pretty rigid cage and only just now tasted freedom and started to sing again.”
Jenna looked at him, pleased. “What a truly beautiful thought.”
“Well, your new joy has overflowed into your art, too,” he told her. “Everyone in the company has been simply stunned with your new work.”
“Thank you.” She smiled again. “I’m hoping to get more new ideas when I go back to Orchard Hollow soon. You do remember I’ll be taking Sam Oliver down to his place in the mountains next Friday on the 28th?”
“Yes, and you know that’s fine with me and with the Press.” He studied the plate of food that had just been brought to him with pleasure. “If going on location helps your art and productivity, Jenna, you are welcome to go away anytime you’d like. Just keep sending me designs from wherever you are!”
They both laughed then, which attracted the attention of others at their table. Soon they were all engaged in entertaining conversation, enjoying their dinner, a rich merlot, and the excitement of the evening.
After dinner the president of Park Press, Mark Graham, talked about his vision for growth of their company and a motivational speaker shared inspirational words about the art of creativity. Park Press had several publication and design branches and the speeches and awards continued for over an hour afterwards.
Their own card and gift design branch was one of the latter parts of the company to receive awards. Jason received one for growth and productivity of his unit, and one of the design artists, Bradley Chapman, received an award for greatest volume of sales. In addition, Grace Merryman received recognition for creating a new line of gift items. And then Jenna heard her name.
“Park Press would also like to give special recognition to our best rising young artist of the year, Ms. Jenna Martin, who most of you may know better as J.C. Martin,” President Mark Graham said. “She has contributed designs to us part-time for a few years, but this spring she joined us on full-time staff and has already initiated two successful new design lines – the Country Roads series, a collection of rural scenes, and the Hope series, a line of inspirational cards. Both of these lines have been received with an unprecedented success and are already being incorporated into note card and calendar designs, due to their wide popularity. Her work is crisp, fresh, and utterly delightful, and we hope she will continue to work with us for many years to come. Please join me in congratulating J.C. Martin, Best New Artist of the Year for Park Press.”
With flushed cheeks and an excited smile, Jenna stood and walked up to the stage to receive her award. Applause followed behind her, quieted, and then erupted enthusiastically again as she accepted her awards plaque from President Graham. When she stepped to the microphone, Jenna felt absolutely wonderful. Her fellow employees were still applauding, and some of her friends from her own design unit were whistling and calling out encouragement.
“I don’t know how to express how pleased I am to receive this honor,” Jenna said, looking out over the room. “In fact, I’m not sure what could make this moment more perfect!” Everyone laughed, and she paused to smile out over the audience again. Then, suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she saw him. Boyce Hart stood in the back of the room.
For a moment Jenna couldn’t speak. Boyce was leaning casually back against a pillar at the back of the ballroom, stunning in a black tuxedo. Jenna’s knees went weak just to look at him. Standing beside him, unbelievably, was her father. He wore a black tux, too, and he was smiling at her.
As she struggled to collect herself, Boyce gave her one of those wonderful nods of confidence of his and then tapped his mouth as a reminder to her that she needed to finish her speech.
Jenna pulled her eyes away from Boyce and back to the task at hand. “I just realized some people I care about have slipped in to see me get this award,” she told everyone honestly. “What a wonderful evening. It means so much to me that they, and that each of you, are here. I want everyone to know how much I appreciate this honor. It is a wonderful encouragement to me. Thank you all so much again.”
She worked her way back toward her seat on unsteady legs. She wanted to run to the back of the room immediately to find Boyce, but of course she couldn’t. There were a few more divisions yet to receive awards. She would have to wait. She sat down, no longer able to see the back of the room.
The rest of the award
s presentations were a blur to Jenna. As the presentations closed and the evening finally ended, Jenna made her way through the well-wishers as quickly as she could toward the back of the ballroom. She looked for Boyce, but she didn’t see him. Slipping out into the lobby, she scanned the crowded room. And then she saw her father coming toward her.
“I was really proud of you tonight.” He embraced her a little awkwardly and kissed her cheek. Jenna struggled with the tears that tried to well up. She couldn’t remember the last time her father had hugged or kissed her.
Her eyes slipped over him. He was still so handsome with only a peppering of gray in his dark hair. “How did you know to be here?”
“Boyce Hart brought me,” he answered.
Watching her search the area for him again, he added, “He’s already left, Jenna.”
“Left?” She was stunned and felt the color wash out of her face.
“He said you had an agreement and that you would understand.” His eyes watched her carefully. “But he also told me to tell you he chose to break his agreement just a little to see you get your award. He asked me to tell you he was proud of you. That you looked brave and strong up there.”
Jenna blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over.
Seeming to sense her emotions, her father pointed to the café across the lobby in the hotel. “Let’s go in that little coffee shop, Jenna. We can get a cup of coffee and visit for a minute.”
He took her arm and led her into the shop to a seat, ordering two coffees for them after they sat down.
Jenna raised questioning eyes to her father. “How did Boyce find you? I’m confused.”
“He’s quite a man, your friend Boyce.” He took a sip of his hot coffee. “This morning he showed up at my office and demanded to see me. He told my secretary that it was urgent, that it was about my daughter. I had him shown in.”
Her father smiled at her. “Oh course, at first I thought maybe you had been hurt. When I found out you were okay, I felt relieved. But that didn’t last long. Because then your friend Boyce laid in to me something fierce. He gave me a fine, long, tongue-lashing lecture about what a no-account father I was, how I didn’t deserve a daughter like you, and how I’d failed you when you needed me most.”