Jordan leaned against the workbench, staring at the statue, her dark brown cargo pants almost the same color as her hair. She wore a light gray polo shirt that matched her eyes. There was that coiled energy again, Brie thought, watching Jordan lose herself in the wood.
“I have something to ask you,” Brie said. She leaned on the bench, beside Jordan. “We could convert Niki’s office into another bedroom for one of the kids so they’d each have their own bedroom. And we can both use my office. There’s plenty of room for another desk in there. What do you think?”
“Your place? What?” Jordan frowned, coming back to Brie. Then it dawned on her what Brie was asking. “The cottage?” Jordan said. “Brie, I’d love it…but Niki?”
“It would make Niki happy. I know that for a fact. Not only that, but she’d love the thought of kids there.”
Jordan put her hands on Brie’s face. “You’re going to make me swoon.”
“Does that mean…you’ll marry me?” Brie joked.
“Of course. I never said no, did I?”
“Yippee,” Brie crooned, hugging Jordan.
“But you have to explain all of this to the kids.”
“Wait a minute.” Brie stepped back with an anxious look.
“Don’t be silly. We’ll do it together, when they ask—and they will. I’ll show you how to make the answer match the question. No hurry.” Jordan wrapped her arms around Brie.
“I love you,” they both said at once.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The following summer
Light jazz filled the air as Tyler held the door for Brie and Jenna. Brie grinned at him in his first tuxedo, a little self-conscious but proud. She saw him straighten. Just like his mother, she thought. “C’mon,” he grumbled. “I can’t hold this big door forever.”
“Tyler,” Jenna complained. Jenna was wearing her first long dress, and even though she was thrilled, she had told Brie she was afraid she’d trip over it.
“Kids.” Brie’s voice had a hint of a warning. “Let’s do this right. It’s for your mother. Let’s be as good as we can.” They stood together and looked at Emma’s gallery. It was packed, and Brie squinted a little and wondered if she was going to need her glasses.
Tonight, they would dedicate two things: the Willis Foundation’s newest project, Century, and Jordan’s carving. After tonight, the carving would be displayed at Emma’s gallery, and then, when the family center at Century was complete, it would be moved there.
Brie tried to see the carving over the crowd. Emma wouldn’t let her in during the final days, so she had no idea what was going to be shown tonight. She had simply handed everything over to Emma. She and Jordan had chosen the photos, but Brie had not a clue what Emma had done with it all. Dannie Brown had worked with Emma on the presentation, so Brie knew it would be good, whatever it was.
Emma was suddenly beside them. “You’re late,” she said.
“And you’re nervous.” Brie smiled. “You always want everyone early. Actually, Em, we’re right on time.” She took a flute of champagne from a passing waiter. “Can we get the kids a soda?”
“Root beer,” Jenna said with a little tug on Brie’s arm.
“Root beer, Emma,” Brie said as they followed her through the crowd.
“Brie,” Jordan’s mother said as she walked toward her. “Let me take the kids. My sons are here with their families and we’ll keep watch over them.” She turned and pointed to a group of tables. The kids, seeing their cousins, immediately went toward them. Brie held up a hand in relief. “Thanks, Charlotte. Emma’s getting them some root beer. Is Jordan here?”
“No,” Jordan’s mother said and frowned slightly. Brie just patted her arm. “Don’t worry. She’ll be here soon.” She turned and almost bumped into Thomas Teller.
“Thomas,” she said. “This is lovely. What a way to kick the project off.”
He grabbed her hand. “You have to come and see how Emma and Dannie did this. It’s just wonderful. I am so proud of this, and look at the people.”
Brie nodded and followed him toward the inner gallery.
“Where’s Jordan?” he said over his shoulder.
“Getting dressed, I’m sure” was all Brie said. She giggled a little. Jordan was getting dressed at John and Nancy’s with Nancy’s help. It had taken them weeks to get her to agree to wear a floor-length dress, but finally she’d agreed. And only then if Brie agreed to wear the outfit she’d worn to the softball banquet.
They stepped into the center section of the gallery, and even Brie took a small gulp. It was brilliant. Dannie Brown waved as she saw Brie. The podium was designed as a lily, something Brie had never seen. She walked around it and looked up at Dannie, who stood tall and handsome in the middle of the flower. She too wore a tux.
“You look like an exclamation point,” Brie teased.
“Thanks for that,” Dannie grumbled and bent to make a connection for the microphone. Her black hair tumbled across her forehead as she stood and pointed at the cameras. “Actually, wouldn’t Niki have loved this?”
Brie nodded but swallowed hard as she saw the walls. They had set up a continuous film of the Willis family that slowly moved around the walls of the inner gallery. They had used the book that Brie had made for Niki. The film moved slowly and Dannie said it took about twenty minutes to go full cycle. It began with Niki’s great-grandparents and ended with Grant and Niki. Then just Niki.
Brie and Jordan had worked hard on the shots of Niki and made sure Niki was smiling in every single picture. Brie’s favorite was Niki hanging off a yardarm of her father’s yacht, their first summer together. It was goofy but it always made Brie laugh. Niki was trying to swing herself out into the water. She had ended with a resounding belly flop that had knocked her unconscious. Dannie had gone in the water after her.
An arm went around her waist and she jumped, startled. Jordan stood there with champagne.
“Hi, baby,” she said against her ear, and Brie’s entire body lit up.
“Let me see you,” Brie said and was immediately dazzled. The dress, though simple, was perfect. A straight design to the floor with delicate straps and lace sleeves. It made her elegant and tall, just as Brie had thought. And although she hadn’t chosen the color, it struck Brie as odd that it was almost the same yellow as Niki had worn that first day. She hugged her. “You’re beautiful. Did anyone remember to tell you that?”
“Not since you.” Jordan smiled self-consciously. “Let’s get this going.” She looked up and gave Dannie a nod.
The crowd turned and Brie finally got a clear look at the statue, standing silently below a soft light. Little shimmers of gold dust fell from the ceiling around it. In her opinion, the lovely shoulders belonged to Jordan. She bit her lip and looked at the torso. Jordan claimed it was her beneath the clothing. The face could have been any woman that had survived. It was one of a kind, and she swore it was taller every time she saw it. As the crowd turned to Dannie and Thomas, she saw that it was taller. It was sitting on a graceful dais, as if the woman were stepping up from water with reeds around her. One bare foot was visible.
Dannie began the presentation and Jordan put her arm around Brie once again. Brie sighed, leaning into her. Jordan’s arms were home.
About the Author
Born and raised in the Midwest, C.P. Rowlands attended college in Iowa and lived in the Southwest and on the West Coast before returning to Wisconsin. She is an artist in addition to having worked in radio, sales, and various other jobs. She has two children, two grandchildren, a partner of nineteen years, and a dog and a cat. All in all, it’s a happy life.
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