CHAPTER 48
C HAPTER 48
T hey made a slow procession into the hotel, with Kurien and Emma’s wheelchairs in the lead. As they moved forward, Curtis realized he was no longer tired. Fatigue had no place in this fine hour. Amiya did not so much walk with him as flow; their arms and bodies and hearts so linked, they might as well have been joined. And perhaps they were.
Amiya and Rae took charge of the seating. Colton and Emmett appeared especially uncomfortable in their rented finery. When Rae said how handsome the two men were, Blythe said, “Getting Daddy dressed was harder than putting a tutu on my kitty cat.”
Emmett said, “Every hour she wasn’t messing with her playhouse, she was making that cat’s life miserable.”
Blythe started to respond, then noticed the man who emerged from the stage entrance. She pointed and said, “Isn’t that Chris Compton?”
Indeed it was. What was more, the trumpeter and composer walked directly to their table and asked, “Mr. Dixon?”
When the architect remained frozen and silent, Blythe said, “He’s right here.”
The bandleader offered Emmett his hand. “I understand you’re a fan of my work.”
“He’s been playing your music pretty much nonstop since we were invited here tonight.” Blythe offered her hand. “Hi. I’m Blythe. I serve as Daddy’s interpreter when he goes quiet.”
The musician continued to address the silent architect. “Was there any melody, in particular, you’d like to hear tonight?”
Blythe smiled at her father as she replied, “Anything from your Slowing Down the World album would just be a dream come true for us both.”
“In that case, I’ll sprinkle a number of them throughout the performance.” He nodded. “Nice to meet you both.”
As he departed, Blythe said, “Okay, Daddy. You can breathe now.”
Emmett looked at Curtis. “All those nasty and awful things I’ve spent weeks thinking about you. I have no choice now but take them back.”
Alvita watched the bandleader disappear backstage and said, “I never knew a trumpet could sing a lullaby until that man showed me.”
There was an imbalance to the table, far too many women for an easy seating arrangement. Not to mention how two guests were seated side by side in wheelchairs.
Emma chose that moment to tell Kurien, “A little bird mentioned something about how you’re both rich and single.”
Rae gasped, looked horrified, turned fiery red, and said, “You’ll have to excuse my aunt. She never fails to embarrass me every chance she gets.”
Kurien, however, looked utterly unfazed. He asked Emma, “Did your songbird also happen to mention I’m dying?”
Emma took hold of his hand. “Honey, none of us is perfect.”
“Say the word,” Rae told him. “I’ll shift my aunt into the other room.”
“Nonsense.” Kurien continued to smile at his neighbor. “For the first time, I am very glad I came.”
“Well, now,” Emma said.
“And I don’t mean just to this particular event,” Kurien said. “Are all the people of this fine land so open and welcoming?”
“No,” Rae said. “Absolutely not. Thank the stars above.”
And suddenly they were all smiling.
Comfortable.
Friends.
Kurien stood, then accepted a microphone from Alvita, and spoke a few words. Curtis tried hard to listen, but the speech formed a gentle wash. Then Kurien said something that brought cheers from their table and applause from the room at large. Curtis assumed it was about their betrothal and felt a chill run though his body as Amiya told him, “Smile and raise your glass.”
Then the wine expert rose from the neighboring table and was joined by the lady chef Curtis had seen earlier in Alvita’s office. Together they spoke about the evening’s pairings. Curtis assumed what they had to say was both interesting and entertaining, because the audience remained attentive and smiling. As they spoke, servers circulated with chilled bottles wrapped in linen napkins and filled glasses. Another toast, and a brief time of conversation; then the first course was served.
Those plates were removed, a different wine served with the second course, and the third. Curtis pretended to listen as happy talk circulated around his table. But just then, all he could really focus on was the simple unutterable fact that he was in the presence of change. Another alteration of his life’s course was taking place. And there was only one word to describe how he felt.
Content.
As the plates were removed, Amiya said, “It’s time, my darling.”
“Time?”
She must have seen what she wanted in his gaze, for she leaned over and kissed him. Which drew another cheer.
Friends.
Amiya said, “They’re waiting.”
He realized she was talking about the room. “Nobody said anything about, you know. Talking.”
“Shall I speak for us?”
“Are you kidding? You absolutely have to do this. Please.”
Amiya rose to her feet, waited for the room to settle, then began, “I’ve only been here a very short while. But my fiancé was born here. Curtis called the Crystal Coast home for the first seventeen years of his life. Most of what I know about this region comes from him. But the new friends I have made only amplify what I love most about this dear sweet man.
“I understand why some people are opposed to our project. They fear we will seek to change the nature of this remarkable place. I can only hope that with time they will recognize and accept that we intend to do no such thing.
“The Crystal Coast is a world apart. This region holds a very special, very delicate quality. There is a fragile element here, a sanctity of family and friendship. People do not keep returning simply for the beach. There are thousands of miles of shoreline, hundreds of coastal towns. They recognize, as do I, that the Crystal Coast is unique.
“They come here to savor a simpler life. To take stock. Heal. Walk these streets and recognize that the past is alive in all of us. And only by accepting this can we be ready to face tomorrow.”
She lifted her glass, toasted her fiancé, then told the room, “To our new home, and sharing our tomorrows with you.”