44. Teddy
WITH TWILIGHT, A VIOLET GLOW SETTLED OVER CRANE STREET where Teddy and Jack walked over to the Whooping Crane Festival. Smells of Jack’s barbecue intermingled with the salty air and wafted on the breeze. Teddy wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck.
Hank and Barb stood in front of Bird Isle’s new Whooping Crane statue positioned on the newly-repaired elevated boardwalk and town center. Hank addressed the crowd. “As you know, this fall has been the most challenging fall in the history of our town. But anyone who lives by the Gulf knows that you can’t control Mother Nature.”
A wave of murmurs rose from the crowd.
Barb accepted the mic from Hank. “None of us knew if the cranes would return. If they did return, would they have a habitat to sustain them? But on October 19, the first Whoopers returned.”
The crowd clapped.
“Knowing how important the Whooping Crane is to our town, an Austin artist donated this crane to symbolize our new beginning.” Barb waved her hand to the crane.
Hank flipped a switch, and spotlights illuminated the crane. The crane’s legs were five-feet tall, and its great wings were fully extended as if in a mating dance. A chorus of oohs and aahs rose from the crowd.
“Floods cannot dampen our dreams. Winds cannot blow away our hopes. Tragedy will not weaken our resolve. Now walk the streets of Bird Isle, congratulate our business owners. Spend money.” Hank took Barb’s hand, and they raised them to the crowd. “Whoop, whoop.”
“Whoop, whoop.” The townspeople whooped back.
As coordinated by the local businesses, one by one the lights in the stores illuminated starting with Dot’s place and followed by a wave of flickering colors that rolled over Crane Street all the way to Sweet Somethings and The Islander.
A mariachi band surprised the crowd by appearing from behind a dark corner. Jack grabbed Teddy, and they formed an impromptu parade following the mariachis down the street and weaving in and out of the various booths. Katrina waved at them as they passed.
They stopped for a cup of hot apple cider. Next door, Barb served hot chocolate and manned a booth with information on Whooping Cranes. For the kids, she taught them how to make origami cranes.
Jack and Teddy wandered through the craft market past knitted scarves, beaded jewelry, and wood carvings to a display of wind chimes.
Jack guided her to the crane statue where he wrapped his arms around her. “Happy?”
“I never thought this would turn out so well.”
“Me, neither.” Jack gave Teddy a squeeze. “Wait, what are we talking about?”
“The Whooping Crane Festival. What were you talking about?”
He pouted with his lower lip in mock offense. “I was talking about us.” Jack grabbed her hand. “Follow me.”
They walked to the end of Crane Street. “There’s nothing down here,” Teddy said.
“Not yet.” Jack tapped her chin with his index finger.
He stood behind her and covered her eyes. “Just a little bit farther. Keep your eyes closed,” he said, taking his hands off her eyes. “No peeking? Promise?”
Teddy swallowed. “It’s dark.”
“Promise me.” Jack insisted.
“I promise.”
She waited with her eyes closed. She heard him shuffling around her. If she peeked, she would ruin his surprise.
“Okay, open your eyes.”
Jack beamed the flashlight toward a cardboard sign: F UTURE HOME OF S WEET & S MOKIN’, E XCLUSIVELY AT B IRD I SLE.
The property used to be Candoli’s, Bird Isle’s only Italian restaurant. Teddy’s throat tightened.
“But the Candolis,” she said, her voice cracking.
“They decided to retire,” Jack said.
Teddy sucked in a quick breath. “You bought the restaurant.”
“I did.” Jack waved at the wreckage as if admiring a new house. “This is all ours. Property, trash, and all.”
“Ours?” Teddy froze.
Jack glanced around. “Will you be my partner?”
“But what about Sweet Somethings?”
“We’ll hire a manager to run it.”
He stuck out his chest and flapped his arms like a Whooping Crane. He pranced around Teddy. Then stretching his neck, he lifted his head to the sky and made his best impersonation of a Whooping Crane.
Teddy wrapped her arms across her belly and burst out laughing. “You’ll get carted off to the psych hospital.”
Jack dropped to his knee and held out a velvet box.
Her jaw dropped.
Jack flipped the lid of the box.
Teddy’s eyes widened at the sight of an opal ring surrounded by diamonds.
Jack slipped the ring out of the satin folds of the box. “Will you marry me?”
Something like a laugh mixed with a cry escaped from her mouth.
“Teddy? Are you going to answer me?”
“Get up. Get up. Yes, I’ll marry you.” She pulled him to his feet and kissed him.
Jack reached for her hand and threaded the ring onto her finger. “It’s official.”
Teddy fanned her fingers and admired the ring.
Up on Crane Street, the mariachis still played. Barb yammered on about the cranes. Dot fed the hungry crowds. Pete and Brooke wandered the street as father and daughter. Katrina pushed her stroller. Walt flirted with the single women, and, the mighty Whooping Crane, stood over Bird Isle as a reminder—hope, faith, (and a little synchronicity) conquer all.