Chapter 34
Luna
“Some threads are destined to be snipped away, allowing for a new pattern to emerge.”
—Eloisa Hobby
While Jeanie went to set up their quilt for judging, Luna wheeled Artie over to the registration table so her daughter could check in for the recycled art category.
“Orion should be here any minute,” Artie said after she’d signed up and been given their station number. “Do you see her?”
“It’s pretty crowded in here. I’ve even lost sight of your grandmother.”
“Orion is hard to miss,” Artie said. “Look for the purple hair.”
Luna and Artie glanced around the crowded pavilion for Orion. Or at least Artie did. Luna searched for Paul.
After she and Artie arrived back in Hobby Island, she’d been so busy taking care of Artie’s post-op needs, they hadn’t been out of the B&B until Dot drove them over to the pavilion in a golf cart. Luna had insisted Artie rest as long as possible before the event.
She hadn’t seen Paul since the day of Artie’s accident when she’d sent him away. How would he react when he saw her? She prayed he would give her a second chance.
There was so much she wanted to tell him about the metamorphosis she’d gone through since that day. The epiphany she’d had as she sat with the quilters in the waiting room.
She owed him an apology, and she planned to grovel. Big-time. But she wanted to do it right. She needed a grand gesture to prove to him that this time, she wouldn’t flake at the first sign of trouble.
“Mom, something’s wrong with Gran.” From her wheelchair, Artie tugged on Luna’s sleeve. “Look.”
Luna’s alert eyes tracked to where Artie pointed.
Eloisa and her mother were coming in the side door from outside. Jeanie looked visibly shaken and Eloisa had her arm around Jeanie’s waist, supporting her. The hairs on Luna’s nape lifted and her guard went up.
“Will you be okay on your own for a sec?” Luna said.
“Sure. I’ll go over to our station. If you see Orion, tell her we’re at number fifteen.”
“I’ll be right back.” Luna rushed to her mother, dodging contestants and spectators alike. “What’s happened?”
Eloisa stepped back, giving them space. Jeanie opened the tote bag she carried and held it out.
Luna peered inside and saw the beautiful quilt depicting their family journey on Hobby Island sliced to ribbons. “What in the world happened?”
Her mother pressed a palm to her forehead. “After showing you the quilt at the hospital, I didn’t look at it again. I stuck it in my bedroom closet. Just now, I unwrapped the protective paper to hang it from the frame and discovered this.”
The anguish in Jeanie’s voice was palpable and Luna too felt dismayed and saddened about the destruction of so many hours of hard, dedicated work. “But who?”
“Eloisa thinks it could be a fellow quilter who was jealous of my skills.”
Luna cast a glance at the quilters standing before their quilts. She spied Sharon, Isabelle, and Nanette displaying the design she’d stolen from Luna. “My money is on Nanette.”
“We shouldn’t assume,” Jeanie said. “And what does it really matter? Bringing the culprit to justice won’t change anything.”
“Oh, Mom.” Luna held her arms wide. “I’m so sorry.”
Jeanie sank into her embrace, rested her head on Luna’s shoulder, and just sobbed her heart out. “I feel so bad, baby. I won’t be able to win the money and save our home.”
“Shh, shh.” Luna patted her back, comforting her. “It’ll be all right. We’ll find a solution together.”
“But the house has been in our family for four generations. It’s a Vincent tradition.”
Luna took a tissue from her pocket and passed it to her mother. “Mom, do you know what tradition is?”
“N-no.” Jeanie sniffled.
“Peer pressure from dead people.”
That drew a chuckle from her. “There are some things I won’t miss about that old house. It’s drafty.”
“And the floorboards creak. Loudly.”
“It’s expensive to heat and cool.” Jeanie forced a smile.
“The plumbing squeals when you take a shower.”
“Zero storage space.”
“The roof has storm damage.” There’d been tornadic winds in Julep a few days after Luna and Artie had arrived.
“Why were we trying to save that old monstrosity in the first place?” Jeanie asked and circled a finger at her temple to indicate they’d been out of their minds.
Luna sobered. “Because it was ours.”
“Not anymore.”
Their eyes met.
“Life is about change,” Luna said.
“And learning how to let go.” Jeanie dropped the tote bag.
“It’s about facing your fears.” Luna wasn’t talking about the house anymore.
“And trusting you’ll get past the challenges.”
Luna held out her hand to her mother. “We’ll be okay.”
Jeanie smiled. “I know, with you and Artie by my side.”
They hugged again as people streamed around them. Over Jeanie’s shoulder, Luna saw Eloisa step up to a small podium, a microphone in her hand.
“Looks like Eloisa is about to make an announcement.” Luna put her arm around her mother’s shoulder and in unison, they turned toward their hostess.
“Contestants, please take your places beside your works of art.” Eloisa’s voice boomed out across the pavilion. The soft-spoken woman’s voice came out so loud it was unnerving. “Judges, it’s your time to shine.”
Luna put her mouth to Jeanie’s ear. “Since we can’t compete, let’s go over to Artie’s station and cheer her on.”
Jeanie nodded and Luna took her hand, and they made their way over to the recycled displays.
Eloisa doffed her top hat. “My dear friends, crafting brought you here today in search of connection, creativity, and healing. Like colors of thread woven into a quilt, each of you has added your own bright spirit to our island’s tapestry.”
She gestured expansively with her top hat. “Art is the magic that binds our hearts together! Be it sewing, writing, painting, quilting, knitting, or bedazzling, any act of creation builds bridges.”
As Luna and Jeanie approached, they saw Orion standing beside Artie in her wheelchair. On the display stand, their art was covered by a canvas. Artie had been secretive about their project and Luna was curious to see what she and Orion had created.
The girls spied them and waved madly.
“Crafting turns strangers into friends,” Eloisa continued, “wounds into wisdom, scraps into beauty. With needle and brush, we stitch the rips in our society and darn the holes in our souls.”
Luna looked for Paul, but he wasn’t with the girls.
From the podium, Eloisa glowed as brightly as the prism lights. “The world can be uplifted by the power of arts, don’t let anyone diminish it. Whether you win a prize today or not, take pride in having touched lives through your gifts and unique self-expression.”
The room erupted into applause as Eloisa took a sweeping bow. “And now, what we came for. Competition! Unveil your creations, if you haven’t already, and let the games begin!”
“You want to do the honors?” Orion asked Artie. “Since the project was your idea.”
Beaming, Artie reached over to whisk the canvas off their art, revealing the mosaic beneath. Gasps echoed around the hall, the haunting art stopping spectators in their tracks.
Shards of shattered dolls, resurrected into something surreal and provocative. Each fragment a discarded relic, now seamlessly reimagined into hypnotic visages.
Artie’s and Orion’s talent glowed brighter than the constellations Luna had admired with Paul so long ago. She was so enormously proud of their daughters!
“Your vision is extraordinary,” Luna said, getting choked up by their artwork. Out of heartbreak, Artie and Orion had crafted beauty. In luminous faces with mosaic eyes, Luna saw her own reflection—piecing back together that which life had fractured.
Perhaps she could do the same with Paul. Fear was a thief. She had to be brave and rekindle what they’d lost.
Jeanie squeezed her hand, pride misting her gaze. In her mother’s gentle strength, Luna found courage. She would reach for happiness once more. Life shattered everyone eventually, but she had a choice—create art from the shards and get on with living or stay broken. Luna knew she would take that leap of faith. Where others might only see broken pieces, she and Artie and Jeanie had found beauty.
The air buzzed with tension as the contestants waited for the judging results.
“Mom,” Artie asked, “do you think we have a chance?”
“I do. I really do.” Luna leaned down to give Artie a side hug in the wheelchair.
“We got this in the bag.” Orion nudged Artie with her elbow. “Have a little self-confidence.”
“Is your dad coming?” Luna asked, hoping to sound casual, but fearing she sounded desperate.
Orion glanced over her shoulder. “Yeah, he was supposed to be here, but there was something he had to take care of first.”
“So he’s not coming?” Now she did sound desperate for sure.
Orion shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
“Girls, the mosaic is stunning.” Vivian came over to admire the art. To Luna she said, “You must be so proud of them.”
Luna met the pink-clad innkeeper’s effervescent smile. “So proud I could pop.”
“Very creative. This is the best in show if you ask me,” someone else murmured and then soon a crowd was encircling Artie and Orion’s art.
Luna stepped back, letting her daughter and Orion have their time in the spotlight.
A current of anticipation coursed through the glittering hall.
Luna turned to see Dot and the two male judges walk to the podium to confab with Eloisa. Around them, the artists and crafters whispered and wondered.
When Eloisa stepped up to the microphone, a hush fell.
One by one, Eloisa called off the categories and the winners—knitting, woodworking, jewelry making.
Amid erupting cheers and applause, the winners went up to receive their five-thousand-dollar checks.
“First place in the quilting category . . .” Eloisa made a drumroll noise. “Nanette Marston, for her dreamy quilt called ‘In a Summer Meadow.’”
Nanette squealed and grabbed Isabelle’s hands and they jumped around together in celebration. Sharon, who was standing next to her own quilt, looked disappointed.
Luna gritted her teeth. Nanette had won with her design. But she wasn’t concerned for herself. She glanced over at Jeanie. “Mom, are you all right?”
Jeanie’s mouth twisted tight. “Fine. I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine,” Luna said.
“Yeah, Gran. If you were a cartoon, you’d have steam coming out of your ears right now.” Artie giggled.
“Nanette won with your mother’s design,” Jeanie said to Artie. “She should be disqualified.”
“If you recall, Mother, I gave her the design with my blessings. She only won because our quilt was sabotaged.” Luna settled a hand on Jeanie’s shoulder to calm her. “Let it go.”
Eloisa cleared her throat, drawing their attention back to the stage.
“And for the last category, recycled art, the winner is—‘Creepy Dolls Redeemed,’ created by Artemis Boudreaux and our very own Orion Chance.
Give it up for our youngest winners ever!”
Amid raucous applause, Orion wheeled Artie to the podium to get their honor.
Luna looked again for Paul, hoping he’d been able to witness this, but she didn’t see him.
Too bad.
He’d missed an important moment.
Artie beamed with so much joy.
The happiest Luna had seen her since Herc died.
How proud she was of her talented daughter! What a wonderful summer this had been, despite all the troubles they’d navigated.
How much they’d all grown.
After the excitement died down, Orion and Artie headed back toward them, and Eloisa had one more announcement.
“For the Best in Show event, our attendees will decide who wins the grand prize of one hundred thousand dollars.
Please cast your vote for one of the category winners.
The judges are going through the assembly passing out ballots.
Once you’ve cast your vote, deposit it in this red box on the podium.
The judges will tally the votes and then I’ll return to announce the grand prize winner.
In the meantime, please enjoy the refreshments. You have twenty minutes to vote.” With that, Eloisa strolled offstage.