Chapter 46 #2
Seeing this video here, in this space full of artistic energy, makes emotion burn behind my eyes. Another wave of self-affection rolls over me, feeling a tad less foreign than last time. I break into a smile, rushing to Julia and throwing my arms around her.
I pull back with a laugh. “What is this?”
Julia beams at me, looking absolutely elegant in a simple dark green silk gown.
It’s got capped sleeves and a square neckline, and her porcelain leg stretches a mile long through the modest slit.
Teardrop pearl earrings swing in front of where she’s pinned back one side of her red bob with a jeweled clip.
I’ve never seen her wear makeup, but the simple mascara and blush combo is doing wonders atop her dewy skin.
“Kendra asked me to put together a short social media campaign as kind of a trial run to see if upping the museum’s social media presence would be worth it.
Not just for events. I’m doing a new follower giveaway.
Guests can follow our account, engage with the post I already have running, and the winner gets a free museum membership. ”
I gasp. “Julia! That’s great. Does that mean—”
“If it goes well, she might offer me a permanent position in the marketing department!”
We squeal, and I tug her close and breathe in her honeyed cinnamon scent. “I’m so proud of you. But why am I the one on screen?” I laugh.
“That’s my marketing campaign—a behind the scenes spotlight of the curation staff. And since I already had your video…I mean, I hope it’s okay…” Julia’s blue eyes turn into a sea of worry, and I knock her lightly on the shoulder.
“Stop, Julia. I’m flattered. And touched.”
Brandon’s warm hand presses against the small of my back, and I turn into his embrace.
“We’re all proud of you, Kate,” he murmurs against my ear.
“But there’s someone here who wants to meet you.
” He moves aside to reveal a beautiful woman with startling green eyes and a bulky cast. She grins up at me from a wheelchair.
In addition to having perfectly angled cheekbones like her son, her tan skin is creased where her laugh lines meet dimples.
Sudden nervousness flutters in my chest, but I can’t help smiling.
“You must be my daughter-in-law,” she says.
I laugh, and her grin pulls wider. The level of mischief is a carbon copy of Brandon’s. She motions me forward, and I bend to give her a gentle hug. Her wavy black hair brushes my cheek as I pull away.
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” I say. “I’m glad to see you out and about, Mrs. Roberts.”
“Call me Stacey, hon. And me too.” She puffs a laugh. “This prison warden over here”—she twists a pointed look at her son—“seems committed to keeping me locked up.”
Brandon tips back his head with a chuckle.
“I never got to say thank you, though.” She takes my hand, and the wrinkles of life on hers feel soft. “For being there for him last week. You’re a special girl, Kate.”
The air in my chest feels fuzzy and warm. “Thank you for saying that.”
Brandon’s lips graze my blushing cheek, and Stacey beams up at us.
“I’d love to invite you both over for dinner next week,” she says.
Brandon cocks a brow. “You cooking?”
“Don’t be a butt, Brandon. That being said…” She grins. “We’ll order takeout.”
“Deal,” he says.
Brisk clicking heels capture our attention, and we turn to find Kendra sheathed in a scarlet one-shouldered midi-dress. Her facelift bun is especially tight, black strands gleaming.
“Brandon,” she says, “I’m going to have to ask you to escort your early arrivals into the Astor wing. We are about to open the event to the public.”
My gaze cuts to the glass doors of the museum, and sure enough, there’s a line of attendees waiting. Kendra’s heels tap toward Rick, who's been stationed by the entrance and is ready for door duty. He catches me watching and tips his head.
I give a little wave, then circle back to the procession of people passing Brandon.
Mr. Sanderson claps him on the back, murmuring something I can’t hear through a toothy grin.
Tiny Heidi presses in a brief hug. Tuck follows after his parents.
A red-haired couple consisting of a slender woman and a burly man with an auburn beard say something to Julia, making her blue eyes twinkle before they follow the rest to the Astor wing.
I don’t realize I’m staring until Brandon catches my gaze, and he gives me a smile so radiant, his rays of happiness are almost palpable.
A fierce appreciation for his people roots deeply into my chest. Because if they can make Brandon smile like that, they are to be cherished and protected, always.
“Ready, Mom?” Brandon skirts to the back of Stacey’s wheelchair. He kisses the top of my head as he passes, and Stacey gives my hand a quick squeeze. “Coming, Kate?”
“Wait,” Julia calls. “Kate, can you help me connect my phone to the wifi? I need to confirm the new follower signups for the giveaway without my computer interrupting the video. Tech didn’t leave me the password.”
“I’ll meet you guys up there,” I say to Brandon.
The suction-like sound of the door pops open behind me. Echoing voices of excitement round the arched ceiling as I face my back to them, rapidly typing the wifi password into Julia’s phone. I get an error message right as I hear a handful of curious patrons approaching Julia’s table.
She engages them in an animated conversation while I dig my phone from my clutch to double check the password. I groan, retyping to include a capital letter I forgot. The phone connects. I slip the phone into Julia’s hand, but she doesn’t skip a beat in her conversation.
I’m fazed for a moment by the eloquence and passion rolling off my new friend. Julia stays alight with a bright, effortless smile. Is this how she interacts with customers at Autumn & June who’ve been swayed by her marketing? Or does her happiness glow a tad brighter here in this lobby?
My gaze shifts, falling onto a face that makes my world stop spinning.
“Mom?”