Epilogue
“How about this?” My assistant, Lacey, came waddling by with a faux plant that was larger than she was. “I was thinking right here, in the corner.” As she set the large pot down, she returned to her normal walk. “It creates a little height to the room, and that added texture is so lovely.”
“It’s perfect. Can we get a few more of these—for the private lounges? I really like your eye for detail.” I high-fived Lacey, and she picked up her phone and made a call to secure more of the plants.
“They will have them here in one hour since they have them in their warehouse already, so everything will be set for tomorrow.”
The final walk-through was that night, so that worked great for both our timeline and the grand opening of Sage Mountain’s new luxury airport. The ribbon cutting would be at 10 a.m. with our first flight arriving at noon. I could barely contain my excitement.
The plants arrived just as she said they would, and once they were in, we knew our work there was done. “I couldn’t have done it without you all,” I spoke to my team, as I had become the manager of five designers. They were all extraordinary in different ways.
Angelo was the guru of paint colors, trims, and wallpaper. Though I’d always been indifferent to the latter because of my preference for bold artwork instead of busy walls, he’d opened my eyes to a different kind of style.
Paulette was the Jill of all trades. A furniture restorer in her time off, she often sold me custom pieces from her own shop. For that project, we had many of her end tables in our lounges that were made from old whiskey barrels.
Trevor was my contractor. He worked with every person there to execute the collective vision, but often he had the best eye out of the group. His knowledge of materials had been immensely helpful as we created a space that would last for decades .
Sybil was our art curator. My favorite thing to do was give her a one-word description of a space, and then she would somehow find the biggest and most beautiful art for it. Even when I’d been nervous about a piece—for instance, the larger-than-life surrealist Elk watercolor she brought in for a private lounge—once it went on the wall, it was clear nothing else could ever compare. Sybil was a master at what she did, and I reminded her of that every day.
Last but not least, my personal favorite was Lacey. She and I got to work side-by-side making spaces magical. She was quick to become my best friend as well, and we were each other’s personal cheerleaders for everything.
The group gathered up before I sent everyone home for the evening, as I had an announcement to make. “I’ve just heard back from the board of directors that our bonuses have been approved. You’ll see those in your next paychecks.”
To survive in a town like this, we all relied on having a steady income, and I promised my team I would go to bat for them every time, a promise I had followed through on. As they cheered and hugged one another, I told them to all go home and enjoy time with their loved ones. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the ribbon cutting ceremony. ”
As they all turned to leave, I called out, “Lacey, wait up! We have just enough time to grab some dinner before things get crazy. Shall I take us to get some sushi?”
Lacey ecstatically obliged, and we left together.
Over sashimi and miso soup, Lacey and I got down to business, but not the kind that involved wallpaper or throw pillow textures. I began, “So… you sent me that cryptic text last night that you think you are falling in love with someone, but you haven’t told me who he is. Are you planning on elaborating on that anytime soon?” I put my fist under my chin while I waited for her to answer. Under the dim lights, it appeared she was blushing as she floundered her answer.
“Not just yet. I want to be sure that it’s mutual. It would be so embarrassing if I was totally wrong about this, and he’s just wanting to be my platonic friend. Or worse, he sees me as a sister, like the last one whose name shall not be spoken.”
I nodded, understanding her hesitancy, considering how things had gone south with her last crush, Jack, but I wasn’t satisfied with that answer. I was still needing more information. “Okay,” taking a sip of my miso soup out of its square ladle, “It has to be someone I know… But I’m thinking th ere’s more to it than that. Is it... someone we work with?” I gave her a coy smirk, and she gave in, instantly blurting it out.
“It’s Trevor! I feel like I’ve gone mad. If this were the nineteenth century, I’d be committed. I am head-over-heels in love with a man I’ve barely had the strength to speak to, let alone make direct eye contact with. I’ve made it known in every way I can in my mind without speaking it aloud. If he doesn’t ask me out soon, I may just die from the agony.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell her that Trevor had walked in five minutes before while she was in the back washing her hands. It hadn’t crossed my mind to tell her that beforehand because the interaction was so brief, and after all, it was a place we all frequented multiple times a week. Thankfully, I didn’t have to tell her anything, as Trevor stood up from a table out of eyesight, but not earshot.
“Lacey…” Trevor was smiling, but the nerves in his face made me feel like I was watching someone cross a tightrope with no safety precautions.
“Trevor, I—you, me—” Lacey was fumbling her words like a bouncy ball. I had never seen her so nervous about something in her life, but I was proud that she wasn’t running away from this scenario either. She was taking it head on.
“Can I take you to dinner, Lacey?” Trevor reached for her hand, and I realized my cue to leave had arrived.
“Darn it!” I hollered. “If I don’t leave right now, I won’t have enough time to stop by my condo and change before I meet with the board. Lacey, is it okay if I go?”
She looked at me with wide eyes and smiled as I slid out of the booth, and Trevor swiftly took my place. As I went to the front counter to pay for what we had ordered, I saw the waitress deliver Trevor’s tray of food to where he was sitting with Lacey, and it seemed that they were in an easy conversation. What an unexpected coupling, but it made sense to me. Trevor was thoughtful and kind. Lacey was sweet and endearing and both of them were bookish, quiet types. I could hear her laughter bellowing, and I loved this for her.
*****
That evening, at 6 p.m. prompt, I met the board of directors and James Walker at the front door of the airport for our final walkthrough. “Good evening, James.” I greeted him first with a firm handshake. He gave me a warm smile and thanked me for all the work I’d done on the design.
“It was a major collaborative effort. The team you’ve given me is incredible. We all work together for one vision, and I’ve never experienced anything quite so unified before. I don’t know where you find all of these people.”
As I beamed about my amazing co-workers, I held the door open and everyone else walked inside with James and me the last to enter. “Good evening, everyone. I see a few new faces here. I am Claire Riley, the senior design consultant. I am so blessed to be standing here in our beautiful new airport! We have some drinks and hors d’oeuvre over in our reception area afterwards. Follow me and let me show you what we’ve accomplished.”
The walkthrough took an hour, and we had a wonderful reception afterwards. Everyone was pleased with the final look of the new airport. After another hour of mingling with the board, I excused myself and went home, falling asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.
The next morning, I was up at dawn drinking coffee and reading my devotional. Jesus had freed me from the insecurities of my mind that led me to idolizing the people I admired. Ever since I realized what a dangerous path I’d been on, I actively made sure that only God was my front and center. He was the only one I’d aim to please while loving those around me at a healthy level.
When I was finished, I went to my window and prayed over the day. Since I could see the airport from my second story condo along with the beautiful gondolas riding up to their peaks and valleys, I thanked the Lord for giving me such blessings that I could stay in the only home I’d ever known: Sage Mountain, Wyoming.
I had planned to wear a sharp pantsuit to the ribbon cutting ceremony, but the morning of, I pulled out a light blue dress that I’d been wanting to wear at some point along with its matching blue heels. The woman at the boutique had raved about the color complimenting my eyes, and I agreed with her. It made me feel beautiful and feminine. I wore a modest set of rose gold jewelry and just enough makeup to make my eyelashes and lips show up, as they felt otherwise invisible in my features.
Theo was seldom thought of those days, but I did see his updates online from time to time. He had gone on his Canadian adventure with SkySki and placed first in the overall ski jump for his category, which happened to be the qualifier for something else. Yep, Theo was going to the Olympics the next year in Argentina.
I couldn’t be any happier for him but for reasons that did not relate to skiing. Before he went to Canada, he announced on his socials that he’d given his life to Christ. Then, a month later, he posted an invitation to a ski-jumping introduction that doubled as a men’s fellowship. He had begun using his gift of sport and his social platforms to reach others and bring them to Jesus. It was beautiful.
Aside from that, his love life was also on the up. He met a Canadian woman, Fern, at one of his competitions, and they were engaged. It happened fast, but it was clear that they were meant to be together. She was a tall brunette with honey eyes and quite lovely from what online persona I’d seen. The funny thing was… She didn’t ski. I guessed Theo finally found what he was looking for that had nothing to do with snow and everything to do with love.
As for Tara, she had become one of my closest (and most unexpected) friends. She had reached out to me after New Year’s about a program on Friday afternoons called “Ski Sisters Club,” that was a women’s group focused on bettering our skills on skis. I jumped at the chance and with Tara’s assistance and God’s provisions, I had nothing but enjoyable experiences. She did end up with her cute co-worker, the fellow instructor, to no one’s surprise. Their chemistry was off the charts, and she hilariously interviewed his friends after they started dating to make sure he wasn’t already in a relationship.
Clicking my heels through my condo, I grabbed a light jacket on my way out. My father had made good on his suggestion and had personally replaced his Wheaties poster with a belated Christmas gift: a large gold mirror that made my space feel bigger and gave an incredible amount of light into the room. It became my favorite part of my living room. The shelf by my window newly held a dozen photos of my day-to-day life, including one from the wonderful getaway weekend that I spent with my parents in Cork’s Canyon after New Year’s. The best part about it? Blake came with us, too. And they absolutely loved him… just like I did.
While Blake lived in Denver full-time, he had been commuting every other week to see me for over three months until he bought a beautiful little bungalow in downtown Sage Mountain. It was just mere steps from the Pine Needle gondola, which happened to be his favorite lift. When we went to tour the home, he asked me if I could see myself living there. I looked around the place with a critical eye, pointing out the discolored walls, small entryways, and dated tile. Of course, I was totally just playing the game, which he knew. I loved the house, and it had amazing potential. It was modest but centrally located to everything in town. He put in an offer right away as the market there had been booming. His offer was accepted the same day instead of starting a bidding war with no end in sight. He couldn’t wait to tell me the news. “It’s meant to be, Claire.”
Blake’s plan was to continue to work remotely as the financial advisor for the company until he finished the offices for those who wished to relocate. They were being built on a parcel adjacent to the airport. With Blake’s real passion being in real estate, it was a perfect fit and great for my team as well since we were designing them. His father approved the opening of the new Wyoming branch for the company, which created many jobs for those who still remained in Sage Mountain. To them, James became a household name under much better pretenses .
With Blake’s future plans involving his move to Wyoming and his father’s plans to pass the company down to him, Blake had taken time to think about what he wanted to do in his life and what it meant for his father. Ultimately, when his father retired the next year, he would be handing the company to Blake, but it would be run by a new CEO of Blake’s choosing. Blake had told me that it was because of me that he had decided he would take the reins. When we met, he realized he had been running from something because of the implications of his needing to be married and having yet to meet the right partner. That frightened him. But in the end, his father saw what an independent man Blake was with or without a family. Plus, he had the desire for a family but was wise enough not to jump into the wrong relationship. After they had a heart-to-heart on the matter, James’ previous reasoning no longer held any weight.
As I arrived at the ribbon cutting, I was pleased the wind had died down, and the sun provided us some warmth. It was a beautiful late spring day for new beginnings. The first people I recognized were Mickey, Tamara, and their new beautiful baby, Elsie Eileen .
“Well, hello, baby! How are you? Are you loving every outfit I’ve gotten you? Maybe not yet, but you will, I promise. And I’ll tell you a secret: Your dad might think he’s the man of the house, but you are the one who rules the roost, little lady. Anything you ask for, he’s going to get for you.”
“Gee, thanks, Claire. She already has my heart, every inch of our home is dedicated to her life, and now she knows my bank account is at her fancy, too?”
I hugged Tamara and Mickey while we playfully bantered. “I’m telling you, she’s the prettiest baby I’ve ever seen. She’s going to figure all this out eventually—might as well save her the trouble, Mick.”
At just a week old, she was wearing a bright yellow coat and generously swaddled in luxurious blankets while lying in a stroller that looked more like a bassinet on wheels.
“You didn’t have to come today, but I’m so glad you did.”
Tamara flashed her bright smile but yawned shortly after. “I needed the fresh air. It’s just such a gorgeous day. Besides, Mickey wanted to show off his new baby.”
“And, and, and—don’t forget, my baby momma.” Mickey wrapped his arm around Tamara and kissed her forehead.
“Thank you, all three of you, for being here for me today! I can’t wait for you to see the design. In fact, I think you’ll especially like the throw pillows in the lounges because they remind me of the ones in your house.”
Tamara was nodding along, but clearly, exhaustion was catching up. Just then, another car came up, and I recognized the style of driving. The only person who circled the parking lot three times before parking was my mother.
“I better go greet my parents.”
My parents finally parked after I walked away from Mickey and Tamara, and I went to them so I could give them a hug. To my surprise, Blake was getting out of their back seat.
“Guess who took us out for breakfast today?” my mother beamed. I looked at Blake with wonderment. He didn’t let me think too long, as he leaned in for a kiss, telling me how much he loved my dress.
“Good morning, blue eyes. Look how great this color is on you.” He held my hands out from a distance, so he could get a good look. Both of my parents agreed .
“Well thanks, guys. Aren’t you too sweet?” We walked back to the entrance as I remembered I needed to grab the ribbon inside. James, Blake’s dad, would hold one end, and the president of the board, John, would hold the other end, while my father would cut the ribbon with a large pair of shiny, silver scissors. Being Sage Mountain’s own Olympian came with some real perks. “I better go fetch the ribbon. I’ll be right back.”
My mother chirped up, “I’ll go with you, Claire.” She walked with me inside, and the moment we were out of eyesight, she took my arm. “Claire.” Her smile went from ear to ear, and I held my breath waiting for the words. “Blake wanted to take us to breakfast this morning.”
“Yeah? That’s what you said. How sweet of him. I really do love that man.” I opened the supplies closet door that was a catch all for everything we needed out of the way and looked through the bins for the ribbon that Lacey had put in there last week.
“Because he wanted to speak to us.”
I froze in my tracks. “And?” She had my full attention now .
“And… I’m not telling. But I just wanted you to know that we approve.”
I shrugged so hard in confusion that my chin disappeared into my neck. Then it dawned on me. Did he ask for their blessing? We clicked in a way I didn’t know was possible, pretty much from the moment we met. But once we started dating, for real that is, it felt like a fairytale.
“Here it is, sweetie.”
My mother pulled out a giant roll of red ribbon and the shiny silver pair of scissors. I robotically walked back to the front of the airport as the excitement seeped through my body. Looking at Blake, I thanked God for sending me such a kind, loving man into my life. He exuded patience and understanding, which had taught me so much. Blake inspired me to live to the fullest and encouraged me to do anything that I wanted to do, which turned out, was to ski.
Dating the future CEO of snow had some perks, such as the free ski passes to any resort we wanted. While Blake had certainly traveled on his own dime, the skiing was almost always included, and he had been already eagerly planning our trips for next season. Just the week before, he excitedly called to ask me my thoughts on a cross-country trip to spend one day at each resort. “We could get a souvenir from each place. You know, like a snow globe or something. Then one day, we could get a curio cabinet to display them all. What do you think?”
I laughed. “Or, what about a sticker at each place? We could create some kind of motif of them on canvas—a little easier to display.”
“That’s why you are the brains of this operation, Claire.”
He was always coming up with fun ideas for us and was just a joy to be around. With Blake, everything was easy, lighthearted. Our love didn’t feel superficial or based on any pretenses. We knew exactly who the other was and wholly accepted each other.
Only through my trials was I able to give up the parts of myself that kept me from fully knowing Jesus, and through them, I found the love He intended for me to have.
My mind returned to the task at hand as I held the large roll of red, silky ribbon. A group had formed on the flagstone entrance in my absence. It looked like everyone in Sage Mountain was in attendance. I saw my team, scanning them for Lacey and Trevor who, to the joy of my heart, were holding hands. Blake and I personally looked into any rules about dating while working at the same company and were proud to report there was nothing in the book saying we couldn’t, while Blake had assured me if there was, he would use his powers to change that.
Everyone gathered for the ribbon cutting photo op. On that unusually warm April day as I looked out at the beautiful mountain scape that would soon be filled with summer wildflowers in every color of the rainbow, I was at peace. The sun was sparkling in the bright blue sky, and I closed my eyes as I felt the warmth kiss my face. God was so good all the time. As Blake took my hand while my father cut the ribbon, I felt myself longing for winter to return.