16. Bas #2
“Brylee, this isn’t necessary. I can—”
She clapped a palm over my mouth. “Sebastian, the bathrooms in the cottages are nicer than the ones in the house.”
I had to admit she was right. I could attest to exactly how much nicer.
“Huxley is meeting with the contractors who built the event center as we speak.”
“Where are Ev and Arlow?”
“Busy. Anyway…” She pointed to a door on the opposite side of the room. “At first, I thought about putting one of the closets where the nursery is, but after last night, I think it should stay the way it is.”
I didn’t say a word about her inference and hoped she wouldn’t either.
“Bas?”
No such luck. “Yeah?”
“Are you in love with Gemma?”
I scooted so my back was up against the wall, and Brylee did too.
“I’m not sure.”
“Maybe?”
I nodded.
“That’s better than no.”
“I guess.”
She twisted so she faced me. “Why maybe?”
“Because we haven’t been together that long. It’s also complicated.”
“How?”
“One, she works for me.”
“What’s two?” she pushed.
“I don’t know how she feels.”
“Hmm.”
I rested my head against the wall. “I know I’m going to regret asking, but what’s the ‘hmm’ for?”
“Do you want to know what I think?”
I laughed out loud. “Are you seriously telling me I have a choice?”
“Not really. Anyway, I watched the two of you last night.”
“I noticed. I’m only grateful you didn’t have your camera in your hand.”
“You asked her to stay.”
“And what do you think that means?”
“You don’t ask anyone to stay, Bas. Not even us.”
“Wow. Don’t hold anything back, Bry.” I covered my face.
“It’s true, and you know it. But there’s more.
” She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them.
“Gemma sat at a table with a group of people she’d known for a minute, listened while we had one of the most difficult conversations we’ve ever had, and all the while, she didn’t take her eyes off you.
I also know that she was holding your hand.
A woman doesn’t do that for a man she works for. She does it for a man she loves.”
I couldn’t bring myself to tell my sister how much I prayed she was right.
“So, you need a way bigger bedroom with a much nicer bathroom, plus a closet big enough for her clothes, and a smaller one for yours.”
“Is that all?”
Brylee shook her head. “The kitchen will be the second room we start on.”
I laughed out loud. “Got any sketches for that?”
“Not on me. Arlow and Ev have them.”
I thought about all Brylee had done in such a short time and also how insightful she was. “You’re pretty smart for a twenty-year-old.” I pulled her closer to me.
“I take after my oldest brother.”
At one o’clock, the five of us and Zeke met in front of the event center building.
“Where is it?” Huxley asked.
“Back of my truck,” Zeke told him.
We all turned to where it sat, wrapped in a moving blanket.
“Ready to do this?” I asked.
“Yep,” said Hux. “How?”
I motioned to the truck bed, and we went over to it, followed by Ev and Zeke. The first thing we did was set up two sawhorses, then each grabbed a corner of the sign and eased it out. Once it was steady, Zeke nodded, and I removed the blanket.
“Oh my God.” Arlow gasped and covered her mouth.
Brylee lowered her camera. “It’s beautiful.”
Huxley put his arm around my shoulders. “It really is.”
The only one who didn’t speak was Everest. He stood beside Zeke with his back to us, and I didn’t need to see his tears to know they were falling.
“The Thomas Whitmore Event Center,” Arlow said when we hung it next to the main entrance and the six of us stood and stared at it. “He never would’ve let us do this if he was alive,” she added.
“He wouldn’t have wanted the fuss, but he would’ve loved the sign, especially since Sebastian created it.” Zeke came over and squeezed my shoulder. “He’s here with you today, in the same way your brothers and sisters are.”
“And you,” I said.
Zeke nodded. “And me.”
“Hey, Ev. Got a minute?” I asked when we were in the cellar, getting ready to bring the wine up.
“Sure. What’s up?”
“Did you receive an offer to buy out your shares of Whitmore?”
“From Gannon and Barrow?”
“Apparently, you did.”
“We all did, Bas.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
He studied me. “What was there to tell? Arlow, Hux, and Bry did the same thing with theirs as I did with mine—wadded it up and threw it in the trash. Well, actually, I think Hux and Arlow burned theirs. Brylee threatened to send it back with a big ‘fuck you’ written across it, but I think we managed to talk her out of it.” Ev put his hand on my shoulder, and when he squeezed it, I realized my dad used to do that too. Maybe that was where Zeke got it from.
“Love you, bro.”
“Love you too, Ev.”
I’d walked past Gemma’s office at least ten times, but she was never in it. Anyone I asked said they hadn’t seen her. Finally, I called her.
“Where are you?” I asked.
“Standing right behind you.”
I turned, and there she was, more beautiful than ever, even in her jeans and flannel shirt, with her hair a mess and a pencil stuck behind her ear.
“I missed you,” I said, wrapping her in my arms.
“I looked for you all day but never in the right places, I guess.”
I laughed. “Same. I’m happy to see you now, though.”
She checked her watch. “I’m sorry to say it isn’t for long. I need to go change, and so do you.”
“That’s where I was headed, but I had to see you first.”
“You have sawdust in your hair,” she said, ruffling it.
“Yeah.”
“How does it look?”
“Amazing.”
“I can’t wait to see it.”
I realized I should’ve found her when we put it up. “I’m sorry, I should’ve—”
She put her finger on my lips. “The way it went was the way it was supposed to go.”
“Let’s go see it now.” I took her hand, and before we went out front, I told her to close her eyes and led her to where she’d have the best view.
“Okay, open.”
She gasped. “Oh my God, Bas, it’s perfect.”
I couldn’t contain my smile. “It turned out great, right?”
“Better than great. I can’t get over how absolutely perfect it is. You’d think I’d be able to think of a better word, but there isn’t any.”
“By the way, we talked about an unveiling, but it’s too complicated. By the time everyone arrives, it’ll be dark and cold. I hope you’re not disappointed.”
“Of course I’m not. It isn’t for the people coming to First Pour anyway. It’s for you and your family.” She took a step closer to it. “There couldn’t have been a better design. It fits so well.”
“Ask him who made it,” Huxley said, walking up behind us.
Gemma looked over her shoulder at him. “I don’t need to. No one other than Bas could’ve done this.”
When my brother went inside, I put my arms around her from behind, and we stared at it. “Thank you for saying that.”
She leaned into me. “They weren’t just words, Bas. I meant them sincerely.”
I knew she did, and in that moment, I came so close to telling her how I felt. So close. But now wasn’t the time. Soon, though.