Chapter 30
CHAPTER 30
“ W e got the wedding album back!” Muriel exclaimed, running into Cora’s studio after school with a white fluffy photo album in her hands.
“I want to see!” Cora said, dropping what she was doing with the silkscreens and running over to the album.
“Oh, that’s such a great picture,” she said as soon as Muriel opened the front cover to a photo of her and Oliver kissing in the church.
On the day of Muriel and Oliver’s wedding, the sun had come out and shined down on them. For the ceremony, the autumn air had warmed up just enough to make things comfortable for the bride and groom, but by the reception, it had cooled down as the sun had started to set, which had been perfect for dinner and dancing in her mother’s barn.
Muriel looked gorgeous in her mermaid-cut gown. Cora could hardly keep it together during the ceremony. Their father had gotten the most emotional.
Cora made the first toast as maid of honor, and it was no surprise she’d made the crowd tear up.
Julian, who had recently left rehabilitation and had been sober for sixty days, made the crowd clap and laugh at the end of his best man speech. He ended with, “Oliver’s one lucky guy!”
This delighted everyone, including the bride and groom, who kissed when everyone tapped their glasses with silverware.
“The pictures turned out perfect,” Cora said, looking at the last few one more time. “You and Oliver make such a cute couple,” she said as she flipped to another page.
Muriel beamed as she looked down at her wedding photos, closed the cover, and opened it again.
Then Muriel made that sappy face whenever she remembered that Cora would soon leave for Los Angeles. “Is he going to be okay with you being gone that long?”
“It’s only a week, and he’s going to be fine,” Cora said. She rubbed her arm like a mom would a child with hurt feelings.
Cora had never expected her Maine-inspired fabric collection to sell to more than just tourists here and there. Maybe get into a boutique or two willing to carry her designs as pillows or aprons to a kitchen shop. But somehow, a big-time designer saw her stuff and wanted it for a Hollywood celebrity’s house.
“But what if he’s bored without you?” Muriel said. “I mean, he just moved here. He doesn’t know anyone.”
“He knows you and Oliver. Besides, he’s a big boy,” Cora said, returning to her silkscreen and deciding to close up for the night. He knows how to take care of himself.”
“But what if he doesn’t like it here because of us?” Muriel said. “You saw how Oliver hangs all over him with the whole being an author thing.”
Cora laughed at that. “He was a riot the other night at dinner, talking to him about character development.”
“Oliver gets so nerdy,” Muriel said, but Cora thought she saw her sister smile to herself.
Cora rolled her eyes in amusement. “Julian’s coming up for the week, so don’t worry. He’ll have his bestie. Those two will be inseparable. I don’t even see Brandon when Julian comes up.”
Muriel nodded. “I’m glad he’s doing so well.”
Cora remembered him coming to her apartment in Boston six months ago. “He’s doing great. I’m so glad he’s left finance.”
“Oliver said their dad has been cool about everything,” Muriel said.
“I think with his family’s support and being open with everyone, he’ll continue to be successful,” Cora said, praying she was right.
Muriel picked up a new bolt of fabric Bonnie had brought from the mill. “Isn’t this gorgeous!”
“It’s the same fabric we used for your wedding quilt,” Cora said, rolling out the material for her to see.
The Queen Bees had worked for months to create the perfect wedding quilt for Muriel and Oliver using Cora’s fabrics. All the ladies had designed one square representing Blueberry Bay and its community. Some cross-stitched scenic houses and buildings of the village. Others painted their squares. Cora had designed a mermaid couple. Even Gordon designed a square with a quote about love and marriage.
“I love that quilt,” Muriel said for the hundredth time.
The sisters walked out from the backroom and into Cora’s new fabric shop, where shelves of Blueberry Bay Linens were stocked for sale. Bedding, bath, and kitchen linens were all folded delicately and placed in organized piles. Cora could hardly keep her shelves stocked since opening the brick-and-mortar shop in the village this spring.
“I’m going to hire someone to help in the store,” Cora said.
“You could always hire a teacher off on summer break,” Muriel offered.
“I thought you were doing science camp,” Cora said, locking up the register. She started turning off the lights.
“I still am,” Muriel said. “I just thought I’d offer.”
Cora thought about it. “I could use extra hands, for sure. I’m also going to offer an internship, but that’s paid . I want to give someone else a chance to learn the whole process. I called the local university, and they have a few students who might be interested. Plus, Bonnie is up for hiring some more workers, with the collection doing so well.”
“That’s amazing,” Muriel said, stuffing her wedding album into her teacher bag with all her other papers. “I better get home and finish grading these papers before dinner.”
“Okay,” Cora said, stopping at the end of the sidewalk and hugging her sister. I’ll see you when I get back.”
“Call me when you land in Los Angeles,” Muriel said before letting go.
Cora nodded. “I will.”
“Don’t forget about us, little people,” Muriel said, walking backward toward her car.
“Get going!” Cora waved her sister off and climbed the stairs above the fabric shop.
She opened the door, and the smell of chowder and baked bread filled the space. “I have been looking forward to this all day.”
“Your last New England meal,” Brandon said, welcoming her home into his arms. “I even got fresh clams from the market.”
“Seriously?” She leaned over the stove, still in his arms, and inhaled the aroma. “It smells so good.”
“Just something to remind you of the people who love you back home,” he said, kissing her.
“You’re worse than my sister,” Cora said, kissing him back but grabbing a piece of bread from behind his back. “It’s just a magazine article.”
“In LA, and for some Hollywood superstar,” he said.
“She’s not that famous,” Cora said, dipping the bread into the soup. She moaned as it melted in her mouth.
Cora still couldn’t believe her designs would be featured in a cover story in the newest Home and Garden magazine. An Oscar award-winning actress wanted her linens in her newly decorated house.
“It’s going to change everything for you,” Brandon said, looking down at her, still in her arms. You know you’re going to have to thank her, don’t you?”
“Thank who?” Cora doubted the magazine would even bother talking to her about her inspiration and who she wanted to thank.
“Madame Dubois,” he said.
This made Cora laugh out loud, and she wrapped her arms around Brandon’s neck and kissed him. She continued to kiss him as they stood in their perfect little kitchen on a perfect night, where they’d eat a perfect meal.
“Things really are perfect,” she said.
“It’s my chowder, isn’t it?”
A laugh rolled out of Cora as Brandon dipped her in his arms and kissed her.