Chapter 49
Dexter
Mom commandeers the whole park for her art show, letting local artists rent booths for a token fee and encouraging everyone to buy their wares. Junie’s eyes are wide as we arrive, darting from one booth to the next.
“Wow. It’s like its own little market,” she breathes. “Your mom organizes all this?”
“That’s right. She’s hopelessly in love with art.” “Does she sell her own stuff too?”
“She considers herself more of a patron. She’s been known to show off her creations every so often, though.” Just like Archer and Colt, though they’re more into woodwork than painting.
The creative gene skipped me and I envy it sometimes, but I suppose I make up for it by being more grounded, more focused on hard numbers that make or break the future.
After sampling some Danish meatballs from a food truck–frikadeller- we wander across to Mother’s command post at a long table advertising the event and taking donations.
Patton’s already there, no doubt buttering her up, and he raises a hand in greeting as we approach.
Like always, her table looks subtle. She’s offering a few small watercolors of cardinals, the bright–red birds glowing like blood on sunlit branches and rural winter scenes.
“These are pretty!” Junie gasps at the sight. I suppress a smile.
Hard to believe there was a time when I used to feel like that, too, when I was a kid. Like my mother was this superwoman, a force of nature capable of anything and totally invincible.
Now, her cardinals are bittersweet, knowing they damn well might’ve saved her life. I’ve also seen my mother break and plummet down an abyss, barely finding her way back from the bottom.
That’s what love does.
That’s what happens when the tether you’ve made to one person suddenly gets clipped, and I’d do well to remember it.
There’s a reason I don’t date, let alone pursue a real marriage.
And while I’d like to think I had something to do with saving my mother, I know the art was more important in the
end.
Without it, after what happened to Dad, I don’t think she’d be standing here, smiling and radiant as she greets familiar faces and talks about her work.
Time might’ve dimmed the excitement that used to make me feel, but seeing Junie’s face reminds me of a more innocent time.
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Chapter 49
What it’s like to feel awestruck by the world again.
“Junie!” Mom exclaims the second she sees her, hurrying out from behind the stall, not a hair out of place. “Dexter! I’m so glad you could make it.”
“Of course. You think I’d miss it?” I tease, allowing a flurry of kisses on the cheek. She smothers Junie in kisses, too.
Although her hand tenses in mine, I’m relieved when she smiles up at Mom with utter sincerity.
“This is an awesome lineup, Mrs. Rory. Did you see those guys with the big crow sculptures coming in? Like something out of a fantasy book.” Junie laughs.
“Ah, yes, that would be the Welters. They’re brothers and they travel around the country, always bringing something new back home.” The way Mother gushes makes it clear she knows everyone here. “Would you believe they used to do special effects for movies? Though the crow theme feels a little morbid, I’m afraid.”
“… the birds did look really sad,” Junie says, frowning. “Except for the two at the end, sitting on that big mansion or castle or whatever it is. A little hopeful, maybe?”
“That’s their finale, ‘Love Conquers All,‘ I think they’re calling it. They’ve been at it all summer, ever since they came back from this little town called Redhaven.”
“Redhaven?” I grind out. “Sounds like a nice place to get murdered.” “Dexter! Behave.” Mother wags a finger.
“I can’t believe you’ve been doing this for years and I’ve never been over here. Not that I have a lot of free time,” Junie says.
“I’m just glad to have you here today, dear.”
“Did you paint all these yourself?” Junie glances at me with a strange, almost thoughtful look. “I saw some cardinals in Dex’s office.”
“I’ve painted specially for Dexter, yes.” Mom beams at her for noticing. “Think of it as a family symbol. Cardinals represent new beginnings, spring, devotion… There was a time when the whole family needed that and I found it in these beautiful birds.”
Oh, fuck.
My throat tightens, knowing she’s talking about Dad.
Knowing how far she’s come, learning to grieve and remember without blowing herself to pieces.
Cardinals also symbolize more esoteric things she doesn’t mention, like her belief that Dad’s spirit still visits in symbols sometimes, but that’s the kind of gritty detail you don’t just hand out on a second meeting.
“Well, they’re gorgeous, Delly. I’m jealous. One day, I’d like to express myself with more than food, too,” Junie says, clasping her hands adorably.
Patton leans closer, looking wilted in the evening heat. Why the idiot decided to come here in a suit, who knows.
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Chapter 49
He digs his elbow into my side.
“That’s a big–ass ring on her finger, Bro. Nicely done.” “Shut up, Pat. Don’t even start.”
He grins. “You’re starting to make me think, my man. Having a woman is one way you can show off some money, huh?”
“It’s one way you wind up with no teeth left, little brother.” Before I can tell him to fuck off for the ten thousandth time, our mother looks at us.
“Oh, Patton, hush. He’s finally found someone who adores the creative spark like the rest of us,” she says.
“I don’t know shit about art next to Junie,” I say.
“Dex! That’s not true.” She glares at me. “You held your own in every debate about the modern stuff–even if you lost in the end.”
Everybody laughs as Patton nudges my side again.
I bite my tongue, holding in a growl, hating that this is a family gathering and I have to play nice.
“Fine, I don’t know much about painting,” I correct. “With art, I have opinions.”
Fake meet–cute stories aside, those opinions are real. I’ll always value the abstract, maybe because it’s such a welcome break from stark reality.
Mother knows better than to come after my artistic opinions–her cardinals are damn near the only décor in my office that’s not thoroughly modern and transitional–and after another minute of conversation, which feels oddly unforced, we move on.
“Archer and Colt are over there if you two want to say hello.” Mother points to a small table farther along the grassy hill.
“Gladly.” I eyeball Patton hard.
The red summer sun beats down on our heads as we walk with Junie’s arm in mine, hell–bent on stealing everyone’s energy.
“Your mom’s nice,” she says. “I didn’t think she’d welcome me so easily. I’m not… I’m not like the rest of you guys.”
“Looking like you do right now, Sweet Stuff, no one would ever know.” A blush colors her cheeks, and she looks determined as we approach
Archer.
He nods at us both and even gives Junie an almost–smile.
This is Arch at his nicest, though I don’t know how much of it is an apology gesture and how much is because Colt’s sitting right beside him. The boy brings out his humanity more than anything.
Chapter 49
“This is Colton,” I say, nodding at the kid. “My nephew.”
“And a sculptor.” Colt smiles up at her with a freckled grin I’m sure will melt her heart. “Are you here with Uncle
Dex?”
“I am,” she says carefully, sending me a quick glance before bending over the woodwork items on display. “Did you
make all these?”
“Sure did,” he says proudly. I’m not sure kids are ever in the cards for me like Archer, but I don’t think I’d mind if they turned out like Colt has. “Do you want to buy anything? I’ll give you the family rate if you’re with Uncle Dex.”
“Colt, ease off. Stop selling and tell them about your work.” Archer leans back, tucking his hands behind his head and letting little Colt do the talking.
We listen to his little spiel, how he likes to challenge himself and how sculpting helps him blow off steam.
I check out the assorted items on the table. They’re a little rough around the edges, but the kid has more talent in his pinky finger than I ever will for woodwork. They’re mostly simple, everyday things.
Chapter 50
