Hummingbird Lane

by Brown, Carolyn

  “It’s Leo,” Arty said. “I wasn’t expecting him just yet, but I do have a few things ready for him.”

  “We can tell him about the new gallery while he’s here,” Emma said.

  The truck came to a stop, and Leo crawled out. “Howdy, folks.”

  “Come around and have some lunch with us,” Filly said. “Want a beer or a glass of tea?”

  “Tea is fine, and thank you.” Leo crossed the yard in a few long strides and sat down beside Filly.

  Leo hadn’t shrunk in size one single bit. His looks hadn’t changed at all, but Emma wasn’t afraid of him anymore. Another obstacle overcome, she thought.

  “What brings you out here at this time of the month?” Filly passed the sandwiches to him and poured iced tea into a red plastic cup.

  “I was on my way up to Alpine to look at some big metal art like you used to do, Arty, and it’s only five miles out of the way. Thought I’d swing by and deliver a check to Emma. Both of her paintings have sold, and they did very well.” He put two sandwiches on his plate and removed a folded check from his shirt pocket. “This is right nice of y’all to ask me to have lunch with you. I heard through the grapevine that Sophie and Teddy are putting in a gallery in Del Rio. Is that going to cut into my business with you?”

  Emma nodded. “After I deliver the first six paintings I promised you, I’m giving her an exclusive on my things.”

  “I understand and wish you well,” Leo answered. “I’ll still come by once a month and take whatever the other folks have for me, and if you ever change your mind, I’ll take whatever you can produce.”

  Even with her newfound feelings of independence, Emma was relieved to hear him say that. As sweet as he had been, she wouldn’t hurt his feelings for anything.

  “I intend to do pieces for both places,” Josh said.

  “Me too,” Arty and Filly said at the same time.

  “Y’all got anything for me today?” Leo handed the check to Emma.

  “You going to peek at that check or not?” Josh whispered.

  “I’m afraid to,” Emma said out the side of her mouth.

  “I thought you weren’t afraid of anything anymore,” Josh teased.

  Leo chuckled and took a long drink of his tea. “Don’t be. I told you in the beginning you are a star. Just don’t faint dead away. I’d hate to give you mouth-to-mouth resuscitation with chicken salad on my breath.”

  Emma opened it slowly and gasped. “Are you sure this is right?”

  “Very sure.” Leo nodded. “A big hotshot gallery owner from Seattle comes every three months to see what I’ve got. He took both of the pictures home with him. The bird with the storm went for a thousand dollars, which means he’ll get three to five for it if he sells it. The other he took, he paid seven fifty for. From what he said, he’ll be putting them on display as originals from a budding debut artist. He signed a deal with me that when they sell, and when he does reprints, that you will receive a percentage of all those sales, also, so this is just the beginning of your profits. He did that same thing with a couple of Josh’s works, and now he’s known all over the world. He offered two thousand for your eagle, but I held out until he gave me three, Josh. Same deal as always with the reprints and the sale of the original. I’ll bring the rest of y’all’s money when I come to collect what else you’ve got ready for me this month.”

  “That’s pretty spectacular for your first work,” Josh said.

  Emma’s hands shook as she stared at the check. This meant she could live right here at the park for a while without ever touching her trust fund money. She had proven that she could make it on her own with the money she earned.

  “It’s only about ten times what I was hoping for. Thank you so much, Leo.” She smiled across the table at him.

  “I wasn’t shootin’ a line of BS when I said you were good.” Leo finished off his tea and filled his cup again. “This is just the beginning. A few folks have already seen what my buyer in Seattle took home and have called me for a peek at what else you produce. Between me and Sophie, we’ll make you famous.” He glanced over at Filly. “Mind if I take a couple of cookies and my tea with me? I should be going if I’m going to make it to Alpine at the right time.”

  “Not one bit. Want me to wrap up another sandwich for you to eat on the road?” Filly asked.

  “They are delicious, but the cookies and tea will be fine, thank you,” Leo said as he stood up. “I’ll see y’all soon. Josh, don’t you forget that I get first dibs on that picture of Emma if you ever want to get rid of it.”

  “Ain’t goin’ to happen,” Josh said through a grin.

  “Didn’t think so, but I intend to keep you reminded.” Leo waved over his shoulder as he went back to his truck.

  “What picture?” Arty asked. “You been keeping things from us?”

  “I’ll be glad to show it to you,” Josh said. “I just didn’t want to bring it out until Emma had passed judgment on it.”

  “I love it. Josh captures spirit and soul in his work.” Emma tucked the check into her pocket and sent up a silent prayer of gratefulness for all the miracles that had happened in the past month.

  “Well, go get it,” Filly said. “You know how impatient I can be.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Josh flashed a smile and headed over toward his trailer.

  In a few minutes, he brought the drawing back and stood it up at the end of the table. “What do you think?” he asked.

  “I still say that’s your best work ever. You could demand whatever price you wanted for that,” Filly said.

  “But some things aren’t up for sale, are they, son?” Arty asked.

  Emma nodded and thought that a person’s heart wasn’t for sale, but it could be given away.

  “You got that right,” Josh answered. “It will always be mine until I die, and then maybe I’ll pass it down to whichever of my children appreciates good art.”

  “Does that mean we’re going to get grandchildren someday?” Filly’s eyes twinkled.

  “One never knows what the future might hold,” Emma answered. “Just a little over a month ago, I was stuck in a fancy institution with no hope in sight. Today I have money that I don’t even have to touch because I’ve made enough with two of my paintings to pay rent and live right here for a few more weeks.”

  Suddenly she realized that she definitely wanted children, and she wanted Josh to be the father. Together, and with Filly’s and Arty’s help, they would figure out how to be good parents.

  You are such a child. You didn’t even think about protection when you were romping around on the bed last night with a guy that couldn’t be worse suited to you. Victoria’s voice was clear as a bell in her head. You’ve never been able to think things through. You’ll always pull stupid stunts if I’m not there to take care of you.

  “Go away,” Emma whispered.

  “What?” Josh asked.

  “I was fighting with my mother,” Emma confessed.

  “Who won?” Arty asked.

  “I guess I did, because I don’t care what she thinks of me anymore,” Emma admitted.

  “Good girl,” Filly said. “Now, Josh, take that gorgeous piece of art back to your trailer and bring out your laptop so me and Em can get busy buying what we need for the wedding. I’ve been putting aside money just in case Sophie would let us have her wedding here, and I can’t wait to get things ordered.”

  Emma glanced down at her flat stomach. Was there a baby in there? The idea excited her—something that was a part of both her and Josh. Someone that would be hers to raise, hopefully to grow up healthy, both physically and mentally. But how would Josh feel about that? Children arriving all of a sudden when they’d only just started a relationship?

  She was still worrying with that idea when supper was over that evening. Josh stayed on her back porch with her for a while, but when it got close to bedtime, he kissed her on the forehead and told her good night. She added a new worry to the list—did he think they were m
oving too fast or had all the wedding preparations that afternoon spooked him?

  After a long, warm shower, she got dressed in a pair of pajama pants that Sophie had left behind and a faded nightshirt and crawled into her twin bed. She’d forgotten to turn the light off and had to get up to do that. On her way to the switch, she stopped and read the plaque again. “Face-to-face with endless obstacles,” she said out loud. “Well, Josh, this is an obstacle that we need to face and talk about, and the longer we put it off, the bigger it will get.” She crammed her feet down into the pair of boots that Sophie had left for her, took a deep breath, and marched from her back porch to his. Evidently, Coco couldn’t decide if she wanted in or out, because the glass door was open. As Emma entered, Coco raised her head up from the sofa where she’d been curled up sleeping and meowed.

  “Sorry, girl,” Emma whispered. “I’ll pet you in the morning. I’m on a mission right now.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she covered the distance down the short hallway.

  Mercy! You’ve gotten brazen. She could hear Sophie giggling in her head.

  I know what I want, and I’m not letting fear hold me back, she agreed with a nod of her head as she opened Josh’s bedroom door.

  The light was still on, and Josh was lying on his back staring at her picture. He didn’t smile when he realized she was standing in the door.

  “We need to talk.” She sat down on the edge of the bed.

  “I’m sorry about last night,” Josh said.

  “I’m not a bit sorry, so why are you?” she asked.

  “I didn’t think about protection. I was so wrapped up in the moment that”—he stumbled over the words—“you probably never want to see me again.”

  “Well, I wasn’t thinking about protection, either. I haven’t ever been on the pill or even thought about birth control,” she told him, “and I wouldn’t be here if I never wanted to see you again. If I got pregnant last night, then I’m happy about it. If I didn’t, I hope there’s a possibility that I will another time.”

  He pulled back the covers and smiled. “You never cease to amaze me, Em. I’ve fallen completely in love with you.”

  “I’m in love with you, too.” She crawled under the covers and curled up next to him, sharing the same pillow. “I don’t want to sleep alone ever again.”

  “Me neither.” Josh started a string of kisses on her neck that ended with a steamy one on her lips. “Think maybe this place is big enough that you could move in with me?”

  “I’ve always wanted a tiny house,” Emma said, “and someone to love me just like I am.”

  “You’ve got both.” Josh pulled the covers up over their heads.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Emma was busy braiding silk daisies into Sophie’s hair when Filly popped into the trailer early that Saturday morning with a big pan of cinnamon rolls in her hands. “You’ve got to eat something or else you’ll be too weak to get both feet off the ground. If you don’t when you jump over the broom, then the marriage isn’t valid.”

  “Thank you.” Rebel yawned. “I’m starving. These two pesky girls had me up until after midnight. I can’t believe how good Em looks with her tanned face. She was always such a pale little girl, but she looks so healthy now that I hardly recognized her.”

  “Fresh air, good food, and friends are magic,” Emma said.

  “Have you seen Teddy this morning?” Sophie asked. “Is he nervous?”

  “Of course he is.” Filly giggled. “He’s afraid he’ll stumble over his vows and embarrass you. I took the guys a pan of rolls and told him that if he ate two of them, he would sail through his vows.”

  “Then I’d better eat three,” Sophie said, “because I’ve been terrified of the same thing.”

  Emma patted her friend on the back. “Don’t practice or write down anything. Just say what’s in your heart. That’s more important than all the rehearsed words in the whole world.”

  Sophie gave Emma a quick hug. “I’m so glad you’re here to share this day with me.”

  Emma couldn’t imagine being anywhere else that day, and someday she hoped that Sophie would be her matron of honor when she and Josh had a ceremony. “Not as glad as I am,” she said. “Think about it. I could be a permanent resident of a mental institution.”

  Rebel shivered.

  “Cold?” Emma asked. “I can turn up the thermostat if you are, but I didn’t want Sophie’s makeup to melt.”

  “No, honey, I was thinking about you being in a place like that for the rest of your life,” Rebel said.

  “Well, thank goodness, we don’t have to worry about that these days. She and Josh are living together, and Josh is happier than I ever hoped to see him,” Filly said. “Y’all enjoy those cinnamon rolls. I’ve got some last-minute touches to do on the cake. I’ll see you at the arch at ten o’clock sharp. I’ll be the one in the pink-and-orange hippie skirt, and I’ll be handing you girls your bouquets. Rebel, is your corsage to your liking?”

  “Filly, you’ve done an amazing job of everything,” Rebel said. “Please, let me reimburse you for part or all of it.”

  “Posh!” Filly waved the idea away with the flick of a hand. “This is my pleasure. I won’t be around when the granddaughters get old enough to get married, so you can handle that.”

  “Bull crap!” Emma said. “You’ll still be making jewelry and feeding hummingbirds when you are a hundred and ten. You can’t leave this earth until we say so, and that won’t be for a long time.”

  Filly giggled. “It’s good to be loved. See y’all in a little while.”

  Rebel cut out a roll and put it on a plate. “Today is the bride’s day, so you get the first one. Milk or coffee?”

  “Coffee,” Sophie said.

  “Milk for me, but help yourself first,” Emma said.

  “My heart is absolutely bursting with pride today to see you girls so happy.” Rebel sighed. “That day when Sophie and I pulled away from your house, and both you girls were sobbing, I thought I’d never see a day like this. I only wish Victoria could see you this happy, Em.”

  “I don’t think she cares if I’m happy. She needs to find peace in herself before she can care about others,” Emma said.

  “Amen, darlin’ girl, amen!” Rebel nodded.

  Josh and Teddy stepped out of the trailer at exactly ten o’clock and made their way to the arch. Arty had set up chairs so that Rebel and Jonathan, Teddy’s father, who was the image of Teddy, only thirty years older with a little gray in his hair and maybe thirty pounds more on his frame, could have a place to sit during the ceremony. He and Filly took their places in the other two chairs. Josh hit a button on a remote control, and Shania Twain’s voice filled the park with “From This Moment On.”

  Josh’s pulse raced when Emma stepped out onto the porch and walked slowly down the stairs. She looked so beautiful in her flowing light-green skirt and matching tank top. She wore a necklace that Filly had designed with a hummingbird on a special stone that Josh had found that very week when he and Emma had been out walking. Her dark hair had been braided into a crown with yellow daisies that seemed to float in between the folds of hair.

  Sophie came out next in her pretty off-white sundress that swept the ground. Teddy stepped to the bottom of the stairs and took Sophie’s hand in his. Together, they walked up to the arch. Sophie handed her bouquet to Emma and took Teddy’s hands in hers. She said her vows loudly and clearly. Rebel and Filly both sniffled when Teddy put the wedding band on her hand. Then he said his vows, and danged if Josh didn’t have trouble keeping the tears at bay.

  Josh pulled the remote from his pocket and hit another button. Naomi and Wynonna Judd sang “Mama He’s Crazy” as the couple stepped through the arch, and together they jumped over the broom Emma had decorated with lace, ribbons, and flowers in light green and bright yellow.

  Josh took a couple of steps forward and looped Emma’s arm in his. “You are beautiful today.”

  “Thank you, but what I am
mostly today is jealous,” she whispered as they walked through the arch to be the first ones to congratulate the newly wedded couple.

  “Well, the decorations are up, and I’ve got a pretty good idea of what I’d say to you,” Josh whispered.

  “This is Sophie’s day,” Emma said as she wrapped her arms around her best friend.

  “What are you talking about?” Sophie asked.

  “I was thinking that, since everything is already decorated . . .” Josh shrugged.

  “I can’t steal her thunder,” Emma said.

  “Honey, I can’t think of anything I’d love more than making this a double, but only if you’re ready,” Sophie said. “Here, you take my bouquet and give me yours.”

  “But . . .”

  “Hey, Filly, will you please go in my trailer and bring me the broom?” Sophie yelled.

  “What for?” Filly asked.

  “This ain’t the time to ask questions, woman.” Arty got up and brought out the broom.

  Sophie picked up her broom and laid it to the side, then laid the undecorated one in its place. “Josh and Em have something they’d like to say to each other.”

  “Holy smoke!” Filly gasped.

  Josh and Emma followed Sophie and Teddy back through the arch, then turned to face each other. Josh leaned forward and kissed Emma on the forehead. “Like the song says, from this moment, life has begun for us, Em. Fate brought you to me at a time when I thought I’d be lonely the rest of my life. I love you, and I give my hand to you right along with my whole heart. I never want to be apart from you.”

  Tears flowed down Emma’s cheeks when she said, “My heart belongs to you, and I love you because you have helped me to find myself and to stand strong on my own. I look forward to our journey through this world together, and I never want to be apart from you, either.”

  She kept one of his hands in hers, and together they jumped over the plain old kitchen broom to the applause of everyone else in the park.