“No, thank you,” Emma said. “I love you, and I appreciate the offer, but you and Teddy need to live your own lives. I never want to live in a city again, but I’m happy you’ll be closer than Dallas. I’m still hoping that Josh will rent me this trailer on a permanent basis.”
“Have you talked to him about that?” Sophie asked.
“Not until I see if I can sell enough paintings to afford such a thing. I told Josh to get me a phone when he and Arty go to town. Filly’s going with them this time, and she said she knew just what kind to buy me, but now I’m worried that I won’t have enough money to pay for the damn thing. Mother sure screwed up things when she froze my accounts,” Emma said.
“Well, you’ve got a while to figure that out, because that rent is paid up through the week of July Fourth,” Sophie told her. “And, honey, I talked to my lawyer, and he’s looking into that business. I don’t think she can legally do that.”
“Thank you! I hate to ask, but if that phone is more than what I have . . .”
“There’s money in the coffee can in the freezer, and two envelopes with our grocery money on top of the fridge. Give Josh an envelope a week while I’m gone and use what you need from the freezer. You can pay me back anytime you want,” Sophie said.
“Thank you, again, but I thought we were only going to be here a couple of months.”
“Nope, I pay for April through July. But this year is special. Teddy and I are going to have a broom-jumping ceremony on July Fourth.” Sophie was almost breathless.
“You are engaged!” Emma squealed. “You committed!”
“I did, but”—Sophie lowered her voice—“I’m still a little worried that maybe I’m just agreeing so that I won’t hurt Teddy’s feelings. We need to have one of those all-nighter talks when I get home.”
“We can do that. But if you love him, and you know it in your heart, what’s there to be worried about? Can I please decorate the broom?” Emma asked.
“Ask Filly if that’s what the maid of honor does. We are only inviting my mother, his dad, and the folks at the park. Then we’re coming back here to Del Rio to honeymoon in our own house while we work on getting the gallery ready to open,” Sophie said.
Emma heard what Sophie said, but she could hardly believe it. “Gallery? You’re opening your own gallery? Oh. My. God! Sophie, this is what we always dreamed about doing when we were young. You will continue to paint, right?”
“Of course. I’d die if I couldn’t smell paint every day.” Sophie laughed out loud.
“Tell her the rest now.” Teddy’s voice was faint, but Emma heard it very well.
“We’re buying this old building here in Del Rio,” Sophie said. “I was saving the best until last.”
“Why would you do that?” Emma asked. “And your engagement is the best anyway.”
“It’s got an upstairs loft where I can paint, and we want to sell your paintings, too, and I want to bring in Josh’s work, and Arty’s and Filly’s. We are only going to sell Texas art, and we’ll promote and advertise, and . . .” She stopped to catch a breath.
“Are you kiddin’ me? For real, your own place to sell your work?” Emma was glad she was sitting on the floor. “And you really want to display my little paintings?”
“You promised Leo six paintings, but after that, I want you to sign with us exclusively,” Sophie told her. “I can’t expect Arty and Filly to give me an exclusive since they’ve been working with Leo so long, but I sure want your things. We’ll drive up there once a month to pick up whatever y’all will let us have, and that way I can have a visit with you. Or you can bring it down here to me and spend a few days in our house.”
Emma shook her head even though she was aware that Sophie couldn’t see her. “And what would I drive? I don’t have a vehicle anymore, and unless your lawyer can figure out a way to get Mother to unfreeze my accounts, it will be a long time before I have one again.”
“Honey, pretty soon you will be able to buy any type of car you want,” Sophie said. “Leo knows paintings, and those two you sent with him are going to sell high, believe me. Then when we open this place in the fall, you’ll be raking in the money.”
Sophie was a lot more confident than Emma could ever be. She wouldn’t let herself think in terms like that. She just hoped that she could make enough money that she would never have to leave Hummingbird Lane, and that Josh would rent the trailer to her on a permanent basis.
“Are you still there?” Sophie asked.
“I’m here, but I think I must be having a dream. This can’t all be real. My heart is thumping around in my chest like a bass drum,” Emma said. “To think that only a little while ago I was trying to figure out what exactly I was repressing and how to remember so I could stop going to institutions.”
“Stick with me, my friend, and there might be more on the way,” Sophie said.
“Can I tell the rest of the family?” Emma asked.
“Of course, and ask Filly to tell you even more about jumping the broom,” Sophie said. “Em, I’m so happy and so excited that I think I’m the one having the dream.”
“We have to have a cake and wine, and . . .”
“Nothing big or fancy,” Sophie laughed.
“And a dress,” Emma finished.
“We’ll talk about all that when I get home,” Sophie said. “Right now, they’re calling us to board the plane. See you later.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “And if you’ve got a hotline to heaven, pray that this fear that I’m rushing into this will go away.”
“You got my prayers, my positive thoughts, and love. See you later.” Emma held the phone in her hands for a few minutes before she stood up and put it back on the base. When she and Sophie were little girls, neither of them liked to say goodbye, so they just said see you later.
“Hey! You ready for supper?” Josh’s voice floated through the open back door.
“Be right there.” She slipped on a pair of flip-flops and went out the front door.
Josh met her halfway across the lawn. They fell into step together, and her hand brushed against his. A strange feeling wrapped itself around her at just that simple gesture. Was that what Sophie had been talking about in college, one of the last times they had met for ice cream? She had said that there were sparks or vibes between her and her newest boyfriend, some substitute professor. Emma stole a few glances at Josh. He was handsome, and kind, and funny, and she was comfortable with him, but what they had was friendship—not unlike what she had with Filly and Arty.
Did touching Arty’s hand when he passed the biscuits at the supper table ever give you a little jolt? Sophie’s voice was in her head.
Of course not! Emma pushed the crazy thought aside.
“I’ve got news from Sophie,” she said when she took her seat across the table from Josh and Filly.
“Arty, hurry up and say grace,” Filly said. “And make it a short one, because I want to hear what Sophie said. It must be good news, since Emma looks like she’s about to dance a jig.”