“Sounds wonderful.” Josh waited for Emma to sit down, and then he took his place beside her. He held her hand while Arty said grace, then passed the platter of sandwiches over to her.
“What do you want when you get married, Em?” Filly asked.
“The same thing as Sophie. My folks had the big wedding with the huge cake, big white dress, and a reception at the country club. That had to be the worst marriage in history, so I sure don’t want anything like that,” she answered.
“Smart choice,” Arty said.
“I’ll make a trip to town tomorrow for silk flowers. I’ll need to make two bouquets plus a few corsages and boutonnieres for everyone. Plus, we’ll need stuff to decorate the arch. Sophie left it up to me to pick the colors. I think red roses would be nice,” Filly said.
“Why go to town? If you made an order now, they’d all be delivered to your doorstep in two days,” Emma said.
“That’s a great idea. After we get done eating, Josh can bring his laptop out here, and we’ll get everything ordered,” Filly agreed. “That will save the whole day that it takes to go to town, shop, and come home.”
“What do we do if it rains?” Josh asked.
Filly glared at him. “It wouldn’t dare. Not on Sophie’s day. So, give me your opinion. Red roses?”
“Sophie loves this place so much,” Emma said. “Maybe we should think about using cactus flowers, and what do you think about some little hummingbirds on the arch?”
“I could dig up some blooming cactus and desert grass, plant them in a couple of big pots, and put them beside the arch,” Josh offered.
“I’m liking that idea.” Filly nodded. “That sounds like we should use sage-green tulle instead of white?”
“I believe you’re beginning to see the light.” Arty grinned. “This will be the ceremony of the century.”
Emma was already just a little jealous. This was exactly what she would want when she got married. This place and these people had saved her life. Maybe she could save all the decorations for the day when it was her turn to jump over the broom.
A rumble out in the distance took their attention away from the upcoming festivities. Emma shaded her eyes with her hand and stared at the dust boiling up behind a vehicle coming down the road. Sophie must have forgotten something, and Emma felt two ways about it. Part of her was excited that she could see Sophie again. The other part didn’t think she could bear another goodbye.
“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.