Liddy forced a smile of her own. “Nothing like having a family of ministers on your prayer chain.”
“Yup, my dad and my brother are on the case.” Emma got up and retrieved the box of tissues from a nearby counter and placed them in front of Liddy.
“I had no idea you were so worried about Chris.” Liddy pulled a tissue from the box and wiped her face, took a second, and blew her nose.
“He performs in all these big stadiums. He flies everywhere around the world. I worry about some fanatic setting off a bomb, like what happened at that concert in England a few years ago—that suicide bomber?—or smuggling a gun into the arena and shooting up the place.”
Emma visibly shivered. “Why does anyone do that batshit crazy stuff?”
Emma’s use of batshit crazy—an expression not normally in her vocabulary—was a clear indication she had some serious anxiety issues.
“And plane crashes,” Emma went on. “I worry about hijackings and faulty engines and wings falling off. I know it’s excessive. And it’s probably all unfounded. But he’s all I have.”
“I understand,” Liddy told her. And she did understand. Still, Emma’s anxiety seemed over the top. “But you might want to talk to a counselor. It might help. You know, talk out your fears.”
“I just did that.”
“I meant with a professional, someone who might have some constructive suggestions to help you cope.”
“I am coping just fine.”
“Of course you are.” Liddy hoped she didn’t sound sarcastic or patronizing. “Have you let Chris know how you feel?”
“Are you kidding? There’s nothing he can do about it except change his life, which he isn’t about to do, nor should he, just because his mother conjures up the worst possible scenario every time he announces a trip.”
“I guess all this has something to do with the fact you’re hoping he does actually have a serious girlfriend, so he’ll maybe settle down in one place for a while. Preferably in Wyndham Beach.”
“I can’t deny it’s crossed my mind. But you know, he only dates these high-profile women who live in Manhattan or LA or Paris or Rome or London. Models. Actresses. Other singers. I can’t see any of them wanting to live here, in this little out-of-the-way beach town, where the Fourth of July parade is the most exciting thing that ever happens.”
“Have you met any of these women?”
“No,” Emma admitted.
“Then maybe you shouldn’t judge. Maybe they’re more down to earth than you give them credit for.”
Emma rolled her eyes.
Liddy ignored the eye roll. “Look, Chris is a smart boy. When the time comes for him to choose a life partner, he’ll pick right.”
“Oh, of course he will. I should have more faith in him. And I shouldn’t let my imagination carry me off to dark places.” Emma gave Liddy’s arm a squeeze. “Thanks. I feel better now.”
“You’re welcome.” Liddy sniffed back what she hoped would be the last of her tears that night.
“Getting back to Grace. If I hear of anything for rent, I’ll let her know,” Emma said.
“I guess I could offer to let her stay in my guest suite.” Liddy rolled a grape on the table from one hand to the other. “Then again, having Grace stay in my house and work in my shop might be a bit too much togetherness.” She paused as a thought occurred. “But there is the little house.”
“The little house where Jim had his insurance offices?”
Liddy nodded. “I haven’t thought about that place since Jim left and took his business with him. It’s at the back of the property—actually, it’s on a separately deeded lot, like, where another big house would have been built if they’d wanted to—so it’s private. Hmmm. Something to think about.”
Liddy topped off their wine, and they sat in silence for a few moments. Finally Liddy motioned for Emma to get up so Liddy could get off the banquette.
“I want your opinion on something.” Liddy went to the refrigerator and brought a wedge of cheese back to the table. She cut a few more slices and placed them on the tray. “You remember those greeting cards Jess used to make? The ones she made for birthdays and holidays for family members and friends?”
“Of course. I was the happy recipient of several of those beautiful cards. She was always so thoughtful.” Emma settled back onto the seat opposite Liddy.
“Well, I’m thinking about framing some of them and hanging them on the walls of the bookstore.”
“That’s a great idea. I still have every birthday card she made for me. I bet Chris kept his as well. And, of course, those Christmas cards.” Emma swirled the wine around in her glass. “They were so unique and fanciful. Everyone who received one felt special.”
“If she sent you one of her cards, you were special to her.” Liddy swallowed yet another lump, remembering how every year Jessie designed her holiday cards and sent the same one to everyone on her list. But birthday cards were always one of a kind, designed especially for the recipient. It still amazed Liddy so many people had kept them, as if they knew how much love had gone into each one.
“Oh, you know the ones she made with the little animals on them? The little bears and the monkeys and the baby tigers? I loved those,” Emma recalled. “Wouldn’t they be perfect enlarged to poster size for the children’s section of the shop?”
“I hadn’t thought of that, but yeah. That would be . . .”
“Posters!” Emma was visibly excited at the thought. “The ones with the flowers would be just lovely behind the counter. Oh, and you could display some of them at the art center. I bet we could sell them.”
“Hmmm.” Liddy hadn’t thought of that, either.
“Oh! You could have them reproduced as greeting cards. You could sell them at the shop and even take orders online. Grace could add them to the online store she’s setting up.”
“That’s definitely something to think about.” Liddy frowned. “Would that be exploitive, do you think? You know, taking advantage of my dead child’s talent?”
“I just sold five of Jessie’s paintings for several thousands of dollars. How is that any different?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because Jess always hoped to sell her paintings, but as far as I know, she didn’t have any plans to do anything with her cards.”
“Doesn’t mean she wouldn’t have. Who’s to say someone—like maybe me, even—wouldn’t have suggested it to her at some point?”
“Maybe. I’ll think about it.” Liddy pulled a grape from the cluster on the tray and popped it into her mouth.
“You do that. It’s a great idea. Not just another source of cash for you but another way to get Jess’s name out there, let more people become acquainted with her work and her name.”
“There is that.” Liddy was going to have to give the idea some serious thought. Getting her daughter the recognition she deserved was important to her.
And, of course, she’d have to talk it over with Jessie, see how she felt about the prospect.
Emma was so intrigued by the thought of all they could do with Jessie’s greeting cards, she took off, leaving a half-empty glass of wine on the counter.