Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
“What?” I ask, turning to face the wall he’s gesturing at.
“What do you think?” he asks. “Too much? Not enough?”
“Just right,” I say, admiring the display he’s put together for our latest artist showcase. There’s just the right amount of decoration on the wall, allowing the art itself to stand out whilst also enhancing the theme of the exhibition.
Lizzie gurgles as if putting her stamp of approval on the decision, and we both laugh.
I bounce her up and down on my arm – our daughter, the latest addition to our family. She’s won over everyone’s hearts, from her much older sister (a constant source of babysitting duties) to the customers who regularly come into the gallery. Since the made-up scandal with Robiye blew over, it’s enjoyed amazing success from both critics and buyers, and Finn has managed to score some big names for the latest event. I’m sure it’s going to be a big hit, too.
“You’re here again?” Eric, the foreman of the team installing the new layout for this special exhibition, nods and grins at me. “I thought you had class.”
“I’m on my way there as soon as we finish up this wall,” I say, smiling. “I had to bring someone over to stay with Daddy, didn’t I?” I peer down at Lizzie and nuzzle my nose against the top of her head, making her giggle.
“Wait, let me go get my coffee,” Eric jokes. “It could use a little sugar, and you three are so sweet together it’s just dripping out into the air.”
Finn laughs, leaning over to kiss my forehead as well as taking Lizzie from my arms. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says, mock-gruffly. “We’re here to do serious business. Right, Lizzie?”
Lizzie gurgles in response to her father’s voice, making us all laugh again.
“I’ll head out, then,” I say. With the help of the professors allowing me to switch my studies to part-time, the past year has gone smoother than I thought it would. And since moving in with Finn, and getting the use of Bernard as well, it’s been easier to keep up with class than it was before we met. This year is going to go off with a bang, and I should have enough credits to graduate by the end of it.
“Wave to Mommy,” Finn says, lifting Lizzie’s tiny hand to wave in the air as I walk backward, not wanting to take my eyes off them.
“Stop it,” I tell him, only half-joking. “You’re making me not want to leave.”
Finn drops Lizzie’s hand and quickly spins around, hiding her from me, before looking back over his shoulder with a cheeky grin.
My husband. Who would have thought I’d be able to say that? Yet, here we are. And I wouldn’t change it for anything in the entire world.
Extended Epilogue
Finn
I take a glass of champagne from a passing tray, and take a sip, ready to salute my wife.
She’s standing in the center of a small ring of people, all pressed around listening to her talk. And of course, what she has to say is very interesting; it’s what they all came here for. A statement from the artist on her art, at this – Candy’s very first solo exhibition.
It may have helped that her husband runs the gallery, yes, but that’s not why I decided to put it on. It’s because when I looked at all the submissions I had from agents and independent artists trying to get their work shown, I realized that Candy’s actually was the best. All of the other joint and group exhibitions she’s taken part in at other galleries since graduating college have been building up to this. She earned it, fair and square.
Benji grabs for my champagne flute and I hold it further out to the side, where our youngest boy can’t reach it. I glance across the crowd to where, somewhere near the back, Lexie is doing a great job of corralling her younger siblings, five year old Lizzie and three year old Tommy. They aren’t even making any noise, subdued into silence by the sound of their mother’s voice at the front of the room.
“And to finish, I’d like to thank the people who made this exhibition possible,” Candy says. The years have made her even more beautiful, I think; she stands in a floor-length golden gown, highlighting her amazing figure. “The support of the team here at the gallery, including Eric and his builders. Alex, who is my best friend and also a sister to my children. My children, whose inspiration means everything. And, of course, my husband, Finn – the owner of this gallery and the man who made it possible for me to pursue my art without having to worry about whether or not it would be accepted. And it has been. And finally, thank you for coming tonight… cheers!”