“Absolutely.” He turned to her, raising his eyebrows. “Today’s the day! Everyone’s coming! Are you excited?”
She giggled. Her phone went off in her pocket. When she pulled it out, she almost lost her balance. “It’s my mom…” She read the text, and then smiled up at Luke, giving him another kiss.
The atmosphere was as lively as Callie’s emotions. “Your bags are in your room,” she said, delighted to show her mother all they’d done. She and Olivia had tied a powder-blue ribbon in a perfect bow across the porch that morning and strung silver and blue helium balloons from the railings with more ribbon bobbing in the wind. Once the local crowd had gathered, they had ceremoniously cut the ribbon. It lay now on the table next to the guestbook and pen for visitors to sign and share a few words about their stay.
She showed her mother around the downstairs, passing the small staff she’d hired with trays of drinks for the guests. The French doors were all ajar, and it was as if the entire back of the house was open to the sea. They meandered through the buzzing crowds, the beautiful breeze coming off the ocean, beach music sailing upward from the band playing on the patio below. Her mother was holding a celebratory glass of champagne. She had swept her wispy hair into an up-do, clearly having spent more effort on her appearance than Callie had seen before. She stopped to admire a painting that Lillian had brought for them as a housewarming present. It was Frederick’s painting of the horses that he’d done so many years ago. Lillian had said it belonged here.
Yesterday, Callie’s mother had texted to say she was coming. Callie had sent her an invitation for the opening, to let her know that Callie was thinking of her, but not expecting anything from it. She’d been delighted to get her mother’s text telling her that she was thrilled to be invited and she couldn’t wait to come.
“They’ve really done well, haven’t they?” Gladys said with a wide smile as she joined them. She’d been there to greet Callie’s mother when she’d arrived.
“Everything’s just lovely,” her mother said, looking around, wonder on her face. “Callie, I’m so proud of you.
Callie reached out and embraced her mother, her familiar citrusy scent taking Callie back to those nights of laughter and bedtime stories. She breathed it in, realizing how much she’d missed it.
The house was brimming with people. Olivia’s whole family was there as well—her parents and her sister. They’d brought a gorgeous sand-colored mirror as a gift, all of them chipping in together to buy it. Olivia had placed it on the mantle, leaning against the wall. The sparkle of candles shimmered off the surface of it—it was perfect.
“Hey,” Luke said with a grin as he ducked away from a few of the reporters, throwing a hand up to signal that he’d return. “How’s my girl?” He gave Callie a squeeze around the shoulders.
“Fantastic.”
Luke took a deep breath and grabbed a glass of champagne from one of the staff. “I’ll be back. I have a few more reporters who want to know about my father’s plans for the company,” he said, with slight apprehension on his face. Callie was keenly aware that he was keeping his worries at bay so as not to spoil the day. She didn’t want to think about what would happen after today. Pushing it out of her mind, she offered an encouraging smile. Then he darted off into the crowd.
“He is an absolute delight,” Gladys said. “He’s been here through everything.”
Callie twisted the new bracelet on her arm nervously, hoping to channel her grandmother’s calm. To her surprise, her mother had also brought something for them. She had brought a bottle of wine for everyone, and offered her another gift privately. Before everyone had arrived, she’d asked Callie to join her in the formal living room, that was now full of white linen-covered sofas and chairs with denim and burlap throw pillows, gauzy white curtains at the windows and a soft, driftwood-colored rug in the center of the room, Frederick’s mural providing all the color the room needed.
“I haven’t been there for you like I should have,” she said, concern causing her to frown. She’d told Callie that same thing once when she was in high school, but until now, Callie hadn’t been ready to believe her. “Time has passed so quickly,” she said, shaking her head, the lines of worry over the years etched into her face. But then, she offered a cheerful expression, her thin lips pressed into a bright smile. “I’m so happy for you. You deserve all of this.” She waved a hand in the air, taking in a few breaths as if she were putting in order what she was going to say. “Anyway, I wanted you to have this.” She dug around in a small sack she’d brought in with her, pulling out a tiny gift bag and handing it to Callie. Callie reached into the bag and pulled out a gift box, opening it gently.
She gasped quietly as she pulled from the cotton batting a delicate silver bracelet with a single charm. She held it up and inspected it, admiring its beauty. “Is that a diamond?”
“It’s the diamond from your grandmother’s wedding ring. She wanted you to have it. I made it into a bracelet for you. She told me to wait for the perfect occasion—you know how she was. She liked to make a statement.”
Callie smiled. “I do remember. I love it.” She slipped it on and hugged her mother, closing her eyes and squeezing her tightly.
“I brought a little something for the house too,” she said. “It’s up in my suitcase.” Callie had taken the gift out to Olivia later that morning and they’d opened a small picture frame with little sand dollars at the corner.
“We should all take a picture today!” Olivia had said.
They’d agreed that once the crowds had gone, they’d take a photo for the frame. But for now, it was time to entertain. Callie and Olivia had hired a band to play outside on the patio, they’d put fresh flowers in tiny pots on every table inside and out, and, while they’d had to cancel their original caterer because they were low on funds, the ladies had worked quite hard to make the spread of food elegant and simple, hiring only a small staff to work the party. Even Gladys had joined in, delighting in having a reason to make her favorite dishes all at once. The paddle fans on the porches whirred, causing the beaded driftwood mobiles to tinkle like wind chimes, the ocean calmly lapping as if it were celebrating this moment of completion and relaxation. It had all come down to this: opening day.