Lib Novel Page 166
“Oh, well…” Smiling, she rolled her shoulders. “We haven’t brought up that major four-letter word yet. It’s a really big word.”
“I know love when I’m looking at it. And it makes me realize I didn’t see it when I looked at you with Brandon.”
If she couldn’t say it all to her mother, then who?
“I’ve never felt this way about anyone else, and more? I reallylikeTrey, for so many reasons. I don’t know what it says about me that I didn’t have that, not really, not honestly, with someone I planned to marry.”
“It says you nearly made a mistake. But you didn’t, and that’s what matters. You told me you thought he’d head up By Design’s presentation tomorrow.”
“I’d be surprised if he didn’t. He’s good, Mom, Brandon’s very good.”
“You’re better.”
With that, Winter popped the cork.
“I heard that!” Cleo came in. “Before you pour, I have something for you.”
She handed Winter a package wrapped in embossed white paper with a pink ribbon.
“A thanks for hauling my stuff up to Maine before I moved, for sending me recipes, and for being, since college, my Boston mama.”
“The first was no trouble at all, the second’s my surprised pleasure, and the third? My absolute delight.”
When she unwrapped the framed painting, Winter teared up again. “Oh, Cleo.”
“When did you do that?” Sonya came around the counter. “You didn’t tell me you did that.”
“You don’t have to know everything.”
The dreamy watercolor showed Sonya, in profile, sitting sideways on the seawall, hair caught in the breeze. Yoda has his front paws on her knee, and she her hand on his head.
“It’s beautiful, Cleo, just so beautiful. Baby, look howcontentyou are.”
“I looked out one day, and there you were, just like that. And I knew then and there it was a gift Winter had to have.”
“I’ll treasure it, and every day when I look at it, I’ll know my baby’s where she’s happy.”
Over lunch and mimosas, cake and cappuccinos, they talked about everything.
At Winter’s insistence, they set up the displays and ran through the presentation.
She sat quietly, face impassive, legs crossed, hands folded on her knee.
At the end, Winter applauded politely, then let out a cheer, jumped up.
“Brilliant!” She hugged Sonya tight. “My daughter’s brilliant! And so’s her best friend. Ryder Sports would be idiots not to go with your campaign. It’s the best.”
“You haven’t seen By Design’s.”
“I don’t need to.” She flicked that away. “Yours has punch and it has heart. And the displays?”
Clasping her hands together, she studied the slick posters that had once been only ideas on a mood board.
“Brilliant again. Cleo, you look fabulous.”
“I just can’t help myself.”
With a laugh, Winter gave her a one-armed hug. “And Trey? Very handsome. And this is Owen, also very handsome. But all of you, all the rest? People, not models, not actors—and that’s part of the brilliance.”