Who knew this small town could be so interesting?
The historian in me—theteacherin me—finds instant reward in their amazement, just as I do in my classroom on good days.My hand rests on the bluejay in my pocket, knowing Jay would be proud to see it.
But it’s not perfect.
I move to the elegant staircase and perch on the fourth step.From here, I can see almost everything in the main room—each carefully constructed section, the entry to the room of darker displays, the small buffet along the wall, and the new escape room, presently hidden under a curtain with one of Marigold’s signs:coming soon.The quiet artist stands with her boyfriend near the entry, seemingly happy to be apart from the crowd.Marnie and Grady mingle close by, smiling and holding hands.Dot stands with her wife, Jaye, beside her contribution—early artwork from her graphic novels.I spot Jack Graham and his wife, Rowan, laughing with the man in the alien costume and the reporter, Cleo Spire, next to Jack’s donations—his latest manuscript, lovingly and thoroughly annotated by his wife, the English teacher and our district’s current teacher of the year.
Carly and her boyfriend Gregory follow Olly as he gives them a tour of the place, while Mom and Fred watch in amusement, probably saying something about his endless excitement.
In the last half hour, I’ve been introduced to Lena and Ben Wright of Saddletree Farm and Café, whereHunter, The Returnwas filmed.They not only provided the movie memorabilia, but Lena also baked and personally delivered a three-tier Wilmington-themed cake with ships, mermaids, fossils, flytraps, and pirates that Marnie had ordered for the occasion.Lena fiddles with her gorgeous centerpiece while her stoic, but attentive husband puts his arms around her and leads her away to enjoy the party.
Delilah Duffy-Teague, the bookstore owner and Mystery Maven of Tipee Island, rests her head on her husband, Sam’s, shoulder as they ogle the leather starfish notebook and magnifying glass necklace she contributed—mementos from the cases she’s solved.Her half-smile makes me wonder if she misses it.Sam urges her over to meet Jack Graham, and the book lover immediately gushes over his romance novels.
Movement near the entry hallway catches my attention.Dr.Blake and his partner enter.Dr.Blake seems as calm and relaxed as always, while Christie gushes and coos, waving a pink handkerchief in the air.Ivy and Gil follow behind them, holding hands and gravitating toward Marnie and Grady.With bated breath, I watch for Venus to enter next, but when Ivy catches my eye with a sympathetic, I-don’t-know shrug, my hope deflates.
Everywhere I turn, I see signs of loving relationships—the automatic touches, familiar smiles, and knowing looks.Normal couple things, I think with a measure of sadness.As perfect as all of this is, it’s incomplete.I ache for the woman who completes me.
“Dad!Is it time to cut the cake yet?”Olly asks, dashing across the room.Mom and Fred scurry behind him, barely keeping up.He barrels into my arms as I lean down.I lift him as I stand, and he rests on my shoulder, tucking his cumbersome cast to his chest.The time will come when he’ll no longer want to be held like this, and he’ll be too big for it, anyway, another thought that comes with a measure of sadness.But I’m grateful it’s not tonight.
“We’ll have cake soon,” I say.
“Wow.You can see everything from up here.”
“He’s a tad overstimulated,” Mom says.
“Aren’t we all?”Fred returns with a laugh.
“Want to help me do the toast?”I ask Olly.
“Yeah, Dad!”he agrees with unhindered enthusiasm that would be the same no matter what I asked.
“Go with Grandma to get your champagne,” I tell him, setting him down.
He smirks.“You mean grape juice, don’t you?”
I tussle his hair.“I can’t trick you.”
He races off with Mom and Fred while I notify DeeDee and Marnie.DeeDee and her team spread out amongst the guests, armed with glasses of champagne.
Marnie gives me a concerned look.“Are you sure?We could wait a smidge longer.”
“Nah, it’s fine.Everyone wants cake.Let them eat cake,” I say, resigned but still glancing at the hall entry.
“Oh, a Marie Antoinette reference… I’m not sure that’ll bring us good luck,” she notes.
“Actually, there’s no evidence she said that.It was a cliché attributed to her after her death,” I say sheepishly.
Marnie gives me a half-amused and half-sympathetic look.“Want me to check the parking lot, just in case?”
I glance at my phone.No messages.Even knowing that her passport is safely stashed away offers little comfort now.I wonder where she is, what she’s thinking, if she’s okay.If she wants to run.“Willing Venus to appear doesn’t work—I’ve tried it for years.We’re already behind schedule.”
“What about the escape room?”
“I’ll, um… adjust the speech.We won’t unveil it tonight.”
Marnie nods.“Okay, then.I’ll grab the microphone and signal you when everything’s in place.”
The elegant staircase acts as a stage for Olly and me.He dutifully stands beside me, holding his crystal tumbler of grape juice, as I test the microphone Marnie hands me.With one last glance at the empty hallway, I swallow my nerves and begin… without her.
