The Stories We Tell by Patti Callahan Henry

Author:Patti Callahan Henry
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781466835542
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

fourteen

Gwen slept at Willa’s cottage. Cooper came home from hitting golf balls at midnight. Apparently, Landry needed to talk and they’d gone out for dinner and drinks. In Gwen’s language, this deserved a “whatever.”

As for me, it’s only 5:00 A.M., but here I am back in the studio. The sun hasn’t joined the day. The Ten Good Ideas line now has inspiration boards stretching along the project table. Sketches and notes are scattered; Pantone color charts and font types are placed in strategic squares for each of my commandments.

A thin, long poster board lists the ten ideas as if they are carved on stone. Francie sketched a mock tablet around the list, where the numbers are listed in arabic.

I am sipping coffee and staring at the list when Max shows up.

“What are you doing here so early?” he asks.

“I could ask you the same thing.”

“I didn’t finish that wedding run last night and the bridezilla will be here by sunlight to pick up the invitations. Apocalyptic consequences are possible if they aren’t waiting and wrapped in white tissue with satin silver ribbon. So that’s my answer. What’s yours?” He leans over to check the coffeepot.

“I don’t have an excuse,” I say. “Just … here.”

“Good enough.” He fills a large mug with coffee and then joins me at the table. “So what do you think?”

“I think it might be the best thing we’ve ever done.”

“It was your idea,” he says.

“No, it really wasn’t. It was your idea to turn it into a card line. And I’ve been so little help since the accident.”

“You’ve had a few things to keep you preoccupied, Eve. And this wouldn’t exist without you anyway. Any of this…” He sweeps his hand around the room.

“And we need numbers nine and ten,” I say.

“In good time. But right now, I’m going to spend quality time with the printer.” He stretches. “Care if I turn on the music?”

“No, go ahead. I’m gonna catch up on e-mails and paperwork,” I say.

Max stops and turns around. “Speaking of paperwork, the credit card was declined on the ink order. Any reason?”

“No. The bill is paid automatically through e-banking. I’ll call.”

My mind is cluttered with the detritus of my family’s undoing. I want to pay attention to the financial aspects of our business, but I’m distracted. No surprise there. I’ve come to a pause since the accident, and yet I knew the money was waiting in the bank account.

I pick up the phone to call the bank before realizing it’s only 5:30 A.M. I return to the card line, mumbling the childhood wisdom of each idea out loud. I lose myself in this until the bang of the studio door startles me as Willa and Gwen walk in.

“Morning,” Willa says.

“What is this?” Max asks. “Get to Work Before Dawn Day?”

“We heard y’all coming in and we were up anyway,” Gwen says.

“Have you been to sleep yet?” I ask.

Willa and Gwen look at each other and smile. “Nope,” Willa says. “We’ve been up talking all night.

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