Page 115 of This Memory
Gavin squeezed my hand as I bounced on my toes. “I’m ready!”
“Okay, here we go!”
The excitement in Aurora’s voice caused my heart to beat faster.
“One. Two. Three!”
I ripped my blindfold off—and gasped at the sight before me.
“Holy. Shit. I didn’t know you could paint like this, Aurora!” Gavin declared.
Smiling, I took in the mural in front of me. It was beautiful…and familiar.
“It’s the view from the nursery at Evelyn and Denny’s house,” I said softly.
“What?” Gavin asked, putting an arm around me.
The mountains were in the background, the tips covered in snow. The forest of trees gave a slight peek at Moose Lake in the distance. Deer, foxes, rabbits, birds, coyotes, bears, and, most importantly, moose were sprinkled throughout the forest. There was even a stream, where some of the animals were getting a drink. It was so precious and whimsical.
In the corner of the room was the crib, set up with a sage-green fabric dropped down from the ceiling to drape over it. The changing table was in the middle of one wall, and near the crib was a rocking chair. Next to it was a small bookshelf, ready for books. The other side of the room held a dresser painted the same sage-green as the draped fabric.By the mural wall was a pink teepee with stuffed animals and pillows inside.
“Oh my gosh, the teepee!”
“That was my idea,” James said. “I saw it in a magazine and thought it was cute.”
Gavin and I both turned to gape at James. Before I could say anything, Gavin said, “You bought it in blue, didn’t you?”
James blushed. “I did. When I found out you were having a girl, I ordered a pink one.”
“Did you send the blue one back?” Aurora asked.
James shrugged. “No. I kept it.”
My mouth twitched, and it took everything I had not to laugh.
“Aww, are you going to play inside the teepee, bro?”
“Fuck you, Gavin.”
“The baby, James!” I chided and placed my hands to either side of my stomach.
Everyone looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
James rolled his eyes. “I hardly think the baby understands what I’m saying, Brystol.”
I laughed, then looked around the room and smiled. “This really does look beautiful, you guys.” Walking over to Aurora, I pulled her in for a hug. “Thank you. You did a fantastic job.”
She kissed me on the cheek. “It was fun to do. I haven’t painted like this in a long time.”
“You’re really good at it,” James said. “You should do this for a living.”
“Then who would run the bookstore?”
“Your sister and aunt?”
Aurora laughed. “Hardly.”
Gavin and James went to the teepee to see if they would fit. I hooked my arm with Aurora’s and led her down to the living room.
