Page 14 of Free to Live
“Now I know why he pays me out of his pocket for his flower budget being off each month,” Ali murmurs. Keene squeezes her.
“I’d love to be able to thank them again. And to give them a chance to see Grace, to show them how she’s doing. But I lost the card Jason gave me.” I shake my head. There are days it’s hard enough to find my daughter matching socks, let alone the card of a doctor who gave it to me at a mall just shy of three years ago, and I couldn’t remember what hospital he worked at.
Ali immediately begins rooting inside her purse. “I have one. It’s not Jason’s, but it might be easier to get a hold of both of them this way.” She hands out a black card with a red embossed flower on it. I read Alison Freeman, Chief Financial Officer and Attorney, Amaryllis Events with multiple phone numbers and her email address beneath it. Giving her a look of confusion, she laughs again. “All of our immediate siblings work for our company.” She nods at the card. “My oldest sister, Cassidy, handles all of our scheduling, and Phil dances to the tune she sets, or she yells at him—mercilessly.”
“I live for those moments,” Keene adds dryly. Ali elbows him in the gut. He grunts but doesn’t stop smiling.
“If you’re looking to schedule time with any of us, Cassidy’s the keeper of our lives,” Ali concludes. “With all of the weddings and events we have on our docket, it’s the only way for us to have any balance between work and home life.”
Pulling my wallet from my back pocket, I flip it open to a picture of Grace. I slide the card beneath it. I know I won’t lose it then. Before I can snap it shut, Ali grabs at it. I gape at her in shock. Keene just shrugs as if to sayGo with it.
“You need better pictures of Grace than this, Joe. If not for you, then definitely for your family,” Ali says in disgust.
“Ali,” Keene says warningly, but she just flaps her hand at him.
“We’re spoiled by Holly, Keene. This is why we don’t do school pictures. They make all of the kids come out looking like bowl-head Martians.” I’d find insult in there, but she is not wrong. Between the trim my parents gave Grace right before the picture and the picture itself? Yeah, Ali Freeman’s words are disturbingly accurate.
“Who’s Holly?” I ask politely and in an attempt to get my baby Martian back.
“My youngest sister. She’s a brilliant photographer,” Ali brags with unabashed pride, still not relinquishing my wallet. “She could take pictures of Grace for you that would blow your mind.”
“I’m sure she could.”
“As much as I don’t want to encourage my wife any, she’s not wrong.” Keene reaches for his own wallet. Flipping it open, he shows me a picture of him and Ali together that says everything in one shot: love, devotion, frustration, laughter, and promise.
That, right there, was what I wanted with Mary. Time has eased my grief somewhat, so it’s only a small blade that slides into my chest.
“Here’s one she took of Kalie recently.” Keene flips the insert over, and there’s Kalie Marshall, a perfect miniature of both of her parents. With a huge smile on her face, she’s flipped over Keene’s broad shoulder, laughing at her mother, who’s not far behind. There are flowers caught in her long dark locks that are falling to the ground. There’s joy, exasperation, and humor—all of which as a parent I can relate to.
Much more than the stiff little picture I have in my wallet of Grace.
Sister or not, the woman who took this picture is enormously talented. And—unfortunately for me—likely charges fees to match. “Incredible,” I murmur.
“It wouldn’t be a hardship for Holly to get a few pictures of Grace while she’s playing with Kalie…” Ali begins, but I cut her off.
“Thanks, Ali, but I likely can’t afford her fees.”
Ali frowns, but Keene squeezes her from behind. “Baby, leave it. The offer is open anytime, Joe. Holly’d love it though.”
I shake my head. “After everything, I’d think you all would hate me rather than offer to help me.”
Before Ali or Keene can respond, Ms. Tiffany storms by. Nose up in the air, and apparently out of joint, she snaps, “This isn’t a social hour. We’re waiting for you all to leave for the school to close,” before stomping in the direction of the office.
Ali narrows her eyes after the woman. “I can’t wait to talk to the administrator tomorrow.”
I chuckle even as I hold out my hand for my wallet. Ali slaps it back in my hand with some strength. “Part of me wishes I could be a fly on the wall for that conversation. The other part is deathly afraid.”
“Go with afraid,” Keene says. We all laugh as we make our way to the door.
After we’re outside, I shake both of their hands again. “It was a pleasure to meet both of you.”
“You as well. And truly, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call,” Ali repeats. Keene just nods before they head off in the direction of their car.
Shaking my head, I head in the direction of my Explorer. Now that the farce of a parent-teacher conference is over, I can head home and snuggle with my little girl. Even as I put my car in gear and drive out of the lot, I hear a toot of a horn. Glancing over, I wave at Keene and Ali.
And it was great to meet some more of Grace’s friends’ parents. Who would have ever thought the Marshalls I have heard so much about are Freemans as well? Collyer does have some hidden connections. And Amaryllis Events is the Freemans’ business? I never knew that. Thinking back, I realize they’ve donated to every charity event related to the police and fire department since they opened their doors twelve, thirteen years ago?
There are times when it’s great to be living in a small town.
