Chapter 24

Henry

Three months later, Kidz Sculpt opens its doors for the first time. I found a modest space in Brooklyn because Manhattan was too crowded and expensive. As much as I love creating vases in the solitude of my studio, being around the children brings me so much joy. My financial advisor, Linden Walsh, set up a foundation with some of the money from my vase sales at Pathways. Meadow called it when she said my business would take off. Like gangbusters.

Now, I can stay in my loft and also run Kidz Sculpt with my own money and some I get from the government grants for kids with disabilities.

Right now, I watch Maria, a girl with a speech impediment work at the potter’s wheel next to Gilbert, a boy who is partially blind. I observe their process and say, “Maria, it’s looking good but don’t forget to add more water as you work.”

“Yes-yes, Mr. Henry. I-I will.” She smiles and dips her fingers into the water bowl.

“And Gilbert, I think this is your best work yet,” I say.

“Thanks,” he says.

Just as I’m about to bend over to give Gilbert a hand, the door opens and Meadow breezes inside. Her bright smile provides medicinal powers for me. She waves at the children. “How’s it going, kids?”

“Hi, Miss Meadow!” Gilbert says.

“Hel-hel-lo, Me-meadow,” Maria says.

Meadow walks over and gives me a kiss on the cheek. I pull her close to me. “Hey, you.”

“Ooh! Mr. Henry has a gi-girlfriend.” Maria chuckles and Gilbert laughs along.

“Very cute.” She turns to them. Then, she glances at me and then gives me a saucy wink. “I’m actually thinking about making my own vase today. Seeing as how we got sidetracked that one time in your loft.”

“Really?” I grin as I gather supplies for her.

“Stop it. I know where everything is.” She makes her way to the shelves.

Meadow sits at the potter’s wheel, the sunlight from outside shimmering off the gold highlights in her hair. She looks like an angel. My angel.

Her pathetic attempt at vase making gets off to a rough start, but I don’t say a word because I just love watching her sculpt. The way her elegant hands mold the clay. The way she tugs her bottom lip between her teeth as she concentrates. Thirty minutes later, Maria and Gilbert’s parents pick them up. Both of the kids graciously thank me and promise to return on Saturday.

As I gaze at Meadow with hungry eyes, I think about how I love waking up next to her. She looks so gorgeous in the sunlight. Then again, she looks like an angel at dusk with the sun dipping below the horizon, a glass of wine in her hand and her laptop in the other as she wheels and deals. The blood always rushes straight south just by watching her. I want to make love to Meadow over and over again. She’s consumed me, body and soul… like I’ll never get enough of her.

I slowly stand and stretch, taking in the perfection of the moment. My soulmate sits molding clay just a few feet away, and I have more money in my bank account than I know what to do with. It feels exciting and a little strange at the same time. I can’t help but wonder if I’m dreaming.

Is this really your life now, Garrison? How’d you get so damn lucky?

I shake my head because I can hardly believe it. As I walk toward the window, the hardwood floor creaks. Meadow’s gaze moves from the clay to me.

“I’m so sorry,” I say. “I didn’t want to disturb you. Not when you’re doing so well.”

She grins and pulls her bottom lip in between her teeth like she always does when she’s concentrating. All that does is draw my attention to her perfect mouth.

I move to stand behind her as she works. Being close to her makes me feel all tingly inside. I run my fingers through her silky hair, delighting in the soft texture as it waterfalls through my fingers. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“I am too.”

“Well, you can spend time at Kidz Sculpt anytime you want since you’re my girlfriend.”

I wait for the chastisement as she frowns. “Girlfriend? Who said anything about a relationship? I was just too tired to catch a cab home after work. Jesus, Henry, quit reading into things that just aren’t there.”

A jolt of devastation stabs me in the heart. Meadow confuses me and shatters my dream of a future all at the same time. I turn away from her because I have this overwhelming urge to pout.

She laughs. “Psych! You’re such an easy target.”

I narrow my eyes. “Not funny.”

She abandons her vase to stand and wrap her arms around me, stroking my back and the tingles chase away my annoyance. “I have been told that I’d make a pretty good comedienne.”

“Really?”

She kisses my lips. “Oh yeah. I’m good at lots of things.”

“I know.”

She caresses my face. “Henry…”

“Yeah?”

“I have a confession to make.”

I plant another kiss on her waiting lips. “Hmm?”

“I love spending the night at your loft. And I’d like to stay there all the time. As in, moving in. But only under one condition.” She kisses me again. “You have to stop snoring.”

She gives me a playful swat on the behind and lets go of me to return to her vase. Meadow’s scent lingers on me, and there’s nothing I love more than smelling like her. Best of all, now she’s all mine.

Claimed.

I don’t have to hold back my feelings anymore. We’re officially in a relationship and talking about our future. Together. And that makes me happier than the six-figure deposit in my bank account.

With the kids all gone for the day, Meadow says, “You really love this place. You seem to come here every day.”

I sit down beside her again. “Pretty much. You must like it too. You’re here almost as much as I am.”

She smiles, then crinkles her nose at her lopsided vase. “Yeah, it is pretty special.”

I pick it up and feel the stutter try to tie my tongue. But only because I can’t think of anything to tell her that isn’t going to hurt her delicate feelings when it comes to her art. She’s going to have to keep her day job. “You need help.”

“What are you talking about? It’s a masterpiece. I meant for it to be askew. Like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.”

“It looks like…” A chuckle escapes my lips before I can stop it, and before I know it, I’m doubled over in full-blown laughter.

“What?” Her eyes narrow, clearly not understanding what I can find so funny about her juvenile vase. “It’s not that bad. Is it?”

I hold it out and dangle it before her eyes. “It looks like a dildo.”

She grabs it around the narrow part of the neck and gives it a shake. Which doesn’t help at all. I laugh even harder. “Does not.”

“Did you know that the possession and sale of dildos is illegal in some jurisdictions, including the country of India. Until recently many states in the southern US banned the sale of dildos completely, either directly or through laws regulating ‘obscene devices.’ Sometime around 2007, a federal appeals court upheld Alabama’s law prohibiting the sale of sex toys. Can you imagine not being able to walk into a sex toy shop? It’s like a violation of our civil rights.”

“Here you go with your mansplaining again. Stop it right now. You’re like a walking Wikipedia.”

“I’m not mansplaining, I’m just–”

She throws her arms around my neck, and my next dildo themed statement flies right out of my brain as lust buzzes in to replace it. “Just shut the fuck up and kiss me already.”

I laugh as I press my lips against hers. Soon, our tongues are dancing, and my heart gives a little jump for joy.

Someday, I’ll show her how to really make a nice vase. But it won’t be today.