Chapter 97 The Memorial
I really didn't have time to prepare for this and so I have no idea what sort of crap is coming out of my mouth right about now. Seriously, I'm practically talking gibberish. Everyone else seems to be following along though so I guess I'm not doing too bad. Either that or they are just too polite to show their boredom on their faces.
"When we first started the Clancy houses," I say probably a little too quickly, "I really wasn't interested. There were about a million things I'd have rather been doing but my dad was insistent. By the end of that first summer, I was obsessed with my new doll's house and all the amazing furniture my dad had made for it, so when he suggested we do it again the next year, I was all for it."
They're all awing as if I've said the cutest thing and I'm not actually an adult but a little kid all over again.
"Summer quickly became my favourite time of year," I tell them. "I'd eagerly wait for my dad to take me looking for a new house to work on. We'd just picked up another house, a few days before my father died and for the last ten years, it's sat there neglected. I couldn't bring myself to do anything with it. The houses were something I shared with my dad and I couldn't think of anything worse than doing one on my own."
The hall is silent as I take a breath. I hate the way they're all looking at me, pitying me.
I go on to tell them about how a few months ago I finally started working on it. I tell them how much I struggled with the furniture and how close I felt to my father working on the house. I tell them what my grandma told me about what they used the proceeds from the houses on and how we hope to continue my father's legacy with the new Clancy house and all the ones that will come after it.
The certainty I feel at the idea of future houses, surprises me. I hadn't planned on making more after this one but now that it's finished I can't imagine stopping now.
Once I've finished speaking, I move across the stage and reveal the Clancy's House that is currently hidden beneath the black sheet of fabric. There are gasps of what I presume is awe but I can't look at the crowd. I'm too nervous. Instead I keep my eyes on the house, imagining what my father would say if he could see it.
I think he'd be proud... Or at least I hope he would.
Stepping down from the stage, I take a seat and listen as the head of marketing tells everyone about the miniature houses that the team have been making and then team members are making their way around the hall, presenting everyone with the little houses. I don't recognise the staff member that gives me a house, but then again, I'm not really paying attention. My eyes are focused on the tiny house she offers me.
It sits in the centre of my palm but it has a crazy amount of detail. It's incredible. Instinctively, I look up, searching the room for Noah but he's still missing.
Then I'm surrounded by people, each of them thanking me for the words that I shared. They all ask after my grandmother, wanting to know where she is and I do my best to field their questions, all the while wishing that Martin was with me. He'd know what to do, what to tell them.
Once the guests begin to leave and I've spoken to all the investors that Sally wants me to meet, I make my way across the hall to where the majority of Design Team One are gathered. They don't look angry but they don't exactly look happy either. But more important than anything, Noah isn't with them.
"Eden?" Stacey is the first to speak when I reach them.
"I obviously have some explaining to do," I say softly.
"I'll say," Rob laughs.
"I'm Eden Clancy," I tell them. "I lied... about my name... about who I am..."
"You're really Mrs Clancy's granddaughter?" someone else asks and then I'm bombarded with questions. I pause, not knowing who to answer first. That's when I spot him, coming towards me.
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