Chapter 194: Historic District Mural
*Art and love are the same thing: It’s the process of seeing yourself in things that are not you. – Chuck Klosterman*
There was a rather large gathering in the closed parking lot across the street from the mural. About half of them were part of the Princess Club and extended family. The large white canvas tarp that covered the wall billowed in the midmorning breeze. JD wrapped his arm around Dean’s waist and pulled her to his side.
She wore a knee length black skirt and matching jacket with a white lace shirt underneath. Her hair was pulled up in a tight twist in an effort to keep it contained in the wind. She wore sapphire and silver teardrop earrings that matched her shoes.
The leg of JD’s course BDU uniform brushed up against her bare leg as she moved in closer to him. Curling into his chest, she smiled as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“Nervous?” he asked quietly.
She nodded. “Yes. It’s the biggest thing I’ve ever done for so many people to see. What if no one likes it?”
“Did you do your best?”
“Yes.”
“Are you proud of it?”
“Very much so.”
“Then it’s going to be great.” He assured her as he rested his chin on her head. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Shifting, she looked up at him and he leaned down to press a light kiss to her lips. “I’m glad you’re here for this.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for anything.” He admitted as he gently caressed her cheek. Movement caught his attention. “It looks like they’re ready for you.”
“For us, you’re going with me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He replied as she took his hand and led the way across the street.
The mayor smiled broadly at them as he offered his hand to them. “Miss Reese.”
Accepting his hand, she blushed as she smiled. “It’s actually Mrs. Reese.” She admitted as she motioned to JD. “This is my husband, JD.”
“Oh, sorry… I just assumed…” Mayor Anderson stumbled through an apology as he offered his hand to JD.
“I understand.” JD replied as he shook hands with the older man in khaki slacks and a blue polo with the city logo on the breast. The wind had blown his short hair into complete disarray, assisted and somewhat contained by the hands that would run through the strawberry blonde curls. “We were afraid that people would judge us for getting married so young.”
“And think that we did it because I was pregnant.” Dean added as she leaned into her husband. “I’m not. And don’t plan to be for a while.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” The older man said and then blushed as he began to stammer again. “I mean, not that I don’t think that you’d be a great mom. Or dad. I just…”
“What my husband is trying to say,” the brunette beside him smiled at the young couple, “is that he’s a closet romantic and he loves a good love story. We’re both glad that you’re happy. I’m Kelsey Anderson and I am a huge fan of your work.”
“Thank you.” Dean shook her hand as Reese and Helen joined them. “This is my uncle, who I’m sure you know, and his wife, and JD’s mom, Helen.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Helen.” The mayor said shaking her hand. “And who are these three?” he inclined his head to the large stroller holding the triplets.
“These are our youngest children; they’ll be turning one in a few days.” Reese smiled. “Jaxon, Janelle and Jaina.”
The woman that was coordinating the murals, Natelie Portsmouth, approached the group and introductions were done again. Then she began placing everyone where she wanted them. The newspaper took a few pictures of Dean and JD with the Mayor and Natelie before they started the unveiling.
Reese and Helen stood at the edge of the small crowd in the street that was temporarily closed. Bunny and her men joined them with Jaxon holding Ariel in the carrier on his chest. A few minutes later, Cheryl and Waylon also joined them.
“Sorry.” Cheryl huffed as she rested a hand on her large belly. Waylon stood behind her and slid his hands under her belly and lifted it slightly. Smiling at her husband, she sighed in relief. “It took me forever to get my shoes on. And then I had to pee again.”
“I don’t miss those days.” Helen smiled at her.
“Does that really help?” Bunny asked, motioning to the hands under the other woman’s belly.
“It does. Shocked the hell out of me, but it really does.” Cheryl smiled at her. “Have any of you seen the mural?”
They all admitted that they had not.
“I saw a sketch of it, months ago.” Helen admitted and Reese nodded.
“Looks like they’re starting.” Ty said as he snapped a few pictures with his phone.
The mayor gave a polite smile and then spoke loudly so everyone in attendance could hear him over the wind and distance. “Hello, I’m Mayor Jonathon Anderson, and this is Natelie Portsmouth the president of the Morgan City Board of Tourism. It was a joint project between the city, the Board of Tourism and Keep morgan City Beautiful that we came up with the mural project. There were over a hundred entries for each of the five murals.”
A gust of wind whipped through the area and the large coverings fluttered away from the wall and city workers rushed to refasten the stays on the at the ground and on the roof.
“I want you to know, we had a podium with a microphone set up this morning. Nothing could be heard over the wind and then it knocked over a speaker and the podium. And if you see any notecards floating around, those would be my carefully crafted speech.”
There was a small ripple of laughter that passed through the crowd.
“Miss Reese was the youngest applicant of any of the murals and she submitted ideas for two other locations. All three of her designs made it to the final round of selections. It was decided that we should have a different artist for each location. This is the one that we all liked the most. Miss Reese, would you like to say anything?”
“Just thank you to my family and friends, and my teachers that supported me and encouraged me.” She smiled at where Mr. Shiff stood at the opposite side of the crowd from her family and the Seabees. "The cityscape that I created is based on old pictures and historical records. There are a few Easter Eggs hidden throughout, including Alvan Morgan who founded Morgan City."
With that, the mayor gave the signal, and the coverings were dropped and pulled out of the way. As the wind blew again, everyone’s attention was drawn to the sculpture of a woman standing on the wooden sidewalk. Her turn of the century skirt was done in such a way that it moved in the wind. The fake awnings above the two painted store fronts also rustled in the breeze.
At the end of the wall was a small grove of trees painted behind the wide planter with fruit trees. JD looked at the trees and smiled.
“Mom, will you get a picture of us?” He asked and pulled Dean towards the trees. He positioned them in a specific place and rested his hand on the wall next to Slender Man in the shadows.
“That didn’t take you long.” Dean murmured.
“I know my wife.” He whispered back as his mom snapped a picture. He then had one of the guys from his unit take a picture as the whole family gathered beneath the trees. They sat on the wooden bench that ran along the planter and then the Seabees pretended to hide among the trees in their camouflage uniforms.
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