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“I would,” Patrick said. “I love my cupcakes. I looked at your website and they are incredible.”
The front door opened, and Declan and Jack walked in. I had not seen them since the wedding and screamed and ran over to hug them. Okay, I had tears in my eyes.
“It’s so good to see you both.” We had nearly lost Declan in the past with a head injury and I wanted to enjoy every minute I had with them.
Declan smiled. “I’ve been trying to get you over here for ages. I should have wangled a business trip for you before.”
“You had something to do with this didn’t you?” I asked.
“Maybe. It doesn’t matter. It got you here.”
The next hour was spent catching up on family and playing with the twins. Callie’s son, Tommy had come home, and we all changed into our bathers and went for a dip in the pool. Then Declan got a BBQ going. There he was with a beer and steak cooking, and he could have been back home in Australia. I think he liked this side of his life that was grounding.
Callie was feeding the twins along with Paula. Tommy munched on a sausage in bread with lashings of ketchup. Declan topped up my glass of wine.
“As you are here for a few weeks, you won’t miss our naming day for the kids.”
“I would love that.”
“It’s next weekend so you will have finished your convention. We’re not having too many people. Just close friends and a few people from the show. Some of them you met at the wedding.”
Callie came over and talked to Jack. “Have you heard any more from Flynn about that crazy letter he received? I can’t believe someone would do that.”
I didn’t know who Flynn was or what they were talking about.
“The police got him out of there that night and took the hazmat team in. That’s routine, I think. Said it was just cornflower. Someone playing a joke. A sick one at that,” Declan shook his head. “Sometimes being in the public eye can have its drawbacks,” Declan said. “He has rubbed a few people up the wrong way.”
“Who is Flynn?” I asked, and Jack answered.
“He’s a newcomer to the show. He came on last season. He’s a good guy, but some idiot sent him white powder in an envelope,” Jack said.
“He is also a ladies’ man so steer clear of him, Avery,” Callie said.
“That is awful for him. Thanks for the warning though, but I’ve had it with men for a while. I got burned recently. Now I’ll just use them and throw them away.”
“I can see you leaving a trail of broken hearts across the US,” Declan said and laughed.
“I doubt that very much as we will be too busy.” It was about seven in the evening, but my eyelids were starting to droop. I needed a shower and a good night’s sleep. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to enjoy your company anymore. I’m falling asleep. We have a car picking us up tomorrow and we will be staying for two nights at the convention hotel.”
“Just let us know if you need a break and we can come and rescue you from the insanity. Declan may be working but one of us will come,” Callie said. “Now I need to get these kids to bed.”
My cousin might be living in a fancy house and have lots of money, but the kids brought everything back down to normal. I sighed at the fact I would not have that. A kid maybe but no family. We would be our own little family. I would just have to get my fulfillment elsewhere. I kissed people goodnight and headed to my room. The shower was fantastic, and my body couldn’t wait to hit the sack. I didn’t even have the energy to have sexy thoughts about Corey. Tomorrow was a new day with new opportunities, but for now I needed sleep.
The convention center was massive. A colosseum of glass, steel, and concrete. I had done a show in Sydney once and thought it a big deal, but this was on a whole new level. The room had at least a hundred demonstration tables, and there was a second level too. I glanced at Patrick.
“I feel like a very small fish in a big pond right now,” I said.
“Me too, but we have earned this. Think of all the demonstrations we did at country shows and small towns all around Australia. All the times we were in shopping malls trying to get someone’s attention and being ignored. This is our moment,” Patrick said as he stood dumbstruck next to me.
I stood tall, put my big girl panties on, and told myself I could do this. We went to the registration desk and were greeted by Greta from Luxe and Love.
“We are so glad you could both make it. You are on table fourteen. We have arranged for two local models for you to work on and then if you want to do some patrons’ makeup that would be wonderful.”
Greta was all smiles, but I was sure she would watch us both like a hawk or maybe a barracuda. All of our products had been sent over in advance and were waiting at our area to be set up. The public would not be allowed in until this afternoon, so we had to get to work. Both of us were dressed smartly but I had my flat shoes on. I had a feeling we would be exhausted but excited by the end of the day.
The other demonstrators on either side were lovely, and I made sure that we had each other’s details. Networking was always a good thing. I wanted to use the chance any way I could. Afterall, I wasn’t sure when we would come back again. We were eventually ready and stood back and admired our handiwork. Our products looked good, and the large banners we had made said what they needed too. Our product name and what we promised. Neither Patrick nor I wanted our faces on the banners.
By late morning we were all ready to go. Everyone had a short break to get some food and we were off. The doors opened and the crowds were arriving. I wasn’t sure if I was excited or scared to death. The next few hours passed in a blur. So many people enquiring about our products. Orders taken and connections made. So far Luxe and Love would be the only stores selling our products, but they would still be sold online.
