I stand back and appreciate how the light shines through the curves and lines of the glass, making it look as if the sculpture is really moving, like it’s real, flowing water in some far off river, all the way across the world.
“You need us to help clean up?” Diedre gestures at the crate and the bubble wrap.
“That’d be—”
Tom picks up the large crate with one arm and walks out the door.
“Or that could happen,” Diedre says, staring after him. “He sure is an odd one.”
I shrug. “Aren’t we all.”
“You ready?”
Big Tom’s engine revs. Sounds like he’s ready to go.
“I’m going to stay here, clean up, make sure everything’s set.”
Now that my piece is here, I’m nervous. I want Gavin to love it, I want his fiancée to love it, I want everything to be perfect. I’m itching to dust it off again, wipe away any fingerprints, maybe see if I can position any lighting to hit it just right.
“Alright, alright, I see you’re itching to fix it up. You’ll be okay walking home?”
“It’s just a few miles.”
“Sure. Call me if you want a ride.”
I give Diedre a quick hug. After she saunters out, I pull my handkerchief from my overalls and start wiping the glass down. Everything, and I mean everything, has to be perfect when Gavin arrives.