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Paige nodded. ‘Yep.’
‘We pride ourselves in having strong links with business, charitable organisations and community projects. We look after one another and it shows — and that ethos is now embodied for all to see as they go about their daily lives, through this magnificent piece of artwork. Thank you to Selena and co. for their design and execution. Selena Dante is an art therapist who works with many of our local organisations, supporting some of our more vulnerable community members. Restoring where she can; their confidence, their creativity and their ambition. A special thank you to Melanie Curzon, and the rest of the Neighbourhood Business Alliance for pulling this together. And now without further ado, I present to you your art mural — simply called “Connections”.’
‘Really? No mention of the business whatsoever?’ Melanie mumbled.
‘Don’t worry, Mya is already sweet-talking the press.’ Paige nodded towards the back of the crowd.
‘It’s a shame Polly and Connie couldn’t be here,’ Melanie said.
‘Yeah but when pop royalty calls, you have to answer. As for Connie, she’ll be back soon enough. I have a horrible feeling she’s not finished with Councillor Houghton.’ Paige grimaced.
‘Shh, he’s doing it,’ Alf said drawing their attention back to the wall. Paige gave his hand a little squeeze as the sheeting was pulled down. There were some gasps as the image was revealed. It was too big to take in straight away and a lot of people tried to take a step back so they could see it. And one by one people clapped and cheered. There were signs of all of them in there. There were golden links running throughout, large in parts and smaller almost hidden in others. There was a very dominant rainbow, coffee beans, and some of the paint somehow looked like tattoo art. As she studied it more closely, she could see all of their businesses represented on the wall. An image of a woman, dominated the top right hand corner. She was green, and to Paige she looked a lot like Te Fiti from Moana. But she was powerful and she was fierce and she was smiling. Her gaze looking down at the links, at the images, at the community.
‘I like green,’ Alf said.
‘It’s beautiful,’ Melanie whispered.
‘Which bit did you do?’ Alf asked Paige.
‘Erm.’ Truthfully she wasn’t sure. Up close she had no idea. She’d definitely used gold paint at some point.
‘I think you chose really well, Alfie,’ Melanie said.
‘Yeah, I’m good at choosing. Like I chose Auntie Pwaige too.’
‘Oh you did, did you?’ Melanie grinned at him and picked him up, so that he was resting on her hip.
‘Auntie Pwaige, can I get a purse-in now?’
‘Not quite yet, dude.’
Mya and Sophie chose that moment to come up to them.
‘It’s amazing,’ Sophie said.
‘I’m an artist. Is there no end to my talent?’ Mya shouted.
A little hand reached up to Mya. ‘Shiny,’ Alf said trying to get at Mya’s hair.
But before he could get anywhere near, Melanie and Alf were called over by Councillor Houghton.
‘So, I believe Sophie told you the news. That you’re now a philanthropist,’ Mya said smugly.
‘I didn’t even know you could keep a secret, Mya! And you gave the money so doesn’t that make you the philanthropist?’
‘Philanthropist and artist? It’s a big day for my CV.’ Mya grinned.
‘And so modest too,’ Sophie added.
‘It’s pretty exciting.’ Paige forced herself to carry on where normally she would have stopped. ‘And really terrifying.’
Sophie nodded, and Mya put an arm around her. ‘And you will tell us when you need help,’ Mya commanded.
‘Or else I’ll get Melanie to add us to the to-do list app and we’ll give you a taste of your own medicine,’ Sophie said sternly, before Marcus, Bailey and Smithy turned up and even more cheers and hugs were shared.
After a couple of minutes of being hugged and congratulated, Paige took a step towards the wall, looking for the bit, trying to find the spot. There. Right underneath the profile of the woman, was the word “Friends”. Paige had snuck it on there and was glad to see that Selena hadn’t covered it up. But then she saw that underneath someone had added “and partners”. Yikes that was Paige now wasn’t it. She had a partner. She had no idea how to do that properly, but luckily she was in love with a woman who had a to-do list and wasn’t afraid to use it.
Epilogue
