“Tell me again who’s going to be there,” she said.
“I sent you the family tree.” Since it was his job to make sure this stupendously off-the-wall plan went as painlessly as possible, Nico had taken refuge in the comfort of overpreparing.
“That was limited to names and I want the editorialized version.Give me all the dirt and sparkle.” Out of his peripheral vision, he saw her sudden smile. “By the way, I loved how you made the photos into leaves on the tree.”
He’d spent an hour manipulating the faces to fit because he thought she’d get a kick out of it and was deeply satisfied to know he was right. Valerie tapped him on the arm, for no other reason than she seemed to feel like it. He’d noticed she was tactile, but her touches were spontaneous rather than calculated, as if she used physical connection as another method of communication. Unlike the invasive and smothering embraces he’d endured from his family before he learned to sidestep and keep his distance, these felt more like an invitation than an intrusion.
“I know that Malcolm and Harriet had four kids: Penny, David, Peter, and Roger,” she said.
“Correct. Peter died five years ago, but his widow, Alice Morton, is good friends with Roger. She’ll be up this summer working from the cottage.”
“Peter was the second youngest.” Valerie had done her homework. “If you have an even number of kids, does that make him the second middle child? Do the two kids become upper and lower middle? Over and under?”
“Senior and junior.” Nico would never normally talk to anyone like this, but he enjoyed it with Valerie. It was a bit like flying and he felt triumphant when she laughed.
“Penny married John Willis and they have two kids,” said Valerie, like she was reciting a poem.
“John always stays in Toronto but Penny and their son, Brayden, will be at the cottage. You’ve talked to Penny.”
“I have.”
He was impressed at her neutral tone, given the criticism she’d endured from Penny Badgerton-Willis, but continued his lecture.
“Brayden is twenty-four, and his parents say he’s finding his passion,which has cycled through personal training, photography, and trying to start a pop-up nightclub. Sloane is younger and a serious equestrian, like Olympic team level. She’s in England so you won’t meet her. Penny herself goes to galas and events to represent the Bread Company on behalf of Roger. She also owns an art gallery.”
“Art gallery?”
“It represents geometric artists.”
Valerie looked nonplussed, then grinned. “Are they cubic or cubists?” She laughed at her own joke, and Nico knew she and Roger would get along.
“The gallery looks for artists who explore the geometry of space through color, but it also runs a lending program for the Badgerton art collection.”
“Unbelievable.” She paused. “That comment applies to having enough art to be called a collection and also lending it out to the plebs.”
“Penny feels strongly about the role of art in creating a civilized society. She says it’s her mission to bring thought-provoking art to Canadians to cultivate their minds and elevate their aesthetic taste.”
“How generous. So I can rent that portrait of Malcolm?”
“Do you want to?”
“Hypothetically.”
“Well, no. The collection goes to corporate clients, so bank lobbies and CEO offices.”
“Oh.” She didn’t sound too disappointed. “David is the oldest brother? What’s he like?”
“David enjoys being a misanthrope.” Nico was possibly biased as David was an obstacle to Nico’s improved workflow plans. He disliked change and viewed any suggestion as a challenge to his authority. “He works at the Bread Company as senior vice president for operations. He’s married to Jennifer and their daughter, Fernie, is twenty-six. She’s an influencer, or wants to be.”
“And Jennifer?”
“Jenn takes care of the house and does volunteer work. She used to work for the Bread Company in logistics. It’s where she met David.”
“She quit?”
“David says he can support his family and her job is to support him.”
“Oh, he does, does he?” They shared a glance but neither felt the need to comment further. Valerie tapped her lip and the smell of roses wafted over him as she moved. “If David’s the oldest son and Penny the oldest daughter, why is Roger in charge of the company?”
