Page 32 of Sterling Fight

12

[Genie]

While Judd and I passed the first test relatively unscathed, a second round comes up when the family lines the two wooden picnic tables pushed together to accommodate such a large group of people.

“So, Genie, what do you do?”

As much as I love my job, I’m also very protective of it. I’m hesitant to share at times.

As Ralson so lovingly pointed out, said tongue in cheek, my mother thinks my professional life is a hobby. As a woman who has never worked a day in her life, she wouldn’t understand the ins and outs of working independently or self-employment.

“I design calendars.”

Judd offers me a warm smile, as I’ve already told him what I do.

I clear my throat. “Actually, I run my own business called Quirky Girl Calendars.”

Clay’s head pops forward as he’s on the same bench as me but down the way. I’ve surmised the basics about how Sylver Seed & Soil, family owned and operated, was once a small business but is now more of a medium-sized corporation with divisions and specialties underneath their company umbrella.

Which is what I want for my small business one day. Growth.

“As I’m the artist plus marketing director and chief financial officer,” I glance at Judd and wink. “I’m looking to expand.”

“Why does Quirky Girl Calendars sound familiar?” Enya asks. She’s seated on the opposite side of the table where her husband Sebastian is practically glued to her side and holding their three-month-old baby girl, Annabelle.

Judd and I got separated in the seating arrangement, so we sit across from one another, and somehow, at the head of the table.

I hesitate again, feeling most eyes on me. This is the point where I either shut down conversation, sensing listeners will think my work is simplistic or play up my creative designs.

I take a chance on the Sylvers.

Flatting my hand and pushing up the ends of my short hair in a flirty way, I state, “I’m Quirky Girl, so I sketch lots of women in different colors, shapes, and sizes with a variety of outfits. Gardening. Reading. The like. Then I fill the calendar with fun, unique specialty dates.”

“Like what?” Halle, Knox’s wife asks. The red-haired mother of two teens is seated beside me.

I glance at Sebastian. “Like World Baking Day, coming up on May seventeenth.”

He offers me a crooked smile and Enya turns her head to look lovingly at him.

“Wait.” She pauses and swivels back to me. “I have one of your calendars. I love it.” She glances back to Sebastian. “It’s the one on my desk.”

“The one that told us which day was National Sex Toy Day?” he questions, keeping his gaze firmly on his wife.

“What?” Judd chokes across from me and I look over at him to see him reaching for his beer.

“That’s the one.” Enya smiles sheepishly at Sebastian before looking back at me.

“I want to know more about a calendar that honors sex toys,” Cadence, Ford’s pregnant fiancée announces from the other side of Sebastian. I’m still a little star-struck that the country music icon is seated casually at this table with the rest of us adoring fans.

She lifts her phone and says, “What day is National Sex Toy Day? I want to mark my calendar.”

“November fourth,” I state.

“Don’t mark your calendar, buy one from Genie,” Judd interjects, and I turn toward him. No one has ever sounded so adamant about purchasing my calendars.

“What’s a sex toy?” Winnie asks from somewhere behind Cadence and Ford who are seated together.

“A toy for adults and one you won’t need,” Ford explains to his eight-year-old, while twisting on the bench seat to free himself from the table. “Ever.”