As people start to gather in the street for the grand opening and I’m checking on the last few things out here, I turn and see Charlie step around from the side of the building into the light of the lowering sun, and for a second, I forget how to breathe.
Her dress is a deep sage green—just a shade or two lighter than my jacket—but in satin that catches the light like moonlight on water. The soft flutter of her sleeves brushes the tops of her arms, and the fitted waist and subtle vintage stitching make her look like she’s stepped out of the same era asMy Fair Lady, but better.
Her hair is pinned up in soft waves, and she’s wearing antique-inspired jewelry. When she smiles at me, the sparkle in her eyes is brighter than everything around her. I thought The Shadowridge would be the shining star of the night. It turns out, it’s her.
And she’s looking at me like she did that morning when she first saw me in this suit—like maybe I take her breath away, too. There’s half a building’s space between us, and I cross the distance quickly. I wrap my arms around her waist, and she drapes hers over my shoulders and gifts me with a brilliant smile.
“You’re looking mighty spiffy, Mr. Hollis.”
I smile back. “And you’re looking rather radiant, Ms. Lancaster.” I take in all the details of her face. It’s only been five days since I last saw her, but it was about five days too long. “You are such a sight for… well, not exactly sore eyes, since they’ve been taking in The Shadowridge. But definitely longing eyes.”
“Are you all ready?”
I nod. “I’ve been ready for as long as I can remember.”
Charlie’s eyes shift to just over my shoulder, then she smiles and makes a movement with her head that tells me to turn around. So I do, and I see my grandma, my mom, dad, and Tessa, all dressed to the nines. We walk over to greet them, and see that my grandma has tears in her eyes that are threatening to spill over.
“Oh, Owen,” she says as she looks up at the front of the building, taking in all the brickwork, trim, and the fully restored sign that reads The Shadowridge. “She’s even more beautiful than I imagined!”
“Just wait until you see inside.”
More and more people are gathering in the street, and it isn’t long before the manager of The Shadowridge comes over and tells me that it’s time to start. I look at Charlie. “Are you ready?”
“I can’t say that I’ve been ready for as long as I can remember, but I’m ready now.”
I told her that she doesn’t have to be at my side as I give my speech. That it was totally fine to just stand with my family if she wanted to stay out of the spotlight. But she chose to, and I couldn’t be more proud of her.
Margaret, who is President of the Cipher Springs Historical Preservation Society and a woman I’ve worked with closely through this entire restoration, steps up to the pulpit on the stage they have on the sidewalk in front of the building and introduces me.
Charlie and I step onto the small platform, and I begin my speech. I tell a little bit about The Shadowridge’s history and about my grandparents’ history with The Shadowridge. Then I thank the historical preservation society and the donors who made it happen.
When Giovanni was first arrested and we lost all funding from him, I went to every contact that I had and tracked down every new contact I could get a lead on. With each of them, I pleaded my case as earnestly as I could, and I tapped into all the skills I possessed to paint a picture for them of what this place had the potential to be.
It took so many long days and sleepless nights, and I don’t think I’ve worked harder in my entire life. But before long, several investors stepped forward and offered to fund part of it. That got us close to the amount we needed, but it wasn’t enough. That’s when the cities of both Cipher Springs and Cloakwood banded together to raise the rest of the money.
I get choked up in my speech as I thank them. It had been an amazing thing to watch, and I’ve neverfelt a sense of community or belonging stronger than I did as everyone came together.
I take Charlie’s hand in mine and smile at her. “And I’d like to thank Charlotte Lancaster. She’s been at my side through all of the ups and downs, helping to make it all happen, and I know without a doubt that we wouldn’t all be here today if it weren’t for her.”
Charlie smiles back at me, and I’m struck with an intense awe of her. She constantly blows me away, and I know how fortunate I am to have her in my life.
After my speech, we do the ribbon cutting with the comically large scissors. I’m up there with Charlie, the investors, and the historical preservation society board. And joining us are the guys on my crew—Luis, Grady, Trent, and Nate. Because of the gap in time with no funding, I was only able to get Luis and Trent back when we started up again, but all four of them left such a mark on this place.
They all look pretty decent and very different from how I normally see them, all cleaned up, wearing suits, and grinning like they’re so proud to have had a hand in restoring this place to such a beautiful state. And they very well should be. Honestly, they all deserve medals of some sort.
We head inside, and Charlie and I walk through the place, hand-in-hand, showing my family every part of it. My grandma takes in the beauty with asense of nostalgia. My dad looks at everything with an eye for craftsmanship, taking in every detail. When we finish the tour, my dad gives a nod. Like a stamp of approval. Then he says, “Good work, son. Grandpa would be proud of you.”
My grandma nods. “He is.”
Back when my grandpa came to this theater and first met my grandma, he kept his ticket stub, knowing that it was a night that would forever change the trajectory of his life. My grandma still has it.
And because they saved it, I know exactly what seat he’d been sitting in, and I am able to seat my grandma in the same seat he’d been in when he first saw my grandma on stage inMy Fair Lady,as we watch the same musical tonight. But this time, his seat is surrounded by all the people in his family who wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for that night.
Later, as Charlie and I are carrying a couple of blankets onto the grassy area behind Charlie’s townhome, I’m still feeling the adrenaline from the night coursing through me. Especially because we’ve been talking about the grand opening nonstop since we left the theater. Nothing beats seeing people enjoy the space that your vision and perseverance helped to restore.
Charlie drops her blanket onto the grass before helping me to spread out the other one. “And did you see your grandma’s face when the cast came out and she got to meet the actress who played Eliza Doolittle?”
I nod. “I thought she might cry.”
