Whispers In Spring: Seasons Of Life, Book Two

By Jaysen True Blood

It is the wedding of a lifetime! Mat and Amanda have decided to beome one and the whole Morrow family will be present to celebrate.  As he awaits his future, he plans the perfect way to close the final chapter on his past and honor the women he had trouble letting go....an art gallery/museum dedicated to her memory and her artwork...while being deeply in love with his new wife, Amanda. Join the Morrows as they celebrate their patriarch's happiest moment.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jaysen True Blood
• Release date: Jul 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393242895

Jaysen True Blood

Jaysen True Blood was born and raised in the Midwest where he currently resides. His first taste of writing came early in grade school with a class assignment. a few years later, his love for writing would return as he found himself with another class assignment, this time a poetry unit. through junior high, he would write a series of novels, many poems, and begin his long interest in writing song lyrics as well. In high school, he would learn the value of tall tales, myths and other kinds of stories as he continued to build his store of stories. upon graduation, he went for a semester at a university, where he would write two stories, one of which would become a serial online for about six months. Returning home, he worked at just about anything he could find, but never strayed far from his love of the story. After his first marriage, he signed on with Keep It Coming, an e-zine, where he wrote two serials, "Tales From The Renge" and "Breed's Command" (the same characters appear with Fancy Marsh in several subsequent westerns. The serial was taken from a manuscript written for a class assignment while in high school). H also wrote writing and music related articles for the print version of KIC that came out for just three issues. When KIC went under, Jay was once again forced to work at different jobs just to make ends meet. between 2007 and 2010, Jay would release "Seven By Jay: Seven Short Stories", "The Price Of Lust: Book One Of Faces In The Crowd" and "So Here's To Twilight And Other Poems".

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Also in this series

Long Cold Winter

Other books by Jaysen True Blood:

The Faust Syndrome

Jesus Saves

Mexican Radio And Other Short Stories, Vol. I

Mexican Radio And Other Short Stories, Vol. II

The Price You Pay And Other short Stories

Hand Me Down World: Book One Of The Morrow Family Saga: 1950

1

March had started with Matt’s proposal to Amanda and progressed into a full-fledged free for all where the planning was concerned. When Juanita’s sister and mother found out about the wedding, they, too, wanted to be in on it. Max and George, Juanita’s brother-in-law and father, instantly wanted to be in the groom’s retinue. And Matt agreed. Besides. Even though he was getting remarried, they would still be family. No matter what.

They had always been there for him, even if he hadn’t paid attention to the fact. His opening a gallery to show off all of Juanita’s artwork let them know that he still cared and loved her, even though she was dead and gone. Max had brought several of the paintings that had been mentioned.

Matt looked at them. They were exquisite! Phenomenal. He had never seen so beautiful a group of paintings as he now looked at.

He looked at Max, then at George. I am going to have to search through each sketch book and find the corresponding sketch. I assume every sketch has a painting?

Max nodded. At least all the ones before she got with Tim. I am not sure about those sketches. We weren’t allowed to see her during those days, so art was not as plentiful or as beautiful.

Matt nodded. I’ll ask Lil if Tim had any paintings by Juanita in his hoard. If so, I will add them to the gallery lineup.

Lil looked in the door of the office. Did I hear my name?

Matt waved her in. Did your brother have any paintings in what he left you? Any sketchbooks?

She nodded. Yes. And he was no artist, so I assumed that they belonged to his lover at the time. Hard to believe that anyone could love him, but... She looked down at the paintings Matt was looking through. "Whoa! Who did those? They’re awesome! The ones Tim left were almost as good, but darker in subject and color. The sketch books, I never opened."

Matt looked at her. Bring them in. I would love to see them.

Lil. nodded. Sure! Juanita did most of Tim’s early cover art. At least the art during her relationship with the asshole.

Ty smiled crookedly. I figured. He barely rapped on most of his works when he was coming into my studio. He usually used studio singers and computer noise. I couldn’t work with him. Always got migraines from the back-tracks.

She smiled. "I think only druggies listened to his shit anyway. He was threatened more than once by the hard core rappers and gangsta rappers. They called it noise. To them, he was a wannabe. If you are like me, you knew he was a never-was."

Matt nodded. True. But he made enough to feel big and important. And to think that the law couldn’t touch him.

Lil nodded. True. And I prayed every day that they would end his rampage before he took some poor woman out. She looked away. "Did I ever tell you that he was violent even as a child? I mean, he would beat the shit out of me and Melody on a regular basis. And we were older than him! That was the reason we ran away from home. As well as because of daddy.

But that is all past. Both he and daddy are dead and buried. I have a wonderful husband in Ty, and three wonderful kids. Melody has a great family too. Perhaps all the crap made us stronger than we would have been otherwise.

Matt bowed his head. I-I’m sorry. Shouldn’t have opened old wounds.

She looked at him and smiled. You didn’t. I did. Anyway, if those paintings and these belong together, they belong to you and her family. Not me.

He hugged her. Thanks, sis. Actually, just turn them over to Ty. He is helping on this.

Lil left and George handed Matt a packet of photos. "The sculptures. All too big to pack in the back of a car with three screaming kids. And way too big for the trunk."

Matt chuckled, then looked at the pictures. "Wow! She was good!"

Max smiled. Good wasn’t the word. She could look at a piece of junk and see the treasure hidden inside. She could take rusted chunks of metal and turn them into something exquisite.

Matt nodded, dazed. I noticed.

In the dining room, the women had all gathered. Each had a glass of red wine and a fortune cookie. This was Darlene’s ice breaker. The wine was for drinking, but the cookie was just a prop. Something to get each woman thinking.

Sandra looked up at Darlene, who sat at the head of the table. Tell me, again, what is the cookie for?

Darlene smiled. "Think of planning a wedding as a fortune cookie. On the outside, it is just a wedding. On the inside, it is a lot of planning and careful choreography. And the fortune is how it turns out.

But a wedding is only what you plan it to be. If you don’t plan it right, it doesn’t turn out right. If you leave something out, it is as empty as if you had put nothing into it at all. But plan it right, get everything in its place, and you have a wonderful, blessed event that can be remembered for years to come.

Amanda nodded. I see.

Darlene looked at Amanda. So what have you got so far?

She smiled. Possible dates. Traditional wedding colors and rituals. A red and white bouquet with no frilly flowers, just roses. And other colors include red and blue.

The planner nodded. I see. Other colors?

Amanda looked her in the eye. Yes. Do we really have to have a white cake?

Darlene smiled. "Not really, but it is traditional. We can add the other colors to the decor in subtle ways, though. That is, if you still want them.

Color for bride’s maids’ gowns will be white and peach, correct? No need in everyone wearing white, if you don’t want them to. Just as the men can wear white or sky blue. We can incorporate red into a heart bouquet of both balloons and flowers, if you like. Dark blue, as well."

She got out her big book of ideas and began showing them what could be done. Oos and Ahhs could be heard emanating from the dining room in waves. Matt smiled as he passed on his way to the kitchen, and poked his head into the room. Cost is not an object, girls. Remember that. Whatever you plan, make it something this city will never forget.

2

The flurry of activity that had swallowed the dining room kept Matt in his office. He didn’t care about the details, just as long as Amanda was happy. Then, again, he had never been all that hard to please. All he had ever asked for in life was a good woman, and now he’d found one.

She had not been the first, but she was going to be the last. This time, he knew it was forever. Well, maybe not forever, but until death did them part. After all, he was fifty-ish, and life had not been too kind to him until now. He was lucky to still have his health.

Hell. He had tried to drink his health away. And failed. Thank God for small miracles.

Yes. Thank God. For everything.

He now sat in his private office, talking on the phone. Ty was sitting in one chair that faced him, the other was still empty. Frank, I need a list of architects. And empty, available and highly desirable retail spaces in the city. Yes. Yes. So I should call Marty Hillard? Sure. Sure. OK. Thank you. He hung up and dialed another number. Marty? It’s Matt. Two things. Any available retail space that is in high demand and in a good location? Sure. Sure. And also. I need a list of the best architects. Yes. You’ll send a list of both? Good. Good. I owe you. You too.

Ty looked at Matt as he hung up the phone. So Frankie referred you to Hillard?

Matt nodded. Yup.

His friend cocked his head to one side. And?

Matt smiled. "Marty is bringing two lists. One of retail spaces and in-demand locations, the other of architects and renovation experts."

T-Bone smiled. Cool!

Matt nodded. My thought exactly.

Ty looked at the mass of paintings. What now?

Matt looked out his office window. Now, we find a nice, dry place to store these paintings and sketch books until we can begin setting up the gallery. Any suggestions?

Ty shook his head. Not really. Do we even have warehouse space?

Matt cringed at the suggestion. I hate to put them in the warehouse. Some of those guys aren’t all that careful when driving the forklifts and doing other activities.

Ty looked down. "We do have one warehouse unit that is pretty much empty. No one goes in or out of it unless it is to check for leaks or other possible problems. It hasn’t had anything in it since the good old days. And what is there are old files, recordings, and things that are not for sale. We could find a relatively dry area there and place everything in airtight boxes