Book Two

chapter five

“I do. Niomi. In Felicia and Joe’s, you did him proposing in selenite I know the magical properties of that stone. What if in the next one you did them as wolves in their wolf’s colors?”

“I like that idea.” I see you grabbed a sandstone. We need a brown stone.”

“I have tiger’s eye. It’s brownstone but has a light brown line going through it let me show you, it’s just ahead it. But we can continue to look so we don’t miss any stones.”

“if there is a stone you want carved to be sold here put it in the box and I we will mark it and it will come back. I planned on doing a version of your gift. Trees in jade family but two pups. I wasn’t sure where this one was going turned out it was your gift. But I had planned on doing my version in jade and obsidian with moonstone as a base. I will make two but may not have enough of each stone. I’ll need to grab a bit more.”

“This box is getting heavy let me go put it down grab a new one and I’ll grab the extra stone on my way back to you.”

While he was gone she found a couple more stones. One that brought Danny to mind. So, she grabbed it and she looked to the other side to find some Amethyst stone. She grabbed some of that. By that time, he and gotten back to her she had three or four stones in hand. Seeing he was back she placed the stones carefully. At that time, they arrived at the spot where the tiger’s eye was sitting on the shelf. Immediately she saw what he was speaking of. She found a piece to be perfect. “Do you have a stone that is the opposite of this?” Niomi asked the topper forming in her mind’s eye.

“We do. I’ll be back. It’s called Brown Pietersite. I have some rough that would be good for carving as tumbled rock is harder to work with because of the smoothness.” With that he was off towards the back.

Niomi thought that this was going to be a profitable business deal. While she waited she linked Danny, “Hey love still at the rock shop. I’m coming back with lots of rocks For now we can set the boxes in the room. until a better idea presents itself.”

“I have one. May I work in your workroom? I promise not to touch any of your tools, plus your father is here to put in that filter.”

“Ok. This business relationship is turning out to be a profitable one. The rock man has commissioned an anniversary gift for his wife. Plus, we have worked out a few items that will be sold here and at our shop. We are going to need shelves. I am going to ask him where he got his. As they are wood. I believe Harry is the one to ask.”

“I will see if he is available and ask him.”

“Thank you. See you when I get home.

Danny had already gone upstairs taking George with him and pointing towards the bathroom. He looked at the shelves and drawers in front of him. Imagining finished products, labeled drawers. So he decided to get a labeler. Go by color or however she wanted to label but he needed to first bring thought to life. He went through. There were some stuff in the drawers. Mostly clothes he grabbed an empty box and started filling it with stuff from drawers. In one drawer he found jewelry. He took another box put silk in the bottom and started to carefully put all the jewelry he found. Once he emptied the shelves and drawers. He went to a local store that had everything in it and found a good labeler. A few ink cartridges so he wouldn’t run out. Then went back to the house. When he got back. George was done and was looking at what Danny was in the middle of.

“Son, what are you working on? I’m assuming it’s for Ni.”

“She needs a place she can get to her rocks and stones. These shelves and drawers are already here. She also needs boxes or things to put finished projects in. She’s coming home with orders already. So I thought using these first would be perfect. But some if not most of the drawers have things in them. So I’m clearing them out. I had to run out to get a good labeler and ink cartridges to label the drawers and such, so one could look and know what was in each drawer.”

“Good idea. I’ll get May over here between the three of us we should be able to get this by the time Ni gets back.” He linked his wife and asked her to come to the work room that they needed her help. She came over right away. When they explained what the intent was she left again grabbed some extra empty boxes and brought them in. She saw one already had some Jewelry. She went to the jewelry drawer and saw that the velvet piece came out, so she went to the others and pulled out the other velvets. Then quickly put the jewelry back into the velvet then stacked it in the box.

“If you come across a jewelry drawer lift the velvet inside tray and just set it on top, remember this is her mother’s jewelry. Think of how you’d feel.”

Danny hadn’t thought of that. So, he did as he continued, he remembered this was Felicia’s parents’ things. He knew she didn’t care about the clothes, but he’d find out anyway. He was careful with any jewelry, men’s or women’s. Careful with anything. Thought about how he would like to find his parents’ stuff just thrown into a box. Even though it had been years ago. It did not matter. He asked May if she would talk to Joy and see if she knew what exactly Felicia did not care about and it would narrow things down a lot. So may did.

May responded. “Save jewelry. Any nice dresses not the everyday ones. As for her father’s stuff. His jewelry, watches, cuff links, rings things like that.” Clothes are also not needed of his.”

“Ok, that stuff makes sense thank you May.

When Niomi walked in they had gotten through three quarters of shelves and drawers. “What are you guys doing?”

“Danny had an idea George said. He suggested that if we empty this you can use the shelves for finished carvings or boxes. Drawers for stones or rocks. He even bought a good labeler with extra ink to get it ready. We’ve been working hard ever since. Almost done. Only things we’re saving are Felicia’s mom and dad’s jewelry, and her mom’s dressy dresses. Everything else is being tossed. We checked with Joy first.”

Niomi’s heart melted more. She went over and kissed his head and started to help where they hadn’t gotten to yet. They finished within the next hour. She then shooed they guys out asking them to bring the rocks and stones up. To her mother she said. “Mom I need to make Goldie’s cake topper. Or start it. There are two small boxes. One has a piece of paper, the other has two types of brown stones. I need those first. Will you please get them up here? They are on the front passenger seat. I needed them. The others can be brought up slowly. I’m going to prepare to start. I only have a few hours to start. And a few days to finish. I need help setting up.”

May smiled because Niomi had never asked for her help in this way before. She nodded and went downstairs passing Danny who was coming in with a box. She went to the front seat and carefully picked up the boxes. She lovingly and carefully carried them up. While the men came back down empty handed. When she got back up to the carving room. Niomi was just strapping on her apron. Everything was set. She walked up took the box she knew was the one she wanted and just said put that one on one of the clear shelves for now. Arranging stones will be later. But I’d like you to stay keep me on track. The girls and I have decided to meet at…I don’t know.” She looked panicked at her mother.

May smiled and said, “Sweetheart, I’ll be here. You work, I’ll find out and keep you on track.”

“Thanks.” And then she was into focus knowing she didn’t have to worry. She started the process purifying the stone. Dabbing excess water. She had decided on sandstone being the base. This was a simple cake topper so she didn’t see it taking long.

Meanwhile she watched her daughter walk back and forth. She linked Felicia. “Felicia this is May, Niomi is currently working on something and asked me to stay and keep her on track. But doesn’t remember what time you three were going to meet?”

“That’s amazing she has allowed someone to watch her work. She’s usually private about that stuff. Even If it’s to keep her on track.”

“I know. So, was there a time set?”

“No, I figured we figure out what we wanted to do after dinner.”

“Hold on Felicia let me get back to you I need to link Danny.” May then linked Danny. “Danny, did Ni say wither she was going up to dinner tonight?”

“No, she said something about working till she was done. So maybe through dinner. Marely was going to have it delivered here. Where are you?”

“In the room with Ni. She asked me to keep her on track as she didn’t remember what time she was meeting the girls. I can eat later. So don’t worry about me. I need to relink Felicia.” May called out to Felicia, “Hey Felicia, dinner is being delivered here, and she was going to work up until she had to meet you. Also, we saved some things for you of your parents’ Ni will bring them to you. Do you want to say seven o’clock?”

“That sounds good. We can get clothes moved around like men’s things to Uncle Ben’s office. Pretty much all our stuff is here except makeup but maybe that can be something we can go out and get. I have someone coming to do our nails. Marley’s making a big cookie tray. And I think we’re going to watch a girly movie I got a bunch of different ones. But it’s all happening in my old room. Joe’s taking a tv and DVD player over there. All the clothes are in the closest. He’s just setting it up for us. Mom’s putting extra blankets and pillows for us to use. I know there’s a bed in there still. Heck we may even all fit. We’ll see. But a cot and extra bedding will be there. As Marley is also sending up A Rose` and a Cabernet Sauvignon: up with glasses.”

“I will make sure she is there by seven.”

“Thanks Aunt May.”

May looked at her watch. Noticing it was only three. She decided to not disturb her but to start putting the stones she knew like Jade and Ruby in drawers. Then using the labeler. Labeled them. She continued. Most of the stones were marked for the Rock store. So, she was able to either shelve the bigger stones. Put the smaller ones in drawers. There were a set of shelves that were separated into square-like shapes. These ones would be perfect for incoming orders. Like the one she brought in, she placed labels two up high. Then Two more midway. She decided to number each box so there was an order for the orders that needed to be done. The rock man was number one as he was next. Next she wrote your cake topper and put that in the number two spot. And then continued to number the boxes, as far as she could reach without falling. She linked Danny after looking at her watching noticing it was four thirty. “Danny, It’s four thirty. She doesn’t have to be at the packhouse till seven. Please come get the dresses and jewelry and put them in the cab of her truck. Then I can show you what I’ve done. I can’t reach higher with out falling.”

“Be right there Mother May.” Danny said quietly coming up the stairs. When he got there he saw what she had done. Went up to her and linked wow.

May looked at him ‘I could get up higher if I had a ladder or step stool. I’m not sure we have one. But what we have for now is these other rocks I’m not sure what they are or where they should be. So, I left them. She can decide later.’

Danny took the boxes down one by one and put them in her cab. With the Jewelry on the front seat.” When he had went back up to make sure the boxes were all done. There was one more full of dresses. He took that down. Then went back to what he was doing, which was putting books on the shelves in the office. He also decided he needed to get some rock identification software. For spread sheets and a so he could make a catalog for people to go through when looking for a type of stone or precious stone. He would also check with Alpha about the stony area that most people stayed away from for fear of falling to see if he and Namoi could have some and clean it up some. They could put shelves up down here and put the stones on them so that people could pick their own stone. He remembered Ni asking him to get a box for the one she had just finished. He thought he should take a picture of her work. But this was for a patient that her and Felicia had so the picture book would be for non-medical carvings. He was making notes on his note pad. Looking at the time saw it was five thirty. He told may he was leaving and would be back. He left and went to the store to find the gift box. When he finally found a box that was the right size, he next went to the pillow department and looked for a velvet pillow that would fit. A lady walked up and asked him if she could help. He told her what he was trying to do. She helped him and he was out of there quickly. He got back and was inside before dinner even got there. He went up and said this is for the finished statue. She asked me to get it.”

May said, “Ok I’ll get it boxed and ready. Oooo a velvet pillow. Is this how she wants all of her carvings given?”

“I believe so. I’m going to have to find a source.”

“I won’t have much to do. I can make pillows of varying sizes. You will need to find the boxes. We can work out a price for the work. Pillows are easy and so is buying velvet in bulk. You guys pick a color, and we’ll make it uniform. Maybe the box supply place can put the company name on the top.”

“I’ll add it to my notes, and we’ll work on that price.” He said leaving the room. After the box was finished. She found another set of shelves next to incoming orders and started making shelves Boxed orders. She looked at the shelves and decided they needed a set of shelves labeled finished carvings. But wasn’t sure why they would need them. So she put the labeler down. And looked at her watch. It was almost six fifteen. Niomi had been working nonstop. She walked over Saw the sandstone base. And the two wolves howling together. Then saw she was almost done with the trees. So, she thought she’d let her finish. Knowing a little of her process. She didn’t know how she melded them. So she sat back down and watched.

Niomi had the green trees carved out. She went over and purified them one last time dabbing and drying them off. She then carried them over feeling the detail and all the edges. She got to the topper and turned it around, set the trees down and picked up the topper. Grabbed the first tree and bonded the two together. Did the same with all the trees, till they were all on.

She looked at her mother. “It’s done. I didn’t know it was going to be so quick!”

“Will you tell me about it?”

“I found out that Chris’s wolf is chocolate colored brown and sandy eyes. So I found stones that were the opposite of the other and decided on two wolves howling and put a forest behind them on sandstone. Like earth. I didn’t think to add a Moon Goddess signifier.”

“Honey it’s perfect. Their wolves howling up. Who could they be howling at but at the Goddess herself. It’s for their mating ceremony and wedding. Let me fix it up nicely and I’ll bring both boxes down. Go eat.”

“Ok mom I trust you.” Niomi left, hanging her apron on the hook by the door that was now like a second nature to her.

May looked around. Finding a Velvet innards that wasn’t needed for jewelry. Then she grabbed one of the small boxes. Put the pillow in and found a silk scarf that was half out of a box and put it in there on top like you would tissue paper. Then closed the box. Grabbed the other one and went downstairs. When she got there Niomi was just finishing up when May arrived.

“This one is for Goldie. This one is your patient’s. Danny and I can tell you about the deal we made as some decisions needed to be made. But you have someone to make velvet pillows for you. Danny has some business things he’s got to take care of. But there’s no need to worry. Danny maybe we can get the filling from George’s company. We’ll talk.”

“Like Ni, I’m off to be with Joe.”

“Ok see you two tomorrow.” May left.

“I honestly don’t know. There’s a good chance but probably not.” Ni said