Page 63 of Glass & Groundwork
I saw heads bob around the group. Artists, crafters, a group of people who resonated with the need to create. Something my parents could never wrap their heads around. I found my people. People who would encourage creativity in whatever form it took.
“I worked and trained and collected, in the hopes of some day having a studio of my own. Gio…” My voice cracked with emotion as I looked at my husband. “Gio opened his home to me and gave me room to grow my dream. Thank you. There aren’t words big enough to express how grateful I am that you helped me get here. And you all…”
I looked at my kids all huddled together, and my eyes misted, making my vision blurry. “I’m so thankful that you welcomed me in and let me be a part of this family. You are all so important to me, and I love you all deeply.”
Gio lifted his glasses to wipe a tear from his eye which only made my own tears flow freely. I didn’t care. Let them flow. I wasn’t trying tokeep up appearancesor worry about what people might think. These people weren’t here because they expected anything of me or wanted anything from me, they were here because they cared.
“Without further ado. Welcome to Kiss My Glass.” I announced. Eduardo ran forward and pulled a rope that released the tarp, revealing the open doors of the barn. A gasp left me as I turned around to look. Above the doors was a large wooden sign with my logo on it.
Gio walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I leaned back against him and stared at the sign in awe. “What? How did you… when did you…?”
He kissed my cheek and said, “I commissioned it from Theo. Do you like it?”
I turned in his arms and threw mine around his neck. “I love it. It’s perfect.”
Staring up at him, overcome with emotion, I couldn’t hold back the words I’d been keeping to myself. “I loveyou, Gio. I love you so damn much I didn’t think it was possible. I know we were taking time to lay the groundwork and build on it, but I need you to know that. I love you and I know we will continue to build this life together and it’s only going to grow with us.”
Gio grinned wide and tugged on one of my curls. “I love you, too. I’ve been saying it to myself for a while, the words sitting on my tongue and in my heart, but they’re yours now. I never pictured a life with a partner, let alone a husband, but now that I have you, I can’t picture my life without you in it. I love you, youmake me ridiculously happy, and so, so damn proud every time I see you with our kids. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to share a life with.”
Needing to say it one more time, loving that the words were free at last, I whispered, “I love you, Daddy.”
Gio’s arms tightened around my waist, lifting me up until our mouths crashed together. With his hold on me, he spun me around, until my head fell back, and I was laughing, just overwhelmed with joy.
When he set me down, he met my gaze. “I love you, beautiful, now go show them that breath control you’re so good at.”
I pecked one more quick kiss before walking into the shop. I grabbed the leather apron which now had a hook to hang from, along with several others that would be available for Yahir, or anyone else interested in learning at my no-cost glass studio.
The glory hole stood in the center of the room, looking like a portal to hell. Fuck, it made me happy to see it set up. Everyone gathered inside, with Jason and Nico holding onto Parker and Emily to keep them safe.
“Who’s ready for a demonstration?”
Another round of cheering sounded, pumping me up to show them what I could do. This was a moment I’d been waiting for for a long time. I grabbed a blowpipe off the wall. It was a hollow tube that would allow me to blow into it to help create the shape of the glass.
Standing with the end of the blowpipe in the glory hole, I felt the peace that came over me when I worked. It was a dance, a dance with fire and molten glass, each step choreographed to a rhythm the glass demanded.
When I pulled the glowing orange blob of glass out of the fire, I put my mouth to the other end of the blowpipe. I took a deep breath and blew out slowly, rotating the pipe as I went. The people behind me let out “oohs” and “awws” as the blob beganto grow into an orb. With another slow breath, it stretched into an oval shape. I appreciated the sight as much as those watching. It never got old seeing hard glass transform into something different, manipulated by breath and tools.
I used a few techniques with the tweezers, pulling at the taffy-like glass to shape it, until finally I had a vase with scalloped edges. Showing it off to everyone, I got a round of applause, before I put it in the large kiln. Shutting the door to the glory hole, I turned the heat down, and took a bow.
“Thank you everyone. God, that felt so good to do again. I really appreciate you all being here for this shop-warming. Now let’s go eat all that delicious food.”
“Yay, food!” Emily and Parker shouted.
It was immediately followed by all of the adults echoing them. “Yay, food.”
They filtered out of the barn and went back to the house. Gio stayed behind and watched me with a look of wonder. “That was amazing, Jasper. And really fucking hot.”
My brows arched as I took in his darkened eyes behind his glasses. “Oh, yeah? You know what? Glassblowing is always such an adrenaline rush, it makes me really horny. Like I’m just getting warmed up and could put my mouth to use in other ways.”
Gio bent down and kissed me, his tongue pushing into my mouth and tangling with mine. A groan sounded from him as I rolled my hips into his, feeling his hardness. I pulled back enough to look him in the eye. “Do you think they’ll miss us if we don’t show up right away?”
Gio hummed in his throat and I could see he was considering it, but his eyes darted to the door, and I already knew that I’d have to wait. “I think there are young kids here, which means they are unpredictable and could show up at any time.”
I sighed and took a step back allowing us to both adjust ourselves and cool down. “Yeah. I suppose so. Raincheck?”
Gio smirked and gave me a nod. “Now, that is a check I will happily accept.”
He held my hand and gave it a kiss, leading me into the brisk night air. We didn’t walk to the house right away, both of us needing a minute to cool off, and I leaned against him, surveying the barn and the logo sign once more. It was perfect. My life was perfect. Well… there was one thing.
