Chapter 25 - REBECCA’S FLOWER
Josephine became an industrial designer.
Not because of Hearthwood.
At least she claimed not.
She liked furniture, toys, and objects people used every day.
At twenty-seven, she designed a children’s balance bike.
Hearthwood offered to license it.
She said no initially because she feared family history.
Then reconsidered.
“They have a good manufacturing team.”
“Then use independent counsel.”
She did.
Hearthwood licensed the design under market terms.
No family discount.
No obligation.
The product succeeded modestly.
Not a billion-dollar miracle.
A good product.
Josephine used part of the royalties to fund adaptive-play equipment at public parks.
She named no program after Arthur.
No Rebecca Memorial line.
No Josephine Legacy Collection.
Just equipment.
When her first prototype arrived, she placed Rebecca’s blue-painted horse fragment on the workbench.
Not as corporate artifact.
As a reminder that her mother had noticed things.
May you like
Then she put it back in a drawer before the design review.
Work had to stand on its own.
