Omano offered them dinner after a tour of his gardens but Matt turned him down in a very gracious way. Jade was greatly relieved. She was so distracted by her fears that she scarcely noticed the rows of lilies and rose hedges in the gardens.
On the way to the motel Matt said, “You let me drag you off to a strange and overwhelming world for the day. Tonight we do as you please. What would you like?”
Jade gave him a half smile. “I would like dinner in our room and, later, a dance or two on our balcony. Then I would like an early night. I’m beat. There’s something about Omano which terrifies me.”
Matt sighed and showed his own tiredness for the first time that day. “I agree. He’s generous and very bright but he likes to have his way and he’s hard to refuse.”
She felt her heart sink. “So, you’ve decided to become part of his staff.”
Matt shook his head. “No. I don’t want you to leave your farm and sell your company. You mean more to me than what he offers. To be honest though, I’d do almost anything to be able to set up his hot shop for him. That would give me some serious credentials and a pretty good amount of cash. I could sure use it.”
“Do you think he’ll give the job to someone else if you refuse to live on his terms?”
“I don’t know. Lee knows him a lot better than I do. I want to sound him out on this before he leaves tomorrow. Do you mind if we meet with him over breakfast tomorrow morning?”
“Not if we get to bed early tonight.” Jade looked into his lively dark eyes.
His smile gave her the answer she wanted. “You’re on. Let’s order dinner as soon as we get settled in. We can have that dance while we wait for the service.”
Matt seemed to want to make love all night so Jade was surprised when she woke up, fresh as a daisy, at six the next morning.
While she took a shower her fears of the night before seemed a little silly in the light of day but she was glad she had expressed them. Omano remained a dark figure of power in her mind when she thought of her childhood. She had hated her parents’ estate because she always felt like a bothersome visitor who was, nevertheless, required to show up in her latest new dress and shoes for many of the parties and all of the teas her mother held. The estate walls closed in on her when she became a teenager. Even though she loved the housekeeper and gardener more than she did her parents she could not resist taking jobs in the area just to have some place else to be. She never wanted to return to that life again. It made her feel like she was the family pet.
They met Lee at a bright clean cottage restaurant not far from the motel. “So, what do you think of the old boy? Oh, by the way, Delta caught me on the way out and told me she’d like to take you to the Scottsdale Crafts Fair. When we meet with him this morning she’ll pick you up in her convertible. It’s a snazzy blue Ferrari.”
“Well, that’s awfully nice of her. Are you sure this was her idea? I know how you like to arrange things.” Jade gave him a suspicious look.
“Come on, Jade. This isn’t a blind date. It’ll be just you two gals. If we break up early we’ll come join you. Okay?”
Jade laughed at herself and nodded. She knew he would never intentionally set her up to be embarrassed or compromised. “I’m sorry. But to answer your question, as charming as Rafael is, he scares me to death. I don’t care to be anybody’s pet, no matter how fancy the kennel is.” She glanced to the side to see how Matt reacted to her comment. He stared straight at Lee.
“What’s all this about pets? The old guy just likes the best of art and music and he’s willing to treat you like royalty to get it. What’s wrong with that? If I had an artistic bone in my body I’d be living there myself.”
“I don’t believe it. For one thing, he only promised to put up with one significant other, not a harem.”
Matt chuckled and watched the waitress lay colorful omelets in front of him and Lee. Jade inhaled the aromas from her steamed fish and apple muffin and savored her rich coffee.
“Yes, well, don’t be surprised if I decide to take up monogamy if I find a real talent who interests him and wants me.”
“Back to business.” Matt cleared his throat. “Do you think I’ll take myself right out of the picture if I don’t want to sign on with him, to be his sculptor? I mean, do you think he would consider hiring me to do his hot shop even if I wanted my independence?”
“I think so. Remember, if you aren’t willing to do any more glass blowing he wouldn’t get much out of having you on contract. He’s only going to have one hot shop and when he needs a new crew or repairs or something he can just call you back there, as long as you give him enough details on where you’ll be.” Lee turned to look at Jade. “Relax, okay? He’s not a mobster. He’s just a rich guy who knows what he likes and he’s willing to pay for it. Just like he said.”
After they got to Omano’s estate they were escorted to a cozy breakfast room where Delta was finishing her coffee, Omano, his tea. “Ah, here you all are. My lovely Delta tells me she is going to steal your lady for the fair. I wish you ladies a fine adventure. Do not forget about my art piece, my lovely one. I am counting on your sense of the best. Don’t let me down.”
“Have I ever?” Delta gave him a gorgeous smile and winked at Jade. “Hello, I’m Delta Spencer. Your friend, Mr. Lee, said you would enjoy going to the craft fair with me. Was he right about that?”
“I’m very pleased to meet you. Matt has told me so much about your lovely sculptures and I finally got to see some, yesterday. I think I would like to get out with you today.”
“Great! Would you like a cup of coffee and a croissant before we leave?”
Jade shook her head. “No, thank you. I had breakfast already. I’m ready when you are. This is most kind of you.”
“Not at all. I told Matt I was determined to meet this exotic woman who had so captured his heart. See you later, gentlemen.”
Delta’s Ferrari was every bit as impressive as Lee had said it was. “I promise not to drive like a maniac. Would you rather have the top up?”
“Oh, this is fine.” Jade pulled a bronze colored silk scarf out of her purse and tied it under her chin. It almost matched her hair. “It’s a beautiful car.”
“It’s only mine because Rafael grew tired of it and bought a new Hummer with all the bells and whistles. I think he’s crazy. Someone shot a gun near him and he assumed it was an attempt on his life. It was probably just an accident.”
“I’m the cautious type myself. I take it you’re the devil-may-care type.”
“I’ve been told that but I’m more aware than I appear. I’m not the one with the loot, he is. All the same, I don’t know why anyone would try to harm him. If they told him they needed money that badly he’d probably give it them. He’s actually very generous.”
Jade could not help staring at Delta while she listened to her talk about her life with Omano. The woman had a statuesque figure and stood almost six feet tall. Her beautiful fine features were highlighted by large Asian eyes and a short mop of black curls with streaks of bronze in them. With her deep brown skin she would have made a marvelous statue herself. “You make Rafael sound so kind and warm and egalitarian. Yet, he seems so domineering, so manipulative, to me.”
“He’s that, too. He’s a fantastic mix of power and sensitivity, when you get to know him. He’ll grow on you. You’ll see.”
Jade shivered. Somehow, Delta’s words made Jade think of a smiling octopus or a purring tiger. She was not reassured.
When they got to the craft fair Delta motioned to Jade to follow her. Jade almost had to run to keep up with her. “Here we are. Rafael made me promise him I would look at the Lyle Sopel pieces at Peggy’s booth. She said she had a couple of real stunners.”
“They’ll break your heart, girl.” A tall graceful woman with long blonde hair stepped away from the corner of the tent and smiled.
“Jade Holloway, meet Peggy Stearns. She’s selling some consignment pieces from her gallery back in the city. Oh,
my gosh! I see what you mean. Oh, Rafael, you are such a rat!” A couple of tears slipped down Delta’s face.
Jade felt a deep pang of sympathy for her. “But the pieces I saw in his side room were out of this world. You’re a wonderful sculptor, Delta. I think he’s a jerk for being so fickle, especially asking you to buy it for him.” Jade felt her cheeks get hot, her anger was almost painful. She thought a moment and realized that the Sopel piece really was exquisite with its jade eagle and amethyst fish. It made it seem all the more cruel of Omano to order Delta to buy it for him.
Delta smiled through her tears and shook her head. “He did this because I haven’t worked on anything new for six months now. I’m usually working on three pieces at once. I kind of ran out of gas after Bobby left. Bobby was my boyfriend. He dumped me for a ballet dancer with a flat chest. Anyway, Rafael did this once to Eduardo when he stopped painting, after his mother died. He sent Ed to an art show in Seattle to find a particular Robert Sugita painting. Before you knew it Ed was painting again, and in water colors!”
Delta let out a huge sigh and nodded to Peggy to wrap up the sculpture. She glanced at the price tag and whistled. “It’s worth it. Well, I may go home and pout all over the house but he’ll get his way.”
While Delta wrote out the check and chatted with Peggy, Jade wandered over to the booths on each side of Peggy’s. On the sunny side was a handmade jewelry display. A pretty Native American girl was sitting behind the display and working on a piece of silver. Jade gave it all a cursory look and walked over to the shady booth on the other side. A man was working on a leather belt with a great deal of hand tooling on it. The colors were deep and strong. The dark red flowers and dark green cactus fronds wound all the way to the end. Jade assumed the belt was for a woman. Lying on the table, next to him, was a dark belt with famous old cattle brands burned into it.
Uncle Cedric will love that for Christmas. He’s so hard to buy for. Jade handed the belt to the man after she looked at the price. She handed him the cash just as she heard Delta’s voice.
“There you are. I was afraid you had gone off to call Rafael and give him a piece of your mind. He really is trying to help me, you know.”
“I suppose, but I don’t like people who try to make me do something for my own good. In fact, I don’t take orders well period. I’m afraid I’d be a real problem if Matt decided to join you guys. I’m probably killing my chances for the kind of relationship I always wanted. But, it wouldn’t be fair to get in Matt’s way if this is what he wants.”
Delta gave her a sad smile. “I don’t think you’ll be in his way. I think he’s as independent as you are. Rafael isn’t going to get his way on this one. I’d love to have you two join us but I think it might be better if you didn’t. I got really close to a girlfriend of Clark’s once. When she left, it kind of broke my heart. Clark’s our composer of gorgeous music. Anyway, I think you and I could be really good friends and that doesn’t seem to work when you live together. I adore my sister but we got really down on each other when we tried to share an apartment.”
“I agree with you. I think we’d be better friends by visiting each other when we get the chance. I just hope that won’t be my relationship with Matt.”
“You’re falling in love with him, aren’t you?”
Jade nodded her head and dabbed away a couple of tears. “I haven’t wanted to admit that one, even to myself. I don’t seem very good at relationships with anybody but my Uncle and his girlfriend.”
“Excuse me for a second.” Delta waved at a white haired man who was rubbing a fine oil on a carving of a fox. The wood in the carving had a deep rich grain which reminded Jade of layers of fur. She assumed that was why the man had carved a fox out of it. “So, how’s it going, John? That’s a lovely piece you’re working on.”
“Thank you, Delta. You’re looking happier than when I saw you last. Got a new man in your life already, I’ll bet.” His smile and lush white mustache gave him a jovial look.
She sighed and glanced down. “No. I’m on a diet. No guys for a while. They’re too much trouble, except for you, of course. Jade Holloway meet John Robinson, my favorite wood carver.”
Robinson let out a lusty laugh and nodded to Jade. “I am indeed flattered, Delta, but my Rita would strongly object. She sends her love, by the way.”
“How’s her knee? Good as new, I hope.”
The two people went on with their friendly chatter while Jade’s attention wandered to a carving of a bear cub, a retriever puppy, and a little boy who all seemed to be laughing and playing on a log. The piece was entitled, Country Dance. She felt as though she were hypnotized or frozen in place. She couldn’t take her eyes off of it.
“Jade? Jade? Hello! John, you’ve done it again. You’ve created another mad fan.” Delta laughed and put her hand on Jade’s shoulder.
It startled Jade. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ignore you. There’s something about this piece.” She reached a tentative hand out to touch the little boy. “It’s lovely.”
“His stuff always is. Do you want to move on or has he made a sale.”
Jade sighed. “There goes my budget, again. Oh, well. We only live once.” She looked at the tag and winced but she was not surprised at the price. “Wrap it. It’s too stunning to pass up.”
Robinson took her money and wrapped the carving, placing it in a thick paper tote.
Jade and Delta took turns deciding which booth to visit next until Delta’s stomach growled. She looked at her watch. “It’s after twelve. How about some lunch?”
“Lead the way, as long as I’m buying. I’m getting spoiled on this trip.”
“I sometimes forget what it’s like to be without a lavish expense account. I don’t know what I’ll do if I ever stop my work. I would hate to be trying to provide for myself again.” Delta sighed and pointed at a tent offering tables and chairs and Mexican dishes.
Jade nodded her agreement and they waited behind two couples standing at the counter. She glanced down at the package hanging off her right shoulder and shifted the tote to her left shoulder. “This is beginning to wear me out. I must be getting lazy.”
“We just have to place our order, pay, and get our number. They’ll bring it to the table.”
When they carried their iced teas to a table in the corner of the tent Jade looked around and felt uneasy about where to put her precious carving. She decided to place it between her feet. After a big gulp of her tea she began to feel better. A welcome voice and warm hand caught her attention.
Matt leaned down to kiss her before he took a chair next to her. Charles Lee kissed Delta on the cheek and took a chair on the other side of the table.
“I see you ladies have been busy spending. Let’s see your treasures. I’m betting your stuff is nothing like what most women buy at these bazaars.” Lee set a frosty beer on the table in front of him.
Matt leaned over Jade’s shoulder. “I hope you’ve been enjoying all this.”
“Actually, I have. Wait until you see what Delta bought for Rafael. I think he should feel guilty, no matter what he says.”
Delta pulled a post card out of her purse. “Rafael has been talking about this for the last week. Now I know why. It’s on its way to the house, as we speak.”
Lee looked at the photo and whistled. “Whoa! That must’ve hurt. He really is an old goat, sometimes.” He passed the picture to Matt.
“Well, it’s working. I can feel myself revving up my creative juices even though I’d like to slip something in his tea. Show him yours, Jade.”
Jade unwrapped the Robinson carving and felt her pulse quicken once more. She gave it a gentle caress. When she glanced at Matt he was smiling at her as if she were naked. “It’s fantastic. No wonder you bought it.”
“I couldn’t resist.” She wrapped it up again so the waitress could place their food in front of them. “Have either of you ever tried wood carving?”
Matt shook his head.
“I did a dove w
hen I was in college but it came out more like a chicken and it took me forever. I abandoned wood, at that point.” Delta seemed to enjoy her enchiladas, in spite of her professed irritation at Rafael.
The four of them wandered through the remaining booths for the rest of the afternoon until Delta announced she was heading back to the estate. She offered to drop Lee off at his hotel and hugged Jade and Matt good-bye.
While they walked back to his rental car, Matt stopped Jade at a booth they had visited right after lunch. He paid for a quart-sized vase which was clear curled glass with blue glass figures embedded in it, all of them sea creatures. “Allow me.” Matt presented the vase to her when they settled into the car.
“Thank you, Matt. I love it. But this is why you don’t have money. You’re too generous to your friends.” Even so she found herself caressing the vase. The sweeping curves of it intrigued her.
“You are far more than a friend. I saw your eyes light up when you looked at it and I need it for inspiration.”
“Inspiration?”
“I’ve been thinking about a new process, or, really, a new way of using some old processes. I’m thinking of taking a particular ceramic mix, baking it in form but with figures sticking out of it on the sides. Then I want to pour a uniform coating of glass over it and bake it again.”
“So it’s a combination of ceramic and embedded glass.”
“Right. It may be completely impossible to get what I want out of it but I’m going to try. I’ll need a kiln and a well-ventilated room where I try out the mixtures. I’ll need to wear a respirator helmet for some of it.”
“Where do you want to do it? Are you looking for a hot shop to do it in, like in the Bay area?”
“Not necessarily. By the time I finish reading all the reports on the different materials and processes I need to understand, Omano will probably have his hot shop so I’m in no hurry for a lab to work in. But, when I need to remember what I’m after, I can come over to your house and look at your vase.”
Jade Page 7
