by Kay Correll
A wide grin spread across her face. “I got a solo show. In Palm Springs. At a really prestigious gallery.”
“See, I told you your new work is great.” He smiled.
“No, this is my old work. My agent set it up before… well, before we split. They have the paintings.”
“But I thought you didn’t paint like that anymore and you’d moved on to the type of painting you’re doing now.”
“I had. But… I’m sure I can still do my old impressionistic style. Now that I have a showing. Now that I have a chance again. And a big-name agent wants to represent me. I’m flying to L.A. on Wednesday to meet with her.”
“California?”
“Yes, that’s usually where L.A. is.” She grinned at him, feeling alive with all her good news.
“Oh.”
Oh? That was all he was going to say in response to her news? She looked at him expectantly.
“If this is what you want, then that is good news.”
Her chest tightened. This was not the reaction she’d hoped to get from him. “It is what I want. I’ve worked a long time for this.”
“Then I’m glad it’s happening for you.”
“So, do you want to go out tonight and celebrate with me?” She reached out and took his hand.
He stared down at her hand, then pulled away. “I’m sorry. I can’t tonight. I’ve got a lot of work piled up.”
She tried to hide the crestfallen expression she was sure was plastered on her face. “Okay, well, maybe after I get back from L.A.”
“Sure.” He picked up a cloth. “I better get back to work.”
“Okay, I’ll leave you to it.” She climbed off the boat and walked away, slowly taking step after step away from him. Feeling more distant and more alone with every step.
Jay sat on a barstool at Lucky Duck, waiting for Ben to join him. His friend had called him this afternoon and practically begged him to come out tonight. He lifted a hand in a wave when he saw Ben come in.
Ben slipped onto the stool beside him and ordered a beer from Willie.
“So, what’s up?”
“Oh, nothing much. Except my mom got a dog, for Pete’s sake, and Charlotte is having a big art show in California. You know, all the way across the country.”
Jay set his beer mug down. “Let’s take this a step at a time. Ruby got a dog?”
“Yes, can you believe it? That’s just crazy. She’s never had a dog.”
“She’s probably lonely.” He shrugged. “It will be good company for her.”
“She can hardly take care of herself, much less an animal.”
Jay looked at his friend. “Or… maybe it’s that you’ve used the excuse of taking care of your mom for the last couple of years to avoid… well, avoid everything else. Dealing with the loss of your father, dating anyone. You’ve made your whole life revolve around taking over your dad’s business and taking care of your mom. Now that she’s getting more independent… maybe you’re feeling a little lost yourself.”
“It’s not that….” Ben scowled at him. “Is it?”
“Something to think about.”
“But… she’s needed my help. For fixing things around the house. For dealing with her finances and dad’s estate stuff. And to keep her company.”
“Maybe she’s decided it’s time to take over her life again. Maybe she’s stronger now. She gave herself time to grieve, and now she’s ready to live again. Learn how to live without your father. She’s young, Ben. She has a lot of life left to live.”
Ben scowled again. “Since when did you get so smart?”
“It’s my curse. What can I say? And now about Charlotte…”
“We were just beginning to get close. I think I might have feelings for her. Might. But now we won’t have time to find out because she’s going back to her fancy life in California.”
“She’s moving back?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. It would make sense, wouldn’t it?”
“You’re such a dope sometimes.” Jay rolled his eyes. “Tell her how you feel.”
“I don’t know how I feel.”
Jay eyed him. “Of course you do. You’re just afraid to admit it. Afraid of getting hurt. Afraid of… losing someone again.” He took a sip of his beer. “And buddy, I think it’s about time you dealt with your father’s death.”
Chapter 28
Charlotte opened her laptop and checked her email that night. She wanted to read the information about her solo show. The show that Ben had been decidedly not excited about.
She clicked on the email and downloaded the information. She quickly scanned it, then paused. She carefully read through it word for word.
Robin came into the room. “Thought I’d grab a beer, want one?”
“I… no… yes, sure.”
“What’s wrong?” Robin came over and handed her a beer.
“It’s my solo show in Palm Springs. I got the date for it.”
“When is it?” Robin plunked down beside her.
“The opening night is the exact same date my solo show opens at Paul’s.” She closed the laptop and took a sip of her beer. “And part of the deal of the solo show is that the artist comes for opening night. That’s just part of how the Festival of Arts is run each year. All the participating artists know that. I knew that. I just didn’t know the dates for it this year because I’ve been so out of that scene since I moved down here.”
“Can’t you just call and say you can’t be there for the opening? Unless… well, if you want to be there.”
“I even have a signed contract regarding the show. Only Reginald signed for me. That’s why I knew nothing about it. He left without telling me.”
“That’s not good.”
“No, it’s not. Paul has done so much for me. I couldn’t back out on him now. But this says I have a contract with them and I have to be there for the opening.”
“It’s something you’ve worked hard for. It could get you going again on your old style of painting. Get more shows booked.”
She looked down at her hands. The hands that now painted a new style of art and also painted furniture. Not the artsy, impressionistic paintings she used to do. But… her old art had made her good money. And she needed money now.
How did everything get so complicated?
Robin eyed her. “So… what is that you really want to do? Contract and feelings of responsibility to Paul set aside?”
Robin had a way of doing that. Cutting to the heart of the matter. She gave her friend a weak grin. “That’s the problem. I’m just not sure.”
Chapter 29
Ben stood at Lighthouse Point early the next morning. Fog had spread across the bay earlier, but the light breeze off the sea had begun chasing it away. He looked up at the lighthouse, standing strong on the point. It used to guide the sailors safely home and into the bay.
He needed a lighthouse to guide him now. As Jay had so cleverly pointed out last night, he was being irrational about his mother and Mischief. He had to admit the dog was cute. And he could even grudgingly admit getting the dog had probably been a good idea. But he wasn’t quite sure how he felt about his mother not needing him quite so much.
Things were changing so quickly for him. He was used to planning his days around his mother’s schedule. Making sure she was taken care of, that she had company, that things were taken care of with her home. He’d kind of made it his mission to take care of his mom ever since his dad had passed away.
Then there was Charlotte. She was going back to her famous artist life. He didn’t fit in there. He hadn’t even fit in at the Montgomerys’ party. He’d never fit into the L.A. lifestyle.
And if he told her how he felt about her, would that hold her back? Would she stay here? Would she eventually resent staying here?
He laughed. He didn’t even know how she felt about him, much less that she would stay.
And then there was his dad. A stab of pain bolted through him. Most days he stayed busy enough so he didn’
t have time to dwell on the fact his father was gone. He’d never go fishing with him again. Never sit on the boat and have a beer with him. His dad wasn’t there to patiently explain how to fix some cantankerous boat engine.
He turned and looked out at the sea and let the pain just come in waves. He slowly walked into the water, knee-deep, letting it rush up to him and slowly recede. With each wave, the pain began to lessen. Tears trailed down his cheeks, but he didn’t even bother to wipe them away. He didn’t know how long he stood like that, but he remained until the pain had eased and he could breathe freely again.
He looked up at the sky, covered in clouds, and a sliver of light broke through and he could see a tiny hole of blue sky behind the dark gray clouds. Golden light spilled through as if there was an actual hole in heaven.
“Dad, I’ve missed you.”
And for that one moment, he felt his father by his side, saying goodbye.
And as quickly as it had come, the hole closed up and the gray clouds covered the sky once again.
He walked out of the water and up on the beach. He picked up a shell and turned it over and over in his hand. Then he slowly raised his arm and tossed the shell into the sea. Making more of a plea than a wish.
Help me figure out my life.
Chapter 30
The week went by in a whirlwind for Charlotte. She flew out to L.A. and talked to Michelle Isling. She had a copy of the contract but hadn’t signed yet. And she hadn’t mentioned to Michelle about the conflict with the two openings. She was pretty sure if she didn’t show up for the opening at Desert View Gallery that Michelle would not be very anxious to sign her.
She had to make up her mind because she couldn’t be in two places at once. She stood in her studio with a fresh canvas and paints spread around her. She picked up her brush. Time to get back to her old style.
She lifted the brush and made a stroke. Then another. Then kept going. But when she looked closely at the painting, she could clearly see she was painting the waves on the sea. And pretty sure that was beach poking out at the bottom of the canvas.
She sighed and put down her brush.
What good would it be to get her name known again if she could no longer paint in her old style? It didn’t feel right. Didn’t feel like her anymore.
“Charlotte?” Robin’s voice rang out through the bungalow.
She took off her smock and headed toward the kitchen.
“Come on. We’re heading to The Nest. Girl’s night.”
She started to argue but, one—no one won an argument with Robin. And two—it was kind of a good idea.
They walked over to The Nest and found Sara waiting for them out on the deck. “About time. I was afraid you guys were going to miss the sunset.”
Charlotte sank into a chair beside Sara and took the offered glass of wine.
Robin sat beside them and propped her feet on the lower railing. “Ah, now this is perfect.”
They watched while the sky burst into flames in long strokes of orange and yellow. “That is just stunning,” Sara whispered.
They watched for a while more in silence, then Robin turned to her. “So, have you made a decision?”
“I… no… I haven’t.”
“You’re kind of running out of time to make it, aren’t you?” Sara asked.
Her phone rang, and she looked at it in annoyance. Eva. She hadn’t spoken to her sister since she’d left Austin. But maybe there was something wrong with her mother again. She answered the phone, annoyed at herself for answering, but unable to just let it go to voicemail. “Hello?”
“Charlotte, so I’m headed to Palm Springs with a few of my colleagues. They go to the Palm Springs Arts Festival every year and invited me along. Imagine my surprise when I saw the brochure and your name was listed. I’m glad you finally listened to reason and got back to your real art.”
She counted to ten, biting her lip.
“Are you moving back to California, too? I assume so. I hope this whole Belle Island phase and furniture painting is behind you now.”
“You know what, Eva? I’m not going to be at that show. I have an opening here at Paul’s gallery. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” And right at that very moment, she knew that she wouldn’t miss it for anything. It was where she wanted to be. It was the paintings she wanted to paint. And living here on the island? Well, that was where she wanted to live.
“Why in the world would you miss an opening at Desert View Gallery for an opening on Belle Island? Don’t be ridiculous. Of course, you have to go to the Palm Springs opening. My friends have already seen your name and they’re expecting you.”
“I have a lot of problems and things to work out… but disappointing your friends is not one of them. I’ll be here on Belle Island. Not in Palm Springs.”
She heard her sister click off the phone. She turned to see Robin grinning. “Guess you made your decision, then.”
“Guess I did.”
“Are you sure?” Sara looked over the top of her wine glass.
“I’ve never been so sure of a decision in my life.”
“You’re not just doing this to spite Eva are you?” Robin tilted her head.
“Nope. This is a decision I’m making because it’s one hundred percent what I want to do. What I want for my life. I’m going to have a legal mess to clear up with the Desert View Gallery, but it is what it is.” She grinned. “And I won’t mind too terribly being here on the island with Ben.”
Robin raised her glass. “To the new Charlotte. The one who makes decisions and knows what she wants.”
“To Char,” Sara chimed in.
They all three clinked glasses, and she leaned back in her chair, perfectly content with the choices she’d made and willing to deal with the fallout of those decisions.
Chapter 31
Ben paused buttoning up his shirt and glanced over at his phone when it rang. He didn’t have much time to finish getting ready and head to the gallery. He didn’t want to miss the opening. He wanted to be there to support Charlotte. And maybe they’d have a chance to talk and sort things out.
He frowned when he saw it was his mother calling. He answered the phone and put it on speaker. “Mom?”
“Oh, Ben.” He could hear the panic in her voice.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s Mischief. We were walking on the beach and he saw something… I’m not sure what. But he pulled on the leash and tugged it out of my hand. I’ve been looking for him for half an hour. I can’t find him anywhere.”
“Where are you?” He hurried to finish buttoning his shirt and grabbed his shoes.
“Out by Lighthouse Point.”
“I’ll be there in five minutes.”
He tugged on his shoes and hurried out the door. She might have told him to back off and let her live her life, but when she called and said she needed his help, he would always be there for her. He glanced at the car but decided it would probably be faster to walk there and take the shortcut. He quickly jogged in the direction of the beach.
His mother waved to him when he approached. She had tears on her face that tore at his heart. “Okay, let’s find this little imp of yours. Where have you looked?”
“Everywhere. I went both up and down the beach, calling for him.”
“Well, we’ll have to look again.” He took his mother’s elbow and steered her to a patch of sea oats at the edge of the beach.
“Mischief?” His mother called out. “Where are you? Mischief?”
“Here, pup.” He peeked through the dense foliage.
They walked up the beach, then down the beach as the sun began to set.
“What if we don’t find him before dark?” His mother’s voice cracked.
His mother could not deal with another loss in her life. The silly dog just needed to be found. Who knew she’d be so completely nuts about the beast in only a few days? He pulled out his phone and looked at the time. He’d already missed the beginning of the opening, but
with any luck, he’d still get there before it was all over.
They headed back to the lighthouse. As they approached, his mother broke into a run. He jogged to catch up with her. “Mom?”
“Look, don’t you see?”
He looked and sure enough, Mischief was sitting on the walkway to the beach, silhouetted against the brilliant sunset.
His mother scooped up the dog, hugging him and petting him. “Oh, Mischief. There you are. You bad dog. Why did you run away? Good dog, good dog.”
Good thing the dog didn’t know words or he’d be confused at his mom’s ramblings. “Come on, I’ll walk you two home.” No way he was going to let his mom walk home this late with the possibility the dog might break loose again.
“No, we’ll be fine. I know you have Charlotte’s opening to get to. I was going to go, too, after my walk with Mischief.”
“How about we both head over then?”
He watched while his mom set Mischief down and carefully wrapped the leash around her hand, then they headed out to the gallery. He just hoped they wouldn’t be too late. Because all this searching for Mischief and his mother being so full of joy at finding the dog? It had shown him how his mother was moving on from her past and beginning to care again. And it was time he did, too. He at least needed to tell Charlotte how he felt about her.
Charlotte paced back and forth at the gallery, waiting for the opening to begin. Josephine walked up to her and grabbed her hand. “Are you okay, dear?”
She smiled at Paul’s wife. “I am. Just a little nervous.” She laughed. “Okay, I’m really nervous.”
“You’ll be fine. You had great success at the local artist show, and Paul believes in you.”
“And I’m grateful for all the help he’s given me.” She watched as Paul walked over to the front door to unlock it. “I guess it’s time.”
“Don’t worry, dear. Everything will be fine.” Josephine squeezed her hand. “I’m going to go man the refreshments. We do like a festive atmosphere for our openings.”
