by Anna Samuels
‘Beautiful huh?’ Alex said, joining me at my side.
‘The sea is so still…the way that is glistens with the early morning sun…well, it’s gorgeous.’
‘It is gorgeous,’ she replied quietly but when I looked up at her, saw her eyes were on me, not the sea.
I looked away quickly, back to view in front of me. ‘It’s the perfect place to be inspired to paint. Some days it’s stormy, other days it’s still and calm. The sunsets are beautiful too…I feel thankful to be here today.’
‘I know what you mean. It would be easy to take it for granted but I know you won’t, just like I don’t.’
I smiled at her. ‘You better open up.’
‘Yeah…come by in twenty minutes for breakfast?’
‘I will, thanks.’
We parted ways and I went to unlock the gallery. After twenty minutes continuing my painting, I headed across to the café, via the back door.
I stepped in the back door and found Alex in the kitchen cooking. ‘Hey!’
‘Hey Ally,’ she said. ‘Almost done!’
‘Oh great,’ I said watching her cook. She deftly assembled a giant cooked breakfast for both of us, so rapidly I could see how often she did it in a day. ‘Wow…you’ve done that before!’ I commented.
‘Only a million times or so!’ she smiled.
When she was done, she left the kitchen with one of the other staff to man and we went to sit down at a corner table.
I began eating, relishing the delicious food. ‘This is great. Thanks!’
‘My pleasure. Thanks for not kicking me out at midnight last night,’ she grinned.
‘How could I? You were fast asleep on the sofa.’
She smiled. ‘How embarrassing,’ she murmured but chuckled under her breath. ‘Oh I forgot to say, the Christmas tree is arriving today!’
‘Oh is it? And being put up?’
‘Yep…it’s arriving this afternoon and there will be a right kerfuffle over getting it up and standing in the courtyard. The men with ladders will put the lights on and then we all help decorate it. It’d be great if you could join in this year,’ she commented.
‘Definitely! It’d be a pleasure! I love a bit of Christmas celebration!’
‘Even at the end of November?’ she laughed.
‘Yeah…it does seem to get earlier each year, doesn’t it?’
She nodded. ‘It sure does.’
‘I’ll join you when the decorating begins.’
‘Great. Are you all set for the big opening on Saturday?’ she asked.
I nodded, ‘Yeah, almost. I’m finishing a painting and there are just a few more things to arrange. I’ll be done before the end of the week though, definitely.’
‘That’s good…so when we do the grand opening, I guess you’ll stay open for a while that evening while there are people here for the lights too.’
‘Yes. I thought a couple of hours…or until people begin to disperse?’
‘Good idea. I’ll get some of the groundsmen to put a couple of flood lights up outside the gallery on the night so that we have some more light for customers.’
‘Oh thanks. That’s a great idea!’
‘Aside from that, I would say we’ll be ready?’
I nodded, ‘Yep, good to go!’
‘You’ll probably get loads of art sold that night.’
‘Do you think?’ I asked.
‘Yeah, definitely! You’ll do really well. I can just feel it!’
I smiled. ‘Thanks, Alex.’
She smiled back at me.
‘I just realised something,’ I said suddenly.
‘What?’ she asked, frowning at my sudden tension.
‘It’s Monday!’
‘Yeah…’ she said questioningly.
‘It’s Monday Alex! I’m free!’ I exclaimed happily. ‘It’s only just dawned that I would have been going to work today! Congratulations to me,’ I laughed gaily. ‘I’m free!’
‘You sure are,’ she replied with a warm smile. ‘And I hope you’ll be much happier working down here at the beach with us.’
‘I already am,’ I told her, meeting her eyes and smiling back at her. Our eyes met and clung, and awareness filled our gaze. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her, despite knowing that I should.
‘I’m glad you came here, Ally.’
‘Me too,’ I murmured softly, and then finally dropped my gaze. If I had kept the contact, I felt sure my heart would burst with the tension. ‘Thanks for breakfast. I’m perfectly full now! Ready to go and paint all day!’
She smiled. ‘Yeah…go and do a job you enjoy!’
‘Exactly!’ I agreed. ‘So, I’ll see you later?’
‘Later?’
‘The Christmas tree?’
‘Oh yes! I have the brain of a fish! Two second memory!’ she laughed.
I giggled. ‘Fish brain…right, see you in a bit.’
‘Yeah, bye Ally.’
I waved and then headed out of the café, along the slope and down towards the gallery next door. I reopened the door and left it wide open. After raising the blinds, I decided to organise the rest of the shop before continuing to paint. I set about arranging the final display and then organised the desk where I would take payments and write receipts.
I worked at my own pace for the whole morning before taking a break at lunch time and taking a little walk along the sand. When I returned, I carried on painting and it wasn’t until I heard a commotion outside that I stopped.
I watched as a tractor and trailer drove around the front of the café with the biggest Christmas tree I could have imagined. What followed was exactly as Alex had described. There were arguments and raised voices as four men tried to erect the tree into position and then put on the lights. I watched in amusement as the scene unfolded before me, noting that Alex stood back and didn’t get involved in the fussing and arguing which was going on between the others. I began watching Alex, who stood by the sea wall, instead of the tree shenanigans. She was so captivating, I mused, and so frustratingly gorgeous. Every time I looked at her, I couldn’t help myself. Her skin was beautifully smooth and tanned still from summer. Her hair framed her face perfectly in a short, golden crown which shone with health. Her eyes were the most intriguing aspect of her face however. They were a deep, blue which was stunning but it was the wisdom, the intelligence in them that intrigued me the most. I watched her from the window of the gallery, loving what I saw. In some ways I wished I didn’t but then, I was enjoying her friendship too, so I decided to be content with that.
After an hour of arguing and annoyance from the men putting up the tree, they finally stood back and looked at the result. It looked majestic and proud, standing before the sea. As they began carrying large boxes out of the cellar beneath the café, I realised it was time for decorating. I grabbed my coat and headed out to join them.
‘Alex!’ I called as I approached.
‘Hiya,’ she smiled, walking towards me.
‘It looks great!’
‘It does, doesn’t it? There was the same fuss as always over getting it up but this bit it generally more fun.’
‘Yeah, I saw the fuss from the gallery,’ I grinned. ‘Funny really…good that you didn’t get involved.’
‘Oh yeah, no way! I’m staying well out of it!’
‘Good idea,’ I smiled.
‘So, you up for a bit of decorating now?’
‘You bet! I told her happily.
We joined the others and proceeded to decorate the lower branches of the tree while two of the men work on the higher branches using ladders.
In the space of an hour, the tree was looking very festive. It was bright and colourful and had decorations that would withstand the weather by the sea. We all stood back and complimented each other on how good it looked. We had done a good job.
‘Now we’re ready for the light switch on,’ Alex commented.
‘We are! And the gallery is ready too…I’m painting now. Everythi
ng else is sorted.’
‘Oh really? Can I have a look?’ she asked.
‘Yeah sure…let’s get out of this cold.’
‘Good idea.’
Alex followed me across to the gallery. We stepped inside and the warmth hit me straight away. ‘Bit warmer in here,’ I said.
‘It sure is…is that heater enough for you do you think during winter?’
‘It’s been great actually. I don’t notice the cold at all.’
‘Good…wow, look at this!’ she exclaimed, looking pleased. ‘You’re definitely done aren’t you? It looks completed.’
I nodded, ‘I’m happy now…I’ll just add to it as I produce more works.’
‘Yeah…can I see what you’re working on now?’ she asked, indicating the easel.
‘Yes of course.’
Alex stepped behind the easel and took a look at what I was working on. ‘Cool! How fascinating to see a work in progress! I’d love to watch you work sometime,’ she murmured.
I chuckled, ‘I think it would be pretty boring.’
‘Never…’
‘And you’d put me off,’ I told her quietly.
‘How would I put you off?’ she asked defensively. ‘I’d only be watching out of interest!’
‘I just…it’s quite a solitary pursuit; painting.’
She nodded slowly. ‘I guess…’
‘But I suppose I would make an exception for you.’
‘Ah…that’s nice,’ she said and smiled at me.
I met her eyes and smiled shyly back, feeling that same pull of awareness that I always did when we were close.
‘I guess I should leave you to it…I’m always bothering you while you’re here.’
‘Oh you’re not bothering me,’ I assured her. ‘I like having you around.’
‘Ditto,’ she smiled. ‘Well, catch you later.’
‘Bye Alex.’
I watched her go and then went back to my painting.
I didn’t see Alex for the rest of the day and Tuesday passed quickly with my preparations for opening the shop. I left early on Tuesday and headed for Laurie’s house as I was babysitting the children while Laurie and Daniel went out.
When I arrived, the children were having tea and Laurie was clearing up the kitchen. I sat down at the table with them while they ate and chatted to the children. When they were finished, they scampered off to play and Laurie sat down beside me with a sigh of relief.
‘Thanks for this, Ally…I could do without going out in some ways but I’m sure it will be nice when I get there!’
‘Of course it will. What’s wrong? Are you tired?’ I asked.
‘No, not really, just a little under the weather with this cold. It’s making me feel lousy.’
‘Oh right…that’s a bit rubbish,’ I sympathised.
‘Yeah…well hopefully it’ll pass quickly. I’m hoping the children don’t catch it. I could do without that.’
‘Yeah…’
‘So tell me everything! How’s it going down at your new funky gallery?’ she said smiling.
‘Oh it’s going well thanks. I’m really pleased with how it’s looking now I’m ready. I’ve finished setting up and now I’m onto painting local scenes to entice local people to buy my stuff!’
‘Oh right! Good idea. Is it this Saturday that you’re opening?’ she asked.
‘It is…if you could come, I’d really appreciate it. They’re doing a Christmas light switch on and mince pies and drinks along with my opening.’
‘Wow! We’ll definitely be there!’ she smiled.
‘Great.’
‘I hate to do this, but I better go and get ready,’ she said regretfully.
‘No problem! We’ll catch up again soon.’
‘I’ll hold you to that,’ she smiled.
I watched her go and then headed off in search of the kids. I found them in the lounge playing.
‘Hey Zachy, what are you playing?’
‘Lego,’ he murmured, clearly deep in concentration.
‘Can I play?’
‘Huh?’ he said looking up.
‘Can I play?’ I repeated.
‘Yeah! You make something too!’ he ordered.
‘Okay…I’ll make something. Anything at all?’
‘Yep. Just make it cool. It should be something cool.’
‘No problem.’
As I started building a spaceship out of Lego, Katie wondered over clutching a pony and plonked herself on my lap.
‘Hey sweetie, what are you playing?’
‘Pony,’ she told me simply.
‘What is pony doing?’ I asked, smiling at her.
Katie clip clopped with her mouth making noise whilst moving her toy. I laughed at her funny sounds.
‘Clever pony!’
‘Ally go way?’ she asked me, looking up innocently.
‘You want me to go away?’ I asked frowning.
‘No, she said you went away,’ Zachary corrected, saying it as if I was stupid.
‘Oh sorry! Sweetie, I had to go back to work,’ I told her softly. ‘I’m back now. I can see lots and lots of you now!’
‘And me?’ Zachary asked hopefully.
‘Of course honey! Have you missed me then?’ I asked him.
‘Yeah! Loads,’ he said animatedly. ‘You were here lots and then you were gone a lot. Katie kept saying your name too!’
‘Oh really? I’m sorry honey. Now I have my gallery at the beach, I promise to see you every week.’
‘And to let me be a shop man?’ he asked hopefully.
‘Absolutely! You can definitely come and be a shop man!’
‘Good,’ he said smiling and he seemed to relax then. ‘Come on, you’re not building good stuff, Ally!’
‘Oh yes, I forgot. Here we go…the masterpiece starts here!’ I grinned.
We played happily on the carpet while Laurie and Daniel headed out to dinner and once again I was reminded at how lovely it was to be part of their family unit.
Chapter 21
A Christmas Kiss
The rest of the week flew by with preparations for the gallery opening consuming all of my time. I saw Alex little but often for a few words here and there. We were both busy though and once Saturday arrived, even more so.
On the big day itself, the flood lights were put in place and I put banners and signs up outside advertising that I was opening that day. I also tied a ribbon around cones set outside the shop which we could cut when the gallery was opening. I felt excited and nervous at the same time that the big day had finally arrived.
‘Hi Ally,’ Alex said arriving at the gallery.
‘Hey!’ I smiled.
‘All set? It looks great!’ she told me.
‘Thanks! I think I’m ready! I just feel ridiculously nervous now!’ I told her.
‘Oh don’t be! It’ll be great! Remember this is what you’ve been working towards.’
‘I know…but what if people don’t like my art. What if nothing sells?’
‘You’ve been selling stuff regularly since you started setting up haven’t you?’ she asked.
‘Well yes…’
‘So it’ll be a huge, raging success! Be confident! Hold your head high and smile as it opens.’
‘Words of wisdom,’ I replied, smiling back at her.
‘Of course they are! Well, kick off is in a few hours! I’ll see you then?’
‘You will,’ I said smiling nervously. ‘I can’t believe its tonight!’
‘You’ll be fine,’ she said, reaching to squeeze my hand supportively. ‘We’ll be fine.’
I smiled at her. ‘Thanks Alex.’
‘No problem…see you later.’
‘Yep…see you later.’
I went back to my organising and found myself restless and agitated. I wanted to be open but I was nervous about the event itself and the fanfare of the situation. I liked to do things quietly in general so to be in the spotlight would be a little unnerving for me.
I kept myself occupied with tasks and new works until about four thirty. People began arriving and lingering around the Christmas tree. I also noticed that staff from the café were setting out patio tables and chairs and setting out drinks and festive food. I made my way out to greet the public.
I wandered around awkwardly at first and then smiled in relief as I saw Laurie and family approaching from the car park.
‘Hello!’ she said when she arrived and gave me a supportive cuddle.
‘Hi,’ I said, jittery and anxious.
‘The big day is here! Eek!’ she exclaimed.
‘Don’t! I’m so nervous!’ I told her, moving from foot to foot.
‘Oh Ally, relax. This is what you wanted, right?’
‘Right,’ I agreed.
‘Would you prefer to get in your car and drive back on up to London? Teach again?’
‘No,’ I muttered, thinking hard and fast.
‘So stop it. Enjoy your moment and smile. Be confident and people will respond to your positive vibes.’
I nodded, thoughtfully. ‘You know what, you’re right. Being nervous is gaining me nothing, I it?’
She shook her head.
‘I’m going to shake it off…enjoy it like you said.’
‘Exactly! Look at these little excited faces!’ she said, indicating Zachary and Katie. ‘They can’t wait to see the lights and Auntie Ally’s new gallery.’
‘Really?’ I said brightening.
‘Absolutely. So suck it up...for their benefit if not yours!’
I laughed, ‘Suck it up?’
‘I heard it somewhere…I think it means get on with it and do what you have to do.’
I nodded. ‘It just sounded funny coming from you.’
‘Well I thought it fitted tonight’s occasion.’
‘Indeed. Well come on, we can get you and the kids a drink.’
After Laurie and the children had a hot chocolate in their hands, I wandered around introducing myself to the people who were gathered, especially those who stood by the ribbon. They were clearly waiting for the gallery to be opened instead of the light switch on. At ten to five, I saw Alex making her way through the crowd towards me.
‘Hey,’ she smiled as she reached me.
