by Chelsea Hale
“Hi.” She waved and felt underdressed in his presence.
His professional air softened and he shook Mandy’s hand warmly. “My wife is still raving about your art. When will we see a piece of yours in this gallery?” he asked, raising both of his eyebrows.
Mandy’s cheeks colored at his praise. She wished Derek thought her art was good enough to hang in his collection. But the only wall where her art would ever hang next to a Shorvan was in her bedroom. “I’m glad your wife likes them.”
Adam’s phone buzzed, and he read the screen. “Will you excuse me for one moment? I have to take this. Don’t go anywhere. I want to talk with you.”
“You know his assistant? This is a good start,” Liz whispered when Adam walked away. “Maybe he’ll let you talk to Derek in between meetings. It’s worth a shot.”
Except that wasn’t Mandy’s plan. She didn’t need to see him today. She saw him yesterday at the restaurant. That he was there with another woman was enough of a disappointment. She didn’t need to prolong the pain of it.
“Sorry about that,” Adam said, joining them again. “You said you had some questions about some of the art? Which ones can I answer for you?”
“Um?” Mandy hesitated. She was dying to ask about the Shorvan—how long Derek had had it, and what was it about that particular piece that drew him to purchase it. But she wanted to ask Derek, not his assistant. She wanted to see if Derek’s eyes lit up the way she knew hers did when she saw such magnificence. Adam wouldn’t be able to tell her that.
“I’d love to know about this first piece,” Liz said. It was a modern take on a small European village and looked distinctly different from the pieces next to it.
Adam started talking about inspiration and the auction they’d found it at.
Liz’s phone rang.
“We should probably go…” Mandy said, eyeing Adam.
“Let me just coordinate with Tyler, and I’ll be right back.” Liz walked off, leaving Mandy standing next to Adam. An awkward silence fell between them. Mandy pretended to be fascinated by the rather ordinary flowers in the foreground, hunching to study the brush strokes carefully. She could do this. She could be in Derek’s assistant’s presence without going crazy.
Adam cleared his throat and looked toward Liz. “Since we have a moment, I wonder if I might ask you about the art you did.”
“Of course,” Mandy said, fixing a smile on him. The sooner she answered the questions, the sooner she could leave with Liz.
“Do you often mix oils with watercolor on the same print?”
She nodded, liking that he could pick that detail out in her work. “I like to mix my mediums. It keeps my work interesting and original. And for a nursery I thought it would have a nice effect.”
“Dreamy but thought out is how my wife described them.”
“Exactly.”
“Kira would like to meet you. I’m not sure how long you’re in town for…”
The possibility of running into Derek at such a possible meeting ran through her head, and she couldn’t decide if the nervous excitement was if she saw him or she didn’t.
“That could be a possibility,” she said slowly.
“I can take you to her this afternoon if that’s convenient.”
She knew how busy Derek kept Adam. “I can’t imagine Derek, er, Mr. Thompson would be very happy with me if I took you away from work.”
Adam shrugged. “Derek took the rest of the week off. He won’t mind if I take a lunch break.”
“So, he’s not here?” Liz asked, rejoining the conversation.
“I’m afraid not. He went to Martha’s Vineyard. His family owns an estate there, and he wanted a few days away.”
Mandy wondered if it was because she’d shown up at the restaurant yesterday. But that was silly. And she was glad that he was able to take two days off. He deserved it.
“Does he go there often?” Liz asked. “I’ve heard it’s beautiful there.”
“It is beautiful, but he doesn’t seem to get there often, though Alice tries to get him there every few months or to bring someone along. He’s sent me and my wife a few times when he couldn’t pull himself away from work.”
“He’s traveling with someone then?” Liz asked.
“I’ve already said too much about his schedule.” He cleared his throat, leaning closer to Mandy. “But he is there with Alice. I’m not sure who else was invited,” Adam said, his eyes watching her.
“Do you like working for him?” Mandy asked.
“I do.” Adam’s smile was warm and genuine.
“So, about meeting your wife, I think I could make this afternoon work…” Mandy looked over to Liz, who nodded.
“You are welcome, of course, to bring your friend.”
“Thanks.” Mandy said.
“It’s settled. I’ll coordinate with Kira. She’ll be so excited to meet you.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
After lunch Mandy waited outside the apartment building with Liz. Adam was going to meet them and introduce her to his wife, Kira.
“You’re right on time,” he said, walking through the crowd on the street.
They followed him inside to his apartment. He knocked softly on the door before opening it. “Kira,” he whispered. “Mandy is here.”
Kira poked her head around the corner, carrying a baby with a head of dark hair. “Come in. He’s not napping right now.”
Adam gave his wife a kiss and patted his son’s head. He introduced Kira to both Mandy and Liz. Liz gushed over Caden.
“I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. I love your work,” Kira said to Mandy.
“Thank you,” Mandy said.
Kira turned to Adam. “Are you going to join us?”
“I better not. Derek texted that he needed a few documents sent over to him so he can finish up approving the presentation for expansion next week.”
“I’m surprised he would take this weekend off,” Kira said, and kissed her husband again. “Here, hold him for a few minutes before you go, and I’ll grab drinks for our guests.”
Mandy took Kira’s momentary absence to examine the room. She could see why Derek would wonder if Mandy’s style would fit into Kira’s decor. Everything was chic. Clean lines, neutral colors, and large artwork hung on the walls. Though their baby was now a few months old, the house didn’t look like the baby had changed much in their home. Everything was orderly. Pristine.
Kira brought out waters then ushered them into the nursery down the hall. “I want you to see the impact of your pictures,” she said, her blue eyes sparkling, making a strong contrast between her milky white skin and long, dark hair.
The nursery housed a crib with designer blankets and sheets. Mandy was glad she’d had a picture of them to tie in the colors and patterns into her art. In the corner, an antique rocking chair stood next to an overstuffed elephant on the floor. Framed black and white photos of Caden with both parents were displayed on the dresser and the walls. Mandy’s art hung in perfect view from the door, above the crib. The whole scene looked like it was the backdrop for some baby magazine ad.
Mandy couldn’t contain her grin. Something she’d created from her own imagination was hanging in a beautiful nursery in New York City. She was floating in possibilities.
“Wow,” Liz said, stepping closer to the crib. “You made these, Mandy? They’re incredible.”
“That has been the reaction of all of my friends,” Kira said.
Mandy beamed. “I have to say they do look better than I imagined they would be when I was making them back in Colorado.”
Kira led them back to the living room and took the baby from Adam. “Enjoy the rest of your day at work.”
Adam nodded. “I have a lot to do. I’ll see you tonight.” He kissed his wife then turned to Mandy. “Thanks again.”
When Adam left, Kira sat down on the couch. “So, let’s get down to business. Are you interested in freelance work?”
Caden star
ted fussing, and Kira stood to rock him.
“May I?” Liz asked. “I love babies.”
Kira handed Caden to Liz, and she cooed as she walked around with him. Kira watched Liz, then settled down on the couch, looking more relaxed.
“I’m an interior designer. Well, I was until this little guy came along. Now I’m mostly a consultant. We’ll see how much of it I will continue doing now with our baby, but all of my designer friends have seen my nursery. And they want you.”
She tilted her head to the side, not quite believing her ears. “Me? Like my art?”
“Freelance work. Each job will be custom for our clients. I have friends at The Edge and they speak highly of your skills and work ethic.” Kira took a fussy Caden from Liz. “I’m going to put him down. I’ll be right back.”
“This sounds like the perfect opportunity for you,” Liz said, once they were alone. “Are you going to jump on it?”
“I don’t want to be too anxious about it. I have other dreams I’m pursuing right now too.” Her head was still spinning. This morning her dream had been to secure a spot at The Edge. But working with an interior designer—that could be rewarding too.
“Does this have something to do with Derek?”
“If I start working with his assistant’s wife, we’re bound to cross paths at some point,” Mandy whispered.
Liz arched an eyebrow. “Is that worth throwing away what you could do professionally? It sounds like this is a great fit. You love creating, and your paintings would be hung in prestigious nurseries. That’s got to feel amazing.”
“It would…it does. It’s just, what if I can’t cut the New York style? I mean, I love my traveling and helping others that way. What if this takes away from that?”
Liz looked at Mandy. “It’s admirable what you are doing. But at some point, you’re going to want to settle down a little more. And maybe having more freelance work in New York is the first step to that.”
Mandy nodded. “Thanks, Liz.”
Kira came back in the room, bringing a small stack of papers. “This is some of the ideas we’ve come up with if you’re interested.”
The pay was generous, they ego boost was huge, and her paintings would be appreciated. It was a dream come true. She could still travel, and would make sure that she finished her designs between trips. This could really work.
Mandy said, “I’m in. What do we need to do?”
Derek tried to relax for two days. He tried his hardest to unwind, like he had on the cruise. So he sat outside, overlooking the water, wanting to repeat the calm he felt then. He stared at his watch. It had been thirty-seven hours since he left New York for Martha’s Vineyard and still no change. This was why he stayed at work. He could handle burning the candle at both ends. What he couldn’t handle was pointless relaxing. The cruise wasn’t relaxing because it was a break from his routine, it had been memorable because Mandy had been there.
The glass door opened on the patio. “You miss her?” Grams’ voice said.
“What? No. Who?” Derek said, knowing he’d just been caught.
Grams took a seat next to him but kept her gaze away from him. She handed him a glass of ice water. “You never come so readily to Martha’s Vineyard. I ask you for months at a time. But I didn’t even mention it to you for this weekend. There has to be a reason.”
“I thought it’d be good to relax.”
Grams surveyed his slacks and button-down shirt. “You don’t look relaxed.”
He didn’t feel relaxed. “I’m working on it.”
“Did you talk to her?”
He knew she was referring to Mandy, and it didn’t make it easier. Yes, he’d talked to her, and a lot of good that did. She didn’t seem open at all. It confirmed what he learned the last day on the cruise.
“Briefly. Just business. She won’t take payment for the gift I had her make for Adam and Kira.” And she didn’t want to see him.
“Well, she does seem like the generous type that way. How nice of her to gift it to them and you.”
“I suppose.” More annoying than anything.
Conversation lulled, and Derek tried to focus on his surroundings—a few bird calls, and the way the wind rustled in the trees ever so slightly. He wondered what else Mandy would have picked up on if she were here. What view would she have sketched from this scene? He could see her trying to capture it at different times of the day, getting excited about the colors and textures at a place he rarely noticed any of that anymore.
“I’m throwing my end of summer party next month. Are you coming?”
Derek frowned and sipped his water. He’d not made regular appearances to it in the last six years. Seeing her host without his grandfather beside her made him have to face that things were different. The weight of his responsibility always seemed to sink deeper. “I’m not sure I could take the time off work.”
“You managed to take two days off this week without any notice. You’ll be fine.” She patted his knee. “I expect you to be there for the whole weekend. I have people I want you to meet.”
She wasn’t going to take his excuses anymore, he could sense it, so he nodded. “I’ll be there.”
“Black tie. And I want you to come a day early. I’m going through the attic. It’s time for me to get rid of things. You can pick what you want before it goes to auction.”
Derek nodded. Grams had shut most of her priceless heirlooms and paintings away when his grandfather had died. Anything that contained too many memories or were too painful for her to look at were removed and replaced with things that contained no sentimentality. If she was ready to process it and move forward, then he knew he’d be there for moral support, regardless of whether he wanted any of it or not. “I’ll be there for you. Anything you need.”
She patted his hand. “I know.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Mandy looked at the five paintings on the table with a critical eye. She’d worked on them for two weeks after going to New York and on another cruise. They were good. She took pictures with her cell phone and sent them to Kira. If Kira approved, they’d be at the post office before the end of the day.
Mandy tapped her phone, willing for Kira’s response to come through.
A New York number lit up her screen. “Hi, Kira. What did you think?” Mandy said, without waiting for the caller to say anything.
There was a pause. “Mandy? This is Alice. How are you, dear?”
Mandy’s mouth fell open and a hundred memories rushed around her. She put a hand to her chest, wishing she could go back on that cruise with Alice and Derek. She finally managed to speak and said, “Alice. Hi. How are you?”
“Doing very well. My friend had an amazing time on her cruise with you a few weeks ago.”
“Oh, yes. Dana was very nice. I had a great time with her.” Mandy should have called Alice to thank her for the referral earlier instead of sending an e-mail. The truth was Mandy hadn’t called because she didn’t want to ask Alice about Derek. And Mandy knew it would come up.
“She mentioned you’d gone straight from New York onto your cruise.” Alice’s voice didn’t sound mad, only curious.
“That’s right. I think I mentioned my roommate Liz to you. She lives in New York now with her husband, and they invited me to come and stay with them for a bit in between my trips.” Mandy chewed her lip, wishing she’d seen Alice.
“I hope you enjoyed yourself while you were here.”
“I did. It’s a beautiful city.”
“Well next time you are in town, I hope you’ll let me know so we can go to lunch, or shopping.”
“I’d like that very much. Sorry. I didn’t think about calling this last time. The trip was a little rushed.” And I thought more about your grandson and how to avoid him after I saw him with his girlfriend.
“I understand. And I know just how you can make it up to me.” Alice’s voice was warm but firm.
Mandy laughed. She’d missed Alice, and her very direct way o
f getting what she wanted. “Name it.”
“I’m throwing a party next week. And I’d like you to attend as my guest. I have several friends who are interested in traveling with a companion and thought it would be the perfect way for you to meet all of them.”
Mandy had no travel for a month. This was going to be her time to work on paintings under her designer label AJ Dreams for Kira. “I’d really like to but—”
“Are you traveling next week?”
“No.”
“Then it’s settled, and I won’t take no for an answer.”
Settled in Alice’s mind maybe, but not Mandy’s. “I’m not going to do many traveling companion trips anymore. I think I might be done with it once I finish out the last few that I’ve booked.”
“I see. Is your art taking off then?” Her voice was kind and interested.
Was it? Sort of. “It’s the passion I want to pursue right now.”
“Well, no matter about drumming up business for you then, but I’d still like you to come as my guest.”
If Alice was throwing a party, Mandy was bound to see Derek. And he’d probably be with his girlfriend. “Will Derek be there?”
There was a pause, and Mandy could picture Alice looking Mandy over, Alice’s eyes missing nothing. She finally said, “Does it matter for your attendance?”
Mandy blanked. Did it matter? Mandy and Derek hadn’t been together. She’d only left the cruise with a vague idea about a relationship with him. It had been what she’d hoped for, but she needed to really move on from him this time. It’d be easier not to see him. “No, I was just wondering if he’d be there.”
“I never know with him, truly. So much work all of the time. He’s invited, of course. But it’s a large party. If you want to avoid him, you can.”
Alice’s pointed analysis made Mandy squirm. She didn’t want Alice to have the wrong impression. Besides. Mandy was a grown-up. She could see somebody she was interested in, without going all nuts that he didn’t feel the same way. She’d be fine. There. Officially over pining for him. “I’m not trying to avoid him. I hope he shows up to your party.” There, that was convincing even to her own ears. “And, I’ll be there.”
