Coincidences: #3 Diana & Anya

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  “Talk to Lewis. He’s fantastic about organizing stuff like that. Sometimes I don’t think he’s very happy as a driver. His wife is sweet…she still has her accent. I tried to get grannie to let them live in the cottage…but…” Diana shrugged. “They expect him to be on call…ohh…just don’t get me started.”

  “We need a Lewis…how old is he?” Gideon had liked the man when they met.

  “Umm…I think late forties? They don’t have any children…darn, that’s what I wanted to tell him! Bella needs some good help and Marta is a fantastic baker!”

  “Shoot me his number, I think I’ll talk to him. How long has he been working for your family?” Gideon saw her nod and pull out her phone, slim fingers tapping on the front.

  “About three years now. He’s nice…and he loves gardening.” Diana added a few words to her message to him. “Are you serious?”

  “I’ve been considering it. Don’t need a driver…I like driving. But I will need someone and now is a good time.”

  “Is there a place they could live on the property?” Diana shifted to the side, excitement evident in her face. “I would pay for it, Gideon. A house…not a huge place, just a comfortable place for them.” She stopped when he laughed, carrying her fingers to his lips. “What’s so funny?”

  “Can’t let you make decisions like that…I mean…we aren’t married or anything…” He offered a slight wince when she punched him in the arm, pulling her hand back and sitting primly, staring out the front window.

  “Wretch.”

  “I’ll talk to him, Diana. I’ll see if him and I click. I need someone I can trust to follow orders and who would enjoy working on what’s basically going to be a small farm.”

  “Can we have chickens? One of the summer camps I went to…goodness, years ago…had chickens and they make such sweet little noises,” Diana recalled with a smile. “I seem to remember they make yummy eggs and fertilizer.”

  “Good memory…and right on both accounts. I’ll talk to him today,” Gideon promised, pulling before the gift shop. He moved to get out, but stopped when she waved and jumped to the ground. Having a step put on the SUV was first on his agenda. He watched her trot around the car, going on her toes and kissing him through the open window.

  “Tomorrow…four…drive careful!” She ordered, turning and dashing up the stairs to the apartment.

  Tomorrow, his mind repeated. Damn. That means he was sleeping alone tonight. Unless he got creative. Or forgetful. Gideon parked at the edge of the parking area, checking for the information Diana had sent and smiling at the tiny heart she had attached to the note.

  It was midnight when the computer chimed. Diana set her brush aside and tapped her email open.

  “Hey, city-girl, I’m lonely. My bed is cold and empty. No one to laugh with or hug. No one to talk to and discuss world issues with. Do you think I have a problem? GA.”

  Diana laughed and almost cried.

  “Hey, country-boy, I’m lonely, too. I miss laughing and talking and listening. I guess if you have a problem, we have to solve it together, cause I have it, too. DM.”

  Gideon smiled, shut down the computer and was asleep in minutes.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Diana turned before the mirror, exhaling slowly.

  Yes, she was nervous. Her fingers shook as she picked up the small bag with her phone and key card. The apricot and white tank dress stopped just past her knees, thin ankle straps of her heels snug as she carefully took the stairs when she saw Gideon pull into the lot. A soft flush of pink struck her cheeks when the wolf whistle echoed in the grey afternoon.

  She opened the door, a grin and wrinkled nose aimed at him. One heeled foot went to the newly installed chrome step, her hand on the handle to pull herself into the SUV.

  “That was extremely sweet of you, Gideon,” she said, leaning closer and kissing him. “Hi…you are quite handsome tonight…and…” her nose twitched. “Nice cologne.”

  “We make a damn good looking couple,” he told her, taking another kiss and waiting while she buckled herself in, her fingers moving to tap the address into the GPS. Gideon checked his inside pocket for wallet and phone before heading them across the floating bridge to downtown Seattle. Diana was quiet. He reached for her hand once he was flowing with the traffic, his fingers willingly curling through his. Not cold, he thought with a slight frown. “Something on your mind?”

  “Hmmm…not really…I was working on the lodge portrait for Bella and thinking how nice…how…it’s difficult to explain,” a small pouting frown creased the full lips, her hips shifting in the seat to look over at him while he drove. “It fits. It fits this,” her hands swept up and in a half circle. “It fits…us…we fit…if the wrong people get together, there isn’t that sense of…fit…I was thinking about that when I was painting.”

  “That we fit,” he said slowly.

  “Fit might be the wrong word,” she said with a sigh. “It’s…last night was nice. It was peaceful knowing I could live on my own. I could easily thrive and be content in my own little apartment, just painting and drawing. Why do some people treat that as if it’s a bad thing? And I like being in my own little apartment…but I missed you.” The last four words came out soft and wistful.

  “Ahhhh…so I can breathe easy knowing I won’t have to work real hard to convince you to come home with me tonight?” Gideon saw her smile and shake her head.

  “You truly are incorrigible, Gideon Adams.”

  “Yeah, but you’re hooked, city girl, admit it,” Gideon winked, chuckling at the giggle that brought. “So tell me how this evening is supposed to go? I’m guessing you’ve been to a few of these for other artists.”

  “A few…people mill around, eating snacky things and drinking wine, usually. I’m not sure. I let Amy and Olivia handle all that. I told them I’m not a temperamental artistic type that’ll make them crazy,” she watched the name of the gallery come into view across from a large parking garage.

  “What does the artist do during the event?” Gideon maneuvered the large SUV into a spot, tucking the ticket into his jacket and waiting for her to stride around to his side.

  “The ones I’ve seen usually suffer meltdowns in worry,” Diana said with rolled eyes. “I guess that part of me is a little nervous. Worse case, the canvases go into storage or people get them as Christmas gifts,” she said with a chuckle.

  “Looks like people are already milling about,” Gideon tucked her close to his side, carefully crossing the busy street and glancing at the various people peering in the windows. “It’s a big space.”

  “It’s huge. Olivia has the second story designed to kind of curve around on a wide ramp with paintings everywhere,” Diana lost herself in her own art for the first time in ages. “I’m going to find Amy and Olivia,” she told him, accepting the soft kiss, her palm on his face.

  “I’ll pretend to be a tourist,” he said with a wink, watching her stride off toward the far right.

  Diana stopped and did a slow turn around the outer room. They had grouped them in dramatic color clusters and it was gorgeous. Some in nice, simple frames, others in ornate gilded frames. She listened to the chatter from people browsing, some holding a painting, others trying to decide and still others selecting a deliberate color to stare into.

  “That is a brilliant and catchy turn of the phrase,” complimented a familiar voice that made Diana turn quickly.

  “Billy!” Her arms were up and around the tall man her age. “I haven’t seen you in ages and ages! How are you?”

  “Doing wonderful, Diana…as are you,” he said with an approving nod at the interior.

  “Isn’t it unreal?” She breathed giddily, as if only now realizing this was her art being shown.

  “It’s long past due, Diana. I’m quite proud of you,” Billy Hollister took her hand to his lips. “So tell me I’m not going to be pummeled by the guy watching you like a hawk?”

  “Oh, that’s Gideon…he’s good, Billy,” Diana sm
iled lovingly, looping her arm in his. “He’s real good.”

  “Hmm…and he’s put a glow to your cheeks. So tell me why it’s taken you so long to break free, Diana Mayweather?”

  “I’m not sure where my common sense was all these years, Billy. If I think back on things…it seemed the right thing to do, to…to please my father and grandmother. It’s like…like a path in a maze. You’re led in the direction people want you to go…and you want to believe they have your best interests in their heart,” her head shook slowly as they walked around the large room. “And it hurts when you finally realize you were wrong…and if you were wrong for so long, how do you trust yourself in the tomorrow?”

  “Hmm…quite philosophical. So finally you have someone to defend your honor.”

  “I should have been able to defend my own honor, Billy.”

  “Yeah, but having someone like your Gideon punch out a foe…”

  Diana laughed, her head shaking. “Oh, well…yes, I suppose he would but I’d honestly prefer…oh my god…oh, no…”

  “Diana?” Billy looked at her when she suddenly came to a stop, head back and eyes wide.

  “No! No, no, no,” she whispered anxiously. “She used my name, Billy!”

  “Alright,” he said slowly.

  “No! You don’t understand! She was only supposed to use May. Diana May.”

  “Ahh…” The light went off at her words. “The relatives don’t know what you’re doing. Tell them to build a bridge and get over it. You are an artist. You are a strong, independent woman…”

  Diana groaned aloud.

  “I’m also betting the guy watching us and trying to be casual about it….will pound them into the ground if he thought they were hurting you,” Billy chuckled at the startled look on her face, until her hands gripped the open edges of his shirt with a shake. “Diana!”

  “You have to help me,” she hissed furiously. “You keep an eye out. If you see any of them…any of them at all…Gideon…no, I do not want Gideon and them…oh, that would be really bad, Billy,” Diana breathed, allowing him to loosen her fingers.

  “I will watch. You are being summoned,” he nodded to the red head waving at them.

  “Olivia. Thank you…I’ll see you later…” Diana backed away, turning swiftly and weaving among people to the far corner. It was only then that she passed the thin dividing wall and entered into another section of the gallery. Her feet came to an abrupt halt.

  These were from her years in Europe. Villas nestled on hillsides overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, vineyards and fields of sunflowers. Crowded cobble streets, sidewalk cafes, canals and ancient buildings reaching into clouded skies. So many memories, she thought, slender fingers up and touching the glass over one painting filled with brightly dressed children playing on a massive open expanse of green grass.

  Gideon had come around the other side of the narrow partition, stopping and soaking in all the colors and sounds of the large chamber. These were Diana’s memories, he realized, his gaze up and on her as she stood frozen before a large painting of children playing along a river bank. He saw her fingers rise from her side, shaking slightly as she reached out to touch the glass.

  His attention drifted to Harriet and Jewel standing to the far end with a redhead Gideon guessed from Diana’s description, was Olivia. He nodded to Damian, Jane standing with them, her head shaking and casting a concerned glance at Diana. Hidden from his view was a very large painting.

  “Diana might not have meant for this one to be in the sale,” Jane said quietly, Gideon frowning as Diana moved to join them. The smile on her face froze. He saw a shield drop over her eyes when they closed for a silent minute, one palm up and the group fell silent.

  “What’s wrong?” Diana asked cautiously, looking from Jane to Olivia to Harriet and Jewel.

  “I want to buy this painting, but…” Jewel’s soft amber eyes watched the younger woman closely.

  “Alright,” Diana looked at the others. “I don’t understand why…or what’s wrong.”

  “Are you sure you want to sell this one, Diana?” Jane asked carefully, unaware of the effect the moisture filled dark eyes was having on Damian and Gideon alike.

  Gideon moved closer, peering at the large canvas encased in a beautifully simple frame. The canvas was divided diagonally, with a portrait of a young bride in each of the two corners. She was young, very young with wide sapphire eyes filled with confusion and uncertainty. She was beautiful, the top of her gown and veil sparkling and translucent. She faced the outside of the frame.

  The right half portrait stared straight out at the viewer. The gown was torn; there were bruises on her shoulders and face. The veil torn and hanging askew, a single soft tear rolling down her cheek and barely touched with slender fingers. Gideon swore he could see her lips quiver. A faint sheen of moisture filled those expressive blue eyes that now held sadness and betrayal.

  “Where are you going to hang it, Jewel?” Diana asked lightly, taking Jane’s hand with a gentle squeeze of reassurance. “It’s okay, you know. I’m okay.”

  “The women’s shelter, main lobby. I think it will be perfect there and I’ve been searching for something…just the right something…”

  “That is a good spot,” Diana agreed peacefully. “I think that’s where it belongs.”

  “It’s a beautiful painting, Diana,” Harriet hugged her. “There is so much raw emotion…..”

  “I haven’t looked at it in almost ten years,” Diana admitted softly, sinking to a stool behind her. She shook her head. “I thought…no one listened to me…no one heard me…maybe if I…if I put it on canvas…maybe…just maybe someone would see…but no one ever saw it before now,” she shrugged. “It was just part of a collection in a storage room.”

  “It will be seen now,” Jewel vowed. “There will be a little plaque beneath it saying…shout…make someone listen. Love is not supposed to hurt.”

  “Then it found its home,” Diana said simply. “I never looked in the mirror that morning. Never knew what I looked like because I knew it would never match what I felt like inside. There was an envelope taped to the back of the canvas,” her gaze went from Amy to Olivia, who brought a tan envelope from her desk. Diana took it. “This…these…are the only way I knew what I looked like.”

  “My father went around and bought up every single camera that day. Every one. Except the one belonging to the judge. Just another step in controlling the scandal I’d caused,” her laugh was soft and sad. “When I returned home from the Europe schools, the envelope was waiting for me. No one had opened it or touched it that whole time. It was the first time I’d seen myself from that day.”

  Diana turned and moved back into the other room without a glance back. She barely took in a long breath when Billy moved quickly to her side.

  “We have company,” he said quietly, very aware of Gideon coming to her side and stepping out of his way.

  “Diana?” Dark eyes went from the floor to her hair, obvious disapproval on her father’s face. “What the hell have you done to your hair? And what is all this?”

  “You aren’t welcome here, father. Please leave. You’re ruining the fun other people are having,” Diana went to turn away when his hand swept up to grab her shoulder. Only it met with Gideon’s hand instead. Pale lashes went wide, swept to Billy and then to Jane. Diana took a step back, against Gideon, his hand releasing her father’s wrist. “Gentlemen…” She said the word loudly and clearly.

  “You will come with me this minute, Diana. Of all the…”

  “Hello, Grannie…you really should have stayed home,” Diana said quietly. “I don’t want a scene. I don’t want a headache or a pain in the ass tonight. All I wanted was to share my art with other people who found them appealing. That’s all I wanted. Why was that too much to ask?”

  “Diana, come along and we’ll discuss this at home,” Andrea Mayweather held herself stiffly, her back straightening a little more when she noticed Jane watching her.

>   “I moved out. That is no longer my home,” Diana said simply. “Now, please…”

  “I’ve had quite enough. This is not up for debate,” Alex Mayweather reached for her again.

  Jane moved quickly, inserting herself and watching the anger in his face, his palm stopped in midair, clamped firmly in Damian’s hand this time.

  “You aren’t listening…Uncle. Leave. Or I will call security and have you removed. Both of you,” she said pointedly, shaking her head sadly at Andrea.

  “Did either of you ever…ever…look at what you did? What you caused?” Diana said in tension packed seconds. “Damian, would you bring that portrait out here, please…I want them to see it.”

  “Do either of you recognize that girl? That child?” Diana’s gaze went from one to the other. “I was one month past nineteen when you tried forcing that…that…” she felt her breath catch and stopped, a reassuring pair of hands on her shoulders.

  Silence had settled into the gallery, but only for a few seconds before a soft clapping began. Her lashes closed on a hot tear sliding down her cheek.

  She didn’t see her grandmother and father turn and leave the gallery.

  She didn’t notice when Gideon guided her to the small office and closed the door, giving them privacy and silence.

  Gideon pulled a hanky from his pocket and handed it to her, holding her in his arms as the silent tears fell, her slender body quaking with years of unheard sadness. Slowly, very slowly she sniffled.

  “Jane is probably worried,” came the wobbly little voice.

  “Jane is pacing a hole in the carpeting outside the office,” Gideon whispered next to her ear, his eyes on the window and the woman who Damian was trying to keep occupied.

  “Oh, dear,” Diana blew her nose and tucked the hanky into her bag, her body shuddering one last time as she drew in a long breath. She looked at the envelope next to her purse and handed it to Gideon. “Could you…hold that for me? No pockets.”

  “Can I see them?” Gideon folded the envelope carefully, tucking it into his pocket.