aterovis_bm_reapthewhirlwind.p65

aterovis_bm_reapthewhirlwind.p65 Page 17

by Arlene Chance

  For the third time that night, a stunned silence fell 190

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  over the room as I tried to shrink into the sofa. Finally Adam spoke in a somewhat awed voice, “Wow—well—

  that certainly gives us all something to work toward.”

  I couldn’t stand it any longer. “I’m nothing special,”

  I protested. “It was just something that I knew I had to do. Haven’t you ever just known that you had to do something even though you weren’t quite sure why?

  You just know you have to.”

  “But that’s exactly what makes it all the more special,” Meg said. “I’m sure that all of us have experienced what you just described, but how many of us can say that we actually acted on that urge? Most people just ignore that compelling, pass it off as insensible or unre-alizable. Or maybe they just don’t have the faith to step out and take that kind of risk. Besides, true heroes never know they are heroes. They just simply are.”

  “I’m definitely not a hero,” I argued, my face blazing away. “I’m so screwed up, I’ve tried to kill myself not just once, but twice in the last two months. Aidan is the real hero. He saved my life both times.”

  Aidan opened his mouth to argue, but Steve cut him off, “The mark of a true hero, or true bravery, is this—

  not a lack of fear, that’s just foolishness, but rather to be afraid and do what you know you must do anyway.”

  Everyone thought that over quietly for a few minutes.

  “Okay, enough philosophical wanderings,” Adam said suddenly. “This night is supposed to be about a celebration of life, so let’s start living! Who’s up for a board game?”

  We all played some party games for a while and then the guests began to say their good-byes. Lysander and Ilana were the first to leave, saying they needed to get 191

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  Melody to bed. Bryant and Calvin left shortly after, since Calvin was visibly tiring. Aidan, Caitlin and I prepared to leave too, since we had the drive home still ahead of us.“You guys are coming to my show tomorrow night aren’t you?” I asked before we left.

  “Are you kidding? We wouldn’t miss it for anything!”

  Killian exclaimed.

  “Great,” I said. “Why don’t you two plan on staying for a little while after? I have something I need to talk to you about.”

  “Sure, that shouldn’t be a problem. It’s not a school night,” he said.

  “What was that about?” Aidan asked once we were in the car.

  “What was what about?” I asked innocently.

  “What do you need to talk to Killian and Asher about?”

  “That matter we were discussing the other night; you know, the note?”

  “Oh—I don’t understand.”

  “We’ll talk about it later,” I said meaningfully.

  “What Will is trying to say is drop it while Caitlin’s around,” Caitlin said with amusement in her voice. I laughed as she gracefully changed the subject. “Will, thanks for inviting me. It was great.”

  “It was, wasn’t it?” I agreed. “I’m glad you could come. You’re still coming tomorrow night too, aren’t you?”

  “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I just hope I can still fit into the dress I was planning on wearing.”

  “Are you gaining weight with the baby?”

  She laughed. “Not yet! I was talking about that huge 192

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  meal we just had. I don’t think I’ll be able to eat for a week.”

  We all laughed.

  “It was great wasn’t it?” I asked. “I think it was the best Thanksgiving ever and I’m not just talking about the food.”

  I settled back into the seat in contentment. If I could just make it through tomorrow night, I thought, I would be home free. If I had only known how wrong I was.

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  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Friday was a whirlwind of activity as final prepara-tions were made for that evening’s show. All the art on display had to be moved out of the gallery and carefully stored in the back room to make room for my work.

  Then, my pictures were picked up from the framing shop and hung, often being moved two or three times before we decided it was perfect. Tables were set up that would hold the hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Since I was still underage, Nikki had bought sparkling cider instead of champagne for the gallery refreshments. Finally, everything was just the way we wanted it and we raced back to the apartment building to change.

  As I rushed into our apartment, Aidan met me at the door. Grinning like the Cheshire cat, he held up a pair of black leather pants and a rich maroon crushed velvet shirt with flowing sleeves. I skidded to a halt.

  “What is that?” I demanded. “That’s not what you’re wearing, is it?”

  “No, it’s what you’re wearing,” he said brightly. My mouth fell open. “It’s a surprise,” he added.

  “You’re damn right it’s a surprise. Here’s another one, I’ll be damned if I’m wearing leather pants,” I said firmly.

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  “Yes, you are,” Aidan said equally firmly. “Nikki and I bought these just for you the other night when I went out without you. You’re a hot new artist and you have to look the part.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding! I’ll look like some Ricky Martin wannabe.”

  “We don’t have time to argue. Shut up and take off your clothes.”

  “Oh baby!” I teased. “I love it when you talk dirty.”

  “If you don’t start getting undressed, you’re going really gonna hear me talk dirty.”

  I laughed but decided it would be easier for everyone involved if I just went along with him. We both knew I would end up doing as he said in the end anyway. I did as he ordered and started getting undressed.

  He helped me into the unfamiliar clothes then dragged me down the hall to the full-length mirror in the bathroom.

  “Wait! You’re missing something,” he said.

  “Yeah, my dignity. I think I left it in the living room with my real clothes.”

  “Oh, quit bitching. What size shoe do you wear?”

  “10.”

  “Good, I wear 10 ½, that’s close enough.” He raced out of the bathroom and was back in no time carrying a pair of heavy black shoes. Once they were on, I had to admit that the whole ensemble looked better than I had feared, although I still felt like a kid playing dress-up.

  The pants, though, were much more comfortable than I would have ever imagined.

  “See, I told you!” Aidan said with his famous grin.

  And then we were off again. This time he dragged me out the door and across the hall to Nikki’s apartment 195

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  where he knocked on her door. The door swung open to reveal Nikki hopping on one foot while she tried to put in a dangly carved jet earring in the shape of a multi-armed deity. She was wearing a tight bright yellow top that looked like it was made of rubber and an extremely short black leather shirt. She wore a clunky yellow high-heeled shoe on one foot; its mate lay on its side a few feet away next to a pile of black leather. Her hair had turned bright yellow since I had seen her last and I wondered how it had been possible to dye it that quickly. She managed to get the earring in, slip on the other shoe and scoop up the pile of leather in one smooth motion. The pile of leather turned out to be an ankle-length fitted coat, which she now pulled on.

  “You look fah-bulous, dahling,” she said, calmly eying me, as if seconds before she hadn’t been hopping around on one foot like a demented stork.

  “I think we killed a cow between us,” I said dryly.

  “It’s worth it when you look this good.”

  “Tell that to PETA. How did you get away without wearing a dead animal?” I asked Aidan, as I eyed his khakis and white oxford shirt enviously.

  “Because he’s not the star,” Nikki said. “Now come here, you need a few finishing touches.”

  I stepped reluctantly forward and she suddenly pounced on me and mussed up my hair with both hands.

>   “Hey!” I yelled.

  “Oh, hush,” she chided as she unbuttoned the top two buttons of my shirt. “Oh, the necklace is a nice touch.”

  My hand went immediately to Joey’s charm. I had forgotten I was even wearing it. I hadn’t taken it off in 196

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  weeks. I felt my jangled nerves calm just a bit. It made me feel good to know that in a way, Joey would be with me tonight—the old Joey, who had been my best friend for eighteen years, not the shadow that he had become at the end.

  Nikki stepped back and gave me a final once-over then nodded as if she was satisfied with what she saw.

  “Let’s blow this popsicle stand.”

  ***

  Nikki gave me some last-minute instructions on the elevator ride down. “Everyone is going to want to meet you. Shake their hands and be polite but don’t let any one person mo-nopolize you for too long. Circulate. And whatever you do, do not allow yourself to be cornered by one of the Polyester Posse.”

  “Huh?”

  “You’ll know them when you see them; a group of widows who all wear these horribly tacky polyester pant suits. If someone asks you for your inspiration for a particular painting, ask them what they think of it, then tell them how amazingly perceptive they are and how impressed you are that they nailed it so perfectly on their first try. If they want to know how much, send them to me. Be careful what you say and remember if you can’t bedazzle them with brilliance baffle them with bullshit.”

  I nodded although I strongly suspected I had just been baffled rather than bedazzled.

  Aidan and I drove to the gallery in his truck and Nikki drove her own car. We didn’t talk much. I was too nervous and, after a few monosyllabic responses, Aidan gave up any effort on his part. Derrick had the gallery 197

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  open when we got there but thankfully, no one else had arrived except the classical guitarist Nikki had hired.

  Aidan was stationed at the door to check invitations.

  It had been Nikki’s suggestion to make this an invitation only event. She said it made it seem more exclusive and it made the “right people” more likely to attend. By “right people,” I assume she meant those with fat bank accounts.

  People started arriving shortly after. Everyone made a point of coming up to me after they had made a preliminary sweep of the gallery. It wasn’t long before the gallery was filled with well-dressed people sipping cider and speaking in hushed tones. Adam, Asher, and Killian arrived and waved from the door. Laura and Gabe followed on their heels. As busy as I was, I had been keeping an eye on the door for Caitlin, as it got later and later it became more and more obvious that she hadn’t showed up. I was just about to give up on her when she appeared at my side, as if out of nowhere.

  I wondered if she had been taking lessons from Derrick. She was wearing a form-fitting, ankle-length black dress with a black satin wrap and strappy black shoes.

  Her blonde hair had been pulled up into a sophisticated chignon and her gold jewelry was simple and elegant.

  Without a word, she slipped her hand into the crook of my arm and smiled as if she had been attending high society social functions all her life.

  A camera flashed from somewhere but by the time I turned around, I couldn’t tell where it had come from.

  Before I could think about it anymore though, someone caught me by the other arm and asked me about a painting I had done of an old shack in Worcester County.

  They were sure that the shack was on their grandfather’s 198

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  property on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. I told them how impressed I was that they could recognize it from my painting. I felt a little guilty for lying—for at least two seconds.

  The evening wore on, and by the time people began to leave, my arm was sore from all the handshaking and my face ached from all the smiling. I took a good look around and was surprised to see that all the paintings were still here. I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t sold a single painting. As soon as I saw an opening, I pulled Nikki aside. Before I could say a word, though, she cut me off.

  “Can you believe this night? It’s been more successful than I dared hope for.”

  “But—all the paintings are still on the wall,” I said in confusion.

  Nikki laughed. “Of course they are. Didn’t I explain that to you? They don’t take the paintings home tonight.

  They put their name down for the pieces they want, and then we deliver them later, after they are paid for.”

  “Oh—” I said, feeling about as bright as a burned out light bulb. “How many did we sell then?”

  “Oh, Will, I hate to disappoint you, but you know tonight was more about exposure than sales,” she said with a concerned expression on her face. “We sold—

  ALL OF THEM!”

  “Wha—? All?” was my witty comeback.

  “Every last one is spoken for,” she said with a huge grin. “Gone! And the critics were impressed too.”

  “Critics?” I said weakly.

  “I didn’t tell you, because I didn’t want you to be more self-conscious than you already were. There were critics from the local paper, plus the DC and Baltimore 199

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  papers, and at least two major art magazines. They came because they all knew my father and they respect the gallery very highly. I can’t guarantee what they will write, but we should know something I’d say at least by next week’s Sunday edition.”

  “Review?” I repeated dumbly. I was starting to feel like I had just stepped off one of the centrifugal rides at the carnival.

  “You’re starting to sound like a parrot, Will,” Nikki said. She spun me around and pointed me toward a corner of the room where Aidan, Adam, Killian, Asher, Laura, Gabe, and Caitlin were talking in a small group.

  “Now be a good bird and go tell your little friends the good news.” She sent me off with a pat on my leather-clad bottom.

  I walked over to the group in a kind of daze. They jumped toward me as one person, all of them chatter-ing and jabbering at once.

  “We sold all the paintings,” I said.

  All the chatter stopped for a second then they erupted into a chorus of cheers, congratulations, high-fives, and back thumping. I was glad everyone else had left.

  “You’re a star for sure now!” Asher exclaimed.

  “You sure look the part anyway,” Killian said with an appreciative glance at my outfit. Asher delivered a sharp elbow jab to Killian’s side.

  “Yeah, Will,” Caitlin chimed in, “I didn’t get a chance to tell you earlier, but you really do look great.”

  “You’re the one who looks great,” I said. “I guess that’s why you waited so late, so you could make an entrance.”

  “Not to break up your little mutual appreciation party,” Adam interrupted, “but I need to get home.

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  Before I leave though I wanted you to know that at least one of your paintings is going to a good home and you are more than welcome to come visit it any time you want.”

  “You bought one?” I asked in surprise.

  “Of course! I thought I’d better buy a Will Keegan original before your prices went through the roof.”

  “I would have painted you one anytime.”

  “Well then I couldn’t say that I bought one at your very first show, could I?” he said and left after telling Killian not to be home too late.

  Laura suggested the rest of us go somewhere for a celebration. Nikki overheard and shooed us out before I could protest. We walked down the plaza to an ice cream parlor that kept late hours.

  “So,” Laura began once we were all crowded into a corner booth with our ice cream, “I don’t think I know everyone here really.”

  “I’m Killian and this is my boyfriend, Asher,” Killian spoke up. “I’m Aidan’s cousin, and Asher is Will’s cousin.”

  “I’ve heard of you guys,” Laura said. “I’m Laura, one of Will’s oldest friends, and this is my boyfriend, Gabriel.”

  “Call me Gabe,”
Gabe said as he shook Killian’s and Asher’s hands.

  “And this is Caitlin,” I said to Laura. Laura looked confused, not an expression one usually sees on Laura’s face.

  “And Caitlin is ?” she said.

  “I—knew Joey,” Caitlin said, choosing her words carefully.

  Laura looked even more confused. “You must not 201

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  have known him long,” she said bluntly. “I know I’m out of the loop here, but this is ridiculous, Will. Are you two dating?”

  “No, we’re not dating,” I said. “We’re just friends; we met at a party and found out we have a lot in common.”

  Laura gave me a look that let me know that she knew there was more to this story and she expected to be filled in completely later. I nodded almost imperceptibly.

  “Not to change the subject,” I said to change the subject, “but since everyone is here that I wanted to talk to I might as well get it all over with at once. I have something I need to tell you all.” That got everyone’s attention. Everyone watched me now as they ate their ice cream. “Last week I got a package in the mail. Inside the package was Joey’s necklace and a note that said, ‘It wasn’t an accident.’”

  Five spoons stopped in mid-air. Only Aidan kept eating since he knew the whole story already.

  Laura was the first to snap out of it. She dropped her spoon with a clatter as she leaned toward me over the table. I thought she was going to grab me by my shirt and drag me across the table, but instead she planted her hands palm down and said in a deadly calm voice,

  “What?”

  “Is this some kind of sick joke?” Caitlin asked, looking very pale all of a sudden.

  “Who sent it?” Gabe asked.

  “What wasn’t an accident?” Killian asked, looking very lost.

  Asher didn’t say anything. He just looked like he knew what was coming and didn’t like it one bit.

 

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