by Rye Hart
“Everything, my friend. I saw the way you just looked at her. You’re more than a little infatuated.”
“Breakfast is almost ready, you two,” Amanda said.
“It smells wonderful,” I said.
“Divine, even,” Jack said.
“Keep talking like that and I might trade the two of you out,” Amanda said, grinning.
I felt another pang of jealousy punch me right in the gut, robbing me of the air in my lungs.
“Oh, yeah. You’re in love,” Jack said, chuckling.
“Could you keep your voice down?” I asked.
“All I’m asking is if you love her. It’s less complicated than you think,” he said.
“And how’s that?” I asked.
“Because I can tell by the way she’s looking at you right now that she loves you.”
My eyes whipped back over to Amanda and she dropped her gaze to the plates. She was scooping up everyone food before she carried it to the table. Her cheeks were tinted with a healthy red glow as a smirk plastered itself on her beautiful face.
“You think so?” I asked.
“I know so,” Jack said. “Talk to her. Tell her. Don’t wait another second. You’ve lost enough in this life. It’s time you started gaining a bit.”
“Breakfast is served,” Amanda said. “Coffee all around?”
“The perfect drink to top off the perfect breakfast,” Jack said.
“Oh, he really is a charmer, isn’t he?” Amanda asked.
“Only to women who are truly beautiful,” I said.
Amanda’s eyes locked with mine and she blushed again, but it was the look in her eye that caught my attention. I could’ve sworn there was nothing in her eyes but adoration, but the moment was so fleeting that I couldn’t be sure.
But Jack was. Jack was beyond sure.
“Told you,” he said.
“Shut up and let’s eat,” I said.
CHAPTER 31
Amanda
“Are you sure? This is all you want for the gallery?” I asked.
“I’m sure,” the owner said.
“But this is, sir, I’m sorry, but you could easily get four times this. Why in the world are you selling it for so cheap?”
“Because I’m not in this to turn a profit. So many artists want to become famous. They want to drown themselves in the intoxication of fame and fortune. You’re going to need the money you have to turn this place into what you want it to be. And to fill these walls with your paintings. I looked you up online. Your artwork is breathtaking. It’s one of the reasons why I chose you to take over.”
I sat there, staring at the paperwork as my hands trembled. Even if I bought the gallery, I would still have enough money to put some finishing touches on the place, change the name, fill the store with basics, and buy enough supplies to keep me painting for months. I wouldn’t have to take out the whopper of a loan I’d applied for, and I would be able to afford the payments by selling my art, just as I’d always dreamed.
I sat there in shock as my eyes began to water with tears.
“You saw my artwork online?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said. “You’re very talented. You paint for yourself. You paint with your emotions. You don’t ride trends or try to benefit off viral activity, whatever that means. You’re just you, and it shines through your work. I wouldn’t have wanted to give this place to someone who wanted nothing more than to turn a profit. Making money is important, yes. But it can’t be the bring you the happiness I see in your work.”
“I completely agree,” I said breathlessly.
“Now, if you want to finish signing the paperwork, we can get this done, and this place can be yours,” he said.
I quickly signed and initialed before writing him a check for the very meager price he was asking. My hands were shaking as tears of happiness slid down my cheeks. It was happening. I was getting my own art gallery. I could already see my paintings on the walls alongside other artists. I could see the children running around as they took my weekly art class. I could already see myself selling pieces and building a reputation and having weekend workshops and doing partnerships with other small businesses in my hometown.
It was all so surreal as I handed the check over to him.
“So, what do you plan to do first?”
“What?” I asked.
“With the gallery,” he said, chuckling. “What do you plan on doing first?”
“I’m going to repaint all the walls. I’ve found that a cream color benefits all paintings, and if I’m going to be hanging all sorts of different paintings with different emotional depths, I need a background color that compliments them all.”
“Spoken like a true artist. What else?” he asked.
“I’m going to turn that back room into a little store and get it stocked with a few things. I want to encourage the community to paint, even if it’s just for fun. Even if it’s just for their kids, or to relieve stress or to try something new. I want to have things on hand people can purchase if they come in and have a creative wave hits them.”
“I’m jealous. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that,” he said, grinning.
“And I want that back wall to be reserved for local artists who want to hang their art somewhere. You know, who want to get it out there or simply have it hanging for people to appreciate. Maybe I could do something with the local schools where we could showcase the kid’s artwork on Saturday nights or something. We could bring in finger foods and drinks, and it could be a donation night, and the proceeds could go to the school to bolster their own funding.”
“See, that passion right there is why I chose you.”
“I’ve wanted this ever since I drew my first picture when I was a preteen,” I said, smiling. “I’m ready for it. I actually feel ready for something like this.”
“You look ready,” he said. “And with that, the place is all yours.”
He dropped the keys into my hand and I started shaking. This was real. This was actually happening. I stood up and shook the man’s hand before he pulled me into a hug. Tears slipped out of my eyes and were soaked up by his shirt. He patted my back before he released me, then he made his way to the front door.
“I’m going to go get this filed, and I’ll make copies for myself. I’ll slide the originals underneath the door by the end of the day.”
“Sounds good,” I said.
“Good luck,” he said.
I watched him leave before I jumped and clapped my hands. My mind was swirling with all sorts of possibilities as I walked around the room. My heart was filled with happiness, and my soul felt like it was at peace. I closed my eyes and drew in the familiar scent of the mountain town around me, feeling more at home than I had since my grandmother first won custody of me all those years ago.
“I wish you were here,” I said, whispering. “I wish you were here to see this.”
She would’ve loved it. My grandmother would’ve thrown a party over this. She would’ve opened up a bottle of wine, poured herself a glass, and then teased me by getting me grape juice. We would’ve taken the first sip of the wine right in the middle of this floor as I talked her through my plans for the place.
I missed that woman more than I could stand.
But now, it was time to figure out what to do with that cabin. All the money I had saved up would go toward fixing up this place and changing its name. And the inheritance money wouldn’t be near enough to fix up the cabin. I opened my eyes and drew in one last breath, feeling my grandmother’s presence surrounding me.
I could hear her voice echoing off the corners of my mind.
One step at a time, booger. One step at a time.
She always told me I had a way of tripping over myself, of getting in my own way and overwhelming myself with things I had no control over. I could feel myself slipping into that overwhelming space she’d always talked about right now. She told me that identifying it and admitting it was the cure for overcoming.
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And I could feel myself growing stronger by remembering her voice.
I made my way to my car after locking the gallery doors behind me. Now was a time for celebration. Brian and I had an important conversation to have tonight, but for now, I wanted to rejoice in my new life with them. I went back to the cabin and threw myself into Brian’s arms, his smile bright as I flashed him the keys.
“I have an art gallery,” I said in disbelief. “I can’t believe I have an art gallery.”
“What all has to happen with it?” he asked as we piled into his truck
“Not much. Painting the walls, getting the floor cleaned and waxed. Stocking the small store I’m going to have with supplies. Hanging artwork on the walls. The only big thing will be setting me up for monetary transactions and changing the name of the place.”
“What do you think you’ll change it to?” he asked.
“I’ve always loved the name ‘Scott’s Sketches,’” I said.
I watched Brian’s hands white-knuckle his steering wheel as I remembered that he had asked me if I still wanted to marry him.
“But that’s something I can always come up with later.”
“Well, the inside stuff’s easy to take care of. You can save some of your money, and I’ll do it for you.”
“Brian, I can’t ask you to do that.”
“All the stuff you rattled off is easy. I can get Tanya to watch Lanie, or you can watch her while I go do it. The walls and the floor? Done in four days, max. We can hang your artwork together once you figure out where you want it, and electrical work and wires are easy. You buy the equipment for your money-making, and I’ll get it installed.”
I was floored by his outpouring of support. My hand meandered over to his thigh and settled on the thickness of his muscles. I squeezed him lightly, and it drew his gaze toward me, and he grinned down at me before he turned his eyes back toward the road. Having his support meant more to me than he understood. Having him watch my back and offer to help took even more of a burden off my shoulders. I had been thinking of hiring people to do it or doing it myself. But I knew Brian would take great care and pride in his work.
It would save me money as well as heartache, and the fact that he was willing to do it left me speechless.
“Where does the new business owner want to eat?” he asked.
“Anywhere you wish,” I said.
“Oh, no. This is your moment. We had mine yesterday. We’re having yours today.”
“But if you remember correctly, I picked yesterday,” I said.
“You have a point,” he said flatly.
“So, with that said, lead the way, handsome.”
I watched his eyes sparkle as he whipped a U-turn in the middle of the road. Lanie squealed with delight, and I gripped onto his thigh, bracing myself against the door as we started going in the other direction. Apparently, Brian knew exactly where he wanted to take us to celebrate.
CHAPTER 32
Brian
The lunch with Lanie and Amanda was fantastic. I took them to a great restaurant where we ate like kings while we talked all about Amanda’s plans for the gallery. She told me about her vision as Lanie snuggled in her lap, and as the conversation flowed by it was close to dinner before we even thought about leaving. We drove up the mountain as Lanie talked about watching a movie, then the three of us settled in for a rousing evening of Lanie’s favorite.
Snow fucking White.
I could recite that entire thing by heart. I knew every part that made her laugh and every part that made her scared. I could sing all the songs with her, and I could fake surprise whenever something happened that made Lanie jump. I loved how much she enjoyed that movie, but I sometimes wished she had another one she enjoyed just as much.
Eventually, Lanie started getting tired. The sun had set, and the movie had ended, and she was struggling to keep her eyes open. I went to go pick Lanie up and put her to bed, but Amanda swatted me away before she got up.
“You stay here. I’ve got it.”
I listened as Amanda tucked Lanie in. I heard her singing lightly to my niece as I readied the stage for our conversation. I opened up a bottle of wine and poured us both a nice, tall glass, and by the time Amanda was tip-toeing out of Lanie’s room I was standing at the end of the hallway with one in my hand.
Our eyes locked momentarily as a mood settled upon Amanda features. Her eyes grew somber, and her shoulders rolled back. She was readying herself for the talk we promised each other we would have, and it was about time. We had a lot to discuss, and I had a lot that she needed to know.
“Thanks,” she said as she took the wine.
We sat down on the couch and silence descended over us. I had started a fire in the fireplace to try and set some sort of relaxing mood and take the chill out of the air. I wasn’t good at this kind of shit. I wasn’t good at opening up to people. And now, I was supposed to tell this woman who I’d only known for a couple of weeks that I had feelings for her.
“Do you want me to start?” Amanda asked.
“Actually, I was hoping you’d let me,” I said.
“Okay. Go ahead. Say whatever you need to say.”
I took a deep breath before beginning. “First off, I want to start by thanking you for everything you’ve done for Lanie and me.”
“You don’t have to keep thanking me,” she said, giggling. “I was happy to do it.”
“The lengths you were willing to go to, though, not many people would be willing to do what you did.”
My words faltered for a minute as I stared at the beauty that sat quietly across from me. Her body was close enough for me to touch, but her mind seemed a thousand miles away. I was truly freaked that if I told her I was in love with her, she would run. But somehow, deep down, I didn’t think she would
I could tell Amanda was as scared as I was. Could Jack have been right? Was it possible for her to have feelings for me as well? I reached over and took her hand as she brought her wine glass to her lips. Our eyes connected as my thumb swirled on top of her skin, and somehow I knew. I knew she felt the same way. I could see it in the way she looked at me. How I had ever missed that look was beyond me, but I felt my heart taking off from the ground as I squeezed her hand tight.
I scooted myself close to her and wrapped my arm around her waist. I pulled her into me, allowing myself to take in her warmth as we drank our glasses of wine by the fire. I leaned my lips down to the top of her head and pressed a gentle kiss there, knowing that it was time.
It was time I told her the truth.
“There’s something I really need to tell you,” I said as she turned those gorgeous emerald eyes up to mine.
Amanda shifted so that she could look at me head on, and her shoulders were set in a way that said she was slightly afraid that I might ask her to leave. I saw the same vulnerability behind her eyes that I felt in my gut. The fear of telling someone you love them and having them throw it back in your face. My ex-wife had really fucked me up, and I knew her ex-boyfriend had done the same to her. Our communication thus far, frankly sucked, and if I was going to make a permanent place for this woman in my life and in Lanie’s life, that needed to change now.
I held Amanda’s hands firmly in mine, and looked her square in her eyes as I began to speak.
“You are a remarkable woman. You are persistent and intelligent. Playful and funny. You have this sass about you that fills a room with your presence. When my ex-wife did to me what she did, I never thought I would open myself back up to the idea of being with a woman. And when Lanie came to live me with, I completely tossed the idea out the window.”
I felt Amanda squeeze my hand as she inched closer to me.
“But?” she asked.
I looked up into her eyes and saw her smiling at me.
“But you were different. From the moment I first saw you stuck in the staircase in that cabin, I knew you were different. You’re curious, always poking and prodding and trying to figure things
out. Your curiosity was annoying at first, but it morphed into one of the many things I fell in love with.”
I watched tears rise in Amanda’s eyes as I closed the distance between our bodies.
“I’ve fallen for you, Amanda. And I needed you to know that. Because I do want to marry you, and not just to give Lanie a good home.”
I watched as Amanda’s face got closer to mine. Her body was off the couch and sliding into my lap as her arms wrapped around my neck. Our glasses of set off to the side as we clung to each other, our tongues dancing their old familiar steps. I could taste the red wine on her lips as my cock rose to attention, searching for the heat I knew only she could provide. She straddled my lap and pressed herself into me, my hands gripping her hips and running up her back.
“I’ve fallen for you, too, Brian.”
Her words hit me like a cannonball. My eyes flew open, and I found her staring at me, a playful grin on her cheeks. I hugged her close and peppered her neck with kisses, allowing myself to fully breathe her in without restraint for the first time since I’d met her. I was going to make love to this woman. I was going to show her exactly what she meant to me. I was going to mark her as mine and spend the rest of my days giving her everything she could ever want.
The rest of my days.
“Amanda,” I said.
“Yeah?”
“Let’s get married tomorrow.”
She pulled back from me and looked into my eyes with a blissful expression on her face.
I scooted her off my lap and sat her on the couch. I slid to the floor and got on one knee, then took her hand within mine. Her eyes were watering with tears, and my heart was slamming against my sternum. I could feel my body filling with a state of happiness I hadn’t experienced in years.
“Amanda Scott, you are a wonderful woman. A woman that has brought so much joy and happiness and love into Lanie’s and my life. You are selfless, beautiful, talented, intelligent, and your big heart has somehow found a way to embrace my niece and me. Amanda, will you marry me tomorrow?”
The smile that spread across her face was one that would forever be etched in my memory. She threw her arms around me, her lips colliding into mine. I could feel her smiling and giggling as I laid us down on the floor, the fire barreling heat down onto our bodies as she laid on top of me. I felt full. For the first time in my life, I felt that my life had finally come to a head. I was holding my future in my arms while the rest of my future slept away in her small little bed at the back of the house.
