Page 98 of Moonstruck Kiss

Damn. I can’t possibly drive out in this rain to do something about it. I can only hope and pray my paintings will be safe.

I go back to bed but I’m too worried to sleep. The pieces I hung up today are among my best. I regularly sell out during this exhibition, and it’s when I earn the most money from my artwork. If they’re all ruined, that’ll be thousands of dollars down the drain.

An hour later, the rain and wind have eased. The sun’s just rising, and I get in my car to drive to the Pies’ barn. With branches, leaves and other debris scattered along the streets, I’m afraid of what I’ll see when I get there.

My heart drops to my stomach when I spot the barn doors wide open. No doubt the windows are, too.

Tears pool in my eyes as I get out of the car. That’s hours and hours of work gone. The only thing I can be grateful for is it’s only my paintings that are ruined. Imagine if Ollie’s had been hanging here with them. I shudder at the thought.

I turn the lights on and my eyes widen in shock. All the room dividers are neatly piled on top of each other on the floor. Someone’s been here! Cutie and her elderly parents, perhaps? Gosh, this would have been too much work for them.

I search for my paintings but can’t spot them, until I look towards the front of the barn, farthest away from the windows and doors. On top of a big, heavy table is a stack of something covered in tarpaulin. I run to it, noticing that the waterproof sheet is secured to the table by large rocks.

My eyes sting with tears as I move the rocks and lift the cover. Here are all my paintings! And they’re perfectly fine! I let out a huge sigh of relief. Whoever did this, I’m so grateful.

“Oh, Joey, there you are.”

I turn and run to Cutie, hugging her so tight that she playfully makes choking noises.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” I say as I let her go.

“Don’t thank me. I didn’t do it. I only knew about it when I woke up to find a note under my front door. I was so surprised that I slept through that storm! It must have been something, considering the leaves and debris scattered about.”

I nod.

“You must have been so worried.”

“I was.”

“Your paintings are all okay?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, thank God. That’s a relief.”

“Who did this, Cutie?”

She pulls out a note from her pocket and hands it to me.

I trespassed in your barn during the storm, Cutie. I secured Joey’s paintings under a tarp so they won’t get ruined. They should be safe from the elements. Also, I had to lay down the dividers because they were being blown by the wind. Sorry you’ll have to clean up and set up again.

Brax

I cover my mouth with my hand, emotions running riot inside of me. I can’t believe he did that.

“Obviously, he’s trying to make up for his missteps,” Cutie says. “I have to say I’m impressed, but it’s not me he wants to please.”

I sigh. “He’s trying hard, I know. But there are important questions he can’t answer to my satisfaction. I don’t want to be that stupid girl who doesn’t look at the facts when they’re staring her in the face. I probably should thank him personally, though. What he did here was…”

“Beyond what anyone could possibly expect of someone,” Cutie supplies.

“Yes,” I murmur.

Brax went through a ferocious storm—all by himself, by the looks of it—to save the things that are important to me. Would a man only interested in furthering his career by all means necessary do something like that?

“I better head back,” Cutie says. “I’ll round up some people to help here this morning before the artists come to put up their artwork.”

“Thanks. I think I’ll stay and start cleaning up.”

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