Page 140 of Something Tattered
In a last-ditch effort to keep some peace, I said, "If you feel like listening, I'll tell you what happened."
"Go ahead." His tone grew sarcastic. "Unlike you,I'vegot plenty of time."
I seriously doubted that. Still, I sank down onto the nearest chair and calmly told Derek how I'd found that first painting in the storage unit, along with several others afterward.
I relayed how impressed the selection committee had been, Claude in particular, who predicted that Joel would take the art-world by storm.
When I finished, Derek gave a derisive laugh. "Wow, that was some sales job."
"It's not a sales job," I said. "I'm just telling you what happened."
"I wasn't talking aboutyou," he said. "I was talking abouthim."
"What are you talking about?"
"Isn't it obvious? The guy's playing you."
"He is not."
Even now, Joel still didn't know what I'd done. And he especially didn't know that he'd been selected. He'd been out of town on the day of the big meeting, and hadn't returned until the next night.
Conscious of his crazy superstitions, I was waiting to tell him until I had the final paperwork in-hand. And then, I was going to whip it out with a flourish."Ta-da! You won!"
In my mind, I envisioned the happy scene. Joel and I would celebrate, maybe even with champagne. And yeah, I might gloat at least a little, because it only proved that I'd been right all along.
Joel's cigar days were long-gone.
On the phone, Derek was saying, "Get real. The guy saw you coming a mile away."
"Don't be ridiculous. He won fair and square. And he would've won even without my involvement." My voice became earnest. "Seriously Derek, he'sthatgood."
"Oh, he's 'good' alright."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means, the guy justhappensto ride in on a white horse at the exact time we're awarding the endowments? And he justhappensto take up with you – the person who signs the award letters?"
I rolled my eyes. "Oh, please. Did you forget?You'rethe one who introduced us."
"I did not."
"Yes, you did. Remember? That whole scene in the boardroom? That wasyourdoing. So if you want to blame someone, look in the mirror."
"No,youlook in the mirror, becauseyou'rethe one who did this."
"Sorry, but Claude selected him, not me. I'm telling you, Joel won on his own merits."
Derek gave a snide laugh. "What, the merit in his pants?"
"Oh, that's nice." I took a deep, calming breath. "You know what? I'm done talking."
"Yeah? Well I'm not."
"Fine," I said, "then talk to yourself, because I've gotta go." And with that, I disconnected the call and turned toward the kitchen, only to see Joel standing in the open doorway, wearing an expression that I couldn't quite make out.
Chapter 62
I stared at Joel from across the room. He still hadn't moved, and neither had I.
