Page 10 of Hargrave Artistry
Pulling her phone from her pocket, she tapped the screen and was rewarded with the sand sketch of Trent’s face. Nowthatyummy handsomeness was worth her attention.
Chapter Four
Over the next two days,Natalie spotted Jackson and his ostentatious rental car a few more times around Brookwell, but he didn’t return to the Hideaway. She’d warned Veronica, but he didn’t show up at the house either.
Thank every lucky star for that.
Jess had promised to work up a current background report to figure out why he was here. Natalie had done her due diligence. And she meant it when she’d warned him that she’d be honest if anyone in town asked her about him.
But she couldn’t shake his comment about being in real estate. More than a distraction, she’d caught herself worrying. Her hands would go still while she was sketching or framing a sculpture, ugly memories from the past drifting across her vision. She’d had to restart a project for an upcoming school session a couple of times.
Knowing better than to push herself, she went back to the beach. Better if she played with sand castles and sketches than allow this bleak mood to destroy her stockpile of intriguing bits and pieces. Packing up, she returned everything to the gallery storage room before heading down to the water.
She was rounding the corner from the service alley when Jackson’s car rolled down Central Avenue. Ducking out of sight, she was immediately annoyed with herself. This was her town, and though Brookwell thrived on hospitality, Jackson wasn’t the kind of tourist they needed.
She sent a text to Jess and then continued on her way. And if she walked quickly, who could blame her? The island beach was lovely.
It didn’t take long to find a relatively open spot on the beach near the water on a weekday morning. As soon as she dug her hands into the wet sand, her creativity flowed unchecked. She built up a small hill, added a castle, then circled it with a tiny town that was destined to wash away with the incoming tide.
The short-lived sculptures gave her a boost of satisfaction, a no-pressure outlet. She lost herself in the building of a new and improved castle as the tide reclaimed the first.
When her phone rang from her back pocket, it startled a yelp out of her. Laughing, with her hands full of sand, she let it go to voicemail. Once she rinsed her hands in the surf and dried them on her shorts, she checked the message.
According to Caller ID, the call had come from the Citadel. She couldn’t think of a single person she knew at that esteemed institution. The message, from the director of the educational outreach department, invited her to teach an interim session over the winter break.
How weird and wonderful.
As far as she understood it, a majority of the students attended the Citadel with the intention of going on to military careers. Then again, Natalie believed that the more you knew about art, the more you appreciated life. In her mind, that enrichment made an impact and carried over, no matter what a career might entail.
Plus, it was a paid position. One she suspected would pay better than most of her short-term guest teaching spots. She planned to be here with her sisters for the holidays anyway.
Just as she started to return the call, another call came in.
This time it was Jess. Natalie answered right away. “Hello. You must’ve seen my text.”
“Hey. I did,” Jess confirmed. “Please don’t stress about your ex. We’re on it.”
Natalie breathed easier at the confidence in Jess’s voice. “Thanks.”
“Anytime. But I have an update on the earlier issues at the Hideaway. I know Celeste is out of town, but if you and Veronica could come by, I’ll fill you in.”
“Good news or bad?” she asked. “I mean, obviously we’ll be there either way.”
Jess chuckled. “Good news. I wouldn’t keep you in the dark about problems. But I thought you’d appreciate a face-to-face.”
“Thanks. I’m free now,” she said without thinking. “But Veronica’s working home visits today and tomorrow.” Her sister wouldn’t be home until later this evening.
“Well, swing on by whenever you get a minute,” Jess said. “It’s nothing that requires any specific action. But I wanted y’all to have the details. I’m in the office until five today.”
Natalie almost laughed. “I’m on my way.”
She pocketed the phone and slowly pushed her foot through the sandcastles. Usually, she let the surf take care of her creations, but something about the low-stakes destruction felt good in the moment.
She swung by Veronica’s house just long enough to change clothes and brush the sand out of her hair. Twisting her long locks up into a bun, Natalie decided to take her car rather than walk or bike over to the office. Because it was faster, she told herself. It had nothing to do with Jackson lurking around.
In the parking lot that fronted Jess’s office, she saw the fire chief, Evan Miller, walking to his car, along with Trent Blakely. Neither of the men noticed her.
How interesting. She wondered if Trent’s consulting was somehow tied to the Guardian Agency. Seeing the Fire Chief, Natalie hurried toward the office, hopeful that the authorities had found the person behind the arson incident at the Hideaway.
