Page 51 of Stick to the Deal
“Fair enough.” I soak in the silence, enjoying his hands working the knots out of my feet. Then he breaks it. “Thank you for coming tonight. I always dread those parties.”
“Are they always like that?”
I slit open my eyes, studying him. Reginald stares off, looking tired and sad.
“Usually they’re worse.”
I shudder. “Isn’t Christmas supposed to be about family? Did you at least spend Christmas Day the four of you?”
“Never. I spent it in my room with a new book while Father fought a hangover and Mother started planning her next event. How about you?”
“Grandmama would take me to see the Nutcracker, then to midnight mass. There would be presents under the tree when we got back.” I swallow back a lump at the thought of my grandmother.
“What’s wrong, Princess?” His hands pause and his eyes glint with concern in the moonlight.
I push down the swell of sadness for the dozenth time this evening. “What do you mean?”
“There’s this sad look every time someone mentions your grandmother. Do you miss her? Why don’t we go see her tomorrow? I can try to find tickets to the ballet.”
Slowly, I shake my head, sit up, and hug my knees to my chest. “I called the house earlier, and Gloria said she wouldn’t talk to me.” I stare at my legs, wanting to share more but not sure how to word it. “She hasn’t spoken to me since before the wedding. We’ve never been exactly close, but nothing like this.”
Reginald leans forward and swipes the moisture from under my eye. “I’m sorry, Nic. I had no idea.”
I smile at his obvious care. “Thanks.” My hand covers his, still cupping my face. “The party wasn’t all bad.”
“It was rather nice to have someone on my side for once to help navigate the social jungle. An ally.”
“You mean a spouse?”
“Better, an ally with benefits.”
I kick his thigh with my foot, but we’re both laughing.
Reginald checks his watch. “It’s well after midnight. Would you like your present?”
“You didn’t have to buy me anything.”
“I wanted to.” He gives my calf a last squeeze and retrieves a large, flat package from behind the tree. I sit up fully as he approaches. There’s a vulnerability in his eyes as he holds the gift out. Whatever this is, it’s important to him.
Carefully, I balance the flat package on my knees and tear open the brown wrapping to reveal a framed print. Once the image is fully visible, I angle it in themoonlight for a better look. It’s a drawing of a little girl, her hair in black pigtails smiling at the viewer with a black cat winding around her legs. It’s drawn in clean lines and vibrant colors. The initials HK are scrawled in the corner.
Hashi Kato. My father.
I lift wide eyes to Reginald. “Where did you find this?”
He grips the back of his neck. “Daniel’s gallery friend, Henri, helped track it down. There weren’t many of your father’s works still in circulation, but we were able to buy this one.”
“He was a cartoonist mostly—there wouldn’t be much out there—but I remember this one. It was one of the last he did before the accident. He was developing a comic series, he said I would be his inspiration and drew this to show me. I never knew what happened to all his art.” I place the precious drawing on the couch and approach Reginald. His arms open immediately to hold me as I wrap mine around his shoulders. “Thank you.”
He holds me close, a large palm cupping the back of my head, then draws back with a sigh. “There’s one more thing. When Henri was at our flat, he saw your photos. He loved them and wanted to offer you a show. I have his card for you.” I go to argue, but he holds a finger against my lips. “You know, I think your work is amazing, but I didn’t seek this out. You earned it on your own. No pressure, it’s up to you.”
The twist in my stomach relaxes. Reginald is nothing but honest. If he says no pressure, then he means it. He’s providing me with options and letting me decide. This isn’t his way of telling me he wants me to be more successful as an artist. There’s no hidden agenda.
“Now where’s my present? I believe there were offers of blow jobs and…butt stuff?” Reginald waggles his eyebrows at me.
I laugh as I let him pull me towards his bedroom. This has been the best Christmas in a long time.
January
